New relay protection and control system enhances hands-on training for Electrical Engineering Technology students.

September 2025

SaskPower unveiled a custom-built relay protection and control system that was gifted to the Electrical Engineering Technology (EET) program at Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Moose Jaw campus. Students, faculty and industry professionals gathered for a demonstration of the panels’ monitoring capabilities, including how they detect faults and reroute power in milliseconds to protect infrastructure and workers in the field.

The advanced equipment, built by SaskPower’s engineering and construction teams, will allow students to train on the same state-of-the-art technology that will be rolled out across the province over the next four years. The gift represents the latest chapter in a 23-year partnership that has already seen SaskPower contribute more than $3.3 million to Sask Polytech initiatives, including scholarships, awards, bursaries and investments in labs and programs.

For Brenda Suru, dean of the Faculty of Technology and Skilled Trades, the gift goes beyond equipment. “Contributions like this custom-built relay system foster innovation and help prepare students for careers in evolving energy sectors, including future opportunities in nuclear,” Suru said. “We truly cannot thank SaskPower enough for your commitment to shaping the next generation of skilled professionals who will power Saskatchewan and beyond.”

Ryan Neufeld, Vice President of Engineering and Construction at SaskPower, also a proud alumnus of the program emphasized the company’s commitment to preparing students for the workplace. “This donation isn’t just about dropping off a piece of equipment and taking a photo,” Neufeld said. “Our plan is to work alongside instructors and students, providing training and sharing our expertise year after year. We want to invest in your growth, because you are the future of SaskPower.”

As a testament to how closely SaskPower is tied to the EET program, Kevin Martin, System Test Manager with SaskPower said, “My team has 26 engineering technologists, and 23 are Sask Polytech grads from this program,” Martin, also an alum added, “It speaks volumes about the quality of education here and the kind of talent Sask Polytech produces.”

The technology gifted is the same relay protection and control system SaskPower currently uses to monitor and safeguard the flow of electricity on its grid. The system is designed to detect faults, protect critical infrastructure and maintain reliability.

Raman Mall, SaskPower’s Director, Transmission & Distribution Engineering and a Moose Jaw resident, says students are getting a head start on the future of the industry, “These systems look and operate exactly like what we have in the field,” Mall said. “But we also built in features that SaskPower has just started using that will become a standard four or five years from now, such as sample values over fiber optic cable and process bus applications.”

For second-year EET student Danijel Ramac, learning on advanced equipment means a seamless transition from classroom to career. “Having these relay panels at school means we can test and troubleshoot the exact equipment we’ll see in the field,” Ramac said. “I was already able to experiment on the relay panel. Training on the latest technology is a confidence booster and will make my transition into industry that much smoother.” Ramac added, “I want to personally thank SaskPower for their support of the program.”

The unveiling event highlighted the technical achievement of SaskPower’s team and shared commitment to education and industry collaboration that will provide Sask Polytech students with direct experience on the latest tools of their trade.