This month, Owen Bach marks 45 years with Van Kam in Kelowna. He is our longest-serving team member. When Owen first joined, the work looked very different. “There was nothing on pallets. Everything was hand-bombed. You used hooks and ropes, and that’s just what we did,” he says.
A Career Built in Kelowna
Owen has spent his entire career in Kelowna. He ran P&D (pickup & delivery) on the street, served as a lead hand for about 30 years, and often handled dispatch while helping manage the terminal. “It was tough some days, riding that fence between being a union employee and being on the company side,” he recalls.
Through changes in leadership and systems, he kept adapting. He moved from faxed lineups and paper routines to today’s tech-driven operation. “When I started, everything was on fax. There were no computers. The technology today has made things easier,” he notes.
Culture That Keeps You
For Owen, staying with Van Kam for 45 years has never been about the work alone. It’s about the people and the family behind the company. “The Van Kam family has treated me really well. That’s one of the reasons I’ve stayed here so long. I’ve been lucky enough to see three generations of family ownership at Van Kam.”
He’s also proud of how the culture has grown. “When I started, there was no HR. You were told to do something, and you did it. Today it’s 100% better. The culture has really changed for the better.”
People Make The Moments
When asked about his most memorable moments, Owen doesn’t mention one big event. Instead, he talks about the people. “I’ve worked with some pretty good people over the years, from upper management to drivers and coworkers. Those are the things I remember,” he says.
He talks about shared shifts more than milestones. Early mornings on the dock, quick calls on the radio, and small wins that made a hard day easier. He values the respect that ran both ways and the friendships that lasted. For Owen, the faces are the story.
Hooks, Horns, And Holes
Owen enjoys life outside with simple passions. “I ice fish, I hunt, and I golf,” he says. His favourite places are the mountain lakes where he can float in a belly boat for hours. That is where he likes to spend his time when the season is right.
Each fall, Owen sets time aside for his annual hunting trip with family and friends. It is something he looks forward to every year and has become a tradition in his life. He also makes time for golf when the season is right. “I’m a hacker, but I golf,” he said with a laugh, showing the same honesty and humility that mark the way he talks about his work and his pastimes alike.
Looking Back on 45 Years
When asked how it feels to hit 45 years at Van Kam, Owen answers: “One thing I can say is they’ve treated me really well. They’ve never missed a paycheck. There are lots of companies out there that can’t make payroll, but I’ve never seen it here.”
Congratulations, Owen. Forty-five years with Van Kam is no small feat, and it speaks volumes about your dedication, grit, and the relationships you’ve built along the way. Thank you for showing up year after year!