Reg Simard, Telecontrol Technician

Essential Service

Essential Service

(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)

"If I didn't do my job, then I guess the Hydro personnel couldn't do theirs, so people couldn't get their electricity. And it seems to be, nowadays, a bare essential.

"So I tend to think that in the big scheme of things our job is very important to the everyday life of Manitobans in general."

What I Do

What I Do

I've been a Telecontrol Technician with Manitoba Hydro for the last fifteen years. My job is to make sure their communications systems are running.

I work on systems for the power plants and customer service stations. My responsibilities include helping Hydro personnel who need communications to do their day-to-day job, whether it's vehicle radios, cell phones or pagers. I make sure all their systems are running properly.

Teacher Too

Teacher Too

It's up to us to educate our Staff on how to use the radio equipment. Our Hydro trucks can all communicate with each other from truck to truck through Radio Repeaters.

But it's knowing how to do the dialing that's the hard part and that's where we come in. We have to teach people how to do this, because often people don't realize what these radios are capable of.

Where I Work

Where I Work

Manitoba Hydro provides power to the province of Manitoba. Its control centres operate twenty-four hours a day to monitor all our stations in the province.

My area is the eastern area, all along the Winnipeg River. There are six power plants plus Four customer Sevice Centers, and Substations and Radio Sites as far North as Bloodvein.

Always Learning

Always Learning

(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)

"We've got a wide, wide range of equipment that we need to be familiar with. So not only do we do maintenance on it, but a lot of times when we do new installations, we've got to find out, "OK, now how does this system work?

"So we're constantly learning and there's never a dull moment. There's always something new happening."

Equipment

Equipment

We cover a wide array of equipment. It's not only the VHF (Very High Frequency) Radio System that we work on. We also have our own Microwave Radio System on the big towers, and our fibre optic system.

We work quite a lot on our own telephone system that runs parallel to MTS's systems. All our Stations and Control Centres are connected together on our own system.

Time to Relax

Time to Relax

My wife is a high school teacher. She's always got her hands full, so I do my share when I get home, because we have to get the boys out to their activities. There are always lots of things to be done.

Friday nights are spent just relaxing, visiting people. It's the one night of the week when we try not to schedule anything.

Love Our Seasons

Love Our Seasons

(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)

"My favourite memory of the spring is just hearing the crows for the first time, or the robins. Then we have such beautiful summers here in Manitoba.

"And the fall time is my favourite season of all. My dad always had a big, huge garden and that's when we always used to put the stuff away for the season."

Active Summers

Active Summers

n the summer time, my boys have a whole new set of activities that keep us fairly busy. We play lots of golf. My youngest son is quite a golfer and he competed in the Indigenous Games this year in The Pas.

We also take my eldest son to different Fiddle Camps and Jamborees wherever we can, so a good deal of my weekends are centred around my kids in summer too.

Hockey and Music

Hockey and Music

My sons have lots of activities going on all the time. My youngest boy plays hockey, plus I'm managing his hockey team this year.

My oldest boy plays the old-time fiddle and he also plays bass guitar for the community bands in Pinawa. At the high school he plays for the Jazz Band and the Concert Band. So both boys keep us very busy.

Learned Work Ethic

Learned Work Ethic

My mom and dad instilled strong characteristics in us. We learned if we had a goal, we had to work hard. They had us helping at home from an early age, whether it was weeding the garden, carrying water or stockpiling wood.

We used to envy the kids who used to be swimming in the summer when we had to work in the garden. Now I appreciate the way my parents did it, because we always had a solid foundation at home. I'm trying to give my sons the same foundation.

Lots of Travel

Lots of Travel

(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)

"We travel a lot. All our stations are so spread out. Our generating stations for example are from Pine Falls right up to Slave Falls."

"Up to Bloodvein, we have to wait for the winter roads to be in. Other than that, we fly in or take the ferry, and some of it is by rail."

Night and Day

Night and Day

There are four of us and we take turns being on-call. That means once a month I carry the pager for a week, 24/7. I have to be ready to go when called upon so I've got to stay in the area.

