News Article

As alumni speaker for College of the North Atlantic’s (CNA) graduation ceremonies for Happy Valley-Goose Bay campus earlier this year, Marilyn Michelin, a foster mom of two, spoke with pride of how she achieved the extraordinary feat of being among the first Powerline Technician graduates from that campus to be hired by Nalcor.
 
Her journey started with the Introduction to Electrical Trades program; a joint venture between CNA and the Labrador Aboriginal Training Partnership, which gave students exposure to four components: millwright, electrician, power systems operator and powerline technician.
 
“I always had an interest in it (Powerline Technician), but I just never had the opportunity,” said Marilyn, who knew hands down she wanted to pursue a powerline technician career once she got a taste of it.
 
Marilyn proceeded to enroll in the Powerline Technician program at the Happy Valley-Goose Bay campus as a mature aboriginal student. She graduated in 2012 and is now a first-year apprentice at the Churchill Falls generating station.
 
“Marilyn showed a great desire to excel in all aspects of the Powerline Technician trade,” said Powerline Technician Instructor Ken Lyall. “If additional work was required, she focused on it and with determination and stubborn resolve, and worked to improve. Whenever completing an assignment or project, ‘good enough’ was not good enough for her.  Marilyn always wanted to do better.”
 
After several months of job searching Marilyn looked to her past instructors for advice on breaking into the job market. She was given videos to watch and was advised to re-read her text books.  That determination and stubborn resolve so evident to her instructors during her time at CNA paid off as she soon landed a job with Nalcor.
 
“It’s a great honour to have this opportunity,” Marilyn said. “It comes with a lot of work, and it’s been a struggle, but you push through it if you’re determined.”
 
Marilyn believes she may be the first woman to work alongside the men in the line shop at the Churchill Falls Generating Station, located approximately 240 kilometres east of Labrador City. An increasing number of women are joining this male-dominated industry, but Marilyn wishes there were more.
 
“I take my hat off to women, and to aboriginal women, who are in the trades,” Marilyn said. “I think it makes women stronger.”
 
According to Nalcor’s website, the Churchill Falls Generating Station is the second largest underground hydroelectric plant in North America and one of the largest underground powerhouses in the world.
 
Marilyn has no problem keeping up to the men and says as far as she knows she might also be the first woman to take the hair-raising trip across the Churchill River suspended in a cart. Workers periodically cross the river to change out spacers on the lines, which keeps the conductors from touching.
 
Although she is currently the only woman in the line shop, she doesn’t feel like the “odd man out.” In fact, her co-workers have been quite supportive.
 
“I’ve learned a hell of a lot from them. I am very grateful … they take the time to teach me the ropes.”
 
As an apprentice, Marilyn has spent 13 months in Churchill Falls, learning the transmission end of the business. At the end of August she will be moving on to Happy Valley-Goose Bay, where she will learn the distribution aspect, and remain there for the duration of her apprenticeship.
 
Upon completion of her apprenticeship, Marilyn plans to earn her Red Seal certification in her trade. Her ultimate goal is to gain full time employment with Nalcor as a journeyperson.
 
And while many graduates of trades programs choose to head west to Alberta to look for jobs in their field, this is not the case for Marilyn who used her knowledge and skills to find a job in Newfoundland and Labrador.
 
“I am a foster mom, and I didn’t want to move the girls. This is where we are from and we want to stay here.”
 
Due to the forecasted demand for powerline technicians, CNA now offers the Powerline Technician program at four campuses; Bay St. George, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Seal Cove and St. Anthony. For more information about the Powerline Technician program visit www.cna.nl.ca.
 
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Media Contact:
Glenda McCarthy
Public Relations Specialist
College of the North Atlantic
709.643.6408
glenda.mccarthy@cna.nl.ca