ABOUT TRADE SYSTEMS
Electrical experience. Practical business understanding.
Trade Systems is based in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Shawn’s background includes electrical work, estimating, project planning, teaching and running a contracting business. Trade Systems provides electrical estimating and project support for contractors, alongside technical instruction for colleges and training organizations.
THE COMMON THREAD
I help people understand the work.
I have always been drawn to understanding how systems work and explaining them clearly. Whether I am teaching an apprentice, reviewing a scope, building an estimate or walking a site with a project team, my role is often the same: interpret complexity, identify what matters and turn it into practical decisions.
FIELD FOUNDATION
Built in construction and maintenance.
My electrical career began as an apprentice working at remote mine sites, with exposure to both construction and process-plant maintenance. Since then, I have worked in pulp and paper, solar generation, commercial construction, gold mining, and municipal water and wastewater operations.
- Remote mining construction and process maintenance
- Industrial electrical and instrumentation maintenance
- Commercial installations, troubleshooting and preventive maintenance
- Solar-farm operations and maintenance
- Water and wastewater electrical systems
CONTRACTING + LEADERSHIP
From field work to ownership and project delivery.
As president and master electrician of Lakehead Electric, I was responsible for estimating, procurement, scheduling, accounting, client relationships and hands-on installation. Later supervisory work expanded that view across the full project lifecycle—from pursuit and pre-bid review through permits, staffing, quality, closeout and operational support.
- Estimating, material takeoffs and procurement
- Designate master electrician responsibilities
- Pre-bid and site reviews
- Scheduling, supervision and coordination
- QA/QC, closeout and risk awareness
EDUCATION
Teaching grounded in how work is actually performed.
My training experience includes developing and delivering hands-on instruction for IBEW members, supporting senior apprentices preparing for licensing exams, and creating pre-apprenticeship curriculum with Northern College and Oshki Wenjack, and Confederation College and AETS. I have also supported youth trades awareness through Skills Ontario.
Understanding creates capability.
ELECTRICAL TRAINING EXPERIENCE
Teaching grounded in practical experience.
Shawn delivers electrical training for various training providers to help build the industry workforce. Services focus on instruction and mentorship for apprenticeships and journeyman licensing, shaped around each provider’s program objectives. Trade Systems does not offer Arc Flash or safety training. The examples below show classroom, hands-on lab and remote training experience.
PROJECT 01 / REMOTE APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING
Industrial Electrical Apprenticeship — Level 1
Northern College · Oshki-Pimache-O-Win: The Wenjack Education Institute · Musselwhite Mine
Role: Electrical Apprenticeship Instructor
Format: Blended classroom and hands-on instruction at a remote mine site
Learners: Four Indigenous students
Duration: Eight weeks · 30 hours per week
Subjects: Electrical theory, Ontario Electrical Code, electronics, residential wiring and instrumentation.
Outcome: Students developed foundational theory and practical experience in conduit bending, residential wiring, electronics and navigating the Ontario Electrical Code.
PROJECT 02 / YOUTH TRADES OUTREACH
Skilled Trades Ontario Summer Camp
Introduction to Electrical · Volunteer Instructor
Format: Classroom-based, hands-on introduction
Learners: 12 youth participants
Duration: Two days
Outcome: Students learned the fundamentals of how electricity works, the importance of appropriate PPE and the proper use of tools. Each participant installed plug ends on an individual extension cord and left with a completed hands-on project.
PROJECT 03 / TRY-A-TRADE
Introduction to Electrical
Confederation College · In partnership with AETS
Role: Electrical Instructor
Program: Try-a-Trade — Introduction to Electrical
Format: Classroom and electrical lab
Learners: Eight students
Subjects: Electrical theory, Ohm’s Law, Ontario Electrical Code navigation and residential wiring fundamentals.
Outcome: Students learned how electricity works, applied foundational electrical theory and developed practical familiarity with code navigation, conduit work and electrical training systems.
TRADE SYSTEMS
Practical expertise, clearly communicated.
Trade Systems brings this background together in practical support for electrical contractors and training organizations. Contact Shawn to discuss your project or instructional requirements.