Testimonials from former Aboriginal summer students

Laura
John
Amber
Ashley
Nathan
Tara
Larson

Laura

2009 Summer Student; Metis

Education:

Studying Environmental Earth Sciences

Summer Job:

Assist with landowner and community consultation and project planning; based in Edmonton

Why did you apply for ATCO Electric’s Aboriginal Summer Student program?
I’d heard ATCO Electric was a good company to work for and I definitely agree. As a summer student, I’m getting excellent experience both in the office and in the field. The program is a great opportunity to learn and get valuable, hands-on work experience.

How did the program support your career goals?
It definitely provided me with great work experience. I really like the work they do here.

What do you value about ATCO Electric as an employer?
I value their safety policy and their willingness to provide me with as much experience as I want. I make the opportunities for myself – and I like that.

Describe the program in 25 words or less.
I describe it as an excellent learning opportunity for students to get practical work experience toward future opportunities and educational goals.

Would you recommend the program to others?
Definitely.

Note: Since finishing the summer student program, ATCO Electric has contracted Laura as an Assistant Right-of-way Planner.

John

2009 Summer Student; West Point First Nation

Education:

Working toward a Native Studies degree

Summer Job:

Help manage data regarding the company’s forest and vegetation management program; based in Edmonton

Why did you apply for ATCO Electric’s Aboriginal Summer Student program?
I have some forestry experience and wanted to take that experience and apply it to working at ATCO Electric. I had heard positive things about ATCO Electric.

How did the program support your career goals?
I’m learning new transferable skills that can be applied here and elsewhere. There’s a lot that needs to be done in my home community, where we need people trained in forestry management and land use management. What I’m learning at ATCO Electric, I can apply back home.

Describe the program in 25 words or less.
Valuable asset for both Aboriginal communities and ATCO Electric. ATCO Electric gains viable employees willing to work and learn new job skills. The student will gain a good employer and job skills they can use further down the road. With that, it can create more opportunities for Aboriginal people.

Would you recommend the program to others?
Yes.

Amber

2009 Summer Student; Metis

Education:

Studying Occupational Health and Safety

Summer Job:

Help administer and audit corporate health, safety and environment programs; based in Edmonton

How did ATCO Electric’s Aboriginal Summer Student Program support your career goals?
Everything I did was directly related to the program that I’m taking at school. It was nice to finally utilize some of the knowledge that I’ve obtained.

What do you value about ATCO Electric as an employer?
I feel that they value their employees. Everyone has made me feel really comfortable: I’m not just a summer student, I’m an equal. It’s a really wonderful company to work for.

Describe the program in 25 words or less.
It was an excellent opportunity, there’s no other way I can describe it. It was beyond my expectations.

Would you recommend the program to others?
Absolutely.

Ashley

2009 Summer Student; Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation

Education:

Working toward a Bachelor of Education

Summer Job:

Various office duties including filing and data entry; based in Grande Prairie

Why did you apply for ATCO Electric’s Aboriginal Summer Student program?
I have experience working in offices, and I thought working here would be a great opportunity to learn how ATCO Electric works. What they do is really interesting.

How did the program support your career goals?
Working here has taught me a lot about teamwork and has helped me work better with people. They really make you feel part of the group.

What do you value about ATCO Electric as an employer?
I always tell my friends and family how ATCO Electric really values safety. I’ve never worked for another company that really valued safety with their employees. And it’s a team-oriented environment.

Describe the program in 25 words or less.
Great learning experience for one to participate in because it helps you learn the importance of teamwork and safety.

Would you recommend the program to others?
Yes, I definitely will.

Nathan

2008 Summer Student; Metis

Education:

Studying Telecommunications Engineering Technology

Summer Job:

Maintain telecommunications sites and other technical and operational work; based in Vegreville

Why did you apply for ATCO Electric’s Aboriginal Summer Student program?
I was very interested in working with ATCO Electric. I heard they had a good track record, and I had won the ATCO Electric Aboriginal Tech Award at NAIT.

How did the program support your career goals?
In general, it was a very good program that helped me jump-start my career.

What do you value about ATCO Electric as an employer?
I value that they are very safety oriented. They really want you to go home to your family at night, so that’s a bonus. As well, they treat you with respect.

Describe the program in 25 words or less.
Great program that provides a lot of great opportunities and allows you to see what ATCO Electric has to offer.

Would you recommend the program to others?
Definitely.

Note: Since finishing the summer student program, Nathan has joined ATCO Electric permanently as an entry-level Telecommunications Technologist.

Tara

2008 Summer Student; Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation

Education:

Working toward a combined Bachelor of Arts – Native Studies and Bachelor of Science – Environmental and Conservation Science

Summer Job:

Compile community information and various office and operational work; based in Valleyview

Why did you apply for ATCO Electric’s Aboriginal Summer Student program?
My work experience has primarily been for First Nations, so I wanted to gain a different point of view and work experience in a different area. The other big draw was that I could work out of the Valleyview office, and that’s right beside my home community. I could go home for the summer and still work for ATCO Electric, and that was really great.

How did the program support your career goals?
I knew working in consultation was a really good fit for me. But I am more aware now of other career possibilities that I may not have been aware of when I was living and working in my community.

What do you value about ATCO Electric as an employer?
The company really understands the importance of good relationships with the communities that we work with. It’s such an important part of how we do business, and that’s what I value the most.

Describe the program in 25 words or less.
An amazing opportunity and a really great experience because – I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again – it’s the people you work with. They have amazing people, and that’s worth more than money or anything like that.

Would you recommend the program to others?
Absolutely.

Note: Since finishing the summer student program, Tara has joined ATCO Electric permanently as a Consultation Advisor in Aboriginal Relations.

Larson

2008 Summer Student; Samson Cree Nation

Education:

Working toward a Bachelor of Technology – Technology Management

Summer Job:

Assist with Aboriginal relations and consultation; based in Edmonton

How did ATCO Electric’s Aboriginal Summer Student Program support your career goals?
The experience I gained working with the First Nations as part of a well-respected company like ATCO helped me get the position I have today.

What do you value about ATCO Electric as an employer?
The experience I got. And the exposure I got from ATCO Electric being a well-respected employer and one of the biggest employers in Alberta. I value that I can have that on my resume – that I worked for ATCO.

Would you recommend the program to others?
Absolutely.