Putting His Tech Training to the Test
Patryk Siedlik is the definition of a hands-on learner.
“When I was a kid, I wanted to be an inventor,” says Siedlik, 27. “I always wanted to build stuff and test it.”
A penchant for the practical has served this graduate of RRC Polytech’s Electronic Engineering Technology program well.
On completing the 28-month diploma program in 2018, he found work in his field with Winnipeg-based multinational bus manufacturer New Flyer.
In a role he characterizes as “a lot of fun,” Siedlik integrated, programmed, and validated aftermarket electronic systems to modernize existing bus fleets. In the process, he travelled to more North American cities than he can readily list.
Yet it was with fond memories of a final-term biomedical elective that Siedlik decided to make a change after three years with New Flyer. In 2021, he joined Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg (HSC) as a Biomedical Engineering Technologist in the hospital’s Clinical Engineering department.
“I work on most types of medical equipment, including infusion pumps, defibrillators, respiratory equipment, and electrosurgical units. One piece might be 30 years old, and the next is one week old.”
“The main thing is ‘can they (health care providers) trust the machines?’”
It might seem like a logical progression: a curious kid grows up to land cool tech jobs. However, Siedlik is quick to explain his career path has hardly been a straight line. After graduating from Sturgeon Heights Collegiate, he found university a disappointingly frustrating match for his learning style.
RRC Polytech is not only where Siedlik got the training to launch a career, but also where he found like-minded people who share his interests.
“My good friends – my closest friends – are from college. All of us are in the field and happy with where we are. I’m such a fan of the school.”
So, it was easy for Siedlik to answer the call when RRC Polytech celebrated its new operating model last year with the Bold Future contest inviting alumni to share their own bold direction and how RRC Polytech figured in their goals.
“RRC really helped change my life. RRC showed me my strengths and weaknesses and a field I love and confirmed that you can in fact turn your passion into a career. I am very proud to be an RRC Alumni, and very happy that my school added the Polytechnic title.”
Patryk Siedlik | Electronic Engineering Technology, 2018
Siedlik’s submission was one of three winners in the contest. Along with new RRC Polytech swag, the prize package included a DIY woodworking session with an RRC Polytech instructor, and a deluxe set of carpentry tools.
“I couldn’t believe it. I thought, ‘Is this even real?’ It was such a nice gift package.”
He made good use of his woodworking session in early February, fashioning a cutting board and a pair of charcuterie boards.
“I don’t think I was able to appreciate just how cool those boards were until I saw them in my home.”
And as a homeowner, he’s eager to make the most of his new tools.
“I think I’ll be watching carpentry videos on YouTube a lot moving forward.”
That is, when he’s at home.
Master Corporal Siedlik has been in the Canadian Army Reserve since 2015. It’s a voluntary commitment he fulfills in evenings and on weekends, and one he says complements his career.
As a Signals Operator, he’s responsible for installing, troubleshooting, repairing, and operating communications and information systems technology.
In early March, he’d recently returned from Operation NANOOK-NUNALIVUT in the High Arctic. The purpose was for Canadian Armed Forces personnel and counterparts from the United States and France to fine-tune their ability to operate in extreme weather conditions.
“I have an extremely busy life,” he says, laughing.
Siedlik credits his parents for instilling in him a strong work ethic. They came from Poland to Canada in 1992, taking lower wage jobs in their new home to get a footing and working their way up (“a slow climb”). His dad, an engineering manager, has been with Motor Coach Industries for 26 years. Siedlik’s mom is a production operator with Light Visions.
And Siedlik’s younger sister – a graduate of RRC Polytech’s Nursing program – is early in her career, in the Woman and Child Program at St. Boniface Hospital. With a nod to his sister’s achievement, he appreciates that his role at HSC supports the health and well-being of others.
“It’s rewarding to do something benefitting society. I’m in a job I can see myself doing for a long time.”
Profile by Randy Matthes (Creative Communications, 1993)