Nathan Verseghy
Trainer and Methods Writer – Toronto Transit Commission (TTC)
I was born/grew up in: Chatham, ON
I now live in: Toronto, ON
I completed my training/education at:
Humber College – Industrial Maintenance Mechanic
Various Steel Mills across North America – Millwright Apprenticeship
George Brown College – Millwright
Toronto Transit Commission – Elevating Devices Mechanic Apprenticeship
Durham College – Elevating Devices Mechanic
George Brown College – Teaching and Training Adults
Describe what you do at work.
I help guide all apprentices through the Elevating Devices Mechanic apprenticeship at the TTC. I ensure all apprentices are achieving the proper milestones at each stage of their apprenticeship. I design and administer training session based on the needs of the Elevating Devices Section. I create and update all written procedures for tasks involved in the maintenance of Escalators, Freight Elevators, and Dumb Waiters at the TTC.
As a licensed Elevating Device Mechanic and a licensed Millwright, I rely heavily on all aspects of STEM. Whether it be through discussing the properties of materials used (science), researching new techniques and tools used in maintenance (technology), designing training and testing equipment (engineering), or calculating the RPM of a gear set (math), I’m always using STEM.
When I was a student I enjoyed:
How does your job affect people’s lives?
When working on any piece of equipment used by the public, maintenance must be taken seriously. The team here in the Elevating Devices Section at the TTC works hard to provide the safe and reliable equipment. I am proud of the people we have and of the work that we do.
What motivates you in your career?
I have always taken great pride in being a skilled tradesperson. I very much enjoy being given the opportunity to mentor, train and pass skills on to others.
When I was a student, I would have described myself as someone who:
Describe your career path to this career.
Growing up in a family of 11 there was very little to go around. There was little emphasis on school and more on just making it on a day-by-day basis. At a very young age I was getting involved in gangs and getting arrested. I dropped out of school and at age 16, I was living on my own. I started working in factories and over time, I was becoming more and more involved in the maintenance of the machinery used in the factory. After seeing the people who I was hanging around with getting out of prison only to go back into prison soon after, I knew that without making major changes in my life I was going to follow the same path.
I went back and graduated high school when I was in my early 20’s. I needed a fresh start, so I sold everything I owned, quite my job and moved to Toronto. I enrolled in Humber College in the Industrial Maintenance Mechanic program. I focused all my energy into school and graduated with Honours from Humber.
Almost immediately after graduating from Humber I was offered a Millwright apprenticeship. This involved installing and maintaining machinery at Steel Mills across North America. During my Millwright apprenticeship I attended George Brown College where I graduated from the Millwright program. While at George Brown College I was asked by my teachers to attend the Ontario Skills Competition in the Millwright competition. I competed and came in 2nd place.
After becoming a Red Seal Endorsed Licensed Millwright, I accepted an Elevating Devices Mechanic (EDM) apprenticeship at the Toronto Transit Commission. During my EDM apprenticeship I attended Durham College where I graduated from the EDM program. After I became a Licensed EDM I accepted the Trainer position for the Elevating Devices Section at the TTC, which is where I am today.
What activities do you like to do outside of work?
I very much enjoy traveling with, and hanging out with my wife and kids. Outside of work I am involved in advocating for, and promoting, all tradespeople and apprentices. I sit on the Elevating Devices Mechanic Trade Board with the Ontario College of Trades, and I am involved with Skills Canada Ontario.
What advice or encouragement would you give others seeking a similar career?
Never let anyone tell you that you will never achieve your goals. Through hard work and dedication you will get there!