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Female apprentice proud to blaze new trailElectrician ApprenticeShe's seen only one other female electrician since beginning her apprenticeship, but that doesn't bother Jennifer Linden. She's proud to make her mark in a non-traditional career and hopes others will follow in her path. LINDA WHITE |
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 [ 2005-11-16 ] |
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"I love it. It makes you feel good because everyone knows your name," says the 31-year-old Courtice resident. "They all know the only girl on site is Jenn.
"The first day I walked on site, the general manager told me to let him know if anyone bothers me, but I've never had a problem."
As the daughter of an Ojibwa from Manitoulin Island, Linden could be blazing other trails as well. "I'm very proud of my heritage," she says. "I haven't seen any other (First Nations) since I started my apprenticeship."
Linden had taken some electrical courses at high school but switched her major to automotive. After graduating, she worked as a lawn technician, mechanic's assistant and bartender. When a girlfriend signed up for a building and maintenance program at Durham College, Linden decided to tag along.
"She didn't want to be the only girl, so I signed up for the course too."
The program introduced Linden to a variety of trades, including plumbing, dry walling and bricklaying. "We did two-week placements for each trade, but I ended up spending four weeks at my electrical placement. It was the best of all I did. I knew I wanted to be an electrician."
Linden is an apprentice with Oban Electric Ltd., which is retrofitting the former Tip Top Tailor building at Bathurst Street and Lakeshore Boulevard in Toronto into lofts.
"We gutted the building," Linden says. "I did some rough-in and am now doing finishing work. That involves making sure the lights work and getting the units ready for people to move in."
She's a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 353 Ontario. "I take all my safety training and schooling through the union. It's really big on safety training. It doesn't want you to endanger yourself or anyone else ... I enjoy working high-rise. I can't wait to get on the slab and put on my safety harness."
She's been putting in long days, taking night school classes after full days on the job. She returns to trade school in March for two months and is looking forward to completing her apprenticeship in another year and a half.
Learning on the job alongside experienced journeymen has been invaluable. "I especially like working with the older guys," Linden says. "They explain everything to you and really care. They like to switch you up so you're working with different electricians on the team. That's really good because you learn different tricks."
Linden enjoys the satisfaction that comes with seeing a job well done. "My oldest brother is a carpenter and my dad has always dabbled in the trades. I did the basement with him a few years ago and really enjoyed it," she says. "You drive by a building you worked on and feel that sense of accomplishment. It's a great feeling just to turn on a light switch and see that it really works."
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PROFILE
Name: Jennifer Linden
Occupation: Electrician Apprentice
Training: Oban Electric Ltd.
QUICK FACTS
Apprenticeship training is a combination of on-the-job learning and in-class instruction. Apprentices earn a salary for the work they do. Their salary increases in step with their increased knowledge and skills.
-- Information from the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities
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