He害羞草研究所檚 a quiet man by nature, but just about the kindest and happiest one you害羞草研究所檒l ever meet.

You害羞草研究所檒l find Miles St. Amand Monday through Friday at Best Buy Propane on Cariboo Hwy, where he害羞草研究所檚 been working since Oct. 1, 1991, he said 害羞草研究所� the only thing he had written down on a piece of paper when meeting with the Tribune.

In 1991, the gas station was called Del害羞草研究所檚 Propane and was located down by CN Rail. It害羞草研究所檚 now located next to Tim Hortons and is owned by Cariboo Propane (owned by Scott Nelson and his son, Lucas).

Thirty-two years later, St. Amand is still the friendly face at the gas station and is described by his co-workers Spencer Stratton and Atticus Gorisek as a staple to the business.

害羞草研究所淲ithout Miles here, it wouldn害羞草研究所檛 be the same. He害羞草研究所檚 the piece of the puzzle we couldn害羞草研究所檛 lose,害羞草研究所� said Gorisek.

害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 amazing. There害羞草研究所檚 never a dull or boring day with Miles,害羞草研究所� said Stratton.

St. Amand was born in Quesnel on June 12, 1964, to Denis and Edna. The third of four children (two sisters and a brother), his family moved to Williams Lake in 1972 after his Dad, who worked in the forestry industry, was transferred here.

He graduated in 1985 from Columneetza Secondary School and then worked for a printing business for a year before working for Intercity Gas.

害羞草研究所淸Gas] was 18.9 cents a litre. I wish it were that now,害羞草研究所� he chuckled.

Four years later, he left and joined what害羞草研究所檚 now Best Buy Propane.

What keeps him at the same job 32 years later?

害羞草研究所淲ho am I going to meet today?害羞草研究所� he replied, noting he害羞草研究所檚 met customers as far as Italy and Australia and, of course, lots of locals.

害羞草研究所淚 may not know all of their names, but we talk like old friends,害羞草研究所� he said with a smile. 害羞草研究所淚 really enjoy the customers. You meet all kinds of people.害羞草研究所�

Along with a good pay cheque, he said, the owners sometimes get lunch for the employees.

害羞草研究所淲e all get along, too,害羞草研究所� he said of them and his co-workers.

A notable moment for him was last year when Scott and Lucas took him and a few others down to Vancouver to see a Canucks game, celebrating St. Amand害羞草研究所檚 31st year with the company. The Canucks lost, but he didn害羞草研究所檛 care; it was fun a trip and he met Curtis Lazar (a former Canucks player who is now with the New Jersey Devils).

St. Amand lives with his parents, whom he helps care for, though they害羞草研究所檙e still in good health, he said. Some evenings he害羞草研究所檒l watch hockey or football on TV, but on Tuesdays and Thursdays, he has other plans.

On Tuesday nights he drums with his rock band, Bootleg. The seven-member band, which also consists of his brother and sister-in-law, played for the Stampede one year, and has also played for the Curling Club, at the arena and for some house parties.

St. Amand recalled riding bikes with his brother when he was in Grade 6 and coming across the neighbours who were playing music in their chicken coop. The drummer wasn害羞草研究所檛 there, so he was encouraged to sit behind the drum set and play.

害羞草研究所淲ithin an hour I could do a standard rock beat, and I was hooked.害羞草研究所�

His parents later purchased St. Amand a drum set, which he害羞草研究所檇 plug his headphones into his record player and play along with.

害羞草研究所淚 must害羞草研究所檝e driven mom and dad crazy,害羞草研究所� he said, for his parents could only hear the drums he was banging on, not the music he was listening to.

His parents still own his childhood home in Chimney Valley, which his sister now lives in. He and his parents moved out of the house and into town in 2021. As for the drums, they now meet at his brother害羞草研究所檚 house to play.

On Thursday nights he bowls with a bowling league, something he害羞草研究所檚 done since working at Del害羞草研究所檚 Propane. Two co-workers (who have since moved away) said they should start a bowling league, and that害羞草研究所檚 precisely what they did.

St. Amand害羞草研究所檚 loyalty stands the test of time, and when asked what keeps him smiling, he smiled and said: 害羞草研究所淭he community here is home for me. Not only are they my customers, but they害羞草研究所檙e my friends. I don害羞草研究所檛 think there害羞草研究所檚 anyone I don害羞草研究所檛 get along with. I just smile and be the best I can.害羞草研究所�

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