40 Years. 40 Faces. | Karine, Project manager – internal processes and sustainable development

“My biggest paycheck is when someone tells me, ‘My job is easier because you came along.’” 

When asked to explain her role, Karine pauses for a few seconds. Not because she doesn’t know what to say, but because her work touches so many different areas of the company that it’s difficult to summarize in just a few words. 

As Project Manager – Internal Processes and Sustainable Development, she works closely with administrative teams, operations, human resources, health and safety, and environmental initiatives. 

Her primary role is to identify challenges, organize ideas, and implement tools, methods, and procedures that help teams work more efficiently. 

Once a project is up and running, many people don’t even realize she had a hand in it. That is a reality she knows well.

"I often work behind the scenes."

For Karine, that is not a problem. Quite the opposite. She does not need to be in the spotlight to appreciate her work. What motivates her is seeing results come to life and knowing that her contribution has made someone’s day-to-day work easier. 

Since joining GPR a little over five years ago, she has contributed to a wide variety of projects involving both internal processes and sustainable development. What drives her most is the diversity of challenges. 

"I need novelty."

She admits with a laugh that people once predicted she would quickly become bored in a highly repetitive job. Looking back, she believes they were probably right. Every new project is an opportunity to learn, collaborate with new people, and solve challenges that can be very different from one another. 

But beyond tools, procedures, and projects, Karine believes the real starting point lies elsewhere.

"Most of the time, the solutions are already there. You just have to listen to people." 

For her, the best ideas rarely come from behind a closed office door. Instead, they come from the people who experience day-to-day realities firsthand.

This ability to listen is at the heart of her approach. Understanding people’s needs, hearing their frustrations, and turning that information into practical solutions is one of the things she enjoys most about her work.

One of the projects that has had the greatest impact on her is the development of the company’s emergency preparedness plan.

When she arrived at GPR, there was still a great deal of work to be done to structure the program. Over time, she helped build procedures, strengthen relationships with emergency services, and support teams in their preparedness efforts.

Today, when an evacuation drill takes place and she sees everyone naturally stepping into their roles, she feels immense pride.

"It’s inspiring to see everyone fall into place and know exactly what to do. It’s true teamwork."

For Karine, that achievement does not belong to one person alone. In fact, if there is one thing she hopes people remember about her work, it is this:

"Nothing is built alone."

She firmly believes that the best results always come from collaboration, commitment, and teamwork. She would also like people to realize that major change does not always require major projects.

"Small actions, done well, make a big difference."

That philosophy reflects the way she approaches her work. A simplified form, a clearer procedure, or a small improvement to everyday tasks can sometimes have a greater impact than a large-scale project.

When Karine talks about GPR, she often comes back to the same words: people, collaboration, and commitment. She especially appreciates the fact that the company is willing to invest in projects that make a meaningful difference for employees, the community, and the environment.

"It’s not just a company focused on making profits."

For her, that willingness to do things differently is what truly sets GPR apart.

After more than five years with the company, Karine continues to find the same satisfaction in her work: seeing an idea take shape, knowing it makes life easier for others, and feeling that, in her own way, she is helping move things forward.