The CUSW Spotlight Podcast

What does it really take to keep the lights on?
In this episode of the CUSW Spotlight Podcast, Dan talks with Journeyman Power Linesperson Chris Hibbert about what life is really like on the job. Chris describes climbing tall transmission towers, spending long periods away from home, and what the work asks of him physically, mentally, and personally.
Chris talks about how he got started in the trade, the trust that crew members need when they rely on each other for safety, and the close friendships that develop while working on the road.
He also speaks openly about the impact the job can have on family life and the importance of having support at home while building a career in the trades.
The conversation also explores the importance of connection. From leaning on fellow members during difficult times to using resources that support mental health and wellbeing. 
Mentioned in the episode:
The Homewood Health Key Person Advice Line (KPAL) is a 24/7, confidential, bilingual service offering managers, supervisors, and union representatives immediate coaching from senior clinicians. It provides guidance on complex workplace issues, such as employee performance, mental health, or trauma, and can be accessed at 1-800-663-1142
https://hr.mcmaster.ca/app/uploads/2019/07/HH_KPAL-flyer-1-37-1.pdf
Before the episode ends, Chris shares a simple mindset that has helped him: JUST KEEP GOING. Some days are harder than others, but each day is a new day. Keep pushing forward and make the most of every opportunity.
Want to connect with Chris?  Feel free to reach out to him directly at [email protected].
Don’t forget to visit www.cusw.ca to explore more opportunities and resources. If you have a story to share, a guest to suggest, or a topic you’d like to hear on the podcast, email Dan at [email protected]. 

🔻 Learn More About CUSW
Discover who we are and what we stand for: CUSW - Who We Are
🔻 Stay Informed
Get the latest news and updates: CUSW News
🔻 Get in Touch
Need to contact CUSW? Find out how: CUSW Contact Page
🔻 Get Involved
Explore opportunities to participate and make a difference: CUSW Participation Model
🔻 Never Miss an Episode
Catch up on all our podcast episodes here: Listen Here
🎧 Listen Anytime, Anywhere! – Find our podcast on all major directories, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and more.
📺 Watch the Podcast on YouTube! – Subscribe and watch full episodes on our official YouTube channel. Watch Here
🎵 Music Credits: Music Credits: Original music by Glen MacNeil (lyrics, vocals, guitar) with production by Brad MacNeil.
Tune in, stay inspired, and keep shining that CUSW spotlight!

Before he became a Health, Safety and Wellness leader with CUSW, David Aviles spent nearly two decades roofing and building a business with his father, learning firsthand what hard work truly means.
In this episode, David shares his journey from starting his construction career at an early age to becoming a Joint Health and Safety Representative at Hydro One and Chair of the CUSW Health, Safety and Wellness Committee.
Since stepping into the role in 2020, David has become a powerful voice for workers, not by policing, but by protecting. He talks about what it really means to represent members, how safety is about people and not paperwork, and why this role has changed him both professionally and personally.
From mentorship and certifications to Mental Health First Aid and collaboration with organizations like the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, David reminds us that safety leadership is about awareness, accountability, and humanity.
This conversation is about culture, courage, and protecting someone’s parent, partner, or child every single day.
Want to connect with David?  Feel free to reach out to him directly at [email protected], and if you are looking for training opportunities, visit https://www.cusw.ca/group/cusw/training
If you are considering taking a training course and wondering whether it is eligible for tuition reimbursement, email  [email protected]
Don’t forget to visit www.cusw.ca to explore more opportunities and resources. If you have a story to share, a guest to suggest, or a topic you’d like to hear on the podcast, email Dan at [email protected]. 

🔻 Learn More About CUSW  
Discover who we are and what we stand for: CUSW - Who We Are 
🔻 Stay Informed  
Get the latest news and updates: CUSW News 
🔻 Get in Touch  
Need to contact CUSW? Find out how: CUSW Contact Page 
🔻 Get Involved  
Explore opportunities to participate and make a difference: CUSW Participation Model 
🔻 Never Miss an Episode  
Catch up on all our podcast episodes here: Listen Here 
🎧 Listen Anytime, Anywhere! – Find our podcast on all major directories, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and more.
📺 Watch the Podcast on YouTube! – Subscribe and watch full episodes on our official YouTube channel. Watch Here
🎵 Music Credits: Music Credits: Original music by Glen MacNeil (lyrics, vocals, guitar) with production by Brad MacNeil.
Tune in, stay inspired, and keep shining that CUSW spotlight!

In this episode of the CUSW Spotlight Podcast, we shine the spotlight on 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗠𝗰𝗞𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿, a powerline technician, trainer, and dedicated union advocate whose journey reflects the 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗨𝗦𝗪. 

With ten years of involvement, Steve shares how a career change led him into the trades and opened the door to opportunities to serve, and help strengthen the union from within.

Steve speaks about his experience as a 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲, his time working directly with the union during a capacity-building rotation, and his current role training the next generation of apprentices. 

His passion for supporting fellow members, improving safety culture, and helping others grow is evident in every role he takes on, from national committees and bargaining involvement to guiding apprentices as they begin their careers.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that CUSW is more than a workplace; it’s a member-driven community built on mentorship, shared responsibility, and supporting each other. 

Steve’s story highlights the impact one member can have when they choose to get involved, give back, and help ensure every worker has a voice. If you want to get in touch with Steve, reach out to him at 𝘀𝗺𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿@𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘄.𝗰𝗮
Make sure you also visit https://www.cusw.ca/ to explore more opportunities and resources. 

