b'FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, GRAEME AITKENA electricaltechnologyisrapidlycompletebuildingcontrolandautomation.customersin todays evolving market and As ECAO contractors, we know better than mostthatAnd more areas are being developed regularly.tomorrowsunknownlandscape.Wemust evolving. The move to electrificationof cars,Iviewthisgrowthinlow-voltageworkbe proactive in planning and preparing so homes, commercial and industrial spaces andasquitepossiblyourbiggestchallengeinthatwearentjustreactinginresponseto moreis changing our industry dramatically.theunionizedelectricalconstructionandthe current challenges, but ensuring we are Opportunitiesdrivenbyelectrification,maintenance industry.appropriately skilled, resourced and ready to advancementsinsmarttechnology,thelead and succeed. growingdemandforrenewableenergyToensureourfuture,weneedtobecome andelectricvehiclesandthedrivetowardtheleadersintherapidlyadvancingareasConsideringelectrificationandallthatit energy efficiency ensure a robust future forofelectricaltechnology,lowvoltage,fault- means to our industry, we need to take a close our industry. managedpower,microgridsandmore.Welook at what an electrician will need to know. Contractors and their electricians must staymust embrace this advancing technology, goAre the skill sets very different? We cant be on the cutting edge of technology and acquirebeyondourcurrentcomfortzones,engagecertain, but we mustcarefully and with the skills needed to be successful. With theincontinuinglearningandeducationandopen, agile mindsexamine and research. speedatwhichadvancementsinelectricaleducate our customers about these advances.Its my belief that we need to truly consider engineeringishappening,contractorsnew and different classifications of workers Thechangesweareseeingtodayarejusttoperformthisnewwork,allofwhom and their electricians who cannot keep upasnapshotofourevolutioninOntarioswould be IBEW members. Whether LiUNA, withnewelectricaltechnologywillloseelectricity industry. Its critical to note that,carpenters or others, there are many out there work opportunities. while the electrician of 2024 is not the samedoing the work who arent IBEW and, in too We must have the courage to think and actas the electrician of 1984, the electrician ofmany cases, are not electricians.differently, to break through previous barriers2044 will also differ significantly. We can look to change and prepare our workforce to notback and see how much has changed in theThese are difficultbut oh, so necessaryonly embrace the future but also lead it. past 40 years since 1984, and we already seeconversations that will challenge traditional tremendous changeand challengeas wethinking.Perhapsevenmoredifficult Among the many significant changes we arelook ahead. But we desperately need to see andwillbethedecisionsandundertakings.I seeing with the evolution to electrification areembrace the fact that we are in a continuouscertainlydonthavealltheanswers,but the changes in, and growth of, low-voltageevolution. Our engagement with this ongoingwith our collective knowledge, intelligence, work. Low voltage is no longer limited to firechange must be continuous as well.perspectives and experience, I am confident alarms (which, of course, we train throughwe can find them. our CERTI-FIRE program), A/V, lighting,With that understanding, we need to sit down security systems and such. Low-voltage areaswith the IBEW, our labour partners, and getIn so doing, we will have ensured our path nowincludepowerdistribution,switchtoworkonalteringcurriculaandtrainingto a certain and bright future in Ontarios gear, circuit breakers, industrial control andto be able to properly meet the needs of ourelectrical landscape.Ontario Electrical Contractor7'