From apprentice to owner – one alum’s journey to success

From the beginning, Darren Geletchuk understood that a good education combined with practical hands-on experience would help him achieve his goal of becoming a construction electrician journeyman. That is why he chose to take the Construction Electrician pre-employment program at Assiniboine.

After graduating in 2011, he started working at Nickel Electric as a level 1 apprentice and the rest, as they say, is history.

Geletchuk went on to complete all four levels of the apprenticeship program and obtained his Red Seal to become a qualified construction electrician journeyman in September 2014.

A short time later, the opportunity to become a co-owner in the business arose, and today he and his partner share the duties of obtaining and coordinating work for 16 employees while looking after day-to-day operations of the company.

Geletchuk attributes his preparedness for the apprenticeship program to the solid foundation he acquired through the Construction Electrician pre-employment program.

“The course did an excellent job in teaching a basic introduction to the theory behind many aspects of the electrical trade, as well as plenty of practical experience in designing and troubleshooting electrical circuitry,” he says.

“All of the instructors were very professional and very knowledgeable in the trade. I feel they did a great job of ensuring the students had a full understanding of the information that was provided to them.”

Geletchuk still can’t believe how dramatically life has changed for him since graduating from Assiniboine.

His advice to others who are looking to take the program?

“Apply yourself to the program, and you will be successful. Success in the course is essential to success in a career as an electrician.”