A family’s lifelong connection to Nutrien’s Vanscoy mine

Terry Bentley began his career at the Vanscoy potash mine in 1969, earning $1.50 an hour. What started as a good job close to home turned into a 37-year journey that spanned roles from underground mechanic to lead hand and planner. “The camaraderie amongst the crew was exceptional,” says Terry. “We had a lot of family events, and it really felt like a community.”

His daughter, Joni Straker, grew up seeing the opportunities her father’s career provided. “I was proud to work in the same place as my dad,” says Joni. She began her own journey with Nutrien 17 years ago in various administrative roles at Vanscoy and now works as an Executive Assistant. After a short time away, she returned in 2024. “As soon as I sat down in my chair, I felt like I was home again,” she says. “My work-life balance is better, and I’m just so grateful to be back.”

Her husband, Jason, joined the mine after two decades in the forestry industry. “When we saw the potash boom happening in Saskatchewan, we moved back from B.C. and both of us went into mining,” he says. Now an underground maintenance planner, Jason often leans on Terry’s knowledge from decades in the same department. “They’ve had great conversations about equipment upgrades,” Joni says. “That knowledge-sharing across generations has been so special for our family.”

Technological and cultural shifts have transformed the mine over time. “We used to paint lines on the walls to find our way underground,” says Terry. “Now they’re doing remote mining from surface.” Jason adds, “We have wireless communication underground now — safety and connectivity have come a long way.”

Beyond their individual roles, the value of safety, teamwork and respect have carried through three generations. Joni and Jason’s sons are already following in Terry’s footsteps: one is a third-year heavy-duty mechanic apprentice; the other is entering a youth trades program. “My dad raised us to be safety-conscious and respect mobile equipment,” says Joni. “Now he’s doing the same with our boys on his farm.”

The family’s stories are woven with both personal milestones and community impact — from Joni’s first helicopter ride over Vanscoy to Jason’s mine rescue training, which helped prepare him to volunteer with the local fire department. Terry’s proudest memory? Being flown to Grande Cache, Alberta, with members from the Vanscoy mine rescue team to fight a coal fire deep underground. “There was a lot of risk, but also a lot of trust — in each other, in our training, and in why we were there,” he says. “We were there for four days and successfully and safely extinguished the fire.”

As they reflect on their shared experiences, the message to the next generation considering Nutrien is clear. “Go for it,” says Jason. “There are opportunities and advancement for almost any career you can think of.”

“It’s a place that offers growth, learning, and balance,” says Joni. “And for our family, working together at the same site has given us something to connect over.”