System Operator - Joshua

From electrician to electrical grid

Two years ago, journeyman electrician Joshua Barbarin was doing wiring jobs in the construction industry. Now he helps run the electrical grid for the entire province of Saskatchewan. It's been a long, challenging and ultimately rewarding journey for the Radville-born Barbarin.

"I just threw my name in two and a half years ago to see what happened, and it's kind of overwhelming where it took me," he says.

Electricity at his fingertips

Though he started as a temporary employee working on a project in Coronach at the Poplar River Power Station, Barbarin soon found himself training under veteran system operators at Regina's Grid Control Centre. Being able to draw on the team's experience went a long way towards getting the proper certification for his new job.

The past three years have gone by really fast.

"The other guys had been through it once, and they told me what it was about, so I wasn't really surprised . . . we've got a really good crew and they're really experienced, so it's been really beneficial for me."

Now, Barbarin is responsible for managing SaskPower electricity output throughout the entire province. The entire electrical system is at his fingertips and it's his job to make sure everything runs smoothly and efficiently.

"Sometimes you've got good days and sometimes you have stressful days, like when there's a storm going on," he says. "I'm pretty awestruck where I am right now I guess. The past three years have gone by really fast."