We are thrilled to announce Olivia Carre as one of our four distinguished 2025 Dakota Prep Fellows! Currently a 3rd-year electrical construction and maintenance apprentice at Niagara College in Welland, Ontario, Olivia exemplifies the leadership, mentorship, and resilience that the Dakota Prep Fellowship celebrates.
Olivia took a non-traditional path to the electrical trade, having started her career in landscaping. While working for Sid Grabell Contracting, her exceptional work ethic caught the attention of her electrician colleagues, who encouraged her to consider electrical work.
"I became an electrician because my co-workers thought that I would succeed in this trade," Olivia shares. This vote of confidence from industry professionals speaks volumes about her natural aptitude and dedication.
The transition wasn't always smooth. Moving from landscaping to the electrical trade meant adapting to a more structured environment with heightened safety protocols, especially in the industrial settings with complex machinery where Olivia now works. These challenges only reinforced her commitment to safety and excellence.
Perhaps the most inspiring aspect of Olivia's journey has been her determination to succeed after becoming a mother—a period that nearly ended her electrical career altogether. The challenges of balancing new motherhood with the demands of an electrical apprenticeship pushed Olivia to a point where she seriously contemplated quitting the trade entirely.
"Motherhood changed my mindset completely," Olivia explains. "At first, it felt impossible to continue, but then I wanted to prove to myself that I could succeed despite the obstacles."
The return to school was particularly daunting. The technical material seemed overwhelming after her time away, and the pressure of balancing childcare with intensive study threatened to derail her apprenticeship.
But what happened next demonstrates Olivia's exceptional character. She doubled down on her efforts, catching the attention of her instructors. Professor Ed Mokrzynski, who taught Olivia in Level 3 Installations and the Certificate of Qualifications test preparation course, witnessed her remarkable turnaround firsthand.
In his recommendation letter, Professor Mokrzynski notes: "Our Installation Methods midterm and final exams are all practical. No written questions, just a practical project which the student had some experience with throughout the lab process: The final exam project was a PLC program that controlled a forward/reversing 3-phase motor. On a scale of 1 to 10 for difficulty I would say this exam was an 8.5. Olivia was able to complete the final exam before the time expired with a 97% grade."
This dramatic turnaround showed everyone, including Olivia, what she was truly capable of accomplishing. Her employer supported this challenging transition by offering part-time work initially and providing flexible return-to-work options—creating a model for how the industry can better accommodate parents who want to pursue or continue careers in the electrical trade.
What truly distinguishes Olivia as a Dakota Prep Fellow is her unwavering commitment to supporting fellow apprentices and elevating the standards for everyone around her.
"There is nothing that brings me more joy than seeing those around me succeed," Olivia notes.
Her instructors paint a vivid picture of how Olivia's mentorship has impacted her peers. Mark Bay, her prints course instructor, shares: "I could count on Olivia being at my desk either early before the start of class or immediately following with a list of thoughtful questions. Without a doubt, a group of students would soon gather around to hear what she had thought of... On every occasion, she offered up her rationale and assistance to those students asking for her help. I strongly believe Olivia is a large part of why her group had a better success rate for the final project."
Professor Ed Mokrzynski adds: " I found Olivia very insightful with her questions and her ability to problem solve, easily moving beyond the challenges of the course material with professionalism and attention to detail. This attention and hard work served her very well when she used her newfound knowledge to assist other classmates throughout the term."
What makes Olivia's mentorship approach unique is how she combines technical excellence with a welcoming personality. As Mark Bay notes, "All this was done with a charm and dry sense of humor unique to Olivia. Many students who excel or achieve this level of competence tend to be very serious and withdrawn. We could always count on Olivia's humor and charm to break up the dry subject matter being discussed at the time."
On job sites, Olivia has taken on leadership roles with a focus on safety and knowledge-sharing. "My goal in the field is to keep everyone safe, happy and learning," she explains. "There's nothing more rewarding than seeing a fellow co-worker picking up the knowledge that you have bestowed onto them."
As Olivia puts it: "One of my goals is to learn all that I can so that I can teach someone else the safe and proper way for them to be successful themselves."
Olivia's experience highlights a continuing challenge in trade recruitment. Like many students, her high school guidance counselors primarily promoted university pathways with little mention of trades careers. She felt there was a stigma around trade careers that limited students' exposure to these valuable opportunities.
Now, as a successful apprentice approaching journeyman status, Olivia serves as a powerful example that can help change this perception. Her story shows that the electrical trade offers more than just technical skills—it opens doors to leadership, teaching, problem-solving, and long-term financial stability.
Professor Mokrzynski highlights the broader significance of Olivia's accomplishments: "Olivia is proof that women can not only be successful in the electrical trade, but they can excel. She will be an inspiration to many other women who may be reluctant to enter this male-dominated industry."
Her instructor Mark Bay was so impressed by her work that he now uses her Level 1 prints course final project to show current students "as an example of what can be accomplished." Even prior to receiving this fellowship, Olivia's work is already serving as a teaching tool and inspiration for new generations of electrical apprentices.
With the support of the Dakota Prep Fellowship, Olivia will continue working toward her Red Seal certification and expanding her mentorship efforts. Her ultimate goals remain simple but profound: "to work safe, keep others safe, and ultimately receive my Red Seal ticket."
"I hope by achieving my ticket, I will also help to inspire someone else," she adds—a mission she's already well on her way to accomplishing.
As Professor Mokrzynski states in his recommendation letter: "I can't wait to see where she ends up 4, 5 or even 10 years down the road. The future is bright for this Electrical Apprentice."
Congratulations, Olivia! Your dedication to lifting others while pursuing your own skilled trades journey embodies everything the Dakota Prep Fellowship stands for.
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The Dakota Prep Fellowship recognizes and supports exceptional electrical apprentices across Canada who have demonstrated a deep commitment to mentoring and assisting their peers. Each Fellow receives a $1,000 award and national recognition for their contributions to building a stronger, more connected trades community.
Dakota Prep's mission is to empower individuals to build successful careers in the trades. Through intuitive and impactful digital products, we help students prepare for and pass their trade exams, advancing to journeyman status. To date, we've supported over 10,000 students from over 30+ schools and unions in Canada, making their dreams of a successful trades career a reality.