If your power is on in Agassiz-Harrison, you just might have Finley Fulford, age 6, to thank.
Fulford is not yet a certified power line technician, but he has all the makings of a fine lineman at the young age of six.
BC Hydro told The Observer one of their crews 91Ƶ complete with their signature bucket truck 91Ƶ recently paid a surprise visit to their youngest PLT. B.C. Hydro describes Fulford as 91Ƶwhip-smart91Ƶ and devoted to his craft. He has a long-established reputation with his neighbours, local BC Hydro employees and contractors.
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If you were to ask Fulford when his career started, he91Ƶd pinpoint it somewhere around age 3. The first power lines under his watch were made of Mega Bloks, later upgraded to Lego and sticks his granddad found in the yard.
To say Fulford is obsessed with all things BC Hydro would be an understatement. He watches YouTube videos of PLTs at work, keeps up with the news from 91ƵPowerlineman Magazine91Ƶ and training his two younger siblings 91Ƶ Henry, 4, and Charlotte, two-and-a-half 91Ƶ as his apprentices.
91ƵHenry is quite interested, and thinks he works for BC Hydro,91Ƶ said Chelsey Fulford, Finley91Ƶs mother. 91ƵAnd his sister, who can hardly form a sentence, helps with work on his power lines. She says: 91ƵI wook fo bee-cee hy-dwo.91Ƶ91Ƶ
Finley even has his own workout regimen to keep those 91Ƶlineman muscles91Ƶ in top form.
91ƵYou usually hear kids say things like 91ƵI want to be a firefighter91Ƶ and then it91Ƶs 91ƵI want to be a policeman91Ƶ then I wanna be a plumber,91Ƶ Chelsey said. 91ƵBut this is different. I really think he91Ƶs going to do something with BC Hydro down the road, whether it91Ƶs an engineer or a PLT. I think he91Ƶs basically waiting for cheques to show up in the mail for all the years of unpaid work he91Ƶs done for (BC Hydro) already.91Ƶ
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As of publication, BC Hydro91Ƶs accounts payable department says the cheques have yet to be distributed.
Over the years, Finley has amassed a collection of PLT gear donated by his fans and friends at BC Hydro. He can often be seen in full 91Ƶuniform,91Ƶ complete with a hard hat and vest.
Chelsea recalled a time Finley braved the cold to do his solemn duty as a PLT.
91ƵIt was a crappy, rainy day outside and he suddenly comes downstairs and he91Ƶs like, 91ƵOh, I really don91Ƶt want to go outside today, I don91Ƶt want to go to work today 91Ƶ it91Ƶs gross and it91Ƶs raining 91Ƶ but a lineman has to go to work, no matter the weather,91Ƶ91Ƶ she said. 91ƵAnd he trudges outside in the rain to go check on his power lines in the yard, to see if they91Ƶre still standing.91Ƶ
Finley is home schooled, in part because his parents felt he was so bright he91Ƶd be bored by standard education.
91ƵHe doesn91Ƶt like doing normal schoolwork,91Ƶ Chelsey said. 91ƵHe91Ƶll say 91ƵWhy can91Ƶt I just do lineman school instead? Why do I need to do this garbage? How old do I need to be to go to lineman school?91Ƶ
91ƵIt91Ƶs the funniest, weirdest, cutest thing,91Ƶ she added. 91ƵJust an absolute obsession.91Ƶ
adam.louis@ ahobserver.com
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