Students climbed high above the ground to showcase their skills at the annual Powerline Rodeo at St. Clair College's National Powerline Training Centre in Chatham, Ont.
Students in the Powerline Technician program at St. Clair College cheering on classmates during the Powerline Rodeo in Chatham, Ont. April 9, 2026. (Rich Garton/St. Clair College)
"This year's rodeo is more than a showcase; it's a powerful display of skill, grit, and growth," said David Dwyer, a Technologist in the Powerline Technician program. "Our students are putting their training into action, demonstrating the expertise they've built in the powerline program while sharing their journey with friends and family. At St. Clair College, we're proud to highlight the next generation of powerline professionals - resilient, safety-driven, and ready to perform in any condition to get the job done right."
The thrilling and visually captivating event brought together 175 students from the Powerline Technician program for an array of competitions, including pole top rescue, ring the bell, climbing relay, don't break the egg, team relay climb, and the insulator change.
"It's empowering. I mean, it's scary sometimes," said Emily Mailloux, a second-year student set to graduate in a few weeks. "But when you're actually on the pole, you're just there to do a job."
The competition spanned the entire day, with family and friends attending to cheer on students during the competition.
"You work hard all year, and for this, we really get to show off our skills," said Mailloux. "You talk about it to your friends and your family, but for them to come and actually see it, it's very meaningful."
But it's also a meaningful day for students to interact with industry representatives, who attend the event to recruit workers.
"Our people are really what's key to our success, so finding the right people is well worth the investment and, yeah, seeing what's here in the community," said Aaron Feltham, who works in business development for W.P Telectronics and travelled from Ottawa just to be part of the event. "We're certainly looking for it, and I've got a stack of resumes. We're hoping to be able to find a couple new people and add them to our team."
Another person recruiting at the event was Dillon Thurlow, who works for CommTech Solutions as a fibre-line installer for Bell. This time last year, he was a second-year student competing in the rodeo. Now it's his turn to scout new talent.
"I love my job. I couldn't have been happier with this choice," Thurlow said, noting he was hired the day after he graduated last June. Now he's back and looking for the next batch of graduates to join him on the job.
"It's kind of a surreal experience because I'm seeing all the teachers I know and some of my friends, and it's weird to experience it from the outside looking in," he said. "It's good to see how everyone keeps advancing, and that's what I look for. I'm looking to see who's a sharp student, who knows what they're doing, and who can't just talk the talk, but can actually walk the walk."
Dwyer said last year, one employer ended up hiring 30 students on the spot.
"We're giving the employers a chance to see them work. Obviously, what they're doing here is safe and controlled, but either way, it gives them a presence of how they operate their equipment, how their demeanor is, how their language is, and how they how they present themselves," Dwyer said.
The faculty and staff at the Powerline National Training Centre have hundreds of years of experience in the field, and Dwyer says it's amazing to see so many tradespeople come back to teach after a full career because they have more to offer.
"They're ambitious and invaluable. It's hard to put a price on someone willing to teach you," he said, noting the real moments come after students get jobs immediately after graduation.
"When people tell you they got a job, it's the smile on their faces. And human to human, you feel that success," he said. "They feel fulfilled."
"They're going to that next step in life, and they're ready to take those big steps."
