Our People

Our mission to create extraordinary happy places is achieved by a team of extraordinary people. A place like Fernie builds a unique community and we are all grateful to get to work and play here.

– Cathy Wells (Owner)

The Team

At LWE, our skilled and experienced team is our most important asset. Our people are not only qualified – they are innovative and creative problem-solvers who deliver premium services of the highest quality. Regardless of whether a team member is an apprentice or a senior carpenter, we collaborate as a collective and consider all suggestions and feedback to ensure we exceed our client’s expectations. We value teamwork and pride ourselves on working together to design, build, and provide exceptional residential and commercial properties.

The Owners

LWE owner, Steve Whelan, came to the Elk Valley in 1992 on the hunt for the deep pow for which Fernie – a core stop along the Powder Highway – is known. Coming for the snow and staying for the community, Steve convinced the love of his life (Cathy) to join him and together they’ve built a home, family and business doing what they love.

Established in 1999, LWE has transformed from a two-person operation to a business boasting over 20 skilled and passionate tradesmen and women. While Steve runs the construction side of things, Cathy manages the company’s processes and systems.

At LWE, we live, play, and work in the mountains and love being part of the vibrant Fernie culture and community.

The Owners

LWE owner, Steve Whelan, came to the Elk Valley in 1992 on the hunt for the deep pow for which Fernie – a core stop along the Powder Highway – is known. Coming for the snow and staying for the community, Steve convinced the love of his life (Cathy) to join him and together they’ve built a home, family and business doing what they love.

Established in 1999, LWE has transformed from a two-person operation to a business boasting over 20 skilled and passionate tradesmen and women. While Steve runs the construction side of things, Cathy manages the company’s processes and systems.

At LWE, we live, play, and work in the mountains and love being part of the vibrant Fernie culture and community.

Looking to Build you Career?

At LWE, we are always looking for skilled individuals – from trainees and apprentices to team leaders and project managers – to join our team. In working with us, you will have access to all the advantages that come with a tight-knit crew culture, including support, career, and apprenticing opportunities.

Current Positions:

Lead Carpenter

LWE Builders
5 Kutenai Rd, Fernie, BC
$30 – $45 an hour – Full-time, Permanent

LWE Builders, in Fernie, BC, Canada, is growing and expanding. We are an award-winning builder of custom homes, designing, building, renovating, and remodeling people’s unique and distinctive building project dreams since 1998. We are looking for excellent Carpenters and Journeyperson Carpenters who have a desire to work in a highly professional residential and light commercial environment, to add to our team of talented people. Of equal importance we are looking for individuals with the qualities and values which fit our culture of fairness, fun, and incredible work opportunities who respect working in a safe and productive work environment. Specifically this is detailed as follows

  • You are an incredible Carpenter or Journeyman Carpenter with high-level finishing skills and well-honed carpentry practices, possessing a constant awareness of working towards the goal of producing an exceptional product
  • Love working with wood, concrete, steel, timbers, and glass, motivated by the exciting challenges and demands of high-performance custom-home building
  • Have an ability to work in an environment of sound, well-established processes as well as progressive and current building science application, all while exceeding both WCB safety standards and the BC Building Code
  • Are creative, forward thinking, solutions oriented as well as enthusiastic, collaborative, easy to work with, and possess a solid work ethic
  • You have exceptional leadership qualities and work well managing a team. You will be required to delegate tasks and report to your project manager.
  • You have outstanding time management and organizational skills. You will be required to manage your teams schedules and hours.

We pride ourselves on creativity, attention to detail, craftsmanship, and advanced building and safety practices, among a host of others in completing projects for our valued clients.

We are an equal opportunity employer and provide training and direction in the LWE way from our long serving LWE Team.

Earn a living, create a career all while living in the best lifestyle town in Canada. Work-life balance is paramount to us! On top of other benefits we offer a flexible schedule and time to engage in all the sports you came to Fernie for. Enjoy working for a company that stands by the legendary 20 cm rule (we all love to ski on powder days)!

If you’re willing to give it your all as a member of our team, work hard and play hard, while producing incredible homes, please submit your resume below.

