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.
Grant Huys Proudly Displaying His Award
The winner of the 2022 Bruce Wilson Contractor Safety Award is Grant Huys.
The recipient of this year’s Award commenced his career in the oilfield in 1976 working for Flint Engineering and Construction in Estevan, Saskatchewan. In 1978, he moved to the pipeline and facility industry first with Dome Petroleum and then with AEC/Encana in 1986. This gave him much experience in pipeline maintenance, operations and management but as his career progressed, he was also given opportunities to take on roles for project management.
It was when Encana sold its last pipeline in 2003, that he decided to go out on his own and create his present contracting company. Hawk Enterprises was initially started as a consulting company specializing in pipeline and facility construction, later in it’s life Hawk Enterprises also took on commissioning roles. At it’s peak, Hawk employed five other dedicated specialists and has served numerous companies to successfully meet their project needs for the past nineteen years.
Past recipients include:
- 2022 - Dale Wilson
- 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