Students studying carpentry at A. E. Peacock Collegiate will be able to expand the range of possible shop options this semester, thanks to a generous donation provided by the Carpenters Regional Council Local 1985 union.
The school was presented with a cheque for $250 and a moderate cache of plywood and lumber this month to assist Peacock’s shop students with their ongoing projects.
“It just gives (these shop students) more opportunity to kind of branch out with their projects,” said Alex Zwart, the union co-ordinator for Carpenters Regional Council Local 1985.
The inspiration behind the donation came after a member of the union learned of a possible need at the school that fell in line with the carpentry union’s sphere of interest.
“So, we have a member – one of our training co-ordinators – whose daughter actually goes to Peacock,” Zwart explained.
“He… heard that they were maybe short on material for their shop class, so he brought it to our attention.”
Representatives of the union then brought the matter to union executives who agreed to do something to help. The union’s executives suggested a monetary donation to the school’s shop program and started the search for a local contractor who might also be willing and able to donate materials.
The search resulted in a new partnership with Gordon Murdoch at AtWork Construction Ltd.
“He (Murdoch) was ecstatic when we reached out to him,” Zwart said.
Murdoch is an established carpenter who owns an acreage just outside of Moose Jaw and has been working in the community for many years now.
With Murdoch’s assistance, the small group grabbed some materials they each had available and made their way to A.E. Peacock Collegiate.
“It was great. We got to talk with the shop kids and to the shop teacher there.”
Peacock’s shop teacher, Joel Robinson, was delighted to receive the unexpected donations and spoke with the donors about the projects his students are currently working on.
“The students seemed to really be receptive to (receiving these additional materials). I asked them what they all want to do, and… certainly a lot of them didn’t plan to be carpenters, but they really do enjoy woodworking even as a hobby… so that was nice to hear,” said Zwart.
With such a positive reception and after seeing what impact the gesture made at the school, Zwart said the union plans to return next year with additional material and the donation could become a regular, yearly occurrence.
Carpenters Regional Council Local 1985 represents carpenters and scaffolders throughout Saskatchewan and is part of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America. Zwart said it’s one of the largest trade unions in the world.
The aim of the union, Zwart explained, is to provide not only new opportunities for students, but opportunities of the highest available quality.
“Community outreach is a big part of our organization… at the end of the day, the kids in these shop programs are the future of our industry as well.
“We’re always looking at how we can help local organizations,” Zwart said, noting that carpentry students are among the most preferred charitable recipients. “That’s absolutely something we love helping out with.”
For more information about the Carpenters Regional Council Local 1985 union, visit SkCarpenters.ca.
