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
trade apprenticeship
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
NEARING THE END OF MY APPRENTICESHIP, WHAT I HAVE LEARNED.
I have been taking my sweet time in finishing my apprenticeship. I still don’t feel ready to be called a journey person, but I feel close. I have learnt how to make a good mechanical tie between two conductors, and grown to understand the meaning behind the neat and tidy electrical work, assuming it … Continue reading NEARING THE END OF MY APPRENTICESHIP, WHAT I HAVE LEARNED.
Cable Stretcher Trade Comic
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
Secret Life Of An Apprentice Ellectrician 