This page was created on: September 06, 2004

My Work

Courses, Accomplishments and Awards

1963 - I graduated from High School. 1964 - I took a correspondent radio and television course through DeVry University. 1998 - I took computer courses at the University of Manitoba 1978 - I came in Sixth place in the Provincial Truck Roadeo, at Winnipeg, Manitoba. (story) 1972 - 1976 I won Five Driver's Awards for safe driving (accident free). (story) Return

Electronic Technician

I worked for Nationwide Electronics (manufacturer of record players) for a couple of years.  There I worked at the end of an assembly line where I would test and repair defective turntable. I also did the shipping and receiving, including operating the forklif truck. A new job opening was advertised with better pay, I applied and got the job for Admiral Television Manufacturing. It was the same type of work, on an assembly line testing/repairing faulty television sets. Return

Factory Worker

URL 1966 - I worked for Bernardin of Canada as a Forklift Operator, Shipper/Receiver, and other duties. And this is where I met my wife. The following year (1967 - Canada Centenial) were married. Return

Forklift Operator

1966 to 1972 - I worked for Asbestos Building Supplies filling customers orders, taking care of stock, and Forklift Operator. I had to quit that job due to Doctor orders. I only had a few years to live if I had continued working there. Return

Readymix Driver

URL 1972 - Readymix Truck driver. Every year winning accident free drivers awards for the six years I worked there. After completion of the CN Tower in 1976, I was laid off for the winter. Return

Highway Driver

I began driving transports for Reimers Express Lines in 1976.  I loved the job, I loved driving.  Especially those big rigs.  I drove for Reimers for a few years until I had to leave.  It wasn't a good job for a married man with three little children.  My Wife would stay home and handle all the chores by herself.  All the birthdays, school functions, special celebrations, I would miss them all.   I always got home when it was all over.  I transferred to local driving. I got a LTL job, driving for Intercity Truck Lines. (Formally 'Trans Canada Truck Lines').  At least I was home every night.  I stuck with it for a few years.  It was a bonus to the company to have had forklift experience. I mostly did my own truck loading using a forklift. One day it was time for the Provincial Roadeo.  Since I was the only driver in the company that qualified to enter, they sent me.  I did well - Out of over 200 competitors, I came in sixth place.  Most driver's in the competition had up to 20 years driving experience.  I had 3. Return

Technical Department Manager

I received a Technical Manager's position for Wawatay Native Communication Society, located in the small Northwestern Ontario town of Sioux Lookout. My responsibilities were: * Manager of the Technical Department and the operations of The Wahsa Distance Education Radio System. * Install and maintain radio station networks in over 40 sites. * Design, construct, install and maintain radio station studios, recording studios. * Repair electronic equipments. Using meter such as RF, tone generator. * Fill in as a console operator. Etc. * Radio Station engineering, maintenance and operator also Installation of Northern Radio Stations and their Networks.  (see bottom of page 6 of A Passion for Radio booklet). * Design, write and teach technical training modules for Radio Station Managers and Operators. (yearly for ten years). * Installation and maintain the HF trapper trail radio system. * Design, install and maintain Wahsa Distance Network. * Maintaining all office equipment including a satellite uplink. * Tower Work: Installation and repairs. Antenna installation on eighty feet towers. Also installation of fourty foot poles for the purpose of dipole antennas. * Computer administrator - networking, program designing, computer repair and update, training module design, the list went on... In 1999, the Board of Directors terminated the technical department, and so ended my position. Return

The G.E.M.'s

"GEM MUSIC" One day, some K of C members asked us if we could setup some equipment for the annual banquet and dance. We accepted and we did. Ernie and I had tickets for the banquet, so, we and our wives went. When we finished dinner, there was a long intermission. Suddenly a member of the K of C came to us and said 'Well, aren't you going to play the music?'  'wait a second' Ernie replied, 'we were asked to setup the music, not play it !!!!' - 'Opppppppps, we don't have anyone to play the music' he replied.  Ernie Looked at me, I looked back at him, 'let's do it!' he said. We left our wives behind and both jumped in each our cars and headed to pick up some music. We both arrived with each an armful of LP albums and headed to the DJ booth. The crowd were mostly older people, that was good, all we had was old folks music. The dance was a complete success, so they asked us to play another dance at a later date. Our long time friend, Melodie, was bartending there that night. And she told us that she had lots of modern music. So she became a partner. After the following dance, we were asked to do another, but they needed a name to print on the tickets. We decided to call it: GEM for (G)eorge (E)rnie and (M)elodie.  We became GEM Music.  The GEMs became more and more popular.  The GEMs lasted an entire decade. Return

