Dan Martin, Senior Mechanical Technician

Important work

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"What's important about my work? I want to make sure that all 10 units are running here. The power I'm producing is enabling us to have one of the lowest electrical rates in North America.

"It's nice to know that they can count on me, and it's nice to know that when something goes wrong within the station, a lot of people refer to me. I really take pride in that because it shows that they actually feel that I'm competent enough to be given that type of responsibility."

Workplace images

Manitoba Hydro

Manitoba Hydro does all of Manitoba's hydraulic and steam plant generation. We contract out wind generation and buy wind power from wind farms in the south. We also acquired Centra Gas services a few years back, so we have natural gas as well.

We have approximately 5,800 employees overall. At the Limestone Generating Station itself we have about 32 employees.

Quality control

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"My key task is to ensure the reliability of the Limestone Generating Station as a whole. I take care of the mechanical maintenance aspects. As a senior role, I have to make sure that everybody in my charge is doing their job safely and to the standards that are required.

"I'm also tasked to make sure that any trainees as they are rotating through my station are getting the training that is required and that they should have in order to become fully qualified technicians when they are fully done their four-year training term."

Continuous learning

Manitoba Hydro is an excellent employer for on-the-job training and professional development. They will give you required training and support continuous learning.

A lot of the equipment I work with has existing parameters and instructions for maintenance, but it's always a treat when you get something new and you get to install it yourself. Now that I'm in a more senior role I am learning more office technologies and software for management.

Industrial technologies

Working in a hydroelectric facility we use a lot of heavy industrial technologies such as overhead cranes, forklifts, portable work platforms, hydraulic and pneumatic cylinders, and a lot of pumps.

This work is less computer-oriented and more mechanical, but our training plans allow us to focus on both mechanical and computer related learning.

Up to date

Since we are a younger generating station, much of the equipment is new. But many things can become obsolete within a short time.

I have to do a fair amount of reading and researching to keep up to date with provincial standards and keep everything maintained. I make sure that everything is up to standard within the plant, which involves doing a lot of scientific and mathematical calculations and calibrations.

Growing up in Gillam

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"I was born in Brandon, Manitoba but I have actually lived in Gillam my whole life.

"My father started here in the 1960s before Kettle Generating Station was built. He and his supervisor would walk from town down the 12 miles to the train station and do water readings until the tent camp went in in the fall. So I didn't really have much of a choice coming to Gillam, but I am happy that I am here."

Childhood challenges

My parents raised four kids on one income so there were some challenges. It wasn't so easy to have the latest of everything so I learned early on to value the little extras in life. As children, my brother and I enjoyed fishing. When we were a bit older we got out ski-dooing.

High school was good, but being this far north we didn't have a football team or a lot of the extra-curricular activities you find in larger communities.

Family man

My greatest accomplishment is finding a woman who wanted to move all the way up here. We've been married seven years this year, but she's been with me for nine. We have two sons, 2 and 4 years old.

I am a very family-oriented person. My kids are everything. I also wanted to make sure they got a healthy respect for the outdoors so I'm happy that my wife decided to come up to Gillam and spend her life with me up here.

Enjoying the outdoors

I like to hunt in the fall and fish during the summer. We have access to a cabin out on the lake and I'd like to spend more time up there.

In the spring we always take a family canoe trip down the river diversion and do a lot of things that involve the outdoors.

When you're this far up into the bush you want to take advantage of what you have.

Manitoba life

One of the best things about living in Manitoba is being able to walk right out my back yard and enjoy so much space. It's not like in the cities where you're surrounded with private property.

Manitoba is where I was born, and it has everything here that I like to do: hunting, fishing, trapping, outdoors environment. And I have been working for 14 years with Manitoba Hydro. They're a good corporation and that's where I want to be.

Longer work day

I'm full time so I work 7.35 hours a day. But in Gillam there is an additional letter of understanding with the union* and Manitoba Hydro for a guaranteed 15 hours of overtime bi-weekly. We get this as long as we work it, so our start time is actually 7:30 a.m. and our quit time is close to 5:00 p.m. That works out to 8.85 hours a day.

