Étienne Bolze — From Art to Electricity

May 3 2016

Laurence Rocher-Brassard

Étienne Bolze, multilinguist, is a young professional in the electrical industry.

Étienne joined the industry at age 24, as Communications Coordinator at Convectair. He still holds this position two years later. Among his previous positions, he was an online account editor a director’s assistant in an art gallery.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor in Arts Administration from Bishop’s University. He has also taken economics courses from Concordia University and has a certificate in International Art Law, Art as an alternative Investment from the Sotheby’s Institute of Art.

Étienne confides that working in the electrical industry had never occurred to him. He had thought instead of working for multinationals, such as Procter & Gamble, IBM and Google, or consulting firms such as BCG or McKinsey. “I realize now that perhaps my vision was restricted, when in reality our scope of action here is much broader. I am now aware of major challenges facing our industry and I am very pleased to be able to participate.”

The person behind the employee

Asked what he has learned from his successes and mistakes, he mentions the importance of working as a team, asking the right questions, showing humility, and loving what you are doing. “I would say that my mistakes are mainly due to the lack of one or all of these factors while I was doing something.”

For Étienne, surrounding himself with the right people and sharing a common vision is important: “When motivated people are equipped with a pragmatic lens and work together, the results can only be interesting.”

He has many passions. Currently, learning foreign languages and travel are on his priority list. In addition to French and English, he speaks Italian and Spanish. He is now challenging himself with Mandarin and Portuguese. Hats off!

His green vision for the electrical industry

Étienne advises all those who would like to work in this industry to sign up: “There are many Interesting projects and challenges.”

Currently, new technologies applied to mastering energy, such as the IoT, have a particular hold on his attention. “The aspect of industry that attracts me the most is its potential to create a more efficient, greener and cleaner world.”

There are many examples of technological developments that he hopes to see predominate. As examples, he mentioned the Powerwall domestic energy storage tool presented by Elon Musk in 2015, or alternatively, the hard-hitting book by Rudy Provoost, current president and CEO of Rexel Group, Energy 3.0: Transforming the world of energy for growth. Published in 2013, this book discusses the energy efficiency of buildings and cities in an era where digital and energy meet.

“It’s not just about products, but also ideas and ways of thinking, to see the world and the city. In these developments, I see possibilities for the electrical industry to contribute to a more efficient and cleaner world. I am proud to think that I can contribute to this vision.”


Laurence Rocher-BrossardLaurence Rocher-Brassard is the Editor of EIN’s sister publication: Le monde de l’électricité en ligne

More in EIN by Laurence Rocher-Brassard:

EFC Officially Launches the Young Professionals Network

Swati Patel: the Art of Success Outside Your Comfort Zone

Stephanie Santini: Never Underestimate Her Capabilities

Cynthia Renaud — the journey of a determined lighting specialist

EH2 Solar — A Small Business with Global Reach

 

Related Articles


Latest Articles

  • Ontario Solar Incentives with Essex Energy

    Ontario Solar Incentives with Essex Energy

    August 20, 2025 Essex Energy is helping municipalities, universities and colleges across Ontario take advantage of incentives under Ontario’s Retrofit DER Program including solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. What’s Available Significant rebates available to eligible businesses and institutional organizations deploying rooftop or parking lot solar PV systems. These incentives are paid upon completion of the project, accelerating project… Read More…

  • Beyond the Bid: How Modern Estimating Solutions Drive Contractor Success

    Beyond the Bid: How Modern Estimating Solutions Drive Contractor Success

    August 18, 2025 By Brooke Stewart In today’s fast-paced construction landscape, electrical contractors are constantly pressured to keep their estimates competitive, often at the expense of healthy profit margins. Compounding this challenge are rising material costs, a shortage of skilled labor and siloed data, all of which make it increasingly difficult to stay competitive and… Read More…

  • Hammond Power Solutions Helps EFC Champion Sustainability as First Carbon Neutral Sponsor at Annual Industry Conference

    Hammond Power Solutions Helps EFC Champion Sustainability as First Carbon Neutral Sponsor at Annual Industry Conference

    August 18, 2025 By Electro-Federation Canada Did you know that carbon emissions from this year’s Annual Industry Conference were offset? With the help of Hammond Power Solutions (HPS), EFC took an important step toward reducing our environmental impact by offsetting the emissions associated with the event. This milestone reflects a growing commitment within the electrical… Read More…

  • FortisBC Detail Impact of their Energy-Efficiency Programs in 2024

    FortisBC Detail Impact of their Energy-Efficiency Programs in 2024

    August 18, 2025 In 2024, FortisBC Energy Inc. and FortisBC Inc.’s (collectively FortisBC) conservation and energy-efficiency programs helped lower gas and electricity use while helping create more comfortable living and working spaces for customers. Building on 2023 reductions, its gas programs cut close to one million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO₂e) 1 in 2024. “Our customers’… Read More…


Changing Scene

  • Blackline Safety Announces Quality Assurance Program Expansion

    August 18, 2025 Blackline Safety Corp. has announced a major expansion of its quality assurance (QA) program. As part of the expansion, the company has increased its QA team, upgraded its inspection equipment, and boosted in-lab testing of its entire product line. Headquartered in Canada with offices in the UK, France, U.S., and UAE, Blackline… Read More…

  • EB Horsman Introcuce New Burnaby Branch Manager

    EB Horsman Introcuce New Burnaby Branch Manager

    August 18, 2025 EB Horsman & Son is pleased to announce the promotion of Sean O’Brien to Branch Manager of their Burnaby location, effective August 6, 2025. Sean brings over 15 years of experience in the electrical and lighting industry, with a strong background in sales, technical leadership, project management, and clean energy initiatives. He… Read More…

  • BCCA Response to “Report on 2026 Budget Consultation”

    BCCA Response to “Report on 2026 Budget Consultation”

    August 18, 2025 BCCA is pleased to receive the Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services’ Report on the 2026 Budget Consultation, and celebrates the emphasis placed on supporting BC’s construction industry and workforce. Chris Atchison, President of the BCCA, spoke to the Committee on the recommendations and priorities of BC’s construction industry. These included:… Read More…

  • NSAA Introduces Mentorship for Women Apprentices Program

    NSAA Introduces Mentorship for Women Apprentices Program

    August 18, 2025 This program is designed to support the retention and progression to certification of women apprentices in the 39 Red Seal Construction or Manufacturing trades. The program pairs women apprentices with experienced tradespeople to provide guidance, career development, and support throughout their apprenticeship journey. The program is for 6 months, with the mentor and… Read More…