September 13, 2021 • 47 mins
Instead of continuing to University after graduating High School, Chelsea Dyck decided to detour and take a year off to work. After 4 days on the jobsite Chelsea founder her calling and was indentured into the electrical trade.
Fast forward to today and Chelsea has completed her apprenticeship and discusses with Zack and Jason many topics and apprenticeship stories including why she prefers the title of “Journeyman” and her decision to start a new apprenticeship in HVAC. Chelsea is advocate for young people to pursue the trades as a viable career path. Her Skills Canada Alberta volunteer work includes Skills Alumni Group of Alberta (SAGA) and Girls Exploring Trades and Technology (GETT). Chelsea credits volunteering as a source for personal growth and a view of the trade beyond the marrettes, splices, and conduit runs.
Chelsea considers herself lucky to have had the strong support of her colleagues when she entered the electrical trade, and now wants to help others as they consider careers in the skilled trades.
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Episode Transcript
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Jason Cox (00:00):
Hello and welcome to Watt's the Word, a show
connecting the electricalindustry through relevant
conversations. I'm Jason Cochranalong with Zack Hartle, we're
hosting passionate members ofthe electrical industry. We want
to hear your stories and learnfrom each other. How's it going,
Zack?
Zack Hartle (00:16):
Going good today Jason, how are you?
Jason Cox (00:19):
Doing great Watt's the Word my friend.
Zack Hartle (00:22):
Today, pretty thrilled we're joined by Chelsea
Dyck. She's a red sealelectrician with a diverse
career from resi to industrialcommercial. Now doing some
service with an H vet companyand actually starting her H vac
apprenticeship. Cool upbringingas an apprentice and a cool
story to how she got here. Nowshe's an advocate for young
(00:44):
women to join the trade as acareer path. So welcome,
Chelsea, we're really glad toGlad to have you here.
Chelsea Dyck (00:51):
Thank you for having me.
Zack Hartle (00:53):
How we start every episode, as we just want to hear
a little bit about how you gotto where you are now, you know,
tell us about yourself and yourbackground. Yeah, let's start
with that.
Chelsea Dyck (01:04):
Well, so my real plan when I had or when I was
going to graduate high schooland wanted to go into the
political field, I was going totake political science in
university. My background beforethat was very art driven. I was
(01:25):
doing like higher level Englishand social studies classes. And
then high school came to an end.
And I realized that maybe Iwasn't 100% sure that I wanted
to go to university for what Ihad chosen. Then I realized,
well, why don't I take a yearoff of school, and all kind of
(01:46):
figure out what I want to do.
Then once I made that decision,I said, Well, I obviously need a
job. I can just been around fora year, like I need to work. So
then an opportunity had come upfor a labor position at an
(02:11):
electrical company. So I tookit, I said, You know what, let's
give it a shot. My mom had beenin that field for a very long
time. So she she said, You knowwhat, just go in, do your best,
you're probably going to be justdigging trenches for three
months or whatever. But it'ssomething so I said, Okay, let's
(02:33):
go and let's see how it goes. Iended up starting at a
multifamily site, they had justpoured the first foundation of
the building. And I did what mymom told me to do. I worked my
butt off. I just did what theytold me to do. And I started on
(02:54):
a Monday and on Thursday, I gotindentured, never happens. It
took me four days and I knewguys that waited till like the
very last second on that. The30th day of the third month they
had been working there. And theygot indenture finally but I
super super rare. But all theforeman and the journeyman that
(03:18):
I was working under they told methat they saw a lot of potential
in me because I worked really,really hard. So then I worked in
multifamily for about a year.
And throughout my journey inthere, I did everything so I
started out with doing the worstjobs, I was just sweeping
(03:41):
floors, I was digging trenches,I was pulling coral lines
through the slab and all thejobs nobody wants to do. And
then I did. I did a few sweetRuffins but I didn't really like
it. So I asked me somethingelse. And then I did like fire
alarm public ran all the hornstrobes and exit lighting and
(04:06):
essentially I did everything andthen I did finishing right at
the end of my first year beforewent to school. And I started
getting a little taste of liketroubleshooting because we
started turning the power on soI can go through and fix
everyone's mistakes. And thenafter that I went to the to
(04:29):
industrial so I was doing likeat Colgate stations. I did a
little bit of industrial serviceand then I went off to to
commercial buildings for alittle bit. And then once I was
done in commercial, I came to docontrols and EMS systems for a
few months. And then I landed atmy current position after that
(04:52):
and I'm just a serviceelectrician for a Plumbing
Heating As an air conditioningcompany,
Zack Hartle (05:02):
that's something we want to get a lot more into.
Because you're kind of workingin a almost a little bit of a
niche field, or with a companythat doesn't typically do
electrical. But I mean, goingback to that first year there,
you were lucky, you saw a littlebit of everything. And I'm
personally I dug trenches forlike 11 months, all I did was
use PVC glue and a shovel. Thatwas all I used for 11 months,
Jason Cox (05:26):
I thought it was interesting that you mentioned
waiting, the typical three monthtime period before you're
indentured and much likeyourself on the same thought
process of of post secondarytraining, you and I would have
been looking at similar courses.
And then I fell into anapprenticeship as well. And at
(05:46):
the three month mark of workingfor the company doing all of the
terrible jobs that I had to do,I was taken into an office, I
had no idea and that was the daywhere they indentured you. So
I'm good for you for being ableto do that so early. And it
sounds like the company that youstarted off with, you're on the
same project for for that wholeyear. So it's so nice to hear
(06:10):
that you were able to getexperience in different areas.
And then of course to I might berambling a bit here. But for you
to be able to actually tell youremployer, you know, I really
don't like doing that part ofthe job and for you to be able
to move on and look at somethingelse. So so we have what an
experience there just to start.
(06:31):
That's That's very impressive.
Chelsea Dyck (06:34):
I think I always say that I got so so lucky with
the foreman that I started withmy first few journeyman that I
started with. I was so fortunateto have them because they were
incredible. I've heard a lot ofstories of like young
(06:57):
apprentices starting and girlsstarting in the trades, and they
got treated horribly. So I gotvery lucky.
Jason Cox (07:07):
Well being treated horribly was I mean, that was
almost a rite of passage,whether you were a man or a
woman, as an apprentice in thetrade. I mean, that's something
that thankfully has changedquite a bit over the years. Just
the amount people were just, Imean, tortured, or, I mean, now
it's against the law now to do alot of the things that they they
(07:29):
used to do to us so so it'sgreat to hear that you had some
really good people training youand obviously they they were
very impressed with your workethic. So so that's that's
commendable.
Zack Hartle (07:42):
Did you know On day four, they pull you into the
office? You know, you've beenyou said your four days? Did you
know then that you wanted tostick it out and be an
electrician? Or were you justexcited that they are willing to
indenture you and saw that workethic but still unsure? Or did
you know at that point that itwas for you?
Chelsea Dyck (08:00):
Honestly, I think like my first day, I was like,
This is awesome. I love them.
Even though I was doing reallyshitty jobs, but it just like,
you guys probably know, I justfeel so fulfilling to like, have
a task and complete it and likesee how nice it is and see the
(08:20):
good job that you did. It's justso satisfying.
Jason Cox (08:28):
Well, I think it might sound corny, but there's
still several buildings in thecity of Calgary that I drive
past. And when I see the lightson, I go Yeah, I did those
lights or, I mean, there wasthere was a newscast on just the
other night that featured aschool in Calgary. And on the
front of the school, there's afiber box and a rigid two inch
pipe. And I'm like, there's mypipe, there's my fiber box. So
(08:50):
there is there is always thataccomplishment that that you can
see from from your work,especially when you can actually
see what you're doing or asopposed to other tasks where you
had a good day of customerservice. I mean, you really
don't. There isn't evidence ofthat success that day. So
that's, that's cool. It's greatto hear that you definitely were
(09:12):
so excited about yourapprenticeship. I remember. I
don't want to tell too manystories here. But I was an
apprentice working for oneperson electric, and I was
digging the trench and I waslike this is ridiculous. Like I
do not want to dig the trench.
And he goes well, you're thelaborer. That's what you do. And
I'm like, okay, and I go, Well,how do I not do this? This is
(09:36):
like, in the second week, hegoes, Well, you have to become
an apprentice. I was like, Okay,and so said, Well, I'll do that.
And so, in time I became theapprentice. And the day I got my
indenture mentor hap or whateverwe call that signed the
contract. The next day, I waslike, okay, so what am I doing
(09:58):
and they're like Well, you'redigging the trench. I'm like,
But I'm an apprentice. And theysaid, Yeah, but we just had to
let our labor go. So you'regonna have to do the job. And
it's, it's funny because I knewnothing about apprenticeship
when I started. It's, it'stotally different. It's, it's, I
(10:19):
mean, that's something for anentire different episode, we
could talk about the lack of howapprenticeship is presented to
students and to kids in schoolor adults, for sure.
