This program recognizes deserving apprentices and promotes awareness of the value of apprenticeship training and skilled trades that contribute to an improved manufacturing industry in Canada. Four apprentices were congratulated and each were presented with a $1,000 Apprentice Bursary Award, a copy of Mastercam X6 Design LT System Package (valued at $500 each) donated by In-House Solutions Inc. and a framed certificate. These awards were presented to help support the apprentices develop their skills throughout their apprenticeship.

The awards recipients were:

Chris Denisovs, Armo-Tool Ltd.
Chris is a General Machinist currently doing a Tool & Die apprenticeship. He likes working with his hands and he says that the thought process to turn a raw block into a finished part makes work exciting. With this bursary he plans to enroll in a design class or buy himself a new computer to keep up with software improvements.

Melvin Kruger, Manor Tool & Die Ltd.
Melvin is a 3rd year Tool & Die apprentice who, from an early age, had a passion to make gadgets, furniture and fixing anything he could lay his hands on – so right from the start he knew he wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a Tool & Die Maker. According to his employer, Manor Tool & Die, he is a very dedicated, reliable apprentice and shows a great deal of interest and potential.

Derek Melo, Martec Precision Inc.
Derek is a 4th year CNC Machinist apprentice. After working part-time in a stamping company during high school, he became interested in the design and production of metal components so he enrolled in a machinist/tool & die pre- apprenticeship program. He says he gains a lot of knowledge with Martec Precision because every day is a different challenge and there are always new things to learn.

Jordan Goodwin, Valiant Machine & Tool Inc.
Jordan is a 2nd year General Machinist apprentice who is dedicated to the trade and puts in a lot of extra effort and care into the quality of work that he produces. He originally planned on being a Millwright, but after working at Valiant for a while, he realized that running the machines caught his interest more than repairing them. He is currently in Valiant’s Earn-While-You-Learn program and plans to use his bursary award to purchase tools for his trade.

The committee also acknowledged two other apprentices – DAN GARDINER, a 3rd year Tool & Die apprentice at Answer Precision; and AARON JACOB, a 4th year Mouldmaker apprentice at Circle 5 Tool & Mold Ltd. They will both be receiving a $100 gift certificate that has been donated by KBC Tools.

The CTMA’s Apprentice Bursary Awards are made possible through sponsorship donations to the George H. Shaffer Education Fund that was established in 1994. The awards were presented at the AGM by Les Payne, CTMA Executive Director and Graham Harding, retired Toolmaker and volunteer on the CTMA’s Apprenticeship Committee.

www.ctma.com