Steve Cormier
My insight, or words of advice regarding this program?
A career in Electrical Engineering Technology can be a rewarding and creative pathway for part of your life journey. If you like solving problems for people, this may be the program for you!
My insight, or words of advice regarding career opportunities in this field of study?
In any career path, the more education you have, the more doors that are opened to you. The Electrical Engineering Technology, Electronics Engineering Technician and the Instrumentation Engineering Technician program group provide students with a variety of pathways into the possibility of a rewarding careers working in technology, or further educational pathways beyond the initial program chosen. Both of the technician programs are four semesters of study, and offer the possibility of hands on work in the design, installation and maintenance systems used in computing, telecommunications, networking, process control and manufacturing, just to name a few. The three year Ontario Advanced Diploma (Technology) program provides the foundations for students to possibly work in the fields of telecommunications, power generation, power distribution, process control, automation, the electrical trade and in engineering firms, and more. The successful graduates can also further their education and finish their Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering through articulation agreements with other institutions.
Life can be full of possibilities for the graduates of the electronics, electrical & instrumentation programs at Confederation College.
I hope to see you in one of these programs soon! Please contact me if you have any questions.
How/Why I Become a Teacher
I was working in industry as an Electrical Engineer when I was recruited to fill in for a semester here at the College. As a past graduate of the program, I agreed to help out, given that I had gained some significant experience working in the field. As it turned out, I loved the teaching and hands-on experience for the students here at the College, and I just stayed on. It turned out that I loved to teach and pass on what I had learned to new students looking to start out.
What I Like Most About Teaching
This is a tough question to answer, simply because there are so many positive elements to my job. Definitely, the interaction with the students in class and in lab is the highlight of my daily work.
The biggest highlights of my career as a teacher come when a past graduate seeks you out to share their success stories in their chosen career path, and how their education here played a key part in that success. Oh - and lets not forget convocation, when I get to see my graduates walk across that stage, and shake their hands on a job well done, as they pick up their diploma. These are all emotional highlights that make this career the best one I've had.
Helping people change their lives through learning is simply awesome.
My Educational Background & Qualifications
- P.Eng (Licensed Engineer in the Province of Ontario)
- C.E.T. (Certified Engineering Technologist in the Province of Ontario)
- B.Eng Electrical (Lakehead University 1994)
- Diploma Electrical Engineering Technology (Confederation College 1992)
My Relevant Experience in the Field
My field experience started at a tech firm in Ottawa where I worked in data acquisition and in process testing for clients involved in manufacturing around the "golden horseshoe" , and globally. I later came back to Thunder Bay (closer to home) to work in pulp and paper as an Electrical Engineer. My work mostly dealt with controls, automation, PLCs, Drives and the power systems inside of a paper mill.
My Hobbies & Other Interests
My main focus is on my family, but I love the outdoors. Anything outdoors from skiing, hiking, biking, boating, fishing, camping, travelling. Northwestern Ontario is a great place for any of these hobbies!
Current Courses Taught
- EL 165 Digital I in first semester to all three programs.
- EL 261 Electrical II in second semester to all three programs.