College News

Mr. Woerner's vision and courage in the engineering field and in his life has blazed a trail for future generations. As a tribute to Klaus, Skills Canada – Ontario presents the Klaus Woerner Skilled Trades Hall of Fame annually to recognize people who have made significant contributions to the advancement of skilled trades and technologies.

Advancement broadly includes invention, innovation or advocacy in Education/Training, Entrepreneurship, Industry or Leadership. The 2010 Hall of Fame Award recipients include our very own Don Bernosky, Executive Director, Innovation and Skills Development, Confederation College of Applied Arts and Technology.

Don has been nominated to the Klaus Woerner Skilled Trades Hall of Fame by Patricia Lang, President of Confederation College and Alex Peters, President of White Feather Forest Management Corporation. Don is currently the Executive Director of Innovation and Skills Development at Confederation College. He has championed regional programming in order to improve accessible delivery of training in Northern Ontario. Don has partnered with industry within the region (such as White Feather Forest Management) for the mutual benefit of students and industry. Don has worked with Skills Canada – Ontario in hosting their Summer Camp program, coordinating the regional qualifying competitions, and promoting the Skills Work!® For Women Networking Dinners. His nominators write that Don “has shown his true potential as he brings an open, egalitarian leadership style coupled with a driving energy” to support skilled trades in a large geographical area but has not let this challenge stop him.

Please join us in congratulating Don for continuing to dedicate himself to applying his own technology skills and knowledge to developing unique post-secondary, apprenticeship and training programs at Confederation College.

The gala event recognizing the Klaus Woerner Skilled Trades Hall of Famers takes place today, Friday, March 5, 2010 in Kitchener, Ontario.