Chelsea Dyck (10:32):
That's actually one thing that the skills alumni
group of Alberta that I'm a partof, that's the biggest thing
that we are trying to help, likehigh school students navigate
through, because I've heard alot of stories of people who
they know for sure that theydon't want to go to university,
(10:54):
but they don't know like whatavenue to take after that point.
So we're trying to make it a lotmore accessible for people to
get into the RAP program. Andwe're trying to make a database
of companies that are willing totake on first year apprentices.
Jason Cox (11:10):
So Chelsea, for for those of us that are not
familiar with all the acronyms,can you explain briefly what the
RAP program is?
Chelsea Dyck (11:19):
Yes, so the RAP program is the registered
apprentice program. It's a wayfor you to get a feel for the
trades while you're still inhigh school. And it can replace
your option classes while youcan still continue doing your
core classes. I went to aconference for the Royal Bank of
(11:46):
Canada two years ago. Andbasically the program that they
were doing was called humanswanted. And there was a woman
who owns a carpentry shop. Andshe said specifically, I do not
hire first year because they'rea waste of time. And I said,
(12:11):
Well, how do you expect to havejourneyman or third or fourth
years that know exactly what youwant them to do? And the exact
kind of outcomes that you wantfrom their work without starting
from the bottom and trainingthem to be the journeyman that
you want them to be?
Jason Cox (12:34):
Yeah, I mean, there's a whole lot of investment that
goes into those greenapprentices. I forgot about it,
but for years, the term was astarter. So when you started
off, right, you weren't anapprentice. You were the laborer
or you were a starter. And youknew nothing. I mean, I knew
nothing. I don't know how, what,how I ended up in an
(12:55):
apprenticeship. If you askedeveryone I knew back then that
you're what? Cox is doing anapprenticeship? Are you kidding
me? Like he was going to be ahistory major. Like, I didn't
know how my water my channellocks worked. I was like, these
things don't work. Yeah, I mean,we need to we need to broadcast
trades as a viable option forpeople. And we need. I don't
(13:19):
like you said, I mean, there'sprograms like the ROP program
and other pre training programsthrough some of the post
secondaries. But yeah, peopleneed to be trained, and people
need to realize that it is aninvestment to train these new
workers with the skills thatyour company is going to need. I
(13:41):
mean,
Zack Hartle (13:41):
first of all, Jason, I've never seen you use a
pair of Channellock. So I don'thave proof that you can use them
to this day. Chelsea, what yousaid that you said you're part
of the skills alumni group ofAlberta. Now because I know a
bit about your background, howdid you be commerce skills,
alumni, maybe let's jump back acouple years and talk about that
journey.
Chelsea Dyck (14:01):
When I was in second year school, there was an
opportunity that came up forpeople to enter into the skills
competitions. So for theelectrical trade, there's two
separate skills essentially, wehave trade 18 and trade 19 Treat
(14:25):
18 is a residential slashcommercial installation. And
then we have trade 19, which isan industrial control
installation. And I went intoindustrial control because at
that time, that was thebackground that I was in, but I
had a lot of fun and it was likea great or No, it wasn't a great
(14:47):
it was an incredible way tolearn more about what I was
doing at work and more thepossibilities of work that I can
do in the future.
Jason Cox (15:01):
Sometimes if we get lost in what we're actually
building, right, I mean, ifyou're in a giant building, the
processes might not make sensefor days and days and days,
you're running conduit orpulling anonymous wire, you
don't know how it's all goinggoing to fit together, but in a
skills competition or skillstraining, I mean, I would
(15:22):
imagine that project is prettycondensed, and you can kind of
see the distribution, you cansee the switching, you can see
the, the the outputs, right, soit kind of gives you an idea of
of what you're doing. Yes, itdoes.
Zack Hartle (15:36):
Can you take a second and just describe that
process of competing in a skillscompetition for our listeners
who maybe don't know what thatlooks like?
Chelsea Dyck (15:44):
Skills Canada.
Each province has their owncompetition we do in each
region. So we do regionalcompetition, provincial
competition, nationalcompetitions, and then a world's
competition. I first competed atSait in the regional
competition. And then we went tothe provincial competition in
(16:07):
Edmonton. And it portrayed 19It's a two day competition, that
they all differentiate from eachother. So you can do like
Plumbing, welding, baking,computer design, fashion design.
Basically, every single tradehas their own competition. So
trade 19 is a two daycompetition. We install
(16:31):
everything from start to finish,all walls are blank, we install
our control cabinet, we have toprogram all the inputs, outputs
on a PLC program. And then wehave to verify and test
everything. And I'd say aboutsix hours per day, so you get 12
(16:55):
hours, essentially. And it isvery difficult to finish. The
two days I don't think I've everheard of anyone actually
finishing trade 19 In the twodays, so very difficult. And
then yeah, if you win atprovincials, then you can go to
(17:17):
Nationals. And then if you winthere, you get to go to Worlds,
which is pretty cool. Skills islike an international group, and
they compete all over the world.
It's pretty awesome. It's kindof like the Olympics for trades,
I guess you could say. And thecraziest thing to me is that
(17:38):
skills is only like 17 years oldtill 21 years old. So you're
getting all of these brand newapprentices who are just
starting out in a trade. Andthey barely know anything,
essentially. And they're,they're so smart, and they're so
skilled, it's going to thesecompetitions is insane, because
(17:58):
there's 1000s of kids there. Andthe junior High's and high
schools even come on field tripsthere just to watch everyone
compete. And it's an incrediblefeeling when you see, like a
bunch of junior high kids comedown, and they're like cheering
you on. And it's just awesome.
Zack Hartle (18:19):
Yeah. And also, like, as you said, you're you're
about a second year when youwere doing this, what an
experience. I mean, to get totrain, I know you probably spend
some time training before thecompetition, to even learn all
that's involved in a automatedcontrol process, in order to
wire up all the inputs andoutputs. And then like you see,
even programming the PLC issomething that's unfortunately
(18:42):
almost unheard of, for a secondyear electrician, even most
journeyman don't get theopportunity to actually program
a PLC. So what a coolopportunity. And you mentioned
that the look on the kids faceswalking around. And I guess
that's probably what kept youinvolved with the skills alumni
group of Alberta. You say that'skind of your mission there is to
(19:03):
keep that involvement going pastthat competition.
Chelsea Dyck (19:07):
Yeah, so after I competed, I kept in touch with
the people that organize skills,Alberta. And I was really, it
was a really awesome feeling tobe involved in the girls
exploring Trades and TechnologyConference. It was a really cool
(19:27):
they get like one or tworepresentatives from each trade.
And they have a huge group of Ithink grade eight to grade nine
to grade 12 Girls, and they comedown and we do this is all
happening during the skills,Alberta events. So we get to
(19:51):
hang out with these girls andget to have lunch with them.
They can come talk to us and askus about our career paths and
what we do for work. work. Andit's really cool because when I
was there, there was three of usat the electrical table. So that
was myself and I, at that time Iwas doing service electrical.
(20:12):
And then we had another girl whois, she's the maintenance
supervisor for a big oil companyup north. And then we had
another girl who's an electricalengineer. And so it was really
cool to see people fromdifferent backgrounds. And even
like, there was welders thatthere's people that do like the
(20:34):
pressure welding, there was agirl that did like deep water,
like ocean welding, which Ithought was really cool. And
then we get to take these girlsaround and like show them like,
this is trade 19 This is tradingteam, this is what they're
doing. This is what theiroutcome is supposed to look
like. It was really cool, kindof opening up the conversation
(21:01):
saying like, you don't need togo to university to have a good,
fun, fulfilling, high payingjob.
Jason Cox (21:11):
Yeah, that's, I mean, I've said this 1000 times
outside of the podcast, butyeah, we really need to, to have
society start to open thosedoors and broadcast career plans
for people other thanuniversity. There's, there's
tons of things you can do outthere. And I mean, the best
thing about trades too, isyou're not going to have that
(21:34):
hourly job for the rest of yourlife where you're just a
laborer, right, you anapprenticeship, you're obviously
building up your credential,you're coming out with a
certification at the end, youcan always use that wherever
you're at. I mean, I've nevereven I've been in the trade for
25 years, I've never even heardof girls exploring Trades and
Technology. So it's great, good,good for you for for being an
(21:56):
advocate for that. And thenobviously, with the alumni from
skills to have these twoprograms that helped you with
your career, kind of where youare today.
Chelsea Dyck (22:09):
Um, I would say they haven't necessarily helped
me with my electrical career.
But they've definitely helped mewith my personal development.
And how I kind of view my jobbecause like, there's days where
I go to work, I don't feel likeI'm making a difference, or I'm
actually helping people. Butthen it kind of gives me a
(22:33):
purpose to be like, Okay, well,I had this really awesome entry
into the electrical trade, and Iwant to kind of like, lend a
hand and be like, Look, itdoesn't have to be shitty. Like,
if you need help entering thetrade, or it doesn't have to be
electrical, you can get into anytrade. But if you need help, or
(22:55):
guidance, or you just havequestions, you can ask me,
because I'll be totally honest.
