Energy Safety Canada: Fueling the Future Workforce with XR

Kelly Johnson
Yeah. Thanks for having us.

Brad Scoggin
Maybe start with, we have an international audience. A lot of people don’t know this, actually, but a big chunk of our team is in Canada. But most people probably are not familiar with Energy Safety Canada. Maybe tell us a little bit about what you do as an organization.

Lisa Pollio
Sure. So Energy Safety Canada is a not-for-profit organization. Primarily known for doing safety training across the energy industry and across the whole country. So that’s our main driver is getting people trained to do courses, so they can get tickets to work out in the industry. Kelly and I specifically work with the crews and energy team. So we are just a division that more focuses on the messaging and getting the word out about the career opportunities that exist in the energy sector as a whole because it’s really quite diverse and growing. And as you mentioned, a really large driver of jobs in the Canadian job industry. So that’s Energy Safety Canada and the team that we work on. And in terms of, I guess, our VR involvement, so, yeah, we started, like you said, we’ve been doing it for a while. But we started our VR experiences back in 2019, and we currently have four different experiences that we offer to the industry. So we have experience the energy take the tours, which is our live 360 degree videos work site. So users put on the headset and they are right on a drilling rig, they’re in the oilsands, they’re in a processing plant, they get to see the workers, they get a 360 degree view, and they can click on little icons to learn more about what they’re seeing and what that actual job is, again, driving people to a career.

And then we have some animated experiences with which have been really awesome to be able to develop and so these new emerging sectors and we also have some games that really attract our youth, so they can get a chance to see some simulated, loosely related roles that they could do. That give them an outcome that relates to the industry.

Brad Scoggin
You have a very, interesting use case. You have you have a job shortage coming, and you’re trying to, I guess, it sounds like bring more exposure to the energy sector to upcoming students. So they’ll be interested in the field. I’m curious, what is it like when the students put on the headset? How are you getting this content in front of them?

And maybe even – how familiar are students with the energy sector? I mean, when they put on a headset are they like “wow, this is something I didn’t even realize”? I mean, talk us through that a little bit.

Kelly Johnson
Well, I can take that Lisa. So, the students are always excited. So we can go as young as grade three. And we do have actually some old, old 2019 technology. We have some Go’s still in our portfolio of headsets that we roll out and that we use, and those are really great when we’re working with the younger students.

In Alberta, I have to say, most students who have lived in Alberta or were born and raised in Alberta are familiar with the oil and gas or the energy sector in some form because almost everybody’s family has somebody in it – working in it. So so the students are aware of it, but it’s great because especially the younger kids – we have this one experience where you’re in the oil sands and a mining truck and a big dump truck, huge mining truck is backing up, and it’s like the truck is backing right up towards where you’re standing in the 360 video, and the kids squeal or “oh my gosh, it’s going to hit me, right?” So yeah, it’s really fun to see the youth. We’ve established really good relationships with schools in Western Canada, Saskatchewan, and Alberta mainly, and with that the demand alone keeps our headsets. So we do a virtual field trip is what we call it, where we send out kits of headsets to schools for teachers to either work into their curriculum or have a day where they’re going to bring them out and the students can engage with them. So we provide a little bit of a PowerPoint or a presentation where we walk them through what the energy sector is, “did you know?”, bringing that awareness, as you said, as to why it’s important and why it’s an important economic driver for the country. And then we go into, “did that there’s all these career options?” Because I think that there might be preconceived notions of what the energy sector looks like and what the jobs are. And really it’s more than just being a roughneck out on a drill. There’s tons of occupations. And in fact, our organization, Careers and Energy, we profile over 81 occupations within the industry. And they’re all in demand. They’re all going to face a labor shortage at some point in the next decade.

Brad Scoggin
What I see in the notes too it looks like energy jobs pay over two times more in Canada than the standard. I mean that’s pretty that’s a good incentive.

Lisa Pollio
Yeah, that’s the driver. Yeah, I guess we’re trying to help dispel some of the myths that exist in the industry – that it can have its ups and downs over history. But with such a diverse I guess mix and blend of all different kinds of energy sources you can pivot from one area to another as new emerging technologies come up. And there’s a ton of transferable skills that we’re really trying to get that messaging out that you can upskill reskill. If you’ve worked in one sector you can easily pivot to another and just bring that knowledge and that just helps strengthen the workforce as a whole. So yeah, young kids don’t necessarily think about where and when it comes from and who’s paying for it.

