Anastasiya Shved, P.Eng., is a Standards Engineer at SaskPower.
What would you like to share about growing up?
I was born in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine, where I grew up until the age of 16 when our family moved to Canada. Our first home in Canada was Estevan, where my sister and I were welcomed to Estevan Comprehensive High School, which was a very neat experience because the school system in Canada is different than the one in Ukraine. Soon after, our family relocated to Regina and my sister and I attended Campbell Collegiate (International Baccalaureate program) and later, the University of Regina. We both graduated with Industrial Systems Engineering degrees and joined our parents in the engineering profession.
Why did you choose engineering?
Initially I did not think I would be an engineer. I thought I would do well in a creative profession, such as a fashion designer or an architect. However, I was not set on either option. I remember our parents helped set up meetings with their friends who worked in different professions (dentistry, oil and gas researcher) to help us learn and understand what a job in that profession might look like. I think the deciding factor was a conversation with my dad about different careers and he asked why wouldn’t I do engineering. And I thought, “Why not?” It turns out my parents knew more about my likes and abilities at that time than I did. I am fortunate to have strong role models in my life.
What is your area of specialty?
I am an Industrial Systems Engineer, currently working as a Standards Engineer at SaskPower, where my speciality is evaluating materials, resolving material defects and managing service contracts, among other duties. I enjoy solving problems, learning how things and processes work, and “getting my hands dirty” in the field. Besides the day-to-day technical speciality, I think that my specialty is connecting with people and building a bridge between the technical aspects and people and their needs.
What was your experience studying engineering?
I enrolled into Industrial Systems Engineering at the University of Regina after completing high school and completed my degree within the five years. I took advantage of Co-operative Education that the U of R offered and it gave me an opportunity to try out different fields of work and get some hands-on experience while attending university.
The overall experience was great! Some classes were more interesting than others, and some were more applicable, but the program is designed to give a good overview of career streams that an Industrial Systems Engineer can go into. The Co-op program was the highlight of my academic experience as it helped me understand what type of work setting I enjoy so that when I graduated, I knew what to look for.
What jobs/roles have you held as an engineer?
I started my career as a Gradworks student at SaskPower where I helped my manager with capital projects related to the hydro plants. From there, I applied for an Engineer-in-Training position at the Shand Power Station, which eventually became a permanent position for six years. I had many opportunities during my assignment at the plant, including working on the commissioning team for the Boundary Dam Unit 3 commissioning and overhauls at Poplar River Power Station (Coronach). After that, I moved to my current role of a Standards Engineer in the Distribution Standards and Testing group.
When did you become a registered engineer?
I became a Professional Engineer on July 19, 2015 after I obtained sufficient working experience.
What have you appreciated about your career opportunities and experiences?
I appreciate the hands-on experience the most. I was able to see and learn about the things that many people are not aware of: piping chemical cleans, steam blows, underground distribution system design and construction and much more. I witnessed equipment failures and learned about root causes and methods to prevent failures. I continue to learn about new emerging technologies. I have met many wonderful people and have been to unique places.
Who has inspired or mentored you in your career? What insight or wisdom did they impart?
There are many people who inspired me in the past and continue to inspire me — from instructors in the class, my co-workers and peers, my friends and acquaintances that I had a pleasure to meet. Above all, my parents and my family have always inspired me with their work ethics, integrity and eagerness to learn and grow.
What activities or interests do you enjoy outside of work?
Dancing is a big part of my life. I danced with Poltava Ensemble of Song Music and Dance in Regina for 10 years. Now I have moved on to Latin dancing with Regina Salseros, where I started from an adult social class and now enrolled in their performance team. Although dancing takes a lot of time, I still try to attend to my other passions such as powerlifting and outdoor activities, such as hiking and kayaking. I satisfy my creative side and preserve my heritage through painting Ukrainian easter eggs and I offer Ukrainian Easter egg painting classes as well. This summer I picked up vegetable gardening, too. I can only wonder what other hobby I will discover next year!