Law

Re-Thinking Technical Trades

Re-Thinking The Identity of Technical Trades

The first few months of my training in North West, Alberta (Grande Prairie) I conformed to every stereotype of what I perceived the trades where all about. The western lifestyle and way of doing things is night and day compared to Eastern Canada. When I make this distinction I am specifically talking about the emphasis on work life balance and to be more precise the lifestyle and occupational health/safety standards of those who work in the Oil & Gas sector. The government of Alberta is very aware of the stress toll this sector experiences; the reality of drug, alcohol abuse and aggressive domestic violence leading to broken homes due to long periods of time away is a huge productivity and societal health problem.

Beyond The Stereotypes

Stereotypical view points like the one above are not static but instead very fluid and the situation in the west is changing rapidly. There is currently a surge of strong responsible well educated young professional talent from the east that is moving west. Fundamentally competition for Human Capital from a Supply & Demand level leads west but there is also competition for talent in occupational sectors and it is my personal opinion that in the next 10-25 years the jobs of the future will continue to be in the technical trades. We all know of the Lawyer, Doctor, Engineering route which is a universal societal occupation of status, power and talent however in the same breath Carpenter, Electrician and Pipefitter are equally in the same category under “High Skilled” occupations. The only difference is in the tools required to do the job and the need for workforce mobility the 9 to 5 lifestyle, North American dream that was sold to a generation of millennial’s is something of the past. There is no such thing as job security, the only security is in an individuals ability to adapt, and to be the best at what they do in order to keep a competitive advantage over their peers.

Tools Required To Do The Job

I’ve recently been listening to Earl Nightingale a 1950’s motivational speaker who’s simple viewpoints on life, success and living have resonated with me.

Something that I think is forgotten sometimes because Canada is such a strong a stable country politically and economically is that we are competing on a global level in business. Our academic institutions are generally highly regarded as the best in the world, howeve

In order to make my point as clear as possible, it was

, however moving west and living is not necessarily the ideal circumstance for a majority of people in the population.

This is especially alarming when you look at the fact that from my estimate of working a year in the north that 80% of the population working in these fields is . Now this is something that is an issue throughout the world and in every region of the country, however I will

matter where in the world status is a huge motivation for individuals who want to enhance their quality of life.

Cutting cost and austirty is not always the best opition, sometimes what is requried instead of cost cutting is changing in the mind the perception of what it means to be in a certin occupation andth

in the sector not for the enjoyment but to cover cost,

Overtime as I have matured in my understanding of the trades and where the future is leading things I am more convinced than ever that the synergy between the East and West is slowly fusing together. What I mean by this is that the academic/technical expertise

not just from a cultural stand point as inter-provincial mobility enhances but from a technical and business standpoint also.

DMF Energy – 2018 Developments

April 8th, 2018

Each year brings forward new opportunity and promise however it is only through our actions that we are able to realize our potential. At the end of the first quarter of 2018 collectively with the support and encouragement of numerous friends, family and business associates I’ve completed the 5 year goal of building a sustainable business operations framework; with coverage across Canada secured we now have with the ability to scale into the United States and Caribbean markets.

DMF Energy is a Alberta incorporated company that is extra-provincially registered in Ontario and Nova Scotia.

Business Verticals

DMF Energy Inc. has 3 core business verticals General Contracting, Training Development and Piping Infrastructure. As a general contractor the company is responsible for the day-to-day operations and site management of building projects. Training development it is the retail distribution of online, print and in-class educational programs.

Piping infrastructure is the apprenticeship and journeyman certificate in the Steamfitter-Pipefitter trade held by me as Director DMF Energy Inc. it is the backbone of our business. The occupation of Pipefitting Supervisor according to Canadian Business Magazine in 2017 was ranked the 4th best occupation in the country that’s an increase from the 26th ranking in 2013.

Canadian Supreme Court Chief Justice: Beverly McLachlin, PC

Beverly McLachlin, PC is the 17th Chief Justice of Canada has served our country with great honor and distinction for over three decades. Born and raised in Pincher Creek, Alberta her story is one of hard-work, perseverance and exceptional intellect. Graduating with a Bachelors in Philosophy then continuing into Law School at the University of Alberta where she was recognized as the top student during her studies she was called to the Bar of Alberta in 1969. After practicing law until 1975 she perused academia as an Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia until she was then appointed Chief Justice of the British Columbia Supreme Court in 1988. However her career acceleration didn’t stop as just a year later she was nominated to serve as a judge for the Supreme Court of Canada in 1989 by Prime Minister, Brian Mulroney and then appointed Chief Justice in 2000 by Prime Minister, Jean Chrétien. Throughout her life she’s been a transcendent formative figure in her profession with over 27 honorary degrees from universities across Canada and other countries throughout the world.

(Canadian Supreme Court Chief Justice Beverly McLachlin PC, Alana Sharpe BA, JD, Human Rights Lawyer, Jerome Downey, BA, Principal, DMF Energy.)

It was a real and sincere honor to meet Justice McLachlin at an Ottawa reception back in 2012 at the University of Ottawa just before leaving to Alberta to continue on my own journey of professional development and growth.I wanted to personally acknowledge Justice McLachlin and wish her well as she retires from the Queen’s Bench. Beverley is a trailblazer for more than her gender, the work she’s done throughout the years has helped shape and make our country what it is today, for me her life long integrity is what’s been most impressive. Yes, she’s Canada’s first female Chief Justice however her decisions, diplomatic and respected judgment will be the legacy that she is remembered for along with the ceiling her appointment broke and the merit of which it was earned.