But we definitely know that if we go to post-secondary institutions and people actually really thinking about that career knowing that they can get debt paid off faster and there’s a lot of opportunities. Yeah, it can definitely help attract the workforce.

Brad Scoggin
Yeah. Will and I grew up in Oklahoma so we grew up as kids like that who were very familiar with the energy sector. But it is interesting or maybe cool to see – when we were kids well it was the oil field. But today the energy sector is so much more and it’s broadened so much. It’s also funny living in Southern California now where in Oklahoma if you want a professional path it’s energy, doctor, or attorney – that’s your path.

So Cal is like a whole different scene. I’d be interested to hear about your content strategy. Where do you source your content? You’ve been doing this for a long time. Has your content strategy evolved? What does that look like today?

Lisa Pollio
Sure, I can explain how we started. Initially, with our live experiences, we focused on the eight major types of industries in 2019. As Kelly mentioned, we covered drilling rigs and oil sands processing, telling the whole story of the various ways we extract energy. It actually worked great. We initially had some federal government funding. Our team often works on that model. We apply for specific projects and incorporate virtual reality (VR) into them to secure the necessary budget. Being Energy Safety Canada and having a presence in the industry, we reached out to many major companies we collaborated with on different projects, presenting this as a useful tool. If they allowed us access to their sites, we would bring our crew to highlight the area. Being a safety organization, it was paramount for us to ensure everything filmed was safe, accurate, and presented the company in the best light possible, as editing is limited in 360-degree video. It captures everything. Basically, they allowed us to film on-site for free. I personally visited all the locations because I have a safety background, accompanied by our digital media company. We focused on the main areas, being careful not to waste time, as these sites are often very busy. Many field workers noticed our camera crew, so we advised them to act normally and continue with their activities. We captured what we needed and collaborated on storyboards to ensure we accurately portrayed what they wanted to highlight about their industry.

We had a great collaborative process; everyone needed to approve and be satisfied with what we were promoting. In the end, they received a valuable tool. Interestingly, those companies became our biggest proponents, showcasing their work sites. In Alberta, many work sites are in remote areas, while the main offices are often in Calgary or Edmonton. Many employees at headquarters are unaware of what the sites look like because they can’t afford to send everyone out or don’t have the necessary training or orientation. They found our VR tool to be excellent for internal use, helping them showcase their work. It ended up costing them nothing and, consequently, provided them with a useful product.

Even now, in 2024, they still reach out to us. They ask, “Are you doing any new projects? Can you film a new area? We’re trying to break into carbon capture and biofuels”, so if they’re conducting any new projects they want us to be involved.

Will Stackable
It’s interesting; many organizations starting in VR want to identify which use cases will be most effective. You have over 100 headsets spread throughout Canada. How did you decide on this specific use case? When I first saw the title “Energy Safety Canada,” I assumed we would focus on VR training for energy safety.

It’s intriguing that you narrowed in on this particular use case, especially related to the job shortage. Could you discuss how you approached this process? Looking at VR and developing an initial pilot program, how did you settle on this use case? Additionally, could you share the conversations you had? There often exists a tension between the content creators and the industry when determining where to start with VR.

There are many different potential use cases companies could explore. What was that conversation like?

Lisa Pollio
I think it was one of my colleagues at the time who had seen VR at an event we attended. It was still quite new. As I mentioned regarding the grant process, we often brainstorm any ideas. It’s fascinating. Many organizations, when starting with VR, want to understand which use cases will be most effective.

We communicated to companies that we were testing this out. Thankfully, they trusted us due to our industry experience. Meeting with companies was interesting, especially since I wasn’t very familiar with VR myself but was the program manager on the project.

I had to explain how this could be beneficial, demonstrating the potential. Once we completed a test run at a drilling site, it became much easier to engage other companies. I could show them the headset and say, “See this? You can implement this in your organization.” The subsequent projects became easy once they saw the tangible product.

It was impressive, and it spoke for itself. Once we showcased our work, we never faced rejection when approaching other companies. In fact, we had to decline some offers due to budget constraints. The next steps, as Kelly mentioned, involve exploring further opportunities within Energy Safety Canada, demonstrating what else we can do in the VR space.