When the guys that are on-site at one of the stations see an alarm come up with our equipment, they call us and we have to come fix it, whether it's three o'clock in the morning or eight o'clock at night.

Long Trips

Long Trips

Often when we go up to the Interlake, we plan it so that we've got enough work to keep us in there for a week. We go up on a Monday morning and get all our work done and then come back on the Friday.

Inside and Outside

Inside and Outside

Much of my work gets done in the Generating Station's Telecontrol Room. This Room has all the Electronic Equipment associated with that station and is monitored from Winnipeg.

Sometimes we have to go outside and do what we call "sweeping a wave trap". We take equipment out and make sure it's working properly so that we can send the higher frequency tones onto the power line.

My Typical Day

My Typical Day

On a typical day I get out there on site first thing in the morning. I start either Maintaning the equipment or installing commissioning it. Next I make sure it measures up to certain specifications and then get it on-line.

If it's something nice and simple, it will take just a day or two. But if we hit roadblocks or snags and we have to get different types of equipment in to replace it, it can take days.

Think on my Feet

Think on my Feet

Things don't break down too often but when they do, it seems to happen at the worst time possible, like Christmas Day for example.

So we learn to expect the unexpected. Lots of times we're troubleshooting on the spot, so we learn to think on our feet.

When something goes down, we can't leave it go until tomorrow. It's got to be fixed ASAP and we just have to remain as focused as possible on the job at hand.

No Trouble Sleeping

No Trouble Sleeping

(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)

"Well, I'm on a roller coaster right now! Things are very busy at work and very busy at home, so it's a happy medium. I just go from one busy area to another, which is fine.

"I have no trouble sleeping at night I tell you. But I enjoy it. The days go by quick."

Keeping Balanced

Keeping Balanced

You have to keep yourself balanced. You can either focus too much on your work and you tend to forget your family or vice versa.

That's one thing I've learned through Aboriginal Traditional Teaching: you have to try stay balanced, not focusing too much on any one area.

Proud of My Work

Proud of My Work

What am I most proud of was being able to jump right in and do what was required. When I first started this job, we had an old Microwave System installed along the Winnipeg River system, and they just had finished putting the Fibre System in here.

One of my first jobs was getting rid of the old system and putting all our communications onto the Fibre Optic System.

Tackle the Challenge

Tackle the Challenge

It's part of my personality to be able to tackle the challenge and see it through. That's what's required all the time in my job. There are little challenges every day and some major ones too. I see myself as a problem solver - a trouble shooter.

If any of the Hydro personnel have problems, they come to us to help them. About sixty percent of our day is problem solving. The rest is paperwork.

Stayed Focused

Stayed Focused

(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)

"When I got out of high school I went working and doing all odd jobs.

"And it was that that, when I did decide to go back to school really kept me in school thinking, well, if I don't make it in school right now, this is what I go back to: I go back to the diamond drills or I go back to the mine or the sawmill.

"So that really kept me in school and kept me focused."

Returned to School

Returned to School

When I'd decided to go back to school, I started looking for what was available. Red River College had a new project set up to train northerners and Aboriginal people on Technologies. I thought I'd give it a shot.

So I applied and managed to get into the course.

Clear Goal

Clear Goal

Even before I graduated from RRCC, I was focused on getting a job with Hydro. When I graduated from College, I was told to that get on with a company like Hydro, I would have to go north. But that's all part of the challenge.

For the interviews, I did everything in my power to make sure everthing was just right, to better my chances at getting the job.

Overcame Negativity

Overcame Negativity

The newspapers were always splashing negative remarks about Aboriginals. We had to deal with it on a daily basis. Not only the big newspapers in Winnipeg, but even the college newspaper quite often had derogatory remarks.

I felt at times that maybe I was no good and maybe I couldn't succeed. But I also had a strong desire to complete the course and to thumb my nose with the prejudices.

First Jobs

First Jobs

When I got out of high school, I figured I'd take some time off and go do some work.

