It was lights on for Alex Lacasse at the Alberta Skills Competition in Edmonton.
Lacasse, a third-year apprentice at Lakeland College and electrician with Harris Electric, took his skills to the provincial stage at the competition.
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Spending a few days in Edmonton, he gave a rundown of the type of work he faced during the competition.
“Essentially, there was three walls. One for residential, commercial and industrial wiring and they give you a little bit of a schematic and a tool list and you have to figure out all the measurements and lay it out how they want it,” said Lacasse. “You have to figure out the wiring on your own and have two days to do it all.”
He was judged differently each day of the competition.
“First day, it’s basically on your measurements and how much you actually get on the board,” he said. “Second day, it was mainly functionality. If you got all your wiring done and if it actually worked, but you don’t get to test it yourself.”
He said it was a nerve-wracking experience.
“It wasn’t as bad until I got to the opening ceremony and there was like 100s of people at the stage and I was like, ‘What did I get myself into,’” said Lacasse.
He was still working his regular job right up until the competition began.
“I was literally working the morning before I came (to the competition),” he said. “Honestly, I was spending more time just working, I didn’t really have time to train.”
Lacasse still showed up when the time came at his first-ever skills competition.
“It was definitely a great experience, I had a lot of fun,” he said. “For not having an idea and no training whatsoever, third place (is good).
“I never would have thought I would have been representing a college for a skills competition.”
Initially, he heard about the competition through an email, which got him interested.
“I just got an email from the AIT board that said I got considered so I can apply,” he said. “I filled out the form and applied, they sent it over to Lakeland, and David Bates endorsed me.”
Bates also helped Lacasse prepare.
“I contacted my instructor David Bates, and I knew we’d be working with a smart relay. So, I contacted him and asked if he could help me work with one,” said Lacasse. “He let me borrow a smart relay and try and program and mess around with. Just getting used to programming (the relay).”
Bates, an electrical instructor in Lakeland’s school of trades and technology, explained their program sets kids up for success.
“We train these students for the apprenticeship exams, our goal is to make them successful, become a journeyperson,” he said.
He explained much of the experience Lacasse was getting was on the job with Harris Electric.
“That’s where most of the experience comes with the wire installations, running conduit, etc.,” he said.
When news came that Lacasse had won, Bates was thrilled.
“I was very happy, (I) congratulated him,” he said. “We were very happy here.”
Looking back, Lacasse said there’s plenty of takeaways from the event, including time management.
“Don’t stress about it as much, just get your speed up, but manage your time and organization better and look at the broader spectrum of things,” he said.
Lacasse, who is originally from Lloydminster, has taken up residence in the quiet community of Paradise Valley.
“It’s nice and quiet out there, I like it,” he said.
As to what got him into electrical work, he said it was always an interest of his.
“I was young, I was always interested in electrical,” said Lacasse.
A chance encounter when his dad was getting the garage rewired led him to where he is now.
“It was George Coles (Harris Electric owner) actually working (on the garage),” said Lacasse, noting his dad mentioned his interest in electrical.
Coles was quick to put him to work, before offering him a job.
“George wanted me to pull some wires for him through the attic and got back down and he’s like; do you want a job? Since then, I’ve stuck with George Coles,” said Lacasse.
The rest, as they say, is history.
“He bought Harris and we’ve been here ever since. It’s been great,” he said, explaining he’s learned many of his skills under Coles’ tutelage.
Coles had high praise for the young electrician.
“Despite going in completely blind, he was still able to earn a spot on the podium,” he said. “Kudos to him for such an outstanding performance.”
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