And I'll tell you what it's like
Jason Cox (23:04):
to hear that conversation come from a newer,
journeyman female journeyman,versus this crusty old
electrician. I mean, you'regonna open doors there to your,
I mean, you've got an energy toyou. It's, it's quite
infectious. So
Zack Hartle (23:22):
Justin, we talked about this just before the show,
and I thought your answer wasgreat. And I want you to share
with everyone so do you preferthe term journeyman, or journey
person?
Chelsea Dyck (23:33):
I like to be called a journeyman. Because,
essentially, I work my ass offmy entire apprenticeship. And
I'm going to have the same titleas everybody else.
Zack Hartle (23:48):
And that's, that's a perfect answer. I mean, you
started in the trade. So So, soyoung. And I mean, I know you've
worked very hard and your storyshows itself that you've worked
very hard. Starting so young,and now you're a journeyman and
we'll get into it again. You'restarting even a second
journeyman ticket. Did you facea lot of struggles along the
(24:09):
way?
Chelsea Dyck (24:09):
I don't think so.
Like obviously, stuff is hard.
And people don't treat you thatgreat all the time. But when you
weigh like, the bad things thathappened and the good things,
the good is always so muchbetter. Like I had, I had a guy
just walk up to me out of theblue and just straight up just
(24:30):
said, I don't respect you. I waslike, I was like, 18 years old.
And I was like, what? I don'teven know you. So, yeah, that
was interesting. But at leastagain, I was pretty lucky
because one of my I had a fourthyear electrician working with me
at the time. And he likes aboutfor me you knew like no you
(24:53):
don't say that kind of shit toher like yeah, so and was one of
the guys that just started onour electrical crew as well. But
he honestly didn't last verylong because he had a piss poor
attitude. So
Jason Cox (25:10):
it's funny. I've seen that before in the trade where
certain people just flip aswitch. When they get their
certification, they become ajourneyman. So I don't think
it's as common anymore. But itwas like, You're just an
apprentice and we're thejourneyman. And I'm like, like,
listen, dude, like, this hasbeen my apprentice for four
years. Like, I'm glad you justgot your ticket, but like, show
(25:31):
some, like, we're humans here.
Let's, let's let's treat eachother like humans. Oh, exactly.
Chelsea Dyck (25:35):
And it's like for me, I, the day that I got my
journeyman ticket in the mailwas when I started my H back
apprenticeship. So going fromthe top back down to the bottom
again, like, obviously, I'vedone a lot of H fac, like
troubleshooting and maintenance.
And I've replaced like hundredsof rooftop units and makeup
(25:58):
pairs and air conditioners andall that stuff. So I do have a
good understanding of moststuff. But I still I'm not quite
at the position yet where I cankind of say that I'm really good
at doing H back andrefrigeration.
Jason Cox (26:17):
Well, H back. I mean, correct me if I'm wrong here.
But you're doing a ton oftroubleshooting.
Chelsea Dyck (26:27):
A lot specially like the service side of things.
All troubleshooting all thetime. So essentially, yeah, I
just run around with my meterall day.
Jason Cox (26:40):
You got to know how to use that meter. That's a very
important piece of equipment.
Zack Hartle (26:45):
And we hear about that transition from the
electrical trade into the H rectrade. It's it's almost a common
one, right? If you're thrive inthe troubleshooting of the
electrical trade, then it's agood fit to go into that H vac
refrigeration trade. And there'sno denying that that trade has.
It's such a vast trade just likeour own right, there's so much
(27:06):
to know and understand. So tohave that opportunity with the
same company that you're withand kind of do that dual role is
something that definitely isdesired by many I'm sure.
Chelsea Dyck (27:18):
Yeah, it's, it is so beneficial. Having two
tickets, because so when youget, let's say, for example, for
me, I got my electricaljourneyman ticket, that I'm
going to go into effectrefrigeration, and if I can get
my gas aid ticket or my CASBticket, then technically I can
(27:42):
go and do anything involvinglike gas heating, air
conditioning, electricalfiltration or anything. And
instead of having to send anelectrician, I guess tech and H
back Refrigeration Technician,they could just send one person.
There's a lot more costeffective. And it's better for
(28:03):
time management.
Zack Hartle (28:04):
I think. I just don't even know how you'd store
all the stuff in the van at thatpoint.
Chelsea Dyck (28:11):
Yeah, I might have to get two bands, or trailer, I
can get a trailer maybe.
Jason Cox (28:16):
Great job security, too. If you have more than one
skill set. Obviously, you'd beworking a lot more. Oh, exactly.
Yeah. All right. I have a I havea question. It's kind of off the
board. I was reading online. Isaw your career profile on on a
(28:37):
site called Let's Talk Science.
So it obviously you mentionedthat you have some interest in
science. And the interestingthing on your profile, it says
that you mentioned that younever really wanted to be in the
classroom. And I thought thatwas interesting. And I totally
understand it seems that many,many of our apprentices,
especially in electrical, butprobably in other trades, too.
(28:58):
They like working with theirhands. They like being in the
field, they dread going back toschool. So when I was reading
your profile, I thought, well,here's someone who's who's now
graduated. You're now in anothertrade. What sort of advice would
you give to our apprenticelisteners out there who are
stressed out about attendingschool?
Chelsea Dyck (29:20):
Trade School is a whole completely different
ballgame than high school oruniversity. It's the difference
is insane. So like going to highschool. I didn't enjoy it. I
hated how all the teachers justtalked at you. They didn't
(29:41):
really talk to you. Whereas ifyou go to trade school, your
teachers are skilled people inthe trades of their teaching. So
it's easier to ask questions andhave a conversation with them.
And they can explain to You likereal world? Examples? Rather
(30:03):
than having a teacher who'slike, Yeah, well, I don't know.
This is how you write an essay.
And that's it. You know, it'sjust, it kind of links this,
this physical stuff that you'redoing at work to the technical
things that you're learning inschool. And kind of seeing
everything in a physical world.
(30:28):
And seeing everything on paperreally helps solidify that
knowledge in your head. And it'sjust the relationships that you
have with your trades teachers,compared to your high school or
university teachers, is totallydifferent, because you're more
like, obviously, you still havea professional relationship, but
(30:50):
you have a more peer to peerrelationship with them. And it's
so much easier to learn, andkind of listen to them every
single day for two months. Soand that's the other big
difference between going touniversity and going to high
school is it's only two monthsor a year. So it's if you can
(31:10):
focus, like really focus onschool for two months, then
that's it, you're done foranother year. So except for
electrical modules, three monthsin fourth year, so which is very
difficult. That was hard for me.
Jason Cox (31:28):
Yeah, there's a bit of a transition there for weeks,
nine through 12. For sure. Imean, I think you're correct. I
think that there is that whenyou're talking to your
instructors at St. Neat,wherever you're going, those
people were in your shoes, too.
So you have that you have thatlink, and you can compare and
use examples from industry. Andthen of course to you also have
(31:49):
a whole bunch of people in yourclass that are in the exact same
boat you are. And when I went toschool, we worked extensively
together, my, my cohort ofstudents, when I went to school,
we didn't have 1000s, ofelectrician, apprentices. There
was only a few classes eachyear, so so we would know all
the all each other, and we wouldwork collaboratively to get
(32:11):
through stuff, even if thoseinstructors weren't as nice and
friendly as you portray them.
Chelsea Dyck (32:22):
Yeah, I find like, even being at school, like,
generally, most people reallywant to be there, like this is
the career path they havechosen. They really enjoy it.
And they're super passionateabout learning about the
electrical train. I mean,obviously, some people aren't
super passionate, but I ran intoa lot of people that really,
(32:47):
really wanted to be there. Andit was beneficial for everybody
else in that class, because youhave someone who was really,
really good at industrialinstallations and someone who's
really good at commercial, andthen another who's good at
residential. If you don't have avery diverse skill set, you'll
(33:08):
use there's people there thatcan help you with a real world
example for something likethere's the industrial guys have
probably never, like wired upjust a normal light switch in
your house, or like put in justnormal lights. So there's things
that the people who are morelike well rounded in the
(33:29):
residential side that could helpthem out because I know first
year, you have to do that houseproject where you have to, you
know, draw, or all the lightswitches and the plugs and stuff
go. So if you've neverphysically done that before, it
might be a little difficult foryou.
Jason Cox (33:45):
I know that there's quite a few apprentices and they
actually find their nextemployer while they're in
school. Earlier in the showtoday, you explained that you
have worked in different areasof the trade, how how did you
decide to move from theresidential to the other areas?
Chelsea Dyck (34:03):
I've only worked at two different companies. The
first company I worked for had adivision for everything pretty
much. So that's kind of how Igot all the experience that I
did. I started out doing onething and then either my foreman
was like, Hey, we have thisopportunity and the other
(34:23):
division Do you want to go or Isaid, Hey, I know that these
people are getting some morework and maybe go over there for
a few months. So it wasn't likeI was going to different
companies every year, whatever.
It was just different divisionsin the same company. And then I
went in right after third year,I went to my current company.
And because we have a coupledifferent divisions as well, I
(34:48):
got some more experience thatway. But it was honestly I just
had to ask I just had to say,look, I've done everything in
this Here we have the trade. Ineed something new.
