2018 International Forest Industries IFI April May 2018 Digital | Page 32

women in logging
Logger Girl
Passionate forestry equipment operator,
Hannah Dehoog of Smithers, British Columbia
Samantha Paul begins a new series on women in logging
with hopes to inspire young women to consider logging
as a career. First up, an interview with BC based operator,
Hannah Dehoog that explores how she got into the logging
industry, what life is like for a woman in logging camps and
what she loves about being an operator.
H
annah Dehoog – AKA
Logger Girl and Hanimal – of
Smithers, British Columbia,
is catching a lot of attention in the
logging community. It’s not just
her engaging presence on social
media, but her determination,
bravery and skill as a young female
heavy equipment operator
working in a decidedly male
dominated industry.
Growing up
Hannah has been exposed to and
involved in various aspects of the
30 International Forest Industries | APRIL / MAY 2018
forestry industry for the majority
of her life. Before she was even
old enough for school, Hannah
was marching around the bush
alongside her father, a log buyer at
the time. In high school she worked
at a tree nursery and a sawmill,
and now at the age of 22, Hannah
works as an equipment operator
for Groot Bros. Contracting Ltd. out
of Houston, British Columbia.
The first question Hannah
usually gets asked when someone
discovers what she does for a living
is, “How did you get into that?”
Although her father, Chris Dehoog
is a log buyer for West Fraser,
she was introduced to operating
equipment by an ex-boyfriend.
While visiting him at a remote
logging camp, a crew member
suggested that she get a job on
the crew. “No one thought I would
take the suggestion seriously but
as soon as the idea of running
equipment came into my mind, it lit
a fi re in me. This is what I want to
do,” she says.
Hannah wasted no time. Before
making the long drive home, she
found the name and address of
the contractor and stopped at his
house to beg him for a job. She had
no operating experience but was
extremely determined. She recalls
that after some persuasion the
contractor said to her, “I will give
you a chance, just don’t piss me
off.” She was ecstatic. She couldn’t
wait to tell her Dad. “Guess who’s
going logging Dad?” Hannah
yelled. He was thrilled.
Hannah’s father, Chris, is well
known in the logging community
and is a huge motivator for
Hannah. She works hard every
day, not only to prove herself as a
female operator but to make her
Dad proud. “That drive will never
change,” Hannah states. “Most
people think the start of my career
as an equipment operator got