Kartar Thandi has worked at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) for 45 of its 50 years in existence.
A 22-year-old Thandi applied for a job as a courier at what was then called Fraser Valley College (FVC) in 1979.
"The shipper and receiver jumped over the fence in front of my car before I left the interview and said 'Stop. You start on Monday,'" Thandi said.
Now it's 45 years later, and Thandi has witnessed multiple name changes, a new campus, and the growth of the university.
His first job as a courier was at the old building on Marshall Road in Abbotsford, and he travelled across the Lower Mainland doing pick up and deliveries. A few years later he began filling in for a sick employee who worked in building maintenance mechanical. Thandi recalls that all the employees were dedicated to their jobs in the early days, but they made sure to have fun too.
"Working for FVC in the late '70s and early '80s was just like the show Mad Men," Thandi said. "Most everyone had ashtrays on their desks, fridges of beer and wine and there were lots of office romances going on. But there was a lot of hard work also."
In 1983, the Abbotsford campus on King Road opened. Thandi transitioned into a permanent building maintenance mechanical position with the move. FVC now had its own building to call home, which meant more upkeep and more staff.
Eventually Thandi moved to the Chilliwack campus to oversee the Trades and Technology Centre building maintenance, where he continues to work today. He loves his job, and understands that he is helping to provide a safe and effective learning environment for UFV students and staff.
"I enjoy troubleshooting and figuring out problems. Almost every day is a problem-solving day," Thandi said.
Thandi has enjoyed being part of academic growth in the Fraser Valley, but he also yearns of a time when the institution was small and intimate.
"The old days you knew everyone's name, and you knew them quite well. It was more like a family back then," Thandi said.
Despite having more than 2,000 employees today, Thandi has had a hand in keeping the relationships strong. He is the founder of the UFV employee golf tournament, which started in 1980. Thandi has spent two months every year organizing, preparing and executing the event for 35 years.
At the 25th anniversary golf tournament, Thandi donated an expensive golf club to the prize pool that he had won at a previous tournament. He didn't feel like the driver worked for him, so he wanted to ensure someone could use it in the future. But to Thandi's surprise, the committee had a different plan in mind.
"I was sitting there wondering what happened to that driver at the end of the tournament. Then the golfing committee says 'We have a special recognition for Kartar Thandi. We want to present this driver to Kartar.' They didn't know I had donated it," Thandi said.
He didn't say anything, and kept it to donate again for the next year. The event is one of many that Thandi recalls fondly from his time at UFV.
Thandi is not ready to retire quite yet. He says if his health allows him to continue, he will do so. He is a fixture at Chilliwack campus as well as an important person in UFV's history.
When asked if he ever imagined UFV becoming such a large institution, Thandi laughed and said "No, never. We were so small."
Despite the nostalgia for a time when there were few employees, Thandi is proud to see that UFV has grown to be a recognizable, community-led and well-respected institution.
