Words June Murray Dagnall
Photo Wind Gypsy Photography
Family businesses are about more than just work. They carry a special kind of energy that represents legacy, shared values and the bond of trust that grows deeper when family members roll up their sleeves and build something together.
For Darren Sutherland, founder of DTE Solutions, this bond has taken on a whole new meaning as he works side by side with his daughter, Molly, in the electrical trade. Both of his sons also spent time in the trade with their father, exploring the type of work and seeing if it was the right fit. They ultimately realized it wasn’t the career path they wanted, and it was a surprise when Darren’s daughter Molly asked about doing an apprenticeship. Certification requires 6,000 hours and she is only a few hours from completion. These hours are proof of Molly’s perseverance, her willingness to learn and her commitment to mastering a trade that demands both technical precision and problem-solving creativity.
DTE Solutions, located in Sidney, focuses on a combination of commercial and residential work which is often challenging, dynamic work that requires adaptability.
When Molly finished high school, she never imagined she would one day end up on a construction site, with a hard hat on and tools in hand, working with her dad. She always saw her path as a schoolteacher, and yet Molly felt the need for something new.
Initially, electrical work somehow seemed like a natural choice. She had already spent much of her childhood around the trade, tagging along with her dad helping with data connections, labeling panels or simply cleaning up the job site as an important helper.
In 2021, Molly officially began her electrical apprenticeship. At first it was intimidating being young, female, and stepping into a field with little representation. Soon, however, Molly discovered the joy of the trade. Wiring a home, helping a friend fix a faulty outlet or seeing a client’s vision come alive gave her a sense of purpose. Molly found fulfillment in problem-solving and in helping others, all while learning from her father.
Molly was part of the 2025 Camosun College convocation ceremony, where trades were finally recognized as a pursuit equal to a bachelor’s degree. Molly stood with nine other women in the electrical trade, and there was a total of 16 women across all the trades programs. She felt very proud, and part of something bigger. This was a new generation of women showing the world they could take on tough, technical work as well as men.
Darren is extremely proud of how Molly has stuck with this path, as the electrical trade is not an easy choice for everyone, involving long hours, physically demanding tasks and constant learning as technology evolves. Historically, trades like electrical work have been dominated by men, and women entering the field often face skepticism or outdated attitudes. Molly has met those challenges head-on, proving through her skills and her professionalism that she belongs here just as much as anyone else.
Time and again people comment on how nice it is to see a woman working in the trade. Many are genuinely impressed, not just by the quality of Molly’s work, but by the refreshing perspective she brings. She is not only breaking down barriers for herself: she is also quietly inspiring young women that the trades are a place where they too can succeed.
As Molly’s father, as well as the founder of DTE Solutions, Darren feels a proud sense of legacy in passing on knowledge and experience to the next generation. Molly is helping redefine what the future of the trades looks like. She is proof that skill, dedication and attitude matter far more than gender, and that the face of the trades is evolving for the better.
Family teamwork has always been at the heart of small businesses like DTE, and seeing Molly thrive in a trade where women are still few and far between adds another layer of pride for Darren.
Together, Darren and Molly are more than an electrical team. They are a remarkable father-daughter team, powered by trust, hard work and the knowledge that family strength can light up any room … and that is the strongest current of all!
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