Zack Hartle (35:04):
I think that's one of the coolest parts of the
electrical trade is there's. Soit's such a big trade. I mean,
you say you've done everythingwe all know here that you
haven't done everything. Right?
Like even light switches.
There's a new one every week, itseems. But there is that
opportunity to grow and tochange and what you said there
is you just have to ask, andthat's what you hear we hear
(35:26):
from so many apprentices Oh,well, I've just been putting in
lights for three years. Have youasked to do something different?
Or have you explored theopportunity to go somewhere
else, and I understand how hardthat can be during a, you know,
a little bit of an economicdownturn and everything like
that, but, but that's a greatpiece of advice. And that's, you
know, advice I always give topeople is Ask, ask questions
(35:47):
asked to do something else askedto be moved into a different
area. So the fact that yourcompany had the different
divisions is huge. But I mean,there comes a point that maybe
sometimes, especially duringyour early apprenticeship, it's
time to jump around and see ifyou can find a different
employer to get that experience.
Chelsea Dyck (36:04):
Yes. Even when I started doing service,
electrical, I didn't really,like I was, I had a little bit
of a service background, itdidn't have a ton, but I knew
like, I had a good understandingof troubleshooting. And one
thing that really helped medevelop my skills more quickly,
(36:26):
was I had people from theplumbing and the HX side calling
me and asking me questions. Andif I, if I knew it, I would tell
them exactly what the problemwas, or like where they could
kind of the avenue they shouldtake to find a solution. But if
I didn't know, I just said, Youknow what, I don't know. But
(36:47):
maybe I can call someone or Ican look it up, I can do some
research, and I can find theanswer for you. And that was so
beneficial to me in my learning.
Because if no one had asked methose questions, I would have
had a reason to go and look itup myself and figure it out,
essentially. Yeah, and then nowlike, I'm the only electrician
(37:11):
at my company. So it's kind ofmy responsibility to like field
all these questions fromeveryone and have a solution
because there's nobody else thatcan help.
Jason Cox (37:28):
Different question here for you right off the bat
kind of timely, you're workingfor an H fac company. So
heating, venting airconditioning, that's H fac
Correct? Yeah. What is COVIDmeant to you and to your H back
company.
Chelsea Dyck (37:46):
So all throughout the pandemic we didn't, we
didn't stop at all, there was nooption. Like there was no
ability for us to just close ourdoors and saying no, we can't
help anyone because like we werejust coming out of heating
(38:07):
season, it was just the end ofMarch. So heating season is
ending, we're going straightinto cooling season, we didn't
really have an option to closedown at all because like floods
happen, people's power goes out.
Like you know, like there andyou need, like ventilation and
buildings, you need to have yourMAKE IT BETTER running. So you
(38:28):
can pull fresh like outside airinto your building and make sure
you have enough oxygen. And soCOVID didn't really affect us
very much. But it just affectedthe, like the processes of how
we did our jobs.
Jason Cox (38:46):
Have you been called upon yet for different changes
to filtering and different sortsof sanitary air cleaning with
your company.
Chelsea Dyck (39:01):
There's a few few buildings that we have in
Calgary that wanted the HEPAfilters put in. So we ordered
them and the only issue withthat is they're a lot more
expensive. So a lot of peoplesaid, You know what, let's put
HEPA filters in. That'll helpkind of get rid of like a little
bit of a jersey. It doesn't 100%really do anything. But it
(39:25):
definitely helps. So there was afew people but then a lot of
people couldn't afford it. So itwasn't really an option for
them.
Zack Hartle (39:36):
About the UV lighting. I mean, we talked
about it a little bit on it withour guests last week but just
about the advances in the UVgerm killing lighting that they
can now install in yourventilation system. Have you
seen much of that going in?
Chelsea Dyck (39:49):
Um, we haven't seen a huge like uptick in that.
There's a lot of houses like ifyou have kids with asthma or you
have lots of pets or like your,let's say your elderly parents
live with you and they are proneto getting sick. It's definitely
a good idea to put them in. ButI haven't seen a lot of people
(40:12):
install them because of COVIDspecifically. So but it's
definitely a good idea, like alot of restaurants like they'll
have a huge border, around theirkitchen, all their exits and
whatnot, they'll have those UVlights to just help contain
germs and stuff.
Zack Hartle (40:31):
I mean, on an off note, AI he was the guy last
week was saying that they'relike, some of the bigger
commercial scale stuff justisn't CSA approved yet. But it's
huge in like Chicago and stuff,they're kind of down in the
States, there's, so I thinkyou'll probably see it coming a
lot like on larger scalecommercial jobs as well. So
Chelsea Dyck (40:51):
a lot of it comes down to costs, like there's a
lot of condo companies, likecondo rental companies, that
it's not really in their annualbudget to get more expensive
HEPA filters and UV lights. Andit's condo fees are already very
(41:13):
high in the city, and somethingthat we've noticed, being in all
of these buildings. So it's hardto justify increasing them even
more.
Zack Hartle (41:23):
The fact that you're getting into your second
ticket now is something that'sso cool, how you're still so
passionate about the trades, andyou're kind of expanding your
journey in the trades. I knowyou're spending a lot of time
and putting in a lot of effortboth on your own time too into
getting young people into thetrade and showing them how good
of a career opportunity it is.
Maybe we can just talk a littlebit about girls exploring Trades
(41:45):
and Technology and the skillsalumni group of Alberta, which
we touched on briefly before,but what are you doing with
those groups? And how our what'sthe impact that you're seeing?
Chelsea Dyck (41:58):
For the girls exploring trades, a technology
conference and listening a lotmore girls like, considering the
traits as an avenue that theycan take. And it's not
necessarily like, it doesn'thave to be like a quote unquote,
like manly trade, it can be likefashion design, or computer
(42:19):
design, or baking or culinaryarts or something, it doesn't
necessarily have to be a dirtyjob like electrical even though
it's not very dirty. It's prettyclean most of time, but like
even plumbing, or welding orsomething.
Zack Hartle (42:36):
So would you say it's it's more getting into the
apprenticeship model typecareers instead of college or
university? Right, just anotheravenue to find that career
basically, right?
Chelsea Dyck (42:47):
Yes, exactly. And then with saga, so the skills
alumni group of Alberta,basically, we're just starting
to focus more on professionaldevelopment opportunities for
our alumni. So that includes ouralumni events and our volunteer
(43:08):
opportunities for them. So ifyou compete in a skills, Alberta
competition, or if you evencompete in a, any of the other
provinces or Skills Canada andyou relocate to Alberta, you can
be a part of this group, you canfind us on the skills Alberta
(43:29):
website, it's just skillsalberta.ca. And then even if you
didn't compete in the skills,you can still get a hold of us.
And we can, if you're willing toteach young people and tell them
about your job, you can be apart of our group. And then it's
(43:49):
also it's like a fun and it's alow commitment community. So
even if you have just, let'ssay, one day a year where you
want to come out and do avolunteer event with us, that's
fine. You don't have to beworking every other day, like
for two hours in my like makingup brochures and pamphlets and
coordinating events. It's superlow commitment. And then so you
(44:17):
can sign up for our newsletteras well. It's just on the skills
Alberta website, there's alittle tab for saga. And then a
big thing for us is we're justtrying to help people pass the
competition to help connect withtheir peers and connect with
(44:39):
better opportunities. And whenit comes to trying to
incorporate younger people intothe trade, we're trying to
create that database that I hadmentioned before for people in
the rap program.
Zack Hartle (44:54):
Thanks so much for coming on today. Chelsea just to
talk about your journey throughthe trade and about the
opportunities And tell us aboutthe work you've been doing to
get people, young people,especially, you know, boys and
girls interested in the trade, Ithink that's something that we
all know is a hot topic rightnow about presenting the trade
as an effective alternative as acareer path. I mean, Jason and I
(45:18):
have made something of it, andyou've made something of it. And
the more stories we can getabout how it can be such a good
place to have a career and thenraise a family and make enough
money. It's something we'llnever stop talking about on this
show. If people want to learnmore about the work you're
doing, or if they want to get intouch with you, where can they
find you? Where can they learnmore.
Chelsea Dyck (45:39):
If you want to learn more about the skills,
competitions, skills, Albertacompetitions, the girls
exploring Tracy technologies,skills, exploration days, and
skills, alumni group of Alberta,you can go to skills
alberta.com, there's a lot ofinformation on there that you
(46:01):
can take a look at. If you wantto get a hold of me personally,
you can go to my link in it'sjust my full name is Chelsea de
there's a ton of resources onthere as well. I can see my
Let's Talk Science article. Ihave my videos from the girls
exploring trading TechnologyConference. And then if you have
any questions, you can alwayssend me a message. And I'm
(46:24):
totally willing to help you ifyou have any questions get about
getting into the trades orfinding different options for
yourself.
Zack Hartle (46:34):
Awesome. Well, that's great. Yeah. Thank you
very much. Thank you.
Chelsea Dyck (46:39):
Thank you.