I worked at odd jobs like cutting pulp, working in the sawmills or mines, diamond drilling, bartending and commercial fishing - whatever it took.

I felt I just wasn't ready for post-secondary school at that time.

Management Courses

Management Courses

I would like to take courses in introductory management. There are other positions in design and technical assistance with Hydro and to get into one of those positions you have to show interest in it.

Taking those kinds of courses shows you are interested and puts you on the road to those kinds of jobs.

Write Well

Write Well

My advice is to develop strong communication skills. I use a lot of written skills on the job.

I didn't think I would, but in this line of work you're always writing letters to let people know what the situation is and what needs to be done and when.

You need to be able to do a lot of that and do it well.

Future Secure

Future Secure

In this information age, communications is only going to become more of a demand as the technology continues to improve.

Ten years ago it seemed far-fetched to think that we would have high-speed internet at each of our sites. It was so far-fetched that we didn't think it was possible.

Now it's amazing how fast and how quickly things have evolved, and it's only going get better and faster.

Physics and Math

Physics and Math

(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)

"Definitely take some physics and math in high school and if you can do it in grades ten, eleven and twelve, then all the power to you.

"The bare minimum for getting a job with Hydro is having your high school physics and math. A lot of young people come and find out later what they should have taken."

No Desk Jobs

No Desk Jobs

I enjoy working out in places where I'm on the road, so I don't know if I could see myself confined to a desk. I'm satisfied doing what I'm doing.

Until we get our kids through high school and on to university, this is what I'm going to do. I'll probably retire with Hydro, likely within the next ten years or more, depending how long I want to work.

Job Market Info

Job Market Info

The links below take you to federal and regional government information on employment, education, salary ranges and long range prospects for this career.

The official name for Reg's occupation is "Telecommunications Installation and Repair Worker or Telecontrol Technician" and its *NOC code is 7246.

Manitoba Job Futures

Manitoba Labour Market Information

Human Resources and Skills Development Canada

*Each occupation has an official name and unique number called the 'National Occupational Classification' code or 'NOC'.

Education

Education

Useful High School Subjects*

- Mechanics/Industrial Arts
- Computer-related courses
- Physics
- Math
- English

*Source: Job Futures.ca

 

Below are links to various programs and courses that will put you on the path to a career in Electronic Engineering Technology.

Red River College
Full Time Day Programs
Then click on Electronic Engineering Technology
Distance Education Programs
Then click on Electronic Engineering Technology

Winnipeg Technical College
Industrial Electronics

Assiniboine Community College - Brandon
Wireless Telecommunications Engineering Technology

University College of the North - The Pas/Thompson
All Programs
Electrical/Electronic Technology - Page 35 of the PDF

Related Careers

Related Careers

Some related careers from Human Resources Development Canada web sites:

Electronic Service Technicians (NOC 2242)

Supervisors of Telecommunication Installation and Repair Workers (NOC 7212)

Telecommunications Line and Cable Workers (NOC 7245)

Professional Associations

Professional Associations

Certified Technicians and Technologists Association of Manitoba (CTTA)
-certifies Engineering Technicians and Technologists in Manitoba

Canadian Council of Technicians and Technologists (CCTT)
- ensures technicians and technologists maintain high standards of excellence

Community Partners

Community Partners

This project was funded by Manitoba Education's Technical Vocational Initiative. Educational and community partners for this project are Frontier School Division and Wanipigow - Hollow Water First Nation. For more information, see below.

The Hollow Water First Nation is part of the Southeast Tribal Council Community. Wanipigow School is located on the Hollow Water Reserve and is part of the Frontier School Division.

The mission of the Frontier School Division is to provide, in partnership with parents and community, high quality education for all students so that they can develop the skills, knowledge, attitudes, and character essential for successful participation in our changing society.

The Technical Vocational Initiative works with education partners, business, industry and labour to develop and recommend strategies that address the six "Action Pillars" that form the core of its mandate. They invite you to visit their website to find out more about TVI's Vision, Pillars of Action and Expected Outcomes.