Derek Sargent is a devoted family man and life-long resident of St. Clair. The love of his community is what led him to join the Blue Water Young Professionals in 2014 with the creation of the St. Clair group.

Most of all, he enjoys the social aspect of the group and participating in the community events it organizes.

“I would like the group to continue to build the social aspect for area families as well as anything else we can do to make living in the Blue Water Area better as a whole,” Derek said.

He has been actively involved with helping the St. Clair YPs put on such events as the annual Pine River Poker Paddle, which grows in popularity every year, and Bike & Burger Night.

Those events go hand-in-hand with his active and outdoorsy lifestyle. In his free time, Derek likes going to the gym, cycling, running, boating with family and friends, snowboarding and playing hockey and softball.

He also volunteers for organizations like Habitat for Humanity.

Derek works for the oil and gas company Plains Midstream Canada. He started as a plant operator in 2006 and is currently transitioning to a maintenance lead and project manager’s role.

His current role came in part out of his close ties to family.

“I did not go to college,” he said. “My original plan out of high school was to follow in my dad’s footsteps and run heavy equipment. Then after a few years the opportunity at my current job presented itself.”