The Rishaug family – Ron, his father Moe and most recently his daughter Danielle – have collectively worked for more than 60 years at Trans Mountain. It’s a unique family legacy, and one Ron is incredibly proud of. We were lucky enough to have him sit down and share his family’s story as well as one or two of his own.

The Rishaug family legacy began the same year the Trans Mountain pipeline was first placed in operation. Ron’s father Moe was hired by Trans Mountain in 1953 as a pipeline technician in Stony Plain. His first responsibility was walking the pipeline tracking smart pigs during the initial line fill from Edmonton to Edson. While Moe worked hard days in the field, his wife Jean and Ron’s older siblings lived at a motel prior to completion of company housing units in the Stony Plain area.

Not long after Ron was born, Moe was transferred to Jasper to work as a truck driver for Trans Mountain and the family moved to company housing, which at the time was about 20 units filled with Moe’s coworkers and their families. Ron fondly recalls why the term “Trans Mountain Family” was coined as everyone was going to church, singing in choir, attending events and competing in the annual bonspiel; they shared countless memories forming strong and lasting bonds that stand to this day.

In 1966, the Rishaug family moved to Edmonton where they remained until Moe’s retirement in December 1984 after 32 years with Trans Mountain. Yet, as fate would have it, the Rishaug’s family connection to the company wouldn’t end there. Ron had been working in northern Alberta and was looking for an opportunity to return closer to home and an opportunity with the Trans Mountain Pipeline was calling.

“I recalled that Trans Mountain was a great company to work for and I had fond childhood memories of the place,” Ron said of his decision to apply. “The next thing I knew, I was phoned for an interview, and I was hired.”

Needless to say, his parents were pleased and excited that one of their children had decided to follow in Moe’s footsteps and Ron began his job as operations trainee in Edmonton four months after Moe’s retirement in April 1985.

One of the highlights of Ron’s long career and history with Trans Mountain would come 23 years later when his daughter Danielle joined the company as a summer student from 2008-2010. Having missed the opportunity to work alongside his own father, Ron particularly enjoyed the opportunity for father-daughter chats on their drive to and from work each day.

The second of three generations of Rishaugs to work for Trans Mountain, Ron is currently the operations supervisor for the Edmonton and North Forty Terminals and plans to retire with the company (although we’re hoping that won’t be any time too soon).