Alexander Deschamps was a 4th class power engineer with 10 years of experience in the oil and gas industry when he enrolled in the second year of Lakeland College's process and power engineering program. He'd been struggling to find industry work and decided completing his 3rd class might open more doors.

“I kept looking for work,” he explains. “I probably dropped off 100 resumes and I couldn't get anything. As soon as I signed up with Lakeland, I had options. It opened a bunch of doors.”

Deschamps had enrolled in the 4th Class steam lab course at Lakeland over the summer, attempting to bolster his credentials. It was his instructors who first suggested joining the 2nd year of the PPE program to earn his 3rd class.

“I enjoyed the steam time instructors,” Deschamps says. “They told us that if we joined the program in the second year, we'd get practicum time and graduate with our 3rd class, which is a tremendous advantage in the industry.”

It did mean time away from home, but it was a sacrifice Deschamps, who is from Regina, Sask., says was worth it.

“The experience has been great. It's tons of hands-on experience. I like hands-on learning because it connects what I learn from the books to the lab,” he says. “You come out with your full 3rd class and a practicum experience, which is why I came. It's eight months away from my home (plus a 3 month practicum), but in the long run, it's totally worth it. It opens all the doors that weren't open initially.”

Deschamps worked with his instructors to find a practicum placement that supported his career goals: to stay in the oil and gas industry. He enjoys the industry, the flexibility of the work, and the work-life balance it provides.

“The Energy Centre is great. Everyone is just so full of knowledge. You come out with a tremendous advantage over other students who don't have all these tools to work with.”

Photo: Kouassi Dominique N'Dri (left) and Alexandre Deschamps (right).