In this employer spotlight, we speak with Jennifer Stokes, Manager Talent Attraction & Recruitment at FortisBC, the province’s largest provider of critical energy services, serving 1.3 million customers across British Columbia. Jennifer shares how FortisBC supports co-op students' professional growth, outlines what they look for in candidates during recruitment, and offers advice for students interested in joining the organization.
What does your company do?
FortisBC delivers gas and electricity to homes, businesses and communities across British Columbia. As the province's largest provider of critical energy services, we're helping meet the evolving energy needs of British Columbians by delivering safe, reliable, and affordable energy today while investing in the energy systems of the future. We serve around 1.3 million customers across B.C., including 135 B.C. communities, and 58 First Nations communities across 150 Traditional Territories.
What is the culture like at your organization, and how do you support the professional growth of your employees and co-op students?
Our culture is grounded in safety, collaboration, and innovation, with a strong focus on serving our customers and communities. We foster a team-oriented environment where employees are encouraged to share ideas, ask questions, and take initiative. Creating a safe and inclusive workplace where people feel supported is a priority.
We place a strong emphasis on professional growth and development at every stage of an employee’s career, and it’s a key reason people choose to build long-term careers with us. From early career experiences through to leadership development, we support learning through mentorship, on-the-job training, formal development programs, and opportunities to gain experience across different areas of the business.
For co-op students, this means meaningful, hands-on experience and integration into teams where they can contribute to real work from day one. Students benefit from mentorship, exposure to different parts of the organization, and opportunities to build both technical and professional skills in a practical, real-world setting. They also have the opportunity to build meaningful professional relationships and expand their networks—an important advantage as they begin their careers.
What qualities or skills do you look for when hiring a co-op student?
We look for students who are curious, collaborative, and eager to learn. Strong communication and teamwork skills are important, as many roles involve working across teams and disciplines.
While technical knowledge is valuable, we also prioritize initiative, adaptability, collaboration, and a willingness to help solve real-world challenges in a dynamic and evolving energy sector.
How do UBC co-op students contribute to your organization? Can you provide examples of the kinds of projects they work on or successes they’ve achieved?
As highlighted by UBC alum Shelby Ravestein, co-op students at FortisBC are trusted with meaningful, hands-on work that supports projects from early analysis through to construction and operations, helping deliver safe and reliable energy to customers across the province.
UBC co-op students contribute across many areas of our organization, particularly in engineering, operations, project management, and corporate functions. They are often involved in work such as system planning, asset management, project coordination, field support, and data analysis. Through these opportunities, students gain experience supporting infrastructure projects and sustainability initiatives that help serve the evolving energy needs of British Columbians. For example, engineering co-op students may support condition assessments, contribute to long-term planning initiatives, or assist in developing design or maintenance strategies.
What advice do you have for students interested in working at your organization?
Be proactive and open to learning. Take time to understand the role you’re applying for and how it connects to the broader work we do delivering energy safely and reliably to customers across B.C. In interviews, speak to your experiences, whether from school, co-op or extracurricular activities, and how you’ve approached challenges, worked in a team or taken initiative. Most importantly, be willing to step outside your comfort zone and ask questions. As Shelby’s experience shows, opportunities often come from showing curiosity and taking initiative.
What are the typical hiring periods for co-ops?
FortisBC hires co-op students year-round across multiple academic terms, based on business needs and role availability.
We typically recruit in three intake cycles per year, with job postings released at the beginning of each academic term for upcoming work terms. We encourage students to apply early, as applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
Where will students work?
FortisBC operates across British Columbia, with opportunities in both office and field environments depending on the role. Co-op students may work in locations such as Surrey, Kelowna, Castlegar, Trail, and other communities across the province. Some roles offer a mix of office-based work and field experience, providing exposure to how our energy systems are planned, built, and maintained.
What role does AI play in the recruitment process?
FortisBC continues to explore how technology, including AI, can support and enhance our business processes. While AI is used in some areas of our operations and corporate functions to improve efficiency and support our work, it is not used as part of our recruitment decision-making or candidate selection process. We recognize that students may use AI tools to support their application preparation—such as building resumes, drafting cover letters, or practicing interview questions. However, we encourage applicants to ensure their submissions and interview responses reflect their own experiences, skills, and voice. Being authentic during the recruitment process helps ensure the best fit for both you and our team.