Zack Hartle (46:41):
Thanks to all our listeners for joining us today
on Watt's the Word. We're comingto you every second Monday with
a new episode exploring ourgreat trade. Please Like
Subscribe, listen to the show,share it with a friend. You can
reach out to us on Facebook orInstagram. If you want to get a
hold of us and share your ideasfor future episodes. We're
(47:03):
really glad you joined us thisweek and we're looking forward
to the future shows keepyourself safe out there and if
you can someone else to
Jason Cox (47:12):
very good haha it's not bad. It's really good.
Hello and welcome to Watt's the Word, a show
connecting the electricalindustry through relevant
conversations. I'm Jason Cochranalong with Zack Hartle, we're
hosting passionate members ofthe electrical industry. We want
to hear your stories and learnfrom each other. How's it going,
Zack?
Zack Hartle (00:16):
Going good today Jason, how are you?
Jason Cox (00:19):
Doing great Watt's the Word my friend.
Zack Hartle (00:22):
Today, pretty thrilled we're joined by Chelsea
Dyck. She's a red sealelectrician with a diverse
career from resi to industrialcommercial. Now doing some
service with an H vet companyand actually starting her H vac
apprenticeship. Cool upbringingas an apprentice and a cool
story to how she got here. Nowshe's an advocate for young
(00:44):
women to join the trade as acareer path. So welcome,
Chelsea, we're really glad toGlad to have you here.
Chelsea Dyck (00:51):
Thank you for having me.
Zack Hartle (00:53):
How we start every episode, as we just want to hear
a little bit about how you gotto where you are now, you know,
tell us about yourself and yourbackground. Yeah, let's start
with that.
Chelsea Dyck (01:04):
Well, so my real plan when I had or when I was
going to graduate high schooland wanted to go into the
political field, I was going totake political science in
university. My background beforethat was very art driven. I was
(01:25):
doing like higher level Englishand social studies classes. And
then high school came to an end.
And I realized that maybe Iwasn't 100% sure that I wanted
to go to university for what Ihad chosen. Then I realized,
well, why don't I take a yearoff of school, and all kind of
(01:46):
figure out what I want to do.
Then once I made that decision,I said, Well, I obviously need a
job. I can just been around fora year, like I need to work. So
then an opportunity had come upfor a labor position at an
(02:11):
electrical company. So I tookit, I said, You know what, let's
give it a shot. My mom had beenin that field for a very long
time. So she she said, You knowwhat, just go in, do your best,
you're probably going to be justdigging trenches for three
months or whatever. But it'ssomething so I said, Okay, let's
(02:33):
go and let's see how it goes. Iended up starting at a
multifamily site, they had justpoured the first foundation of
the building. And I did what mymom told me to do. I worked my
butt off. I just did what theytold me to do. And I started on
(02:54):
a Monday and on Thursday, I gotindentured, never happens. It
took me four days and I knewguys that waited till like the
very last second on that. The30th day of the third month they
had been working there. And theygot indenture finally but I
super super rare. But all theforeman and the journeyman that
(03:18):
I was working under they told methat they saw a lot of potential
in me because I worked really,really hard. So then I worked in
multifamily for about a year.
And throughout my journey inthere, I did everything so I
started out with doing the worstjobs, I was just sweeping
(03:41):
floors, I was digging trenches,I was pulling coral lines
through the slab and all thejobs nobody wants to do. And
then I did. I did a few sweetRuffins but I didn't really like
it. So I asked me somethingelse. And then I did like fire
alarm public ran all the hornstrobes and exit lighting and
(04:06):
essentially I did everything andthen I did finishing right at
the end of my first year beforewent to school. And I started
getting a little taste of liketroubleshooting because we
started turning the power on soI can go through and fix
everyone's mistakes. And thenafter that I went to the to
(04:29):
industrial so I was doing likeat Colgate stations. I did a
little bit of industrial serviceand then I went off to to
commercial buildings for alittle bit. And then once I was
done in commercial, I came to docontrols and EMS systems for a
few months. And then I landed atmy current position after that
(04:52):
and I'm just a serviceelectrician for a Plumbing
Heating As an air conditioningcompany,
Zack Hartle (05:02):
that's something we want to get a lot more into.
Because you're kind of workingin a almost a little bit of a
niche field, or with a companythat doesn't typically do
electrical. But I mean, goingback to that first year there,
you were lucky, you saw a littlebit of everything. And I'm
personally I dug trenches forlike 11 months, all I did was
use PVC glue and a shovel. Thatwas all I used for 11 months,
Jason Cox (05:26):
I thought it was interesting that you mentioned
waiting, the typical three monthtime period before you're
indentured and much likeyourself on the same thought
process of of post secondarytraining, you and I would have
been looking at similar courses.
And then I fell into anapprenticeship as well. And at
(05:46):
the three month mark of workingfor the company doing all of the
terrible jobs that I had to do,I was taken into an office, I
had no idea and that was the daywhere they indentured you. So
I'm good for you for being ableto do that so early. And it
sounds like the company that youstarted off with, you're on the
same project for for that wholeyear. So it's so nice to hear
(06:10):
that you were able to getexperience in different areas.
And then of course to I might berambling a bit here. But for you
to be able to actually tell youremployer, you know, I really
don't like doing that part ofthe job and for you to be able
to move on and look at somethingelse. So so we have what an
experience there just to start.
(06:31):
That's That's very impressive.
Chelsea Dyck (06:34):
I think I always say that I got so so lucky with
the foreman that I started withmy first few journeyman that I
started with. I was so fortunateto have them because they were
incredible. I've heard a lot ofstories of like young
(06:57):
apprentices starting and girlsstarting in the trades, and they
got treated horribly. So I gotvery lucky.
Jason Cox (07:07):
Well being treated horribly was I mean, that was
almost a rite of passage,whether you were a man or a
woman, as an apprentice in thetrade. I mean, that's something
that thankfully has changedquite a bit over the years. Just
the amount people were just, Imean, tortured, or, I mean, now
it's against the law now to do alot of the things that they they
(07:29):
used to do to us so so it'sgreat to hear that you had some
really good people training youand obviously they they were
very impressed with your workethic. So so that's that's
commendable.
Zack Hartle (07:42):
Did you know On day four, they pull you into the
office? You know, you've beenyou said your four days? Did you
know then that you wanted tostick it out and be an
electrician? Or were you justexcited that they are willing to
indenture you and saw that workethic but still unsure? Or did
you know at that point that itwas for you?
Chelsea Dyck (08:00):
Honestly, I think like my first day, I was like,
This is awesome. I love them.
Even though I was doing reallyshitty jobs, but it just like,
you guys probably know, I justfeel so fulfilling to like, have
a task and complete it and likesee how nice it is and see the
(08:20):
good job that you did. It's justso satisfying.
Jason Cox (08:28):
Well, I think it might sound corny, but there's
still several buildings in thecity of Calgary that I drive
past. And when I see the lightson, I go Yeah, I did those
lights or, I mean, there wasthere was a newscast on just the
other night that featured aschool in Calgary. And on the
front of the school, there's afiber box and a rigid two inch
pipe. And I'm like, there's mypipe, there's my fiber box. So
(08:50):
there is there is always thataccomplishment that that you can
see from from your work,especially when you can actually
see what you're doing or asopposed to other tasks where you
had a good day of customerservice. I mean, you really
don't. There isn't evidence ofthat success that day. So
that's, that's cool. It's greatto hear that you definitely were
(09:12):
so excited about yourapprenticeship. I remember. I
don't want to tell too manystories here. But I was an
apprentice working for oneperson electric, and I was
digging the trench and I waslike this is ridiculous. Like I
do not want to dig the trench.
And he goes well, you're thelaborer. That's what you do. And
I'm like, okay, and I go, Well,how do I not do this? This is
(09:36):
like, in the second week, hegoes, Well, you have to become
an apprentice. I was like, Okay,and so said, Well, I'll do that.
And so, in time I became theapprentice. And the day I got my
indenture mentor hap or whateverwe call that signed the
contract. The next day, I waslike, okay, so what am I doing
(09:58):
and they're like Well, you'redigging the trench. I'm like,
But I'm an apprentice. And theysaid, Yeah, but we just had to
let our labor go. So you'regonna have to do the job. And
it's, it's funny because I knewnothing about apprenticeship
when I started. It's, it'stotally different. It's, it's, I
(10:19):
mean, that's something for anentire different episode, we
could talk about the lack of howapprenticeship is presented to
students and to kids in schoolor adults, for sure.
Chelsea Dyck (10:32):
That's actually one thing that the skills alumni
group of Alberta that I'm a partof, that's the biggest thing
that we are trying to help, likehigh school students navigate
through, because I've heard alot of stories of people who
they know for sure that theydon't want to go to university,
(10:54):
but they don't know like whatavenue to take after that point.
So we're trying to make it a lotmore accessible for people to
get into the RAP program. Andwe're trying to make a database
of companies that are willing totake on first year apprentices.
Jason Cox (11:10):
So Chelsea, for for those of us that are not
familiar with all the acronyms,can you explain briefly what the
RAP program is?
