ARCOLA - When Zane Vanderhulst returned from his combat tour in Kandahar, he had to decide what his future career would be.
Vanderhulst was raised in Esterhazy and was living in Regina when he joined the Reserve Force.
The purpose of the Reserve Force is to train throughout the year and augment the regular force when they go on operation or do domestic operations.
For seven months, Vanderhulst was in Kandahar, and it was an experience he is extremely glad to have had.
He is still part of the reserve and just travelled to Shilo, Man., on Oct. 15 and 16 for training exercises at the army base.
Upon his return from Kandahar, a friend offered him a job in the plumbing and heating industry. He felt it was a good opportunity to gain experience with a trade.
Vanderhulst enjoyed the work and decided to apprentice to get his journeyman’s in plumbing and heating.
For the next four years, he would attend the Saskatchewan Polytechnic campus in Moose Jaw, attending class for two months and completing 1,800 hours yearly of practical work under a licensed journeyman.
Once his schooling was successfully finished, he started his own business which he named Gunner’s Plumbing and Heating, with his base out of Arcola.
Over the course of the last years, he married Kyla and has two daughters, Zoe and Eve.
This trade does not run in his family, although he has a cousin who has retired from the military and is now completing his last year for the same trade.
With his business beginning in 2020, he has remained busy. He does plumbing and heating in new builds and old, with the installation of furnaces and shop heaters, dishwasher installs, and bathroom and kitchen renovations. He attacks all jobs whether big or small.
Having a furnace checked at this time of year is a clever idea, said Vanderhulst, to ensure everything is working properly. He is also looking for help, although help is hard to find.
In the meantime, Vanderhulst is happy with his life and career choice.
