UFV sparks successful career for master electrician

Tempted by the promise of a trade in which he’d always be inside and dry, UFV alumnus Martin Mwariga (Cert ’16) set his sights on being an electrician after high school. While that promise didn’t always hold true (he’s found himself working outside in the rain more than once), he found a rewarding career path. At the age of 29, he’s become one of only 1,810 Class A Master Electricians in BC and the youngest member of the leadership team at Modular Electric, working all the way up from apprentice electrician to project manager.

“My favourite part of my job is constantly developing my knowledge base, which is constantly chasing the developments in technology. So there’s not too much stagnancy,” Martin says. “There are always opportunities to self-learn and grow within the trade. We’re pretty fortunate like that.”

Martin holds a Master Electrician’s Field Safety Representative A Class designation, which allows him to apply for permits, submit declarations, and supervise electrical work of any voltage or amperage, while ensuring installations comply with the Safety Standards Act and Electrical Safety Standards. And the need for master electricians will only grow: while an average house runs at 120/240V, amperage requirements have nearly tripled in the last ten years.

“Nowadays with the requirements of EV charging, what we’re bringing into apartment buildings is double, if not triple what they would have done a decade ago. So that means that we have an even higher requirement of voltage coming into the building. Nearly every project now has a high voltage substation in it to accommodate those power demands. I think we’ll probably see the number of people getting the same designation I have going up.”

While demand is changing, the field itself is evolving as well. Martin has noted an increase in transparency and diversity over the years, with less gatekeeping among older apprentices and more opportunities for women.

“Over the years it’s definitely diversified, with more women coming into the trades. I’ve got two daughters, so if the trades are ever an option that they want to pursue, I’m happy to see that we’ve really opened that up in a positive way for them as well,” he says.

“When I first came in, knowledge was something that the older apprentices would safeguard because they were worried that everything they taught you made them less valuable. I think for the most part, we’ve seen that go away. It’s not necessarily a detraction from your value, but more a value added, making you another teacher on that site. So, it’s trending in that manner of everybody looking out for the person next to them and trying to carry them along with you.”

Martin credits his own success to those who pushed him along the way, including UFV instructors Brock Hartman, Joel Feenstra, and Ryan Norwood. Looking forward, he hopes to leave an impact by mentoring others.

His colleague, Christine Lennon of Modular Electric, sees him as an exemplary leader. She describes him as “a prime example of professionalism, fairness, and reliability, setting the standard for how we want to be represented in the field, as well as setting a standard in the industry for professionalism and integrity.”

For new electricians starting out in the field, Martin recommends standing out by staying curious. As an apprentice, he found that someone who is continually learning, teaching themselves new skills, and asking questions will set themselves apart from their peers. And now, as a project manager himself?

“That’s what we look for when we’re looking to hire.”