Scholarship Donor - AIT

Donor Since: 2007
Number of Scholarships: 3
Scholarship Information: W. Kirkpatrick Family Scholarship (3)

History:
A registered Professional Engineer, born and raised in Manitoba, Willard Kirkpatrick moved to Calgary in 1973 where he started his career in construction managing the Calgary office of a design/build general contractor.

From 1977 when he founded the company, until his retirement in 2009, Willard owned Maxam Contracting Ltd., a general contracting company which participated in the construction of a wide range of industrial, commercial and institutional projects throughout Alberta and Saskatchewan.

In addition to the ownership and management of construction companies, he was actively involved with construction industry organizations, including 8 years on the Canadian Construction Association Board of Directors, culminating in Board Chair; the founding Board Chairman and ten years on the board of the Merit Contractors Association of Alberta; board member for the Alberta Workers Compensation Board; business co-chair of the National Apprenticeship Committee; and board Member on the Construction Sector Council.

An advocate of the need for the construction industry to attract and maintain quality tradesmen through progressive training programs, Willard led the endowment fundraising for the first RAP scholarships, and subsequently, the first apprentice scholarships. The scholarships are a huge success, providing recognition and financial support to the future leaders of the construction industry.

Apprenticeship training is critical for the development of skilled, safe employees and provides a solid foundation for a wide variety of challenging and rewarding careers.

If you are a recipient of a scholarship, you are to be congratulated for your achievements and for selecting apprenticeship training.