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dowco.com News - Employee Profile: Mary Bamber

I was born in the small town of Trenton Ontario, in 1953 and grew up on a farm until at age 16, I decided (all by my grownup self) to venture off to the bright lights of Toronto.   Leisure sunny afternoons, ice skating, snowball fights in winter, hours of what seemed endless chores would no longer be a part of my existence.  That spring of 1969 was the end of the 1st phase of my life.
The 2nd phase would take me from Toronto and further than I had dreamed, on a long journey into the United States, living, working and moving coast-to-coast.  I spent those years as a bartender, helping on roofing jobs, cleaning jobs, and a number of other odd jobs to keep me afloat.
I was young, having fun, and hadn’t a care in the world.  In 1992, I had enough of the “good life” and returned home to Ontario.  Back to where life had begun.  Wondering where all the time had passed, and how did I get to be 40 with nothing to show but a beer belly and an attitude to life and people that needed a drastic makeover. 

The next 5 years saw a change that brought about a new way of living that enhanced the rest of my life.   I took computer training, administrator college courses, attended a year at Bible College and was once again ready to venture out into the world.  Having travelled and lived in California, Nevada, and other warm parts of the States, I could not spend another cold winter in Ontario, so once schooling was complete, I packed up and headed for British Columbia. 
That first year here, I worked for a cleaning service.  I don’t recall ever working so hard in my life…..5 apartments or 4 homes had to be done in a day…every day being a 10 hour day. (No wonder Women’s Lib happened…this is hard work!!)  I kept looking for work in Administration, or office work that I had gone to school and trained for, and finally I got the chance in October 1999 to work for the Internet side of Dowco Computer Systems Ltd.  (also known as dowco.com Internet)  I was initially hired as receptionist and within 3 months was able to fill a vacant position in accounts receivable.  In July 2003, a management position opened in our Chilliwack Office so I jumped at the chance.  I still work out of Chilliwack office 4 days a week.  On Mondays I work in the Burnaby office with tech support, receivables and customer service.

Since coming to BC, I began the third phase of my life.  I met a guy from Nova Scotia, have purchased a condo in Langley, and enjoy my job at Dowco, camping in the summer and life indeed is good.  It has truly been a great opportunity to work for Dowco, and I plan to stay here until I retire.  And since there will soon be no mandatory retirement age, this could be for a long time!   I look forward to retirement, when I can reflect on my life’s journey, the good times and bad…and will then be able to enjoy the fruits of my labor. No regrets whatsoever. And so will begin the 4th phase of my life.