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An Indigenous Canadian Journey

The Stage

I’ve lived in 7 cities in the last 6 years pushing to discover and become the best version of myself. Looking inside my new Canadian Passports it shows the place of my birth as Toronto, ON however in my heart and mind it could simply just read Canada. As a child my heart came alive exploring the commons of Halifax playing baseball at the local YMCA, summer day camp trips at the George Dixon Community Center and great memories on the football gridiron. The thrill of learning and challenging myself academically and athletically in the town of Sackville, New Brunswick as an adolescence forever changed my life for the better. Then I moved back to Toronto before my passion took me to Ottawa, where I then embarked on a great journey west stopping in Grande Prairie, Edmonton and Fort McMurray Alberta to secure my future and seek opportunity like thousands of other Canadians in the energy sector.

Presently

Now as a young man at the age of 30 without an immediate family or independent of my own reflecting back on these travels from east to west, the people that have come in and out of my life the moments of pride, shame, glory and sadness one thing has never faded, the desire to keep learning and becoming better, they say to know where your going you need to know where your from and understanding Canada and what grew from the former Dominion of Canada has been a great motivation of mine, and reason why I’ve enrolled in Cape Brenton University’s innovative new online Mi’kmaq course, to learn more, as Plato told Socrates “Know Theyself”. As an indigenous Mi’kmaq Canadian, who is also a direct decent of a slave, French Canadian and indigenous Jamaican I’ve come full-circle in some respects by landing in the town of St. Catherine’s Ontario. A historic and famous town for many reasons, for me knowing that it was the central hub of Canadian operations for Harriet Tubman during the time of the underground rail road is enough to give me a sense of pride and belonging, the same pride and belonging feeling as Canadians we should be extending to Syrian Refugees fleeing a devastating in humane conflict.

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The New Year & Psychological Time

Moving Forward While Being Present

I’ve officially started referring to conscious popular calender time as Psychological Time (external time), Eckhart Tolle, is considered a contemporary Spiritual Teacher his book “The Power of Now” has sold over 5 Million Copies and has been translated in 36 languages, I finished it in 3 days and walked away feeling many of the things he discussed as legitimate, very repetitive but legitimate non-the less.

Canadian Foreign Direct Investment

The money likes to go to the United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Ireland, Netherlands, and Australia. It is a big world out there and Canada is globally positioned.

Western Mission Complete

Photo Credits: Wikipedia

Today is Canada Day, I feel it is very appropriate to deliver this post on the Nations birthday, I feel more nationalistic than ever before. Like many of my peers and friends who live and work in the major urban centers of our country like Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, Vancouver and Halifax the focus today is all about uniting under one flag, one country, and one land. It is a time when provincial rivirialies and regionalism is set aside and we celebrate the amazing opportunities, freedom and beauty our country has to offer the world, we are an example of how modern civil society should function,where democracy and liberty reign as the core values of who we are as a people, “True North Strong and Free!”

I left Ottawa, Ontario roughly a year ago today. I went to discover and understand the depths of the Canadian Energy sector, a business move that turned extremely personal. My work in the office led me into the field, a strategic and rational decision considering the reality of the economic landscape of Ontario. I wanted to know what was so special about Alberta it was a tremendously powerful learning opportunity and I took advantage with the support of my friends, family and loved ones. Living in the Nation’s Capital you really start to feel a sense of Nationalism, and although we are a Civic Nation unlike our American cousins to the south, I wanted to know more about Canada’s deep wealth of energy that was stored beneath the ground, I knew that if I was going to truly become an expert on the topic I should have the necessary credentials, experience, and knowledge to truly understand what is going on and that is why I choose the Trade of Pipefitting, a trade that ranked a respectable 23 out of 50 top jobs in Canada according to Canadian Business Magazine 2013 survey. I had simple questions such as; are the “Oil Sands” developments in Fort McMurray an evil place of greed, deceit and environmental destruction? Or a wonder of human ingenuity, engineering, and scientific discovery? The answer is personal depending on your cultural learned values and or perspective but having been on the ground I feel Canada should be extremely proud of it’s responsible energy development. The opportunities that will be available for individuals who take personal responsibility for their own welfare and diversify their labour skill set to enhance their standard of living especially over the next 30 years is incredible. Alberta is expected to grow from a province of 4M today into 7M+ by 2050, that is still less than the population of the Greater Toronto Area alone, however an incredible influx of people nonetheless which will drive further growth and business in many different sectors.

A Real Love Story, Alana & Jerome

A Personal Love Letter, By: Alana Sharpe, to Jerome Downey, training in North West Alberta.

Love is a powerful emotion, and opposites attract.

Winter Wonderland

JFK 50 Years Later: America Remembers

Kennedy, “Inaugural Address,” Speech Text

JOHN FITZGERALD KENNEDY, INAUGURAL ADDRESS (20 JANUARY 1961)

[2] We observe today not a victory

John_F__Kennedy_Wallpaper_by_OckGal of party but a celebration of freedom–symbolizing an end as well as a beginning–signifying renewal as well as change. For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forbears prescribed nearly a century and three-quarters ago.

[3] The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe–the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state but from the hand of God.

[4] We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans–born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage–and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world.

[5] Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.

Rules for Dealing with Police

Billy Murphy talks about how to deal with the police. He’s been a judge, but he’s best known as a criminal defence lawyer. He knows how the law works and he knows that for many people the law sometimes doesn’t work. He’s going to show you how to make the law work for you. The choices you make can have a massive impact in the outcomes of your police encounters, even if, and especially if, you’ve done nothing wrong.

There are lots of good police officers out there doing what needs to be done and there are also few too many cops who don’t respect the basic rights of innocent people. But you don’t get to chose who you’re dealing with. And even the nicest cop will use your mistakes against you. That’s precisely why every citizen must possess the tools to confidently assert their rights if they have to.