Brother Ken Laporte might soon be heading for retirement, but his desire to give back to the Union and a new generation of OEs is as strong as ever.
Having been initiated in 1997, 65-year-old Ken has vast experience in operating a range of heavy equipment, most recently for Tomlinson in the Ottawa area. It is those hard-earned skills and jobsite know-how he believes could be of use to younger operators.
“If I could teach the new operators coming through something, it would be to listen to people – those members who have been around 15, 20, 30 years – listen to them, and have a good attitude – none of us know everything.
“I would be happy to talk to these young people at the school, I’d do it for nothing because coming onto the jobsite with the right attitude makes all the difference between making it in this industry and not making it.”
As a cancer survivor with steel rods in his knees and grandchildren to spoil, you might think Brother Laporte would be looking forward to nothing more than finally being able to put his feet up. Not a chance.
“I can’t sit for any length of time,” he said. “I’m still up every morning at 4 a.m. because I’ve done it all my life. I’ll also continue to work every now and then when I get the call.”
Even after a long career in a tough industry, finally saying goodbye to the work and the Union will be tough for Ken.
“This Union has been like a family to me,” said Ken in the garage-turned-workshop he plans to put to good use in the years ahead. “Being part of the Union has taught me a lot – it taught me respect and it taught me different skills and, if I was 20 years old today, I’d do it all again. Yes, it can be dirty at times and the hours can be long, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.”