Noncom Cable Company

URL Between 1985-2000, I worked for Norcom Cable TV. This as a second job for me, it kept me very busy. My dutie were: maintain and update character generator on community channel in the town of Sioux Lookout. Maintain main cable trunk and install/repair cable television.. Return

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)

URL Between 1990-2000, I also worked for the CBC as a monitor. This was a third job. My duties were to travel to three transmitter sites (one television - two Radio) and keep a record of equipment meter readings, and report any malfunctions to the CBC at CN tower in Toronto. This was a weekly run. Return

CN Engineers - Chaufeur

URL After I was dismissed from Wawatay, I had a difficult time coping with the way I was dismissed. With over twenty years of dedicated work, I was let go with not even a hand shake. After a couple of years in doctor's care and counseling, Mr.Tom Polcock knocked on my door and offered me a job chauffeuring CN engineers from Sioux Lookout to Winnipeg and return. This was a twelve hour round trip and would be called at any time of day or night.   Frank Head (Owner/president of Oshtugon computers) also offered me a job at his store. So I did both.  This got me back on tract for recovery. Many thanks to both Mr. Head and Mr. Polcock. Return

Oshtugon Computers - Retail Store Clerk

Mr. Frank Head offered me a job at his store (Oshtugon Computer). Frank helped me through a few years of hard times. But I finally got better. I was an asset to the company. With all my background experiences, I was able to install security systems, repair electrical problems or install new outlets, I also did some posters on the computer for the company, and a highway billboard. I did some fancy gift certificates that we sold for the store, as well as designing and printing fundraising tickets for different organizations. (click on the samples below). Some of my duties were: Repair and program customer cellular phones for our client, Superior Wireless.     Return

Satellite Dish Installations

While I was working for Oshtugon Computers, I became the main Satellite Dish Installer. Since we were RadioShack and sold both, ExpressVu and StarChoice. During the course of two years, I've installed well over 400 systems. Then we became a dealer for LinCsat. I had to take a course and be licensed to install these dishes. Return

Ramtel Installer

URL    In 2003 I had to move back to the Toronto area (Oshawa). I had known and worked with Dan Pellerin for many years, and when he heard I was moving south, he offered me a temporary job installing High Speed Internet Systems, Ramtel, at First Nations schools throughout Ontario.   URL I had years experience travelling to First Nations Communities, so that was a blessing. I immediatly accepted the job. With Mr. John Moreau (project overseer) and Ms. Barb Wong (project co-ordinator), we had that project completed in less than year. Those two were the greatest to work with. Return

Carpentry, Plumbing, Electrical, etc.

June's house basement cupboards build wall to wall

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Complete Renovation June's Kitchen

This job took approximatly 3 weeks to complete. Return

Caitlin's large bedroom in the basement

Install four walls in her room complete with insulation. Return

Rebuilt Jackie Butcher's Bathroom

This tub was sinking through the floor. Had to remove it, rebuild the floor and reinstalled the tub, including all the surrounding walls Return

Sharon's Japanese Bedroom

Built from a large basement room, it took me almost a month to design and build all this. Return

Kathy's House Renevations This was a complete face lift of every room in the entire house. This included: dry-walling, wiring, plumbing, cabinet making, the list went on... This job took over three months to complete. Return

Built Laundry Room. (Diane & Bernie's house)

On the same job. Building storage cupborards inside empty wall space.br> Return

Deck Building (Debra & Brian McLean's house)

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Wall File Storage

Opening the wall Install shelving in wall Return

Special

Computers

I became interested in computers when the first consummer one came out back in the 1970's.  I had one called the Imagination Machine.  The language was 'DOS basic'  Then came the Commodore 64, and then the Commodore 128.  I had them all. In 1974, I designed a Television Bingo program for The Kinsman Club that I ran on the community channel 9, on the NorCom cable system.  It was a complete success. I had Cable Companies from all over Ontario calling and wanting to know about this bingo program.  But it was something I had designed for the club and I didn't think it was right to give it out. Computer Special Effects The wall you see on the left is the same wall you see on the right I took this 180º wide angle shot. Over-lapping pictures Samples Return

Shipping Cases

Built in June 2005 Built in September 2004 Return

Sign Painting

All designed on the computer using CorelDraw, printed and transfered to the 4'x 8'plywood Return

Hobbies

Beaver for Parade Float

The Beaver measured eight feet in length and almost three feet high Return

Pirate Ship

Stick your face in - say "Cheese" Return

Deacon Bench

Deacon Bench - Open Deacon bench - Close Return

Flower Stand

Flower Stand in front of window Non-pearcing ceiling mount Return

Willow Chairs

Building Willow Chairs - The Art of the Willow Return