Scholarship Donor - AIT

Donor Since: 2002
Number of Scholarships: 7
Websites: Mechanical Contractors Association of Alberta - and Alberta Southern
Scholarship Information: Mechanical Contractors Association of Alberta- Anderson Family Scholarship, Mechanical Contractors Association of Alberta- Frederick 'Jack' Deeves Scholarship, Mechanical Contractors Association of Alberta- Cameron C. Wright Scholarship, Mechanical Contractors Association of Alberta- Gary L. Ellenton Scholarship, Mechanical Contractors Association of Alberta- George E. Kienitz Scholarship, Mechanical Contractors Association of Alberta (2)

History:
The Mechanical Contractors Association of Alberta - Southern District was established in the early 1900's for contractors and suppliers in the plumbing, heating and mechanical contracting trades. The Southern District has been a part of the MCA of Alberta, and upon its amalgamation with the provincial association, it sponsored from its financial reserves this award and four others to the plumbing, steamfitter/pipefitter and gasfitter apprenticeship programs.

MCA of Alberta is an affiliate of the Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada and helped to establish the Red Seal Apprenticeship program across Canada for the three trades.

Since the 1920's the Association has provided Provincial and Local Advisory Committee members for the plumber, steamfitter/pipefitter and gasfitter trades.

MISSION STATEMENT: To foster professional advancement and profitability of the plumbing, heating and mechanical contracting industry through its member services.

VISION STATEMENT: To draw into the Association all plumbing, heating mechanical contractors and industry affiliates through professionalism and services.

The Association represents and has as members all types and sizes of business that are non-union or union involved in commercial, institutional, industrial, service and residential type of work. It therefore acts as the voice of the plumbing, heating and mechanical trade when dealing with federal, provincial and municipal industry issues.

A membership in the MCA of Alberta offers many practical trade related benefits to contractors and their employees as well as the opportunity for attending general membership meetings.

- Anderson Family Scholarship -

Since 1912 and for the next 90 years, the Anderson family from Calgary has been a dominant name in the Alberta plumbing, heating and mechanical industry. Anderson Plumbing Co. Ltd. (APCO) was founded by Milward V. Anderson Sr. in 1912. Over the years, Alberta Sheet Metal Ltd. and Aqua Soft Services (Calgary) Ltd. became affiliate family owned companies. Anderson Plumbing Co. Ltd. continues to operate from North East Calgary with Milward V. Sr.'s grandson Murray Anderson as President.

Six family members have become the Provincial and/or Regional Chairman of the Mechanical Contractors Association. One became National President and two National Vice Chairman of MCA Canada.

Family members have represented the MCA of Alberta on dozens of committees and the company has trained and indentured well over 100 apprentices in four mechanical trades. Members have served on Provincial and Local Apprenticeship Committees, Labour Negotiations, Code and Trade Definitions, Local Construction Associations, National MCA Committees, Tendering systems, Group Insurance Funds and various social events committees.

This award pays tribute to the following Anderson family members:

- MILWARD V. ANDERSON SR (1889-1967) National President 1948. Provincial President 1942. Calgary President 1943-45.
- JACK C. ANDERSON (1914-1999) Provincial President 1956/57. Calgary President 1950/51
- ALEX C. ANDERSON (1917 - ) Provincial Chairman 1967/68. Southern District Chairman 1957. National Vice Chairman.
- MILWARD V. ANDERSON JR (1976 - 1997) Southern District Chairman 1967/68.
- RON R. ANDERSON (1934 - ) Calgary Chapter Chairman 1971/72.
- M. DOUGLAS ANDERSON (1941 - ) Provincial Chairman 1991/93 and 1997/99. Southern District Chairman 1989/91. MCA Canada Vice Chairman 1996.

- Frederick 'Jack' Deeves Scholarship -

Jack Deeves was born in Calgary in 1913. In 1930, Jack became a plumbing journeyman in his father's company, Fred Deeves & Sons Ltd. The family company had become a member of the Mechanical Contractors Association of Alberta (formally CPMCA) around 1916. Father Fred and sons Jack and Ed operated the company for 50 years.

Jack will be remembered for apprenticeship training and his devotion to the improvement and high standards of the plumber/gas and steamfitter/pipefitter trades. Between 1950 and 1976, a total of twenty six years, Jack served on Local Apprenticeship Committees and Provincial Apprenticeship Committees in the two trades. In 1951 he was nominated to chair the MCA of the Canada Red Seal Program for the plumbing and steamfitter trades.

As Jack's brother Ed devoted his volunteer time to the Alberta and Calgary Associations, it was agreed that Jack's time would be spent at the national level. Jack was Alberta's National Director for eight years and in 1961/62 became National President. In 1977, he was awarded life membership in MCA Canada.

- Cameron C. Wright Scholarship -

Cameron C. Wright was born in Calgary in 1943. He joined the family plumbing and heating company, A.T. Wright Plumbing and Heating Ltd., which was founded by his grandfather in 1919.

Cam gained his plumbing/gasfitter journeyman tickets in his father's and uncles' company and he became a director of MCA of Alberta in 1973. He was Southern District President in 1978 and Provincial Chairman in 1981. He represented MCA of Alberta on the National Association Board for 6 years in the 1980's and became Vice Chairman of MCA Canada in 1988.

In 1977, he was elected President of the Plumbing & Heating Display Centre (MCA) Ltd. in Calgary, the largest Association showroom in Canada. He served on the Operations Committee for 10 years.

For a 12 year period Cam Wright served as Apprenticeship Representative on the Plumbing Provincial Apprenticeship Committee, and Local Steamfitter/Pipefitter and Gasfitter Committees. He was Chairman of the Plumbing Provincial Apprenticeship Committee.

In 1990 Cam sold the family business after 70 years of business. The company still operates in the Calgary area.

- Gary L. Ellenton Scholarship -

Gary was born in Nanton, Alberta in 1933. He apprenticed with Stapley Plumbing as a plumber/gasfitter. In 1954 he moved to Calgary and gained employment with McQuinston Plumbing and Heating Ltd. In 1969, Gary and his wife Louise purchased the business. The family company continues to operate through their sons, Chris and Jeff.

Gary Ellenton joined the MCA of Alberta - Southern District in 1970, and during his 30 years as a member he became Chairman of the Association in 1976 and Provincial Chairman the following year.

He was the National Director for MCA of Alberta to MCA Canada from 1982 to 1988 and became Canadian Vice Chairman in 1987. For 24 years (1974 - 1998) he served as an MCA Employers Trustee on the UA Local 495 Pension and Health & Welfare Fund. His interest in apprenticeship and journeyman training also led him to become a trustee of the MCS/Union Training School in the 1980's.

Mr. Ellenton operated a small residential and commercial service business, but he volunteered many hundreds of hours to serve on committees and boards for the betterment of the plumbing, heating and mechanical contractors industry.

- George E. Kienitz Scholarship -

George E. Kienitz was born in Daysland, Alberta in 1931. In 1951 he apprenticed as a plumber/gasfitter with Haddow and Maughan Ltd. of Edmonton. In 1963 George moved to Calgary and founded Atwater Plumbing and Heating Ltd., specializing in apartment and mechanical work.

During the company's 25 years, George became a member of MCA of Alberta, and in 1974 became Southern District Chairman and Provincial Chairman in 1976. In 1978, George Kienitz became the fifth Albertan to be elected National President, and he represented MCA Canada in London, England, at the first international conference held outside North America. George was also an MCA Employer representative on the Labour Negotiation Committee for nearly 20 years, mainly with UA Local 496.

George retired from the industry in 1998 and resides near High River.