The Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission (SATCC) recognized the winners of the 20th annual Apprenticeship Awards on Friday, and one of the top honours went to a long-time employee of the local mines.
Kelly Avery, who died in January at the age of 62, was posthumously honoured with the Artisan Award. It’s a lifetime achievement award presented each year to someone for outstanding contributions to apprenticeship and skilled trades in Saskatchewan.
Kelly earned his welding certification in 1977 through the Saskatchewan Technical Institute in Moose Jaw and his journeyman qualification following his training. Upon completion of his crane mobile course in Saskatoon, he began the work that he most enjoyed, and he was a contributing member of the Crane and Hoist Trade Advisory Board who examined the national curriculum for crane operators.
Also, Kelly went to Ottawa twice to do crane exams, and had numerous meetings in Saskatoon and Regina, with nearly perfect attendance.
“He was offered to do the training for Saskatchewan, but declined because he didn’t want to travel and have to move to Saskatoon,” said his widow Arlette.
Kelly was always available to talk whenever new SATCC staff members were learning the intricacies of the crane trade and its history.
He ran the mobile crane at the mines starting in 1990. Kelly was a safety co-ordinator for the mines and he joined the Mine Rescue Team.
Kelly’s efforts with the Saskatchewan Occupation Health and Safety Division continue to positively impact workplace safety throughout Saskatchewan.
“Kelly was nominated for his valuable work with the apprenticeship community and as part of the mobile crane operator trade board,” Arlette said.
Through his work with the curriculum, he was responsible for the exams and the wording.
“Kelly, when he put his mind to something, he would do it 110 per cent,” said Arlette. “He got 99 on the crane exam and they approached him right away (about doing the training) and he was really interested, and he was really in with the guy that was doing all of the training, and he was trying to groom Kelly to take over.”
Kelly loved running the crane and the other parts associated with the job.
At meetings, the board turned to Kelly for advice when writing the exams, and Arlette wouldn’t have been surprised if he memorized the content of the books.
Arlette found out in September that Kelly was being honoured posthumously. She knows how proud her husband would have been, but he was always hesitant to talk about his accomplishments.
Kelly wasn’t the only local person recognized this year. Also saluted were Derek Hildahl of Estevan in the steamfitter-pipefitter category; and Danielle Dixon, a construction electrician, who was one of two recipients of the SaskPower Outstanding New Journeyperson Award.
The annual apprenticeship awards event recognizes a variety of apprenticeship stakeholders, including educators, apprentices and journeypersons, for significant achievements within the apprenticeship and trade certification system.
The SATCC presents many of the awards; industry partners also issue their own scholarships and awards.
Typically, an in-person banquet is held in Regina to celebrate the honourees. However, this year’s face-to-face-event was cancelled due to COVID-19. Award winners are being celebrated through a variety of platforms, including the SATCC’s website and social media channels.
Every year, the Outstanding New Journeypersons comprise the largest cohort of award winners. Thirty-two certified tradespeople received the Outstanding New Journeyperson awards this year, which recognize the apprentices who achieved the highest marks on the journeyperson certification exams between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020.
