Kathryn Tassé, Bridge Operator, La Salle Causeway, Kingston Ontario
Below is Kathryn going up the ladders to reach the pinnacle of the bridge to do some maintenance
She negotiates a maze of secure ladders
Once maintenance is done, she looks over her work and, during her shift, it is "her bridge"
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As the first woman to do this job, she has a lot of responsibility to ensure that it is done right and has to work extra hard to prove herself in what has been a man's world- in Kingston.
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Satisfied - everything is working as it should
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Time to go back down and do other chores and if there are boats that need the bridge raised, well, she can do that also.
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Federal bridges seeing more female operators
“Manning” the control rooms of 2 federal lift bridges in Ontario are new female bridge operators Janet Bailey and Kathryn Tassé.
They are employees of Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), doing a unique, complex and critical job requiring extensive training. These bridges are enormous pieces of infrastructure that lift regularly to let both recreational and commercial vessels pass while serving motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.
Kathryn Tassé is thrilled to operate the bridge of her childhood
“When I heard about the job opening for a bridge operator, I thought it would be awesome to work on a bridge I’ve been crossing since I was a kid,” says Tassé, who’s the first female operator at the LaSalle Causeway bridge. Fortunately, she had some valuable experience under her belt. “I had first aid and working at heights training, and I’ve worked in auto shops, construction and management positions. I also hold a security guard licence, so I already had some insight into keeping a proper logbook and conducting inspections of a premises, which we do here.”
Even with her qualifications, Tassé participated in many training exercises. “I did a lot of shadowing, role-playing and hands-on simulations. People don’t realize how intense it is. I trained for 2 months to do half a bridge lift under supervision.”
Now able to operate the bridge alone, Tassé relies on what she’s been taught and focuses on her responsibility to ships while ensuring the safety of pedestrians and vehicles during a bridge lift, which is key, with 23,000 cars crossing the bridge daily.
Ultimately, Tassé feels that her past was a rehearsal for the role of her dreams:
“I feel like I’m finally in my element. The jobs I’ve had and courses I’ve taken are connected here, and the position suits me. I’m the kind of girl who took home economics courses in school but wanted to be in the shop class. So I really enjoy what I’m doing. Watching that bridge lift still wows me every time.”
In terms of working in a male-dominated field, Tassé asserts that she has a lot of support and hopes to see more women enter the field. “No one ever asked me if I wanted to be a bridge operator, but it’s an option. People shouldn’t be daunted.”
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