Kelly Kienleitner, My First Electrical Mentor

I met Kelly when I walked into my first year electrical school class room.  She was the teacher, to my relief.  I was the only other female in the class, and it gave me hope that I wouldn't experience any of the sexism I was so afraid of going into trades, if the person in … Continue reading Kelly Kienleitner, My First Electrical Mentor

Advertisement

SHOP TALK TRADE COMICS For Construction Trade Workers BOOK (2nd Edition) AVAILABLE NOW!

SHOP TALK TRADE COMICS For Construction Trade Workers Shop Talk Trade Comics, for construction trade workers (WITHIN CANADA)CLICK THIS ONE IF YOU LIVE IN CANADA! Comics to entertain those in the construction trades, inspired by those in the construction trades. One lady electricians take on the trade life. Nearly 100 pages of a 5"by7" professionally … Continue reading SHOP TALK TRADE COMICS For Construction Trade Workers BOOK (2nd Edition) AVAILABLE NOW!

ELECTRIC SHOCK AND HOW TO AVOID IT

Apparently electricians are crazy.  They work with electricity, a dangerous form of energy that can kill you! They magically put life into things and go home at the end of the day as though they are JUST average bears.  They risk their lives, so the rest of the world can have lights on at night … Continue reading ELECTRIC SHOCK AND HOW TO AVOID IT

Mental Health and Addiction Within The Trades

I recently asked some other electricians, that I consider my peers, what advice they would give to other electrical apprentices.  I got some great advice, such as from Oleg: ‘Take as little time off as possible. Only turn down over time if you have a really good reason. Don't talk about the weird shit you're … Continue reading Mental Health and Addiction Within The Trades

BULLIED, SELF ESTEEM, ENDURANCE AND WIT.

Right before I head to my second year of schooling, where I will finally learn all about single phase AC (Alternating Current) electricity (because in your first year you only touch on DC,  Direct Current), I am stuck on a substation site as an electrical apprentice and first aid attendant with one other worker, Tim … Continue reading BULLIED, SELF ESTEEM, ENDURANCE AND WIT.

Getting Comfortable With Myself Makes Other People Comfortable With Me Too

In the back seat of a 4X4 black pick-up truck, country music blasting on the radio, I chuckle at the jokes I’ve heard a million times before coming from the two short stalky country boys in the front seat. We are carpooling home from work. Our driver, Ross, whom is also our foreman, says: 'This … Continue reading Getting Comfortable With Myself Makes Other People Comfortable With Me Too

WORKING UNDER INDUCTION

I’m working under the 500kv lines. Atop a mountain looking over the mainland this time. Above the city of Coquitlam. I can look across the way and imagine the outline of the water treatment plant I was working on a few months back.  Mostly I just see the mountains of trees yonder, with a clear … Continue reading WORKING UNDER INDUCTION

WOMENS COMMITTEE, TREEPLANTING AND LOVE

It’s a weeknight at around 7:00 PM, somewhere in a sub-urban neighborhood, sheltered by commercial box stores and busy sidewalk lined streets. I can hear traffic, and smell food cooking.  We are outside a pub, and I am listening to a few other women carry on a conversation about motorcycles, because they like to ride … Continue reading WOMENS COMMITTEE, TREEPLANTING AND LOVE