*Note: The union representing Manitoba Hydro workers is the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

Emergency standby

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"There will be one person on standby each week. We rotate that, and if you're called in, then that would be an emergency situation, and you're expected to get there.

"The only reason you'd probably be called out is if one of the units was down and your imperative is to get that unit up and running. So, there is a chance that you may become a little bit stressed out over that."

Flexible hours

We have flex time which was instituted with Manitoba Hydro to allow us to change our hours. If I want to come to work a half an hour earlier to leave a half an hour earlier I can do that.

But my co-workers and I didn't see any merit in doing that since so many of us live so far from town and travel together. We're still going to get home by the same time every night. With our current schedules and the travel allotment, it didn't make sense.

Taking time off

I don't get a lot of vacation time but we have extra mechanical technicians and electrical technicians, so planning a few days off is relatively easy. I can make plans as long as there is somebody to cover for me when I'm off and it's not during annual maintenance periods.

It's also very flexible if I'm sick. I may need a doctor's note but it's not difficult to schedule time off if I need it.

Comfortable pace

The pace of work is moderate. It's not laid back but it's also not high pressure.

There are instances where I may have to encourage somebody to speed things up, but it's generally very manageable. If somebody isn't able to complete the work I've asked within the timeframe, I just ask for their reasons.

Really, the only pressure is the pressure I place on myself.

Responsible for crew

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"My official job title is a Senior Mechanical Technician. I have a crew of about 14 guys. Some of them are in the control room and some of them are in the shop. I take care of planning the work for them, making sure that everything is going as planned.

"I ensure that the work's getting done and ensure that the people get the training that they require."

Detail oriented

I'm a very detail-oriented person. That's important for maintenance, and especially for when I'm trying to teach somebody something.

Troubleshooting is also really important. For example, if a pump goes down, I have to know whether it's because the foot valve is gone or because the pump is shot or because the valves are out of order. I have to think quickly.

Positive attitude

I think a lot of stress is self-inflicted. It really has to do with how you handle individual challenges.

I tend to deal with one thing at a time and keep moving along. If somebody on my team can't get something done, I can help them pinpoint areas that they can do to move on.

In this job, you need to be able to take a situation and turn it around. It works out a lot better if you focus on the positives and you're able to reduce that stress.

Myths about the job

One of the biggest misconceptions about my job is that I'm simply a mechanic tinkering with pipes, and that there's no sophisticated thinking involved. This job involves a lot of high level problem solving, trouble-shooting, scientific knowledge and mathematics.

Another myth is that once you've got a job with Manitoba Hydro you're set for life. The reality is that this job requires constant ongoing professional learning and accountability.

Balancing act

At the end of the day, I say to myself, "What happened at work stays at work." When I come home and greet my kids at the door I remind myself that they're the reason I do what I do.

It's sometimes a balancing act between home and work because I work long hours. I don't take my work home, but I don't always have as much time as I'd like.

With honours

I graduated from grade 12 in Gillam with Honours. I was one of the 21 most mathematical students in Manitoba and was invited to take part in a math symposium, which was sort of "geekish."

I took two years of mechanical engineering in university. I got a lot out of it but I learned it wasn't the career path that I wanted so I took four years to do my millwright certificate. I've also completed a certificate in Wastewater Management and Domestic Water and Distribution Management.

Supportive parents

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"I had taken two years of engineering, and part of that was my own feeling that I had to do that in order to make my parents happy.

"After my second year, I had come back and I said that it wasn't making me happy and they were able to understand that. And they said that they weren't pushing me in order to become an engineer; they were pushing me to choose what I'd really like to be, and they were most happy that I was able to sit down and actually decide on my own which career path I was looking for.

"When Hydro came along, it's where I wanted to be. If you're working with Hydro you have a set lifestyle, you have a very positive career choice."

Hands-on family

My whole family has worked with their hands. My great grandfather was a blacksmith, my grandfather was a mechanic by trade and my father is also very hands-on. It runs in the blood.

