Horton CBI, the leading tank contractor in British Columbia, has donated a 20′ diameter x 14′ tall tank to the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Lodge 359 Joe Kiwior & Ivan Shook Training Centre. The donation includes two courses, floor plates, keyplates, nuts and bull pins along with ladders, scaffold and all rigging. Greg Blender, Field Personnel Director/Labour Relations and a long time Boilermaker for CBI, said, “Horton CBI and Local 359 realize the importance of training Boilermakers to keep up to the high standards that are required to stay competitive in a market that keeps growing with the non-union sector.”
Gord Weel (359) (pictured left) and Greg Blender (CBI) working together unloading the tank shell.
On November 20th, Greg arrived at the training centre with the tank’s main parts – shell and floor plates along with a welding booth sea can. After leading a team of Boilermaker riggers to lift the gifts off the trucks, Lodge 359’s Training Coordinator Gord Weel said, “This donation is a great opportunity to train new Boilermakers through the apprenticeship program along with current Boilermaker members who can also refresh and upgrade their skills.”
In addition to the tank and tools, Horton has supplied a welding booth trailer inside a sea can, along with welding cable for the welding booths. This equipment will be used at the training center to test welders for the Trans Mountain Expansion (TMX) project.
Greg Blender (far left), Gord Weel (front center) and Jordan Streng (359’s Business Manager) (front right) speaking to a class of Boilermakers.
Gord Weel further added “This tank donation will also showcase our skills to future and existing contractors and clients in the energy sector.”
After speaking to a Boilermaker Foundation (1st level training) class at the training center, Greg said “For many years, Horton CBI has seen the importance and the benefits in supporting training, with material and equipment, to the Boilermaker Lodges across Canada. The union and the contractors both working together for a common goal of more Union Boilermakers jobs, this is how we keep and improve the market share in the future.”
Ghulam Murtaza, Director of Construction for Horton CBI
Ghulam Murtaza, Director of Construction, said “Horton CBI really appreciates the cooperation of Local 359 Business Manager Jordan Streng in bringing this initiative to fruition. We’re committed to working together to find further opportunities to enhance our common goal of completing successful projects in the region.”
Jordan Streng, Boilermakers Lodge 359 Business Manager/ Secretary Treasurer said, “Having had the opportunity to work so closely with the Director of Construction for Horton CBI, Ghulam Murtaza, and experiencing his willingness to want to build and maintain a strong working relationship with the Boilermakers is what teamwork is all about. HCBI’s generous donation of a storage tank for enhancing the training of our membership, demonstrates the willingness and confidence they continue to have by investing in our membership and ensuring the Boilermakers continue to provide the most experienced and professional tradespeople in our market.”
Streng continued “International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Lodge 359 would like to thank Ghulam Murtaza and Horton CBI for the generous donation of a storage tank to the Boilermakers Apprenticeship and Trade Advancement program. This donation will help to train future Boilermakers in the province of British Columbia and allow Boilermakers to continue upgrading their skills well into the future. Our new Training Centre is continuing to grow and we are looking forward to training our membership well into the future. Thank you again for continuing to support the Boilermaker Lodge 359 Apprenticeship and Trade Advancement program.”
The welding booth (in the background) getting set up for removal off the truck along with some of the training aids (foreground) at the Joe Kiwior & Ivan Shook Training Centre.
One of the three spheres near Prince Rupert – by Horton CBI, Lodge 359 and members from sister locals across the country.
Tank construction in British Columbia has increased for Lodge 359 over the last couple of years with Horton CBI as the primary contractor. Tank construction includes spheres near Prince Rupert and storage tanks in North Vancouver and Richmond. Fourteen tanks are starting construction in Burnaby for the TMX project, providing good union wages and benefits for Boilermakers over the next 3 years.