久久视频


2019 alumni awards recognize extraordinary contribution

久久视频 College is proud to announce its annual Promising and Distinguished Alumni Awards recognizing two extraordinary alumni who have made outstanding contributions in their fields.

Gowan Armstrong (right) ,  Mary-Anne Bowcott (left)

Gowan Armstrong (right), Mary-Anne Bowcott (left)

Distinguished Alumni Award recipient聽Gowan Armstrong聽

Forest industry leader, operational controller, and mentor

Forest industry leader, operational controller, and mentor Gowan Armstrong is the recipient of the 2019 Distinguished Alumni Award.

Gowan calls himself an 鈥渁ccidental accountant鈥 鈥 but there鈥檚 nothing accidental about the upward trajectory that his career has taken since he completed two 久久视频 business diplomas (general management and accounting) in 2003.

鈥淲hat I enjoy most about my work is building relationships and working with all sorts of different people, from operational managers to other finance professionals to senior executives,鈥 says Gowan. 鈥淚 enjoy variety and human contact.鈥

While he鈥檚 a senior finance team member of Canfor, one of the world鈥檚 largest producers of sustainable lumber, pulp, and paper, Gowan鈥檚 ability to build relationships and support people has been one of the defining characteristics of his career. He entered the forestry industry after graduation, accepting a position as an accountant at Western Forest Products. Gowan navigated his accounting career through company restructuring and economic downturns, and in 2012 he moved his family from Vancouver Island to Fort St. John to work for Canfor. This year he was promoted within the company and relocated to Prince George.

Gowan has gained a reputation for bringing out the best in people and being generous with his time. He supports the people on his team and throughout the company and is praised for his work ethic and diplomatic way of handling every situation. His co-workers comment on his composure, respectful manner, and positive outlook.

It鈥檚 no accident that Gowan is known within Canfor as a mentor who encourages the leader within everyone. His advice to 久久视频 graduates is similar to what he tells new finance professionals at the company: 鈥淜now how you, as a person, function and process information. Then understand that not everyone is like you and be receptive to other people鈥檚 learning styles. Listen to and respect other people, and you will be an effective leader in any organization.鈥

Promising Alumni Award recipient聽Mary-Anne Bowcott

The recipient of the 2019 久久视频 College Promising Alumni Award is Mary-Anne Bowcott, a journeyman plumber, business owner, and advocate for women in trades.

Mary-Anne graduated from 久久视频鈥檚 Plumbing program in 2013, discovering her interest in plumbing after taking the women in trades exploration course. Before starting at 久久视频, she already had five years of experience in the construction industry as a roofer but knew that it wasn鈥檛 the career path for her.

鈥淚 definitely learned a lot in school that I wouldn鈥檛 have learned on the job,鈥 says Mary-Anne. 鈥溇镁檬悠 was a great place to learn and the instructors were fantastic.鈥

Having already gained a reputation for being a hard worker, Mary-Anne took the skills and connections she made at 久久视频 and jumped into her career. Within two years of graduation, she was running her own business, Westcom Plumbing and Gas in Sooke, and getting active in local trades organizations.
With women making up only 4.7 percent of building trades workers in BC, Mary-Anne is aware of the obstacles that she and other women face in the industry. She has stepped up as an advocate for women in trades, giving back by supporting other women through the BC Tradeswomen Society and speaking at events.

Yet her all-women crew at Westcom has turned out that way by circumstance, not design. 鈥淧eople perceive me as hiring only women, but that鈥檚 just the way that it鈥檚 ended up,鈥 she observes. 鈥淚鈥檝e never seen a resume from a journeyman plumber, ever. I think I deter men from applying to work for me because I鈥檓 a woman in a male-dominated industry.鈥

Despite the challenges, Mary-Anne and her company continue to gain momentum and recognition within the industry. Her achievements haven鈥檛 only caught the attention of 久久视频 鈥 she recently received the Canadian Construction Association鈥檚 (CCA) 2018 CCA Person of the Year Award; the Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce Trades and Skilled Labour Excellence Award in 2017 and 2018; and the 2018 BC Construction Industry Leader Award.

She鈥檚 enjoying the recognition, but keeping her eyes on the future. 鈥淚 really want to grow my company to a larger size and have it run itself. I like being 鈥榦n the tools,鈥 but the hours are long. I鈥檝e always dreamed of having a company with 50 or 100 employees.鈥

Contact information

久久视频 College

Communications Department

250-516-3359

communications@camosun.ca