Callum Tio

About me

I was born/grew up in: I was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba and grew up in Chilliwack, British Columbia.

I now live in: North Vancouver, British Columbia

I completed my training/education at: 

I started my post-secondary education at British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) by completing a Human Resources diploma. A few years later I returned to BCIT for a Business Administration degree.

Later in life, I became an Electrical Apprentice and again returned to BCIT for my training to become a Red Seal Electrician.

I have also taken many additional courses and training opportunities throughout my career. I love pursuing opportunities to learn new skills or reinforcing existing skills.

What I do at work

My main role at Seaspan Shipyards is to make sure our Electrical team is prepared and trained to meet the installation and quality standards we have for building ships.  This is important because these ships will be used to carry crew and specialized equipment that will be supporting Canada in many areas.

My current role involves taking Engineering Standards and changing them into work installation instructions. I then develop lesson plans based on the work instructions. These lesson plans combine classroom time and hands-on practice. The lessons are used to instruct our Electrical Teams on what they need to do when working on site. The Electrical Team has to take courses that range from installing wireways and cables, to terminating and testing the installation.

I work with many of Seaspan’s departments to ensure information is accurate and timely. These include Human Resources, Safety Department, Designers, and Engineers.

STEM and specifically Math are a constant presence in most trades, including Electrical. Knowing how, when, and why to utilize that math is an essential part of my position. Being able to communicate with others is equally important!

My career path is

I am where I am today by always being open to learning new skills, and not being satisfied with the status quo. It is also by challenging myself to achieving new goals.

I never thought I would be in this position when I was younger. I learned throughout my career that long term plans and goals will change over time. The important part is that you are growing, gaining new skills, and being open to new challenges. 

I have had many jobs and roles. I have been a cook, a restaurant manager, and a Human Resources practitioner. I have been an English teacher, an electrician, and a project manager/estimator. All those jobs and roles have taught me something and are valuable in different ways.

I am motivated by

I am motivated by helping the people around me achieve success. This could be by providing information, or by training someone on how to do something new. It could even include researching new and innovative processes or technologies to make their jobs easier.

I enjoy the ever-changing and challenging nature of shipbuilding. I feel I have found a role where I can combine many of my interests, educational background, and experiences.

How I affect peoples’ lives

I believe in servant leadership. This means that I look at the needs of the people I lead. I do what I can to help them develop and do their job as well as they can. In my role, I provide information and training to teams and individuals and reduce as many barriers as possible to help them complete their work. As a leader within Seaspan, the first and most important role is putting safety first. Safety considerations are at the forefront of all the decisions we make. If safety is considered, barriers are removed, and the tools, materials, and training are provided, then I feel everyone at the site will have personal job satisfaction.

Outside of work I

I relax by spending time with my family, cooking, travelling, and hiking. I like to learn about new cultures and am open to new experiences. I coach a co-ed softball team. I also volunteer with a local organization that focuses on senior homecare.

My advice to others

If you find something that you believe you would like to learn more about and an industry that aligns with that, then I would advise you to be passionate about it. Do research. Talk to others or introduce yourself to others in the industry. Take all training and educational opportunities that may come your way. Even if you decide to change careers, all that valuable information will become assets to you in surprisingly other ways.