Assiniboine instructor wins Apprenticeship Manitoba award

Assiniboine College electrical instructor Garry Jones was named Apprenticeship Manitoba’s Instructor of the Year at the RBC Convention Centre in Winnipeg on Thursday night.

Jones, who has taught in Assiniboine’s electrical department for nearly two decades, described the award as the most meaningful of his career because it came directly from his students.

He said he had no idea a nomination was in the works until weeks after his Level 4 students had quietly submitted it.

“I could tell something was happening — lots of whispering, grinning — but I didn’t know what,” he told the Sun. “Two of the students took the lead and nominated me for the award. It was completely from them. Nobody pushed them to do it.”

The annual Awards of Distinction celebrate the province’s skilled trades community, honouring outstanding journeypersons, employers and instructors who exemplify excellence in their craft, teaching, mentorship and leadership.

Nearly 400 attendees gathered this year to recognize the achievements of nominees whose work strengthens Manitoba’s workforce, builds homes, maintains infrastructure and advances innovative technologies. This year, 37 businesses and individuals were nominated by colleagues, apprentices and industry members.

Jones said he learned only the night before the gala that he was one of two finalists — and ultimately the winner.

“Honestly, I was surprised,” he