Chelsea Dyck (11:19):
Yes, so the RAP program is the registered
apprentice program. It's a wayfor you to get a feel for the
trades while you're still inhigh school. And it can replace
your option classes while youcan still continue doing your
core classes. I went to aconference for the Royal Bank of
(11:46):
Canada two years ago. Andbasically the program that they
were doing was called humanswanted. And there was a woman
who owns a carpentry shop. Andshe said specifically, I do not
hire first year because they'rea waste of time. And I said,
(12:11):
Well, how do you expect to havejourneyman or third or fourth
years that know exactly what youwant them to do? And the exact
kind of outcomes that you wantfrom their work without starting
from the bottom and trainingthem to be the journeyman that
you want them to be?
Jason Cox (12:34):
Yeah, I mean, there's a whole lot of investment that
goes into those greenapprentices. I forgot about it,
but for years, the term was astarter. So when you started
off, right, you weren't anapprentice. You were the laborer
or you were a starter. And youknew nothing. I mean, I knew
nothing. I don't know how, what,how I ended up in an
(12:55):
apprenticeship. If you askedeveryone I knew back then that
you're what? Cox is doing anapprenticeship? Are you kidding
me? Like he was going to be ahistory major. Like, I didn't
know how my water my channellocks worked. I was like, these
things don't work. Yeah, I mean,we need to we need to broadcast
trades as a viable option forpeople. And we need. I don't
(13:19):
like you said, I mean, there'sprograms like the ROP program
and other pre training programsthrough some of the post
secondaries. But yeah, peopleneed to be trained, and people
need to realize that it is aninvestment to train these new
workers with the skills thatyour company is going to need. I
(13:41):
mean,
Zack Hartle (13:41):
first of all, Jason, I've never seen you use a
pair of Channellock. So I don'thave proof that you can use them
to this day. Chelsea, what yousaid that you said you're part
of the skills alumni group ofAlberta. Now because I know a
bit about your background, howdid you be commerce skills,
alumni, maybe let's jump back acouple years and talk about that
journey.
Chelsea Dyck (14:01):
When I was in second year school, there was an
opportunity that came up forpeople to enter into the skills
competitions. So for theelectrical trade, there's two
separate skills essentially, wehave trade 18 and trade 19 Treat
(14:25):
18 is a residential slashcommercial installation. And
then we have trade 19, which isan industrial control
installation. And I went intoindustrial control because at
that time, that was thebackground that I was in, but I
had a lot of fun and it was likea great or No, it wasn't a great
(14:47):
it was an incredible way tolearn more about what I was
doing at work and more thepossibilities of work that I can
do in the future.
Jason Cox (15:01):
Sometimes if we get lost in what we're actually
building, right, I mean, ifyou're in a giant building, the
processes might not make sensefor days and days and days,
you're running conduit orpulling anonymous wire, you
don't know how it's all goinggoing to fit together, but in a
skills competition or skillstraining, I mean, I would
(15:22):
imagine that project is prettycondensed, and you can kind of
see the distribution, you cansee the switching, you can see
the, the the outputs, right, soit kind of gives you an idea of
of what you're doing. Yes, itdoes.
Zack Hartle (15:36):
Can you take a second and just describe that
process of competing in a skillscompetition for our listeners
who maybe don't know what thatlooks like?
Chelsea Dyck (15:44):
Skills Canada.
Each province has their owncompetition we do in each
region. So we do regionalcompetition, provincial
competition, nationalcompetitions, and then a world's
competition. I first competed atSait in the regional
competition. And then we went tothe provincial competition in
(16:07):
Edmonton. And it portrayed 19It's a two day competition, that
they all differentiate from eachother. So you can do like
Plumbing, welding, baking,computer design, fashion design.
Basically, every single tradehas their own competition. So
trade 19 is a two daycompetition. We install
(16:31):
everything from start to finish,all walls are blank, we install
our control cabinet, we have toprogram all the inputs, outputs
on a PLC program. And then wehave to verify and test
everything. And I'd say aboutsix hours per day, so you get 12
(16:55):
hours, essentially. And it isvery difficult to finish. The
two days I don't think I've everheard of anyone actually
finishing trade 19 In the twodays, so very difficult. And
then yeah, if you win atprovincials, then you can go to
(17:17):
Nationals. And then if you winthere, you get to go to Worlds,
which is pretty cool. Skills islike an international group, and
they compete all over the world.
It's pretty awesome. It's kindof like the Olympics for trades,
I guess you could say. And thecraziest thing to me is that
(17:38):
skills is only like 17 years oldtill 21 years old. So you're
getting all of these brand newapprentices who are just
starting out in a trade. Andthey barely know anything,
essentially. And they're,they're so smart, and they're so
skilled, it's going to thesecompetitions is insane, because
(17:58):
there's 1000s of kids there. Andthe junior High's and high
schools even come on field tripsthere just to watch everyone
compete. And it's an incrediblefeeling when you see, like a
bunch of junior high kids comedown, and they're like cheering
you on. And it's just awesome.
Zack Hartle (18:19):
Yeah. And also, like, as you said, you're you're
about a second year when youwere doing this, what an
experience. I mean, to get totrain, I know you probably spend
some time training before thecompetition, to even learn all
that's involved in a automatedcontrol process, in order to
wire up all the inputs andoutputs. And then like you see,
even programming the PLC issomething that's unfortunately
(18:42):
almost unheard of, for a secondyear electrician, even most
journeyman don't get theopportunity to actually program
a PLC. So what a coolopportunity. And you mentioned
that the look on the kids faceswalking around. And I guess
that's probably what kept youinvolved with the skills alumni
group of Alberta. You say that'skind of your mission there is to
(19:03):
keep that involvement going pastthat competition.
Chelsea Dyck (19:07):
Yeah, so after I competed, I kept in touch with
the people that organize skills,Alberta. And I was really, it
was a really awesome feeling tobe involved in the girls
exploring Trades and TechnologyConference. It was a really cool
(19:27):
they get like one or tworepresentatives from each trade.
And they have a huge group of Ithink grade eight to grade nine
to grade 12 Girls, and they comedown and we do this is all
happening during the skills,Alberta events. So we get to
(19:51):
hang out with these girls andget to have lunch with them.
They can come talk to us and askus about our career paths and
what we do for work. work. Andit's really cool because when I
was there, there was three of usat the electrical table. So that
was myself and I, at that time Iwas doing service electrical.
(20:12):
And then we had another girl whois, she's the maintenance
supervisor for a big oil companyup north. And then we had
another girl who's an electricalengineer. And so it was really
cool to see people fromdifferent backgrounds. And even
like, there was welders thatthere's people that do like the
(20:34):
pressure welding, there was agirl that did like deep water,
like ocean welding, which Ithought was really cool. And
then we get to take these girlsaround and like show them like,
this is trade 19 This is tradingteam, this is what they're
doing. This is what theiroutcome is supposed to look
like. It was really cool, kindof opening up the conversation
(21:01):
saying like, you don't need togo to university to have a good,
fun, fulfilling, high payingjob.
Jason Cox (21:11):
Yeah, that's, I mean, I've said this 1000 times
outside of the podcast, butyeah, we really need to, to have
society start to open thosedoors and broadcast career plans
for people other thanuniversity. There's, there's
tons of things you can do outthere. And I mean, the best
thing about trades too, isyou're not going to have that
(21:34):
hourly job for the rest of yourlife where you're just a
laborer, right, you anapprenticeship, you're obviously
building up your credential,you're coming out with a
certification at the end, youcan always use that wherever
you're at. I mean, I've nevereven I've been in the trade for
25 years, I've never even heardof girls exploring Trades and
Technology. So it's great, good,good for you for for being an
(21:56):
advocate for that. And thenobviously, with the alumni from
skills to have these twoprograms that helped you with
your career, kind of where youare today.
Chelsea Dyck (22:09):
Um, I would say they haven't necessarily helped
me with my electrical career.
But they've definitely helped mewith my personal development.
And how I kind of view my jobbecause like, there's days where
I go to work, I don't feel likeI'm making a difference, or I'm
actually helping people. Butthen it kind of gives me a
(22:33):
purpose to be like, Okay, well,I had this really awesome entry
into the electrical trade, and Iwant to kind of like, lend a
hand and be like, Look, itdoesn't have to be shitty. Like,
if you need help entering thetrade, or it doesn't have to be
electrical, you can get into anytrade. But if you need help, or
(22:55):
guidance, or you just havequestions, you can ask me,
because I'll be totally honest.
And I'll tell you what it's like
Jason Cox (23:04):
to hear that conversation come from a newer,
journeyman female journeyman,versus this crusty old
electrician. I mean, you'regonna open doors there to your,
I mean, you've got an energy toyou. It's, it's quite
infectious. So
Zack Hartle (23:22):
Justin, we talked about this just before the show,
and I thought your answer wasgreat. And I want you to share
with everyone so do you preferthe term journeyman, or journey
person?
Chelsea Dyck (23:33):
I like to be called a journeyman. Because,
essentially, I work my ass offmy entire apprenticeship. And
I'm going to have the same titleas everybody else.