If you have a story to share, a guest to suggest, or a topic you’d like to hear on the podcast, email us at 𝗽𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁@𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘄.𝗰𝗮. And if you enjoyed this episode, share it with your friends and colleagues to help shine the spotlight on the work happening at CUSW!  
🔻 Learn More About CUSW  
Discover who we are and what we stand for: CUSW - Who We Are 
🔻 Stay Informed  
Get the latest news and updates: CUSW News 
🔻 Get in Touch  
Need to contact CUSW? Find out how: CUSW Contact Page 
🔻 Get Involved  
Explore opportunities to participate and make a difference: CUSW Participation Model 
🔻 Never Miss an Episode  
Catch up on all our podcast episodes here: Listen Here 
🎧 Listen Anytime, Anywhere! – Find our podcast on all major directories, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and more.
📺 Watch the Podcast on YouTube! – Subscribe and watch full episodes on our official YouTube channel. Watch Here
🎵 Music Credits: Music Credits: Original music by Glen MacNeil (lyrics, vocals, guitar) with production by Brad MacNeil.
Tune in, stay inspired, and keep shining that CUSW spotlight!

In this episode of The CUSW Spotlight Podcast, host Dan sits down with a voice every listener knows, even if the face is new. 
Glen MacNeil, the songwriter and narrator behind the CUSW Spotlight theme, steps into the spotlight to share his remarkable journey through the trades, union life, and creative expression.
From growing up in Cape Breton to spending 30 years in a distillery, transitioning into the electrical trade later in life, and finding his place within the CUSW family, Glen reflects on the chapters that shaped who he is today. 
Together, Dan and Glen talk openly about career pivots, lifelong learning, stepping into union leadership roles, and the responsibility and privilege of being there when someone needs help.
The conversation also dives into mental health, the importance of human connection in an increasingly digital world, and how the culture around speaking up and supporting one another has evolved in the trades. Woven throughout is Glen’s passion for music, creativity, and storytelling, culminating in a special live moment that brings the heart of CUSW full circle.
This episode is a reminder that it’s never too late to start a new chapter, raise your hand, or use your voice, whether at work or in life.
Want to connect with Glen?  Feel free to reach out to him directly at [email protected], and make sure you check out his music at https://www.youtube.com/@GlenMacNeil
Don’t forget to visit www.cusw.ca to explore more opportunities and resources. If you have a story to share, a guest to suggest, or a topic you’d like to hear on the podcast, email Dan at [email protected]. 

🔻 Learn More About CUSW  
Discover who we are and what we stand for: CUSW - Who We Are 
🔻 Stay Informed  
Get the latest news and updates: CUSW News 
🔻 Get in Touch  
Need to contact CUSW? Find out how: CUSW Contact Page 
🔻 Get Involved  
Explore opportunities to participate and make a difference: CUSW Participation Model 
🔻 Never Miss an Episode  
Catch up on all our podcast episodes here: Listen Here 
🎧 Listen Anytime, Anywhere! – Find our podcast on all major directories, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and more.
📺 Watch the Podcast on YouTube! – Subscribe and watch full episodes on our official YouTube channel. Watch Here
🎵 Music Credits: Music Credits: Original music by Glen MacNeil (lyrics, vocals, guitar) with production by Brad MacNeil.
Tune in, stay inspired, and keep shining that CUSW spotlight!

In this powerful and heartfelt episode, host Dan Plexman sits down with Valerie (Val) Vanderwyk, Executive Director of ISEAD - Indigenous Skills, Employment, Apprenticeship & Development - a national Indigenous not-for-profit committed to supporting Indigenous youth, communities, and their pathways into education, training, and the skilled trades.
Val shares her personal story as a Mi'kmaq woman and Sixties Scoop survivor, and speaks openly about the importance of community, lifelong learning, and building relationships based on trust, sincerity, and shared responsibility. She reflects on ISEAD’s longstanding partnership with CUSW, describing it as an unwavering relationship rooted in mutual respect, support, and a genuine sense of family.
Together, Val and Dan explore reconciliation as a personal journey, not a checklist. Reconciliation is a daily practice that shapes how we learn, work, and show up for one another. They discuss mentorship, culture, safety, the ripple effect of leadership decisions, and the importance of creating psychologically safe spaces where people can grow, heal, and contribute in meaningful ways.
This conversation is honest, warm, and deeply human. It highlights what is possible when organizations come together with aligned values, open hearts, and a shared vision for long-term positive impact in communities across Canada.
Want to connect with Val and learn more about ISEAD?  Feel free to reach out to her directly at [email protected]
Don’t forget to visit www.cusw.ca to explore more opportunities and resources. If you have a story to share, a guest to suggest, or a topic you’d like to hear on the podcast, email Dan at [email protected]. 
🔻 Learn More About CUSW  
Discover who we are and what we stand for: CUSW - Who We Are 
🔻 Stay Informed  
Get the latest news and updates: CUSW News 
🔻 Get in Touch  
Need to contact CUSW? Find out how: CUSW Contact Page 
🔻 Get Involved  
Explore opportunities to participate and make a difference: CUSW Participation Model 
🔻 Never Miss an Episode  
Catch up on all our podcast episodes here: Listen Here 
🎧 Listen Anytime, Anywhere! – Find our podcast on all major directories, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and more.
📺 Watch the Podcast on YouTube! – Subscribe and watch full episodes on our official YouTube channel. Watch Here
🎵 Music Credits: Music Credits: Original music by Glen MacNeil (lyrics, vocals, guitar) with production by Brad MacNeil.
Tune in, stay inspired, and keep shining that CUSW spotlight!