More than 18 years ago, Pat Biblow's son Tyson knew what he wanted — to move back to a rural lifestyle, as he dreamt of becoming a rancher.
The family lived in Armstrong at the time, and Biblow and her husband Rob had moved them from a rural property in the Salmon Valley into town, while their four sons were active in a range of activities. But she said the change didn't sit well with the boys, who were used to space and freedom.
"They hated it," she said with an easy laugh, recalling her son's clear vision for his future, even as a high school student. In the Okanagan, he knew he would never be able to afford property to pursue his dream of owning an acreage and becoming a rancher. He researched the Cariboo, and determined this was where the family should move.
In 2006, Biblow and her husband did just that, purchasing a property in the 150 Mile House area with 10 acres, where they had sheep, horses, chickens, dogs and cats, living there with their two youngest sons who were still at home.
"We should have come sooner," she said, as the family found the Cariboo a great fit. She said it reminds her of the Okanagan in the sixties, with plenty of access to the outdoors and wildlife.
"You can still get to the lake," she said.
Upon arriving in the Cariboo, Biblow applied for a position at Thompson Rivers University, and was hired by Grace Simpson as an auxiliary staff member.
She's been there ever since, and said she worked in the library, in enrolment services, the bookstore and many places in between.
"I had a great opportunity to do almost every role here," she said. She now is the manager of administration and operations, a role she enjoys.
"This campus has an opportunity, because we're a small campus, to really work as a team," she said.
As she talks about all of the roles she has had at Thompson Rivers University, from working with both daytime and evening student populations to now working with contractors and Kamloops campus staff as well, it is all about relationships and over the years she has built strong bonds with many of her coworkers.
She still has regular tea visits with her ex-boss Simpson, who has since retired, and soon, Biblow is hoping these will become more frequent. Now 65, Biblow has announced her own retirement date for this November, something which is bittersweet, but felt right.
She said it will be "a big hole" to not be at the campus every day but she also has other things she's looking forward to.
She and Rob downsized from the 10-acre farm to build a house on Rose Lake, where they have been for seven years, finishing their home and developing the property on the lake. Two sons are not far away, off Wiggins Road, with their families.
Her young grandson had told his teacher as soon as his Grannie retires, she can be his alternate contact.
"I want that position," she said.