Zack Hartle (23:48):
And that's, that's a perfect answer. I mean, you
started in the trade. So So, soyoung. And I mean, I know you've
worked very hard and your storyshows itself that you've worked
very hard. Starting so young,and now you're a journeyman and
we'll get into it again. You'restarting even a second
journeyman ticket. Did you facea lot of struggles along the
(24:09):
way?
Chelsea Dyck (24:09):
I don't think so.
Like obviously, stuff is hard.
And people don't treat you thatgreat all the time. But when you
weigh like, the bad things thathappened and the good things,
the good is always so muchbetter. Like I had, I had a guy
just walk up to me out of theblue and just straight up just
(24:30):
said, I don't respect you. I waslike, I was like, 18 years old.
And I was like, what? I don'teven know you. So, yeah, that
was interesting. But at leastagain, I was pretty lucky
because one of my I had a fourthyear electrician working with me
at the time. And he likes aboutfor me you knew like no you
(24:53):
don't say that kind of shit toher like yeah, so and was one of
the guys that just started onour electrical crew as well. But
he honestly didn't last verylong because he had a piss poor
attitude. So
Jason Cox (25:10):
it's funny. I've seen that before in the trade where
certain people just flip aswitch. When they get their
certification, they become ajourneyman. So I don't think
it's as common anymore. But itwas like, You're just an
apprentice and we're thejourneyman. And I'm like, like,
listen, dude, like, this hasbeen my apprentice for four
years. Like, I'm glad you justgot your ticket, but like, show
(25:31):
some, like, we're humans here.
Let's, let's let's treat eachother like humans. Oh, exactly.
Chelsea Dyck (25:35):
And it's like for me, I, the day that I got my
journeyman ticket in the mailwas when I started my H back
apprenticeship. So going fromthe top back down to the bottom
again, like, obviously, I'vedone a lot of H fac, like
troubleshooting and maintenance.
And I've replaced like hundredsof rooftop units and makeup
(25:58):
pairs and air conditioners andall that stuff. So I do have a
good understanding of moststuff. But I still I'm not quite
at the position yet where I cankind of say that I'm really good
at doing H back andrefrigeration.
Jason Cox (26:17):
Well, H back. I mean, correct me if I'm wrong here.
But you're doing a ton oftroubleshooting.
Chelsea Dyck (26:27):
A lot specially like the service side of things.
All troubleshooting all thetime. So essentially, yeah, I
just run around with my meterall day.
Jason Cox (26:40):
You got to know how to use that meter. That's a very
important piece of equipment.
Zack Hartle (26:45):
And we hear about that transition from the
electrical trade into the H rectrade. It's it's almost a common
one, right? If you're thrive inthe troubleshooting of the
electrical trade, then it's agood fit to go into that H vac
refrigeration trade. And there'sno denying that that trade has.
It's such a vast trade just likeour own right, there's so much
(27:06):
to know and understand. So tohave that opportunity with the
same company that you're withand kind of do that dual role is
something that definitely isdesired by many I'm sure.
Chelsea Dyck (27:18):
Yeah, it's, it is so beneficial. Having two
tickets, because so when youget, let's say, for example, for
me, I got my electricaljourneyman ticket, that I'm
going to go into effectrefrigeration, and if I can get
my gas aid ticket or my CASBticket, then technically I can
(27:42):
go and do anything involvinglike gas heating, air
conditioning, electricalfiltration or anything. And
instead of having to send anelectrician, I guess tech and H
back Refrigeration Technician,they could just send one person.
There's a lot more costeffective. And it's better for
(28:03):
time management.
Zack Hartle (28:04):
I think. I just don't even know how you'd store
all the stuff in the van at thatpoint.
Chelsea Dyck (28:11):
Yeah, I might have to get two bands, or trailer, I
can get a trailer maybe.
Jason Cox (28:16):
Great job security, too. If you have more than one
skill set. Obviously, you'd beworking a lot more. Oh, exactly.
Yeah. All right. I have a I havea question. It's kind of off the
board. I was reading online. Isaw your career profile on on a
(28:37):
site called Let's Talk Science.
So it obviously you mentionedthat you have some interest in
science. And the interestingthing on your profile, it says
that you mentioned that younever really wanted to be in the
classroom. And I thought thatwas interesting. And I totally
understand it seems that many,many of our apprentices,
especially in electrical, butprobably in other trades, too.
(28:58):
They like working with theirhands. They like being in the
field, they dread going back toschool. So when I was reading
your profile, I thought, well,here's someone who's who's now
graduated. You're now in anothertrade. What sort of advice would
you give to our apprenticelisteners out there who are
stressed out about attendingschool?
Chelsea Dyck (29:20):
Trade School is a whole completely different
ballgame than high school oruniversity. It's the difference
is insane. So like going to highschool. I didn't enjoy it. I
hated how all the teachers justtalked at you. They didn't
(29:41):
really talk to you. Whereas ifyou go to trade school, your
teachers are skilled people inthe trades of their teaching. So
it's easier to ask questions andhave a conversation with them.
And they can explain to You likereal world? Examples? Rather
(30:03):
than having a teacher who'slike, Yeah, well, I don't know.
This is how you write an essay.
And that's it. You know, it'sjust, it kind of links this,
this physical stuff that you'redoing at work to the technical
things that you're learning inschool. And kind of seeing
everything in a physical world.
(30:28):
And seeing everything on paperreally helps solidify that
knowledge in your head. And it'sjust the relationships that you
have with your trades teachers,compared to your high school or
university teachers, is totallydifferent, because you're more
like, obviously, you still havea professional relationship, but
(30:50):
you have a more peer to peerrelationship with them. And it's
so much easier to learn, andkind of listen to them every
single day for two months. Soand that's the other big
difference between going touniversity and going to high
school is it's only two monthsor a year. So it's if you can
(31:10):
focus, like really focus onschool for two months, then
that's it, you're done foranother year. So except for
electrical modules, three monthsin fourth year, so which is very
difficult. That was hard for me.
Jason Cox (31:28):
Yeah, there's a bit of a transition there for weeks,
nine through 12. For sure. Imean, I think you're correct. I
think that there is that whenyou're talking to your
instructors at St. Neat,wherever you're going, those
people were in your shoes, too.
So you have that you have thatlink, and you can compare and
use examples from industry. Andthen of course to you also have
(31:49):
a whole bunch of people in yourclass that are in the exact same
boat you are. And when I went toschool, we worked extensively
together, my, my cohort ofstudents, when I went to school,
we didn't have 1000s, ofelectrician, apprentices. There
was only a few classes eachyear, so so we would know all
the all each other, and we wouldwork collaboratively to get
(32:11):
through stuff, even if thoseinstructors weren't as nice and
friendly as you portray them.
Chelsea Dyck (32:22):
Yeah, I find like, even being at school, like,
generally, most people reallywant to be there, like this is
the career path they havechosen. They really enjoy it.
And they're super passionateabout learning about the
electrical train. I mean,obviously, some people aren't
super passionate, but I ran intoa lot of people that really,
(32:47):
really wanted to be there. Andit was beneficial for everybody
else in that class, because youhave someone who was really,
really good at industrialinstallations and someone who's
really good at commercial, andthen another who's good at
residential. If you don't have avery diverse skill set, you'll
(33:08):
use there's people there thatcan help you with a real world
example for something likethere's the industrial guys have
probably never, like wired upjust a normal light switch in
your house, or like put in justnormal lights. So there's things
that the people who are morelike well rounded in the
(33:29):
residential side that could helpthem out because I know first
year, you have to do that houseproject where you have to, you
know, draw, or all the lightswitches and the plugs and stuff
go. So if you've neverphysically done that before, it
might be a little difficult foryou.
Jason Cox (33:45):
I know that there's quite a few apprentices and they
actually find their nextemployer while they're in
school. Earlier in the showtoday, you explained that you
have worked in different areasof the trade, how how did you
decide to move from theresidential to the other areas?
Chelsea Dyck (34:03):
I've only worked at two different companies. The
first company I worked for had adivision for everything pretty
much. So that's kind of how Igot all the experience that I
did. I started out doing onething and then either my foreman
was like, Hey, we have thisopportunity and the other
(34:23):
division Do you want to go or Isaid, Hey, I know that these
people are getting some morework and maybe go over there for
a few months. So it wasn't likeI was going to different
companies every year, whatever.
It was just different divisionsin the same company. And then I
went in right after third year,I went to my current company.
And because we have a coupledifferent divisions as well, I
(34:48):
got some more experience thatway. But it was honestly I just
had to ask I just had to say,look, I've done everything in
this Here we have the trade. Ineed something new.
Zack Hartle (35:04):
I think that's one of the coolest parts of the
electrical trade is there's. Soit's such a big trade. I mean,
you say you've done everythingwe all know here that you
haven't done everything. Right?
Like even light switches.
There's a new one every week, itseems. But there is that
opportunity to grow and tochange and what you said there
is you just have to ask, andthat's what you hear we hear
(35:26):
from so many apprentices Oh,well, I've just been putting in
lights for three years. Have youasked to do something different?
