HeB次元官网网址檚 a quiet man by nature, but just about the kindest and happiest one youB次元官网网址檒l ever meet.
YouB次元官网网址檒l find Miles St. Amand Monday through Friday at Best Buy Propane on Cariboo Hwy, where heB次元官网网址檚 been working since Oct. 1, 1991, he said B次元官网网址� the only thing he had written down on a piece of paper when meeting with the Tribune.
In 1991, the gas station was called DelB次元官网网址檚 Propane and was located down by CN Rail. ItB次元官网网址檚 now located next to Tim Hortons and is owned by Cariboo Propane (owned by Scott Nelson and his son, Lucas).
Thirty-two years later, St. Amand is still the friendly face at the gas station and is described by his co-workers Spencer Stratton and Atticus Gorisek as a staple to the business.
B次元官网网址淲ithout Miles here, it wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be the same. HeB次元官网网址檚 the piece of the puzzle we couldnB次元官网网址檛 lose,B次元官网网址� said Gorisek.
B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 amazing. ThereB次元官网网址檚 never a dull or boring day with Miles,B次元官网网址� said Stratton.
St. Amand was born in Quesnel on June 12, 1964, to Denis and Edna. The third of four children (two sisters and a brother), his family moved to Williams Lake in 1972 after his Dad, who worked in the forestry industry, was transferred here.
He graduated in 1985 from Columneetza Secondary School and then worked for a printing business for a year before working for Intercity Gas.
B次元官网网址淸Gas] was 18.9 cents a litre. I wish it were that now,B次元官网网址� he chuckled.
Four years later, he left and joined whatB次元官网网址檚 now Best Buy Propane.
What keeps him at the same job 32 years later?
B次元官网网址淲ho am I going to meet today?B次元官网网址� he replied, noting heB次元官网网址檚 met customers as far as Italy and Australia and, of course, lots of locals.
B次元官网网址淚 may not know all of their names, but we talk like old friends,B次元官网网址� he said with a smile. B次元官网网址淚 really enjoy the customers. You meet all kinds of people.B次元官网网址�
Along with a good pay cheque, he said, the owners sometimes get lunch for the employees.
B次元官网网址淲e all get along, too,B次元官网网址� he said of them and his co-workers.
A notable moment for him was last year when Scott and Lucas took him and a few others down to Vancouver to see a Canucks game, celebrating St. AmandB次元官网网址檚 31st year with the company. The Canucks lost, but he didnB次元官网网址檛 care; it was fun a trip and he met Curtis Lazar (a former Canucks player who is now with the New Jersey Devils).
St. Amand lives with his parents, whom he helps care for, though theyB次元官网网址檙e still in good health, he said. Some evenings heB次元官网网址檒l watch hockey or football on TV, but on Tuesdays and Thursdays, he has other plans.
On Tuesday nights he drums with his rock band, Bootleg. The seven-member band, which also consists of his brother and sister-in-law, played for the Stampede one year, and has also played for the Curling Club, at the arena and for some house parties.
St. Amand recalled riding bikes with his brother when he was in Grade 6 and coming across the neighbours who were playing music in their chicken coop. The drummer wasnB次元官网网址檛 there, so he was encouraged to sit behind the drum set and play.
B次元官网网址淲ithin an hour I could do a standard rock beat, and I was hooked.B次元官网网址�
His parents later purchased St. Amand a drum set, which heB次元官网网址檇 plug his headphones into his record player and play along with.
B次元官网网址淚 mustB次元官网网址檝e driven mom and dad crazy,B次元官网网址� he said, for his parents could only hear the drums he was banging on, not the music he was listening to.
His parents still own his childhood home in Chimney Valley, which his sister now lives in. He and his parents moved out of the house and into town in 2021. As for the drums, they now meet at his brotherB次元官网网址檚 house to play.
On Thursday nights he bowls with a bowling league, something heB次元官网网址檚 done since working at DelB次元官网网址檚 Propane. Two co-workers (who have since moved away) said they should start a bowling league, and thatB次元官网网址檚 precisely what they did.
St. AmandB次元官网网址檚 loyalty stands the test of time, and when asked what keeps him smiling, he smiled and said: B次元官网网址淭he community here is home for me. Not only are they my customers, but theyB次元官网网址檙e my friends. I donB次元官网网址檛 think thereB次元官网网址檚 anyone I donB次元官网网址檛 get along with. I just smile and be the best I can.B次元官网网址�
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