Fastest Apprentice/Student, Canada West — Mateo Berrio, NAIT, Edmonton, AB

Fastest Apprentice/Student

Mar 11, 2019

By Line Goyette

After eight months, 263 events, 17 broken clocks, and thousands of competitors, Ideal Industries’ 2018 National Championship Qualifying Round in Canada came to an end last October, and the Third Annual Ideal National Skills Competition took place December 1-3 in Orlando, Florida. The competition brought together some of the best electricians from across North America.

This marked the first Ideal National Championship that had been extended to Canadian competitors. In all, nearly 40,000 electricians across North America took part in local timed competitions organized by Ideal Industries. From these 40,000, a professional representative and apprentice were selected from each state, as well as from both Western and Eastern Canada based on their times. A team comprising one professional and one apprentice were also selected from each area.

 

 

Mateo Berrio

During the competition Mateo Berrio couldn’t help but feel nervous working in front of a big crowd, not to mention the TV camera crews circling the electricians as they worked. He is a fourth year apprentice, studying at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT). Mateo arrived in Canada from Colombia at the age of 10 with his mother. He had no plan for a career in trade until he entered a registered apprentice program at high school and got then what he describes as the amazing opportunity to become an electrician.

“I love new experiences and electrical provides this to me. It’s a way to work with your hands and your head. It is an industry where you learn new things every day. I never thought of electricity before I started my apprenticeship as a career. I just had this incredible chance and as soon as I started my schooling, I knew I was at the right place and I am always happy to go to work.”

Mateo’s enthusiasm for his trade doesn’t mean things were or are always easy. “At the beginning it was heavy learning. I was learning new things every day, all the time, but I put myself into it because I want to be the best and this is why I’m here at the Ideal competition.” He said that as soon as he saw a poster for the contest at his distributor, he wanted to be part of the competition. “These guys here are the most passionate. We don’t just want to be an electrician, we want to be the best one. It’s a lifestyle.”
For Mateo, there’s always been a challenge in his trade. “I arrived in Canada at the age of 10 and English is not my first language and the Code is very challenging — it’s difficult to read. So, you have to ask people to help you, you can’t be too proud.”

The competition proved to be more difficult than he expected. “No matter how good you think you are there is always room to grow. It makes me feel good that they are better people than me because they can teach me how to progress.” As our conversation wound up, I reminded him that he had finished first in his category for Canada West.

After the competition, Mateo continued his training and joined his mentor at Optics lighting in Edmonton.

Learn more about Ideal Industries’ 2018 National Championship: www.electricalindustry.ca/changing-scenes/4091-ideal-industries-inc-national-championship-kicks-off-in-canada-and-the-u-s, and follow coverage of the 2019 championship in EIN.

Related Articles


Latest Articles

  • Four Ways Permanent Power Enahnces Outdoor Spaces

    Four Ways Permanent Power Enahnces Outdoor Spaces

    April 14, 2025 Today’s workplaces are expanding beyond the four walls of an office. As technology continues to evolve, employees are looking for new and alternative workspaces to inspire creativity and increase productivity. This includes taking their work to outdoor spaces. Bringing technology to outdoor spaces has become a challenge for facility managers and property… Read More…

  • CAF-FCA Provides Recomendations on Apprenticeship Investment

    CAF-FCA Provides Recomendations on Apprenticeship Investment

    April 13, 2025 CAF-FCA have provided an outline of actionable recommendations—developed through national consultation—to enhance accessibility, reduce financial barriers, and better align apprenticeship training with industry needs. Source Read More…

  • New Report: Preparing Alberta’s Buildings for Severe Weather

    New Report: Preparing Alberta’s Buildings for Severe Weather

    April 13, 2025 Alberta is facing more severe weather events, with rising temperatures, wildfires, and more frequent extreme storms threatening homes and businesses. Our report, Preparing Alberta’s Buildings for Severe Weather−written in partnership with the Alberta Ecotrust Retrofit Accelerator program−highlights the need for deep retrofits to ensure the province’s buildings can withstand these changing conditions. Four… Read More…

  • CCA Bulletin: Managing Tariff Risks in Construction Projects

    CCA Bulletin: Managing Tariff Risks in Construction Projects

    April 13, 2025 This bulletin was prepared by select members of the Canadian Construction Association’s (CCA) General Contractors National Advisory Council. Its purpose is to assess the potential impacts of tariffs and counter-tariffs on general contractors in Canada focusing specifically on: In both areas, the bulletin explores both upstream and downstream impacts – examining how… Read More…


Changing Scene

  • PEI’s First Net Zero Ready School Officially Opens

    PEI’s First Net Zero Ready School Officially Opens

    April 13, 2025 Island students, their families and the Sherwood school community came together today to celebrate the opening of PEI’s first net zero ready school. The new Sherwood Elementary School, built next to the former school, offers over 82,000 square feet of space with many innovative features to promote enhanced learning experiences for up… Read More…

  • Nova Scotia Invests to Connect Nova Scotians to Skilled Trades

    Nova Scotia Invests to Connect Nova Scotians to Skilled Trades

    April 13, 2025 The Province is helping more Nova Scotians explore and connect to careers in skilled trades through a $10-million investment in the construction industry. The investment will support more skilled trades training through three key initiatives: “Nova Scotia needs more skilled trades professionals to support our growing economy and to build the homes,… Read More…

  • PEI Tables Bill Aimed to Eliminate Trade and Labour Barriers

    PEI Tables Bill Aimed to Eliminate Trade and Labour Barriers

    April 13, 2025 Hon. Rob Lantz, Premier of Prince Edward Island, introduced the Interprovincial Trade & Mobility Act in the provincial legislature. This bill will allow Prince Edward Island to eliminate unnecessary barriers to trade and labour mobility with reciprocating jurisdictions.   The Bill will accept provincial inspections and standards on goods coming from a… Read More…

  • PEI Minimum Wage Set to Increase

    PEI Minimum Wage Set to Increase

    April 13, 2025 Minimum wage in Prince Edward Island will increase incrementally to $17 per hour by April 1, 2026.  The Employment Standards Board reviews minimum wage annually and provides their recommendation to government.  Go HERE for more information Source Read More…