Development Services

Reiner Nikolai, Building Official

1.) How and when did your employment journey begin with the City of Williams Lake?

My family and I had begun to look to make a move out of Victoria in the summer of 2017 and we quickly identified Williams Lake as the city we wanted to be a part of. We loved the idea of moving to a city with all of the amenities that still identified as a small town. We wanted to raise our children in a region where they could experience and take part in the challenges of running a homestead and not just have life pass them by as we were experiencing in the big city.

My employment journey with the City of Williams Lake began in the spring of 2018 when I was hired as a Utility Operator 1 for the Water/Sewer Department. Shortly after starting that job the City began looking for a Building Inspector apprentice as a succession plan and I was fortunate to be the one that came through the testing process with a job offer. Since then I have received an extraordinary amount of education in a short time to obtain the skills and certifications needed to function in this role.

2.) What is your current role and what does your job entail?

My current role with the City is as a Building Official. This job deals with ensuring the provisions within the BC Building Code and the City's various bylaws are met for construction projects within City limits. The primary role of this position is public safety and this is achieved through conducting inspections at various stages of construction, educating clients and enforcement when all else fails. Customer service plays a large part in this position in helping clients come up with solutions to their problems. We are here to help make clients' visions a compliant reality and not to throw up unnecessary roadblocks.

3.) Name one or more things you enjoy most or look forward to about your job?

I really enjoy the dynamic nature of this position where the duties and tasks can change rapidly. On a day-to-day basis I can find myself conducting inspections, reviewing plans and documents, researching proposals and new technology, upgrading my education or using my conflict resolution skill to defuse a situation. My favourite part of the job is the constant amount of problem solving and outside-of-the-box thinking it entails, as it creates a situation where there is never a dull moment in this position.

4.) What is one piece of advice or tip you wild give to those seeking employment within the City?

My one tip to anyone thinking of employment with the City of Williams Lake is to never stop trying to grow. This is an organization that is happy to invest in the right people that show the initiative to advance their positions or wish to grow into a new role. Don't think that your first role wit the City will be your lifelong career. There are countless opportunities within this organization that you can always strive for.