Students in Lakeland's renewable energy and conservation (REC) program swapped their keyboards for Solar PV Module Inverters during their on-site lab in June.

Under the guidance of Garnet Tozer, a sessional instructor and 2018 REC graduate, the students applied the theory they learned online at the college's Renewable Energy Learning Centre.

It felt like it was yesterday for Tozer, who completed the same week-long lab just last year. In the thick of it with his students, he directed them through the hands-on lab component related to the wind, solar, geothermal, and system measurement and control courses.

“It's been a great experience to be back at Lakeland and teaching others in a similar position I was in. I asked for feedback from the students all week, which has been positive. I have some new ideas on how to keep developing and growing this program,” says Tozer, who owns Tozer Energy Services Inc.

With more than 20 years of experience in Alberta's oil industry, Tozer was looking for a new beginning. “I was working for an oil and gas engineering firm and I was going through the motions and not connecting with my work anymore.”

His interest in renewable energy piqued when he researched a $30,000 solar panel installation for his home. To make this investment worth it, Tozer jumped on the opportunity to gain practical knowledge in renewable energy through Lakeland's online program. Not only that, he gained useable skills to start a new career.

“This is the only predominantly online program I could find in Canada, which complemented my full-time job at the time. I worked 12-hour shifts, seven days a week. I'd come back to my room to study until I couldn't anymore and repeat.”

Tozer says the program's courses “tied together smoothly,” which enticed him to complete the program's diploma studies. Since graduating, Tozer founded Tozer Energy Services Inc., a consulting firm that offers renewable energy solutions to oil and gas companies.

Tozer also volunteers for groups like the Solar Energy Society of Alberta (SESA). At a SESA event in Edmonton last year, Tozer reconnected with his former instructor Rob Baron, the head of Lakeland's REC program at the time. Tozer shared it was during the conversation with Baron that he learned about the teaching contract at Lakeland.

Photos: (Top) A year after graduating, Garnet Tozer returned to Lakeland as a sessional instructor. (Bottom) Tozer instructs a group of renewable energy and conservation students at the Renewable Energy Learning Centre.