Cassidy Venoit

Cassidy Venoit is an apprentice construction electrician working in Victoria, B.C.

 

What trade are you working in? 

I’m in electrical, and my last job was mostly a lighting job.  I was putting the last finishing touches on a commercial site, putting up the lights and doing the wiring.  Electrical has such a wide spectrum of different types of jobs you can do; there really is something in there for everyone.

 

What 5 tools do you use the most?

Cordless drill and impact driver

Crescent wrench or 9/16” wrench

Linesman pliers

Tape measure

Wire strippers

 

How does your trade appear in people’s everyday life? 

To put it simply, we’re the ones who make the lights turn on!  Electrical trades are in your lighting, heat, phones, tv, computer, everything electronic in your everyday life.

 

How did you decide to pursue the trades? 

I was working in the IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers labour union) office, helping out the secretaries, and one of the guys there said, “You know, we’re doing this WATT program, and you’ve got nothing to lose, you’ve only got so much to gain.  You don’t have to pay to take the course, why not?  Worse comes to worst, you have your ticket in electrical, and you can use that anywhere!”  The WATT program provided me with all the basic tools, they set us up with work clothes and work boots.  They help give you a head start, they really support you.

 

What is one piece of advice you’d give someone who’s wondering if a career in electrical is for them? 

You’ve just got to go in and try it.  You never know if you’re going to like something if you don’t try it.  You have nothing to lose, you only have so much knowledge and experience to gain.