The Toughest Jobs in Town

Whether it’s handling rational fears or phobias, confronting inclement weather, battling back-breaking labour or straight out dealing with dust and dirt, a tough job means meeting challenges head-on.

Conventional or slightly adventurous, whatever the occupation, a tough job means you can’t afford to flinch at creepy crawlers, harsh smells, ridiculous heights, adverse weather conditions or engaging heavy weights.

Retreating is just not an option for many demanding professions.

No bullyiNg here

Some chosen careers mean taking the bull by the horns, literally.

Although it may look like it, Mark VanTienhoven doesn’t clown around when it comes to his seemingly dangerous career as a bull-fighting rodeo clown. Going where few men dare, the Airdrie man has been entering the bull ring for more than 10 years.

“I actually took a weekend bull-fighting school just down the road from my place [at age 16]. There were 13 of us to start and by the end there [were] only two of us left,” says the 26-year-old cowboy.

“If you got it you got it. If you don’t you don’t. It’s not for everyone, that’s for sure.”

Despite the obvious on-the-job hazards, VanTienhoven hasn’t had to collect any disability pay, successfully steering away from the sharp horns of rampaging animals.

“Everybody takes their kicks and bruises, but [I’ve had] nothing major. I’ve been pretty fortunate that way,” VanTienhoven says about injuries.

Training, as in most sport-related occupations, is the key to success and in some cases survival. VanTienhoven credits refined bull-fighting techniques for a relatively painless production these past years in the rodeo arena.

The best method for avoiding a 2,000-pound beast and averting disaster is with sharp turns and a good sense of timing. No matter how many times he jumps into the ring, though, the bull rider’s best friend experiences bloodpumping anticipation.

“I’m always a little bit nervous. If I’m not nervous I shouldn’t be out there,” VanTienhoven says with a chuckle. “But once you get the hang of it, it’s not that bad. It’s learning how to do it that hurts.”

Creature Comforts

Matthew Gosselin makes a living dealing with smaller critters, ridding homes of aggravating pests for more than 27 years now.

Crawling on hands and knees through dirty crawl spaces and dank attics, the Elite Pest Control owner is called upon to exterminate cockroaches, mice, larger four-legged vermin and even the smallest of parasites, bedbugs.