My dad is one of 16 kids so I have a lot of aunts and uncles who are interested in the mechanical aspect of things.

Summer jobs

When I was younger I took a summer job at the Kinsmen Kinnette Club of Gillam. We put up a BMX park for the kids and took care of a mini-putt golf course. I also had a job doing summer road maintenance and school maintenance for the government. I had a pretty good tan doing that.

Another summer, I had a job at our grocery store, the Gillam Co-op. I worked as a cashier, a bagger, a stock boy and other odd jobs. After university I was a waiter and short order cook at the Aurora Gardens restaurant.

Many years with Hydro

This will be my 14th year with Manitoba Hydro.

I started out as a mechanical technician-in-training. That was a four year indentured apprenticeship through Manitoba Hydro that included training at Limestone, Radisson, Selkirk and Seven Sisters generating stations.

I spent two months of those four years at Keewatin Community College in The Pas, now called University College of the North. In the fourth year I got my Red Seal and became a ticketed industrial mechanic millwright.

Career goals

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"I would like to be a supervisor within Hydro. Right now, I'm leaning more towards that. As a senior mechanical technician, you do a lot more supervisory than you do mechanical.

"Long term - perhaps even a plant manager. Becoming a plant manager requires a lot more schooling, a lot courses within the university, so you're always having to learn."

Taking care of my family

What I want most in life is to live a long life and enjoy success in my career.

But most importantly, I want the best for my family. To see that my family are well taken care of and that my kids have everything they need for the future.

They are the reason I head off to work every day.

Travel plans

If I were to travel anywhere outside of Canada I might like to go to Africa. My mother has a cousin in Namibia. My wife loves elephants and giraffes so I know she'd love that too.

My mother's other cousin is in Australia, which would also be a wonderful place to see. But in the near future, I want to do something fun for the kids. We're already saving up for a trip to Walt Disney World. We'll take them there once they're old enough to remember it.

Stable industry

The future outlook for Manitoba Hydro is very strong. Everybody needs energy. That's not going to change. And Manitoba Hydro has a solid history.

There are all kinds of new developments and integrations with newer forms of energy, like wind farms. It's a good place to be.

Educated decision

My advice for students considering this career is not to think of being a mechanic as an easy way out. You should take it seriously and make an educated decision about where you want to go with your life.

You will have to do well in school. You'll need math and physics and you have to deal with people.

It's not just about being able to grab your tools and go off to work. You need to be able to learn new things.

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 title for Dan's occupation is "Mechanical Engineering Technician" and its NOC* code is 2232.

Job Futures

Working in Canada Career Research Tool

Education

Useful High School subjects

- Math
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Drafting
- Blueprint Reading

*Source: JobFutures.ca

For those out of school, Adult Learning Centres can help you get or upgrade your high school diploma, including adding subjects that are required for work or further education. All Manitobans are normally entitled to 4 free courses.

Below are links to various programs and courses that will you on the path to a career as a Mechanical Technician:

See also Careers at Manitoba Hydro for information about trades training programs.

Colleges & Universities

Red River College

Advanced Diploma in Technology Management

University College of the North - The Pas/Thompson

Course Catalogue
Civil/CAD Technology (p 33)
Apprenticeship Training ( p 28)

Essential Skills

The most important Essential Skills* for Dan's and other related occupations are:

- an aptitude for mathematics, statistics and science
- computer skills
- excellent communication skills
- the ability to work independently or as a team member

*For more information on Essential Skills and their importance to this occupation, go to: Essential Skills

Professional Resources

Certified Technicians and Technologists Association of Manitoba (CTTAM)
Certifies Engineering Technicians and Technologists in Manitoba

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

International Brotherhood of Electricians Local 2034
2700 member union local representing employees of Manitoba Hydro in Gillam.

Related Careers

Utilities Managers (NOC 0912)

Machinists and Related Occupations (NOC 7231)

Drafting Technologists and Technicians (NOC 2253)