For more than a decade, the Edmonton Area Pipeline and Utility Operators’ Committee (EAPUOC) has recognized an outstanding individual or company with the Bruce Wilson Contractor Safety Award.
As a long time EAPUOC damage prevention consultant and safety innovator, Bruce Wilson had deep connections with the digging community. Be it handing out Safe Dig Manuals at safety seminars and trade shows or visiting excavating contractors at their shops, he was instrumental in spreading the message that “every ground disturbance should begin with an Alberta One-Call.”
Following Bruce’s passing in 2006, it was decided that a safety award would be fitting. Not only would it serve as an enduring tribute to a great man who dedicated his career to enhancing safety and awareness in Edmonton’s digging communities, it would inspire others to strive for excellence.
The general criteria for the Bruce Wilson Contractor Safety Award is "he/she be an individual who is involved in creating ground disturbances, understands the importance of consistently following the rules with respect to working around buried facilities and demonstrates concern for fellow workers and safety of the general public".
In the fall nominations are accepted from EAPUOC’s members for the annual Award. These names are then circulated to the membership and voted on by them resulting in a winner being chosen and subsequently honoured/recognized at EAPUOC’s December General Meeting.
Mike Carpenter, contractor for TAHK Project Ltd., Kyle Acott, Project Manager, TAHK Project Ltd., accepting Travis Thomas’s recognition and Leeland Sundsten, EAPUOC’s Chair
The Winner of the 2024 Bruce Wilson Contractor Safety Award
In 2024, for the first time ever, the Bruce Wilson Contractor Safety Award was presented to two individuals – Mike Carpenter and Travis Thomas of TAHK Project Ltd. Michael Carpenter (Mike) has been a safety professional in the oil and gas industry for over fifteen years and of those, over ten have almost exclusively been with TAHK Projects Ltd. field construction teams. Mike is a certified National Construction Safety Officer and also holds numerous other certifications, including first aid, hazard management, practical loss control leadership and specialized rescue training in confined space and high angle work. Above and below ground damage prevention is an area Mike truly specializes in with extensive training and knowledge in ground disturbance activities and asset protection. At TAHK, Mike has shown that hard work, commitment, and passion can make a real difference in the safety performance and culture on a worksite. As a TAHK projects senior field safety manager, Mike has led safety teams on numerous projects ranging from 25 to 250 direct workers on site and project lengths from three to twenty-four months in duration. Mike champions the notion that all workers should go home at the end of the day in the exact way they arrived, “no job is more important than making sure everyone gets home safe”. Even with being a Calgary Flames fan, Mike has the respect and complete buy in on safety from all members of the construction team he works with. TAHK Projects Ltd. cannot think of a safety professional more deserving of such a prestigious award than Mike Carpenter.
Travis Thomas has been a construction manager with TAHK Projects for the last five years; however, his engagement in the construction industry goes much further back. A pipefitter by trade, Travis began on the tools in 2003. Drawing inspiration from his father, who is also in a leadership role in the industry, he quickly stood out amongst his peers. With his organization, drive to succeed, and quick understanding of complicated projects, he became a foreman in only a few short years. In 2011 he joined TAHK Projects as a general foreman and continued to grow through the company, becoming a trusted leader in the organization. His experience and dedication to safety, efficiency and professionalism have set him apart, tackling even the most complicated jobs with precision and confidence. Travis, together with his wife and two children, share their values of family and respect to make their community and workplace a better and safer place to be. This will not be the last recognition Travis receives in his career, and we at TAHK are proud to celebrate it with him and Mike.
Previous Award recipients include:
2023 - Carl Wagoner
2022 – Grant Huys
2021 – Crystal Pihowich
2020 – Sacha Mathieson
2019 – Dale Wilson
2018 – CTL Canada
2017 – Janet Welter, Locate Management
2016 – Joe Verbeek, Joe Verbeek Contracting Ltd.
2015 - Dawn-Marie Rice, Jatec
2014 - Harvey Hull
2013 - Ernie Johnson, AECON
2012 - Michael Gary Goebel, AltaFlights (Posthumously)
2011 - Gerry Vandersteen, Precision Gradall
2010 - Hydrodig Edmonton
2009 - T.C. Backhoe and Directional Drilling
2008 - Commercial Trenching Ltd.
2007 - Sureway Construction Management Limited