Cory Hare

former toilet salesman

I live with one awesome wife, two decent children and approximately have a dozen ill-behaved furry things in Parkland County, near Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

During my formative years, as an avid reader, I was always impressed by author bios that contained lengthy lists of varied occupations. At the time, as I looked ahead to my future, I thought it would be “totally deadly” to cobble together a career from stints as an underwater welder, lobster trap salesman, mattress factory spring inspector, or whatever.

So, after I’d left my hometown of St. Paul, Alberta, Canada, and had dutifully completed a business degree at the University of Alberta, I veered off the straight path and began my own collection of "whatever" jobs. Throughout my 20s and into my 30s, the list grew to include the following occupations.

  • Cookie dough distributor

  • Power pole treater

  • Package handler

  • Pilot truck driver (for two whole days)

  • Greenhouse worker

  • Forestry lookout

  • Airport shuttle driver

  • Call centre attendant

  • Drilling rig roughneck

  • Tree planter

  • Lawn care entrepreneur

  • Store clerk

  • Support worker for the mentally challenged

  • Department store sales associate (I did time in hardware, paint and home improvements: storm doors, bathroom fixtures, and yes, TOILETS!!!)

  • Magazine distributor

Along the way I also acquired a music diploma from Grant MacEwan Community College (now MacEwan University) and a master of arts in journalism degree from the University of Western Ontario.

This last bit of education, which I snagged about 14 years ago, represented a turning point in my life, as it got me started on an actual career – as a reporter and freelance writer. I’ve since added editor to that list and am attempting to bring the whole sordid affair full circle by adding the word author.

Thanks to electricity produced by a generator droning away in a nearby shed, the cabin at Chip Tower emits a warm glow as evening progresses toward night.

Thanks to electricity produced by a generator droning away in a nearby shed, the cabin at Chip Tower emits a warm glow as evening progresses toward night.

You see, I’ve completed a memoir of my first season operating the northern Alberta forestry lookout tower named Chipewyan Lakes (commonly referred to as Chip Tower). Entitled The Adventures of Chip Tower: P.I., this book enables the reader to live the transformative experience of dropping everything and moving to an isolated tower site for four months, without the bother of actually dropping everything and moving to an isolated tower site for four months.

I invite you to explore the writing samples and other content on my website. If you like what you see (heck, even if you don't), please connect with me somehow … anyhow. I post every once in a while on the social media. I even have a Facebook page! I've also included a form at the bottom of my site that allows you to subscribe to periodic email updates.

Before I let you go, since I went through the trouble of gathering such a vast and varied employment background, I want to leave you with some sort of useful tidbit that I’ve retained from this experience. Here's the best I can do: If you're ever in the market for a new toilet, be sure to get one that flushes good.

You're welcome.

Cory