The Manitoba Home Builders' Association is celebrating 75 years.
Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/322578
06 A P P R E N T I C E S H I P AWA R D S O F D I S T I N C T I O N | 2 0 1 3 2013Apprenticeship KENNETH LABELLE GOT HIS START WORKING ON SMALL RECREATIONAL VEHICLES AT A DEALERSHIP IN SAINTE ROSE DU LAC IN 1985 BEFORE MOV ING TO MINNEDOSA IN 1996 TO START HIS OWN BUSINESS, FOUR SEASONS REPAIR. SINCE THEN, HE HAS OPER ATED HIS FAMILYOWNED BUSINESS IN THE WESTERNMANITOBA TOWN, EMPLOYING TWO WORKERS AND ONE APPRENTICE. "We have great support in the rural area," Labelle said. "We get support from farmers andlocals–it'sagreatcommunity." Labelle said he always worked on engines whilegrowingup. "Iwasalwayscuriousabouthowthingsran," hesaid. It's that life-long interest that he looks to whenteachinghisapprentices. "Itrytoteachthemuniformtechniquesand trytomakeitagoodatmospherewhereIcan sharemyexpierence,"hesaid. Labellesaidapprenticesneedtolearnsteadily andnotbeafraidtomakesomemistakesduring thelearningprocess.Healsooffersschool-age kids two days of experience to let them find outtheymaybeinterestedinhistrade. "Itrytomakeitafunworkingenvironment while we're working on snowmobiles and ATVs,"Labellesaid. He takes inspiration from his own time studyinghistrade. "I had a great mentor," he said. "I learned that patience is important when I went to communitycollegeinBrandon.Mentorshipis veryimportantinthetrades." Labelle said his wife studied business management,sotogethertheycantakecareof bothsidesofthesucessfulbusiness. Apprenticeship is a great rural initative, Labellesays. "It'sasmallcommunity,sowordtravels,"he said."It'sapositiveatmosphereandallpeople arewelcome." RURAL EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR FOUR SEASON REPAIR KENNETH LABELLE F I N A L I S T # # # !! #! # "# #"# BRANDON'S MORNINGSTAR METALS, WHICH SPECIALIZES IN WELDING, IS NOMINATED FOR EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR, RURAL. Morningstar Metals is recognized throughout the Brandon community as a reliable and trustworthy company. It has a positive atmosphere where apprentices can immerse themselves to learn about trade of welding. Morningstar Metals prides itself on taking their time to train their apprentices. "It allows the apprentices to learn from their mistakes, which is how they will learn and grow in this trade," said a Morningstar Metals apprentice. RURAL EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR MORNINGSTAR METALS F I N A L I S T MINNEDOSA BUSINESS, FOUR SEASONS REPAIR. SUBMITTED PHOTO STOCK PHOTO