Alumni Spotlight: Craig Echum
Jun 16, 2025 | Vanessa Tignanelli, Storyteller & Content Creator
Craig Echum (50) always liked taking things apart and figuring out how they worked. That curiosity led him to Canadore College’s Industrial Maintenance program in 2004, where he specialized in fluid power and hydraulics. The hands-on learning gave him a strong technical foundation—and the confidence to pursue more.
After starting out as an operator at the De Beers Diamond Mine in Attawapiskat, Craig moved into a millwright apprenticeship and eventually earned his Red Seal certification at age 38. Today, he works as a mechanical technician at Ontario Power Generation, selected from a pool of more than 500 applicants. His role includes maintaining critical infrastructure like the Otter Rapids hydroelectric dam, which helps power Moose Factory and other remote northern communities.
Now based in Cochrane, Craig’s story is a testament to lifelong learning, determination, and the value of following your interests—even if you start later in life.
“If you work at something and stay dedicated, you’ll succeed. It won’t happen all at once, but it will happen.”
“Canadore gave me a head start. When it came time to write the provincial Red Seal, I already knew it all.”
“I got my Red Seal when I was 38. It’s never too late.”
Craig Echum
Mechanical Technician, Ontario Power Generation
Industrial Maintenance Program (Class of 2005)
#Alumni #Canadore College #First Peoples' Centre #Indigenous