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
construction worker
Mental Health and Addiction In The Trades
I’ve been thinking a lot about mental health and addiction in the trades these days. So much so that I frequent the Centre For Disease Control and World Health Organization websites looking for interesting articles and statistics regarding construction workers and their overall relationship to mental health and addiction. I have heard that rates of … Continue reading Mental Health and Addiction In The Trades
Trade Comics Display
Trade Comics public display on now!
I Was A Pain In The Ass Apprentice.
I was a pain in the ass apprentice. Not so long ago I was an electrical apprentice. It took me 6 years to complete the 6000 hours of workplace experience and 40 weeks of schooling. I had good days and bad days, and made some friends along the way. I also met some people I … Continue reading I Was A Pain In The Ass Apprentice.
Electricians Without Borders Interview
Nearly two months ago, an article in my union locals newsletter caught my eye about a non-governmental organization called Electricians Without Borders. They are a group of volunteer electricians, paying their own travel to communities in need, to share their talents and time. This sounded awesome and I had to know more. I … Continue reading Electricians Without Borders Interview
My Infatuation With Homelessness.
As a teenager, when the pressure started to weigh of having to support myself one day, I would consume myself with what I thought were bigger questions. I wanted answers to these questions before I could start to make any plans for independent living, or any other methods of survival or community contribution. What was … Continue reading My Infatuation With Homelessness.
HOW DID YOU DECIDE TO BECOME AN ELECTRICIAN…?
Something changed forever in me when my father died. I must have been at the ripest age for that sort of experience, because I’m certain the direction of my life altered forever on that day. In my late teenage years, I was asking exciting questions to the universe, such as: ‘What am I going to … Continue reading HOW DID YOU DECIDE TO BECOME AN ELECTRICIAN…?
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
Secret Life Of An Apprentice Ellectrician 