Or have you explored theopportunity to go somewhere
else, and I understand how hardthat can be during a, you know,
a little bit of an economicdownturn and everything like
that, but, but that's a greatpiece of advice. And that's, you
know, advice I always give topeople is Ask, ask questions
(35:47):
asked to do something else askedto be moved into a different
area. So the fact that yourcompany had the different
divisions is huge. But I mean,there comes a point that maybe
sometimes, especially duringyour early apprenticeship, it's
time to jump around and see ifyou can find a different
employer to get that experience.
Chelsea Dyck (36:04):
Yes. Even when I started doing service,
electrical, I didn't really,like I was, I had a little bit
of a service background, itdidn't have a ton, but I knew
like, I had a good understandingof troubleshooting. And one
thing that really helped medevelop my skills more quickly,
(36:26):
was I had people from theplumbing and the HX side calling
me and asking me questions. Andif I, if I knew it, I would tell
them exactly what the problemwas, or like where they could
kind of the avenue they shouldtake to find a solution. But if
I didn't know, I just said, Youknow what, I don't know. But
(36:47):
maybe I can call someone or Ican look it up, I can do some
research, and I can find theanswer for you. And that was so
beneficial to me in my learning.
Because if no one had asked methose questions, I would have
had a reason to go and look itup myself and figure it out,
essentially. Yeah, and then nowlike, I'm the only electrician
(37:11):
at my company. So it's kind ofmy responsibility to like field
all these questions fromeveryone and have a solution
because there's nobody else thatcan help.
Jason Cox (37:28):
Different question here for you right off the bat
kind of timely, you're workingfor an H fac company. So
heating, venting airconditioning, that's H fac
Correct? Yeah. What is COVIDmeant to you and to your H back
company.
Chelsea Dyck (37:46):
So all throughout the pandemic we didn't, we
didn't stop at all, there was nooption. Like there was no
ability for us to just close ourdoors and saying no, we can't
help anyone because like we werejust coming out of heating
(38:07):
season, it was just the end ofMarch. So heating season is
ending, we're going straightinto cooling season, we didn't
really have an option to closedown at all because like floods
happen, people's power goes out.
Like you know, like there andyou need, like ventilation and
buildings, you need to have yourMAKE IT BETTER running. So you
(38:28):
can pull fresh like outside airinto your building and make sure
you have enough oxygen. And soCOVID didn't really affect us
very much. But it just affectedthe, like the processes of how
we did our jobs.
Jason Cox (38:46):
Have you been called upon yet for different changes
to filtering and different sortsof sanitary air cleaning with
your company.
Chelsea Dyck (39:01):
There's a few few buildings that we have in
Calgary that wanted the HEPAfilters put in. So we ordered
them and the only issue withthat is they're a lot more
expensive. So a lot of peoplesaid, You know what, let's put
HEPA filters in. That'll helpkind of get rid of like a little
bit of a jersey. It doesn't 100%really do anything. But it
(39:25):
definitely helps. So there was afew people but then a lot of
people couldn't afford it. So itwasn't really an option for
them.
Zack Hartle (39:36):
About the UV lighting. I mean, we talked
about it a little bit on it withour guests last week but just
about the advances in the UVgerm killing lighting that they
can now install in yourventilation system. Have you
seen much of that going in?
Chelsea Dyck (39:49):
Um, we haven't seen a huge like uptick in that.
There's a lot of houses like ifyou have kids with asthma or you
have lots of pets or like your,let's say your elderly parents
live with you and they are proneto getting sick. It's definitely
a good idea to put them in. ButI haven't seen a lot of people
(40:12):
install them because of COVIDspecifically. So but it's
definitely a good idea, like alot of restaurants like they'll
have a huge border, around theirkitchen, all their exits and
whatnot, they'll have those UVlights to just help contain
germs and stuff.
Zack Hartle (40:31):
I mean, on an off note, AI he was the guy last
week was saying that they'relike, some of the bigger
commercial scale stuff justisn't CSA approved yet. But it's
huge in like Chicago and stuff,they're kind of down in the
States, there's, so I thinkyou'll probably see it coming a
lot like on larger scalecommercial jobs as well. So
Chelsea Dyck (40:51):
a lot of it comes down to costs, like there's a
lot of condo companies, likecondo rental companies, that
it's not really in their annualbudget to get more expensive
HEPA filters and UV lights. Andit's condo fees are already very
(41:13):
high in the city, and somethingthat we've noticed, being in all
of these buildings. So it's hardto justify increasing them even
more.
Zack Hartle (41:23):
The fact that you're getting into your second
ticket now is something that'sso cool, how you're still so
passionate about the trades, andyou're kind of expanding your
journey in the trades. I knowyou're spending a lot of time
and putting in a lot of effortboth on your own time too into
getting young people into thetrade and showing them how good
of a career opportunity it is.
Maybe we can just talk a littlebit about girls exploring Trades
(41:45):
and Technology and the skillsalumni group of Alberta, which
we touched on briefly before,but what are you doing with
those groups? And how our what'sthe impact that you're seeing?
Chelsea Dyck (41:58):
For the girls exploring trades, a technology
conference and listening a lotmore girls like, considering the
traits as an avenue that theycan take. And it's not
necessarily like, it doesn'thave to be like a quote unquote,
like manly trade, it can be likefashion design, or computer
(42:19):
design, or baking or culinaryarts or something, it doesn't
necessarily have to be a dirtyjob like electrical even though
it's not very dirty. It's prettyclean most of time, but like
even plumbing, or welding orsomething.
Zack Hartle (42:36):
So would you say it's it's more getting into the
apprenticeship model typecareers instead of college or
university? Right, just anotheravenue to find that career
basically, right?
Chelsea Dyck (42:47):
Yes, exactly. And then with saga, so the skills
alumni group of Alberta,basically, we're just starting
to focus more on professionaldevelopment opportunities for
our alumni. So that includes ouralumni events and our volunteer
(43:08):
opportunities for them. So ifyou compete in a skills, Alberta
competition, or if you evencompete in a, any of the other
provinces or Skills Canada andyou relocate to Alberta, you can
be a part of this group, you canfind us on the skills Alberta
(43:29):
website, it's just skillsalberta.ca. And then even if you
didn't compete in the skills,you can still get a hold of us.
And we can, if you're willing toteach young people and tell them
about your job, you can be apart of our group. And then it's
(43:49):
also it's like a fun and it's alow commitment community. So
even if you have just, let'ssay, one day a year where you
want to come out and do avolunteer event with us, that's
fine. You don't have to beworking every other day, like
for two hours in my like makingup brochures and pamphlets and
coordinating events. It's superlow commitment. And then so you
(44:17):
can sign up for our newsletteras well. It's just on the skills
Alberta website, there's alittle tab for saga. And then a
big thing for us is we're justtrying to help people pass the
competition to help connect withtheir peers and connect with
(44:39):
better opportunities. And whenit comes to trying to
incorporate younger people intothe trade, we're trying to
create that database that I hadmentioned before for people in
the rap program.
Zack Hartle (44:54):
Thanks so much for coming on today. Chelsea just to
talk about your journey throughthe trade and about the
opportunities And tell us aboutthe work you've been doing to
get people, young people,especially, you know, boys and
girls interested in the trade, Ithink that's something that we
all know is a hot topic rightnow about presenting the trade
as an effective alternative as acareer path. I mean, Jason and I
(45:18):
have made something of it, andyou've made something of it. And
the more stories we can getabout how it can be such a good
place to have a career and thenraise a family and make enough
money. It's something we'llnever stop talking about on this
show. If people want to learnmore about the work you're
doing, or if they want to get intouch with you, where can they
find you? Where can they learnmore.
Chelsea Dyck (45:39):
If you want to learn more about the skills,
competitions, skills, Albertacompetitions, the girls
exploring Tracy technologies,skills, exploration days, and
skills, alumni group of Alberta,you can go to skills
alberta.com, there's a lot ofinformation on there that you
(46:01):
can take a look at. If you wantto get a hold of me personally,
you can go to my link in it'sjust my full name is Chelsea de
there's a ton of resources onthere as well. I can see my
Let's Talk Science article. Ihave my videos from the girls
exploring trading TechnologyConference. And then if you have
any questions, you can alwayssend me a message. And I'm
(46:24):
totally willing to help you ifyou have any questions get about
getting into the trades orfinding different options for
yourself.
Zack Hartle (46:34):
Awesome. Well, that's great. Yeah. Thank you
very much. Thank you.
Chelsea Dyck (46:39):
Thank you.
Zack Hartle (46:41):
Thanks to all our listeners for joining us today
on Watt's the Word. We're comingto you every second Monday with
a new episode exploring ourgreat trade. Please Like
Subscribe, listen to the show,share it with a friend. You can
reach out to us on Facebook orInstagram. If you want to get a
hold of us and share your ideasfor future episodes. We're
(47:03):
really glad you joined us thisweek and we're looking forward
to the future shows keepyourself safe out there and if
you can someone else to
Jason Cox (47:12):
very good haha it's not bad. It's really good.
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On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!