William Ward
“Check what all the prerequisites are and do your best to get your Gold Seal Certification. Consider the philosophy of gardening ‘You reap what you sow.’ You have to plan ahead; you have to be patient; you have to put your seeds in the ground, nurture them and wait.”
William Ward, GSC, Superintendent, Bird Construction
At the tender age of 18, William began his career as an apprentice Carpenter. In high school, he excelled in woodworking, which led him to explore his options. He progressed to becoming a journeyman carpenter. For some years, he was self-employed as a carpentry contractor. However, he decided to make his way into a salaried position, and that’s when he began as a project Foreman, then Project Supervisor.
Today, William is a Superintendent for Bird Construction. He works in the commercial and institutional sectors, primarily on retail and hospitality construction projects, as well as major renovation work for the City of Winnipeg. As a Superintendent, he is responsible for day-to-day operations on the job on-site.
His work day begins around 7 AM daily. A morning prayer is usually the way William likes to start the day; it gives him strength and courage to help him get through the challenges the day may bring. The most important part of his day includes monitoring and running the safety program, and ensuring all the safety protocols are met and in place. He then does some organizing and opens the site for the day. His other duties include general oversight, quality control, liaising with clients and consultants and coordinating the subtrades on-site.
William discovered the Gold Seal Certification Program through one of Bird Construction’s Construction Managers, Mike Kazina. “During a Peer Performance Review (PPR), Mike suggested that I look at the Gold Seal Certification and that it would be right for me. I had heard about it before, but Mike motivated me to get it.” However, his motivation to earn his Gold Seal Certification was due to more than just the benefits for his company and the boost on his resume. The Gold Seal Certification was an excellent way to obtain peer recognition for his experience and skillset. “It’s a bit like getting a degree. My company wanted me to get it; we have a wall at our office where everyone who has their certification has a plaque hanging there. When I saw my plaque, I felt proud and honoured. I’ve been in construction for about 44 years and it was a nice feeling to obtain the Gold Seal Certification.” William received his Gold Seal Certification on January 20th, 2017.
“I feel like I’ve attained something that’s important and that’s kind of like a feather in my cap. It feels good to have a plaque and that recognition. To see my plaque on the office wall today was very special”.