Yellowknife
(March 22)
Fort Simpson's
own Troy Bradbury has good reason to be proud of himself today. He's
graduating from the Power Corporation's Apprenticeship Lineman Program.
"I was just notified
that my marks make me eligible to obtain my Inter-Provincial Seal. I
am now a journeyman lineman," says Troy. With journeyman lineman status
comes a higher salary, the ability to work unsupervised, permanent employment
and further promotional opportunities with the Corporation. Gaining
an Inter-Provincial Seal entitles Troy to work as a powerline technician
almost anywhere in Canada. Where will he be going? "I'm staying right
here in the North with the Power Corp.." says the Fort Simpsoner.
Troy began the Apprenticeship
Lineman Program with the Power Corporation four years ago. He spent
two months of each year in Edmonton, studying at the Northern Alberta
Institute of Technology (NAIT). At NAIT, Troy quickly demonstrated his
aptitude for learning in a classroom setting. "The experience I received
was very helpful and I use the knowledge everyday in the field," he
says. He adds that the math was the toughest part, with a fair bit of
trigonometry involved.
Troy reserves his
most enthusiastic thanks for his co-workers and mentors at the Power
Corporation. "The men that I have had the privilege to work with on
the Arctic Tour were the best, and I would gladly work with them again."
The "Arctic Tour"
Troy refers to is his placement in various locations across the North
to gain wider experience in all aspects of the Power Corporation's workings.
He trained in the communities all across the North, including Fort Smith,
Yellowknife, Cambridge Bay, Iqaluit and at home in Fort Simpson.
Troy's supervisor
Larry Gresl refers to the group of apprentices working their way across
the North as "the A-Team." He says "the A-Team worked under different
journeymen all across the territories to gain the sort of experience
they needed. Troy is the first one of his group to graduate from the
program."
Troy is thirty-four
years old and married with two kids. He says all the travel was hard
on his young family, but worthwhile in the end. He also says that being
on the "Arctic Tour" was a great opportunity to see the diversity of
the North.
The Power Corporation
offers a variety of apprenticeship programs, and Troy says "I'd recommend
them to anybody, any young people thinking of a trade. This is a fantastic
opportunity. The Power Corp. is a good company with a great safety rating."
He stresses that young people thinking of entering a trade like his
should be aware that it's hard work - both physically and mentally,
but that the rewards are waiting at the end.
