Allison Wood is a Red Seal Journeyman Lineman with Niagara Penninsula Energy. The opportunities skilled trades have provided Allison keep her motivated advocating for more people to consider a career as a Powerline Technician and in the skilled trades.
Can you tell us a little bit about what it is that you do?
As a Red Seal Journeyman lineman, my main responsibilities are to safely construct, maintain, and troubleshoot overhead and underground power lines. Everything from building new pole lines, terminating connections in/on new overhead and pad mount transformers, installing new services, and responding to trouble calls during and after hours when needed are a general description of what we do day to day.
What made you first consider that a career in the trades may be for you?
I was lucky enough to go to a high school with a great tech program. In grade 9, I took a class that let us try welding, drafting, wood working, automotive, and electrical. Seeing different trades and the potential jobs available as well as being able to work and learn at the same time with co-ops and apprenticeships made me realize that a career in the trades was a good choice for me.
- How did you know that you we not afraid of working at heights?
During one of my high school electrical classes, we got our lift operator certificate. I was comfortable on the platform the entire time and wanted to test out the tilt function as well but my partner up in the air with me was not keen on the idea. There’s always safeties in place when working at heights so it’s never really scared me.
Allison, you actively support women in trades. Can you tell us about that?
I absolutely support women in trades. Between answering any questions I can to anybody that asks, going to events to show a female presence, and doing articles like these, I think it’s important to show that there are women out there doing typically male dominated jobs. Trade jobs have many benefits from great pay, good work-life balance, and great health benefits that I wish more women knew about. Being able to spread the word to other women and to help out with whatever I can is important to me since there were women who did the same for me and I want to keep the trend going.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Trade jobs are incredible, and I hope that they are seen as a good option for anybody and everybody. There’s far more than electrical, plumbing, framing, and the typical trades you hear about. A bit of research into something that interests you can lead to a job opportunity you might have never even thought about. I hope that public and high schools continue to show that trades jobs are just as good as a university education.
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