Will Stackable
Yes, this is very encouraging. I want to transition to discussing challenges and lessons learned. Your team has been working in VR for quite some time, and I know there have been some bumps along the way. What have been the biggest challenges you faced? Perhaps Kelly can share what lessons have been learned.

Kelly Johnson
As Lisa mentioned, our model is grant-based, relying on government funding, whether provincial or federal. These grants are cyclical; they come and go. We find ourselves at the mercy of the grant cycle.

We might receive a grant and start a project, like the one we wrapped up in March of this year, which allowed us to develop more experiences for our VR headsets. However, once the project ends, the funding dries up, and we are left waiting for the next opportunity.

One of the biggest challenges is maintaining momentum and staying current, as technology changes at such a rapid pace. Although we have been in the game since 2019, you can develop an idea, start running with it, and by the time the funding arrives, the landscape may have shifted. Even though the funding is allocated for specific use, there are still parameters within which we must operate.

For example, our last project focused on a sustainable future and green jobs. We explored carbon capture, liquefied natural gas, hydrogen, and other emerging sectors within the industry. We face challenges in determining the direction we could take, but we are able to overcome them.

We are constantly brainstorming. As Lisa mentioned, the positive aspect of this is that each project serves as a test pilot. We can propose ideas, implement them, and evaluate their success. If something doesn’t work, we learn from it for future projects.

Earlier, we discussed youth engagement. Interestingly, we have found that newcomers and immigrants to Canada are an excellent audience for our headsets. This was not on our radar in previous projects. Funding from the Future Skills Center aimed at new and transitioning workers led us to believe Canadian adults would be the primary audience, but they were not as engaged as expected. Instead, immigrants eagerly embraced the headsets, demonstrating a willingness to engage and learn.

With the vast amount of data available, we see opportunities to incorporate live labor market data into our headsets. For instance, someone at a conference or job fair could see local job openings for rig hands or derrick hands, depending on their location, such as Grand Prairie, Alberta.

The opportunities are promising. Funders, if you’re listening, we are always open to collaboration.

Will Stackable
No funders are listening to this podcast; it’s likely other XR programs are tuning in. I want to shift the focus to the practical aspects of getting headsets into the hands of students. You are using ArborXR to manage those devices. Can you discuss what you’ve learned over the past few years regarding the logistics of having headsets spread across schools?

Lisa Pollio
It is indeed time-consuming. We are a small team, and managing over 100 headsets requires significant energy to keep them updated, charged, cleaned, packed, and shipped primarily to schools and other organizations. Logistics can be complex. Once the headsets reach the users, there are varying levels of VR knowledge and experience. We try to troubleshoot effectively, as we want users to have the maximum experience possible. To facilitate this, we’ve recorded videos to guide teachers and provide them with tips.

We encourage schools to ensure that as many students as possible use the headsets, rather than limiting it to just one class. It’s essential to maximize the impact of each shipment. Despite our efforts, there remains a human component that cannot be overlooked; technology alone isn’t sufficient.

Will Stackable
I have to mention that you’re still using Oculus Go headsets, which is surprising. Some of these devices have been in the field for years now. Perhaps someone could elaborate on that, but I would also like to hear more lessons learned.

Kelly Johnson
In the past two years, we have incorporated XR technology. Having a program to manage our headsets has been a game changer. Previously, students would exit experiences and access the school’s internet, often resulting in them using the headsets for unrelated activities. This created significant issues, especially since our team is not highly technical.

Using management device software has allowed us to control access, limiting students to only the designated experiences. This capability has streamlined our operations. Additionally, the ability to upload updates and new experiences efficiently has greatly simplified our workload. Previously, we were limited to one headset at a time, which was unmanageable with over 100 devices. The original goal was for me to manage everything initially and then hand it off. However, managing the charging of all the headsets required extensive resources. Now we have a dedicated cabinet where all headsets can be charged simultaneously, which has improved our efficiency significantly.

Lisa Pollio
However, maintaining the Oculus Go devices presents challenges. We must frequently change controller batteries and ensure all experiences are wiped clean from the students’ unauthorized additions. Some of the content students added was quite amusing, such as an experience set in a bathroom, which was not the intended use of the technology. Interestingly, our team’s lack of gaming experience has sometimes been beneficial. We would encounter issues that our media company would not foresee, and they appreciated our perspective as we identified and reported these problems.