Benefits:

  • Dental care
  • Disability insurance
  • Extended health care
  • Flexible schedule
  • Life insurance
  • Paid time off

Schedule:

  • 8 hour shift
Carpenter

Carpentry LWE Builders
5 Kutenai Rd, Fernie, BC
$25 – $40 an hour – Full-time, Permanent, 8 hour shifts

LWE Builders, in Fernie, BC, Canada, is growing and expanding. We are an award-winning builder of custom homes, designing, building, renovating, and remodeling people’s unique and distinctive building project dreams since 1998. We are looking for excellent Carpenters and Journeyperson Carpenters who have a desire to work in a highly professional residential and light commercial environment, to add to our team of talented people. Of equal importance we are looking for individuals with the qualities and values which fit our culture of fairness, fun, and incredible work opportunities who respect working in a safe and productive work environment. Specifically this is detailed as follows

  • You are an incredible Carpenter or Journeyperson Carpenter with high-level finishing skills and well-honed carpentry practices, possessing a constant awareness of working towards the goal of producing an exceptional product
  • Love working with wood, concrete, steel, timbers, and glass, motivated by the exciting challenges and demands of high-performance custom-home building
  • Have an ability to work in an environment of sound, well-established processes as well as progressive and current building science application, all while exceeding both WCB safety standards and the BC Building Code
  • Are creative, forward thinking, solutions oriented as well as enthusiastic, collaborative, easy to work with, and possess a solid work ethic

We pride ourselves on creativity, attention to detail, craftsmanship, and advanced building and safety practices, among a host of others in completing projects for our valued clients.

We are an equal opportunity employer and provide training and direction in the LWE way from our long serving LWE Team. Carpentry apprentices are encouraged to apply. 

Earn a living, create a career all while living in the best lifestyle town in Canada. Work-life balance is paramount to us! On top of other benefits we offer a flexible schedule and time to engage in all the sports you came to Fernie for. Enjoy working for a company that stands by the legendary 20 cm rule (we all love to ski on powder days)!

If you’re willing to give it your all as a member of our team, work hard and play hard, while producing incredible homes, please submit your resume below.

Benefits:

  • Dental care
  • Disability insurance
  • Extended health care
  • Flexible schedule
  • Life insurance
  • Paid time off

Experience:

  • carpentry: 2 years (preferred)
Laborer

LWE Builders
5 Kutenai Rd, Fernie, BC
$17 – $20 an hour – Full-time, Part-time

LWE Builders, in Fernie, BC, Canada, is growing and expanding. We are an award-winning builder of custom homes, designing, building, renovating, and remodeling people’s unique and distinctive building project dreams since 1998. We are looking for excellent Carpenters and Journeyperson Carpenters who have a desire to work in a highly professional residential and light commercial environment, to add to our team of talented people. Of equal importance we are looking for individuals with the qualities and values which fit our culture of fairness, fun, and incredible work opportunities who respect working in a safe and productive work environment. Specifically this is detailed as follows

Your duties will include:

  • Assisting carpenters and other team members with all manual labor needs on site
  • Running errands completing general organizational tasks as necessary
  • Supporting people where needed to achieve the end goal of building a high finishing home
  • Digging, shoveling, sweeping, dusting, moving material, and carrying heavy objects

We pride ourselves on creativity, attention to detail, artisanship, and exceptional building and safety practices, among a host of others to help our valued clients build their dreams. We are an equal opportunity employer and provide training and direction in the LWE way from our long serving staff. We encourage all experience levels to apply for this position. Apprenticeship and growth opportunities are available for the right candidate.

Earn a living. Create a career. All while living in the best lifestyle town in Canada. (Work-life balance is paramount to us!) On top of other benefits we offer a flexible schedule and time to engage in all the sports you came to Fernie for. Enjoy working for a company that stands by the legendary 20 cm rule (we all love to ski on powder days)!

Benefits:

  • Dental care
  • Extended health care
  • Disability insurance
  • Flexible schedule
  • Life insurance
  • Paid time off