Will Stackable
If you are an IT manager listening, it may be wise to cover your ears. We sometimes sent out headsets without kiosk mode enabled, allowing students to install whatever they wanted.

Brad Scoggin
This is how the VR world has evolved; we have had to push boundaries to explore possibilities.

It is interesting to note that while virtual tours in the energy sector can be engaging, students might still prefer a roller coaster experience over that content.

Lisa Pollio
However, many students have headsets at home, which allows them to demonstrate their knowledge to teachers.

Kelly Johnson
We often rely on students to help navigate challenges, especially in high schools. Engaging a room full of 16- and 17-year-olds can be tough; they have many distractions. Yet, once they put on the headsets, it is incredible to witness their engagement. They let their guard down and immerse themselves in the experience. Lisa, could you speak to the gamification aspect we incorporated into our experiences? In our latest project, we lacked operational liquefied natural gas sites to film. Instead, we created animated content featuring a robot mascot named Apo, who guides users through the experience. To maintain interest, we introduce games related to the content, such as supply chain processes.

This innovation keeps the experience engaging. Especially for youth, who prefer information in bite-sized formats, it’s crucial to adapt. As a parent of three, I recognize that attention spans have shortened significantly; students are accustomed to rapid content consumption. Making a meaningful impact in classrooms is rewarding and essential for our mission.

Brad Scoggin
You’re right; sometimes it’s easier to text kids than to have a conversation. As we move toward a wrap-up, I note that you are currently reaching 3,000 students per year, which is significant. It’s exciting. What role do you see VR playing going forward in rebranding? Perhaps how people think about the energy sector, making it more tech-driven? How do you see VR playing a role in that?

Lisa Pollio
I think, like Kelly mentioned, we’ve profiled a lot of different roles. For youth or new people trying to enter the industry, we emphasize the messaging that if you like drones, you can work in energy. If you like robotics, you can work in energy.

We aim to show that, if you want to move out of your parents’ basement before you’re 30, consider energy. We focus on retelling the story and discussing different opportunities. When we present these roles in an engaging, tech-driven format, it becomes more impactful.

Our experiences are unique in that they showcase various jobs. You can see someone doing hard labor alongside someone in a control room with multiple computer monitors testing a pipeline halfway across North America. Telling them about it is one thing, but when they can visually experience it quickly, it makes a difference.

VR tricks their senses in ways that simply watching on a computer or TV cannot. We have adapted many VR experiences to a web-based version to reach a larger audience, as not everyone has access to a VR headset.

While we encourage trying it on the website, it’s way cooler when you actually wear the headset. The immersive experience provides a unique perspective, and even those who are initially hesitant can be convinced to give it a try. There’s always that “wow” factor, which I think is really cool. So, that’s one way we can continue to build and grow in the VR space.

Brad Scoggin
You are true pioneers in the space, and that’s something we really appreciate. I also know you’re busy, so I appreciate you taking the time to spend with us today. If people want to find you, you’re both on LinkedIn. We’ll also include a link in the show notes where listeners can check out some of these experiences. You also have a podcast titled “Not Your Grandpa’s Energy,” is that correct? Check that out as well. It’s been great talking today, and we look forward to chatting again soon.

Lisa Pollio
Thank you so much.

Kelly Johnson
It was a lot of fun.

Brad Scoggin
It’s always fun to sit down with true pioneers, especially in an old-school sector like energy, and to see how you’re bringing in this VR program to reshape how the next generation thinks about the energy sector.

Will Stackable
It was a great interview—a little window into a world I didn’t even know existed. It’s also amazing that they still have Oculus Go headsets in the field and are allowing kids to use them in classrooms. It just goes to show that I miss my Oculus Go. I don’t remember if you ever had one, but they were cool. They had a little controller and were super lightweight. I remember taking one on a plane once, and a stewardess came by and tapped my shoulder. She said the pilot wanted to try it. Back then, VR was still so new that most people hadn’t seen it. Great interview! Be sure to check out their app, YouTube channel, and podcast. They’ve got quite a bit going on.

Brad Scoggin
Yep, and as always, we appreciate you spending a little time with us. Make sure you check us out anywhere you listen to your podcasts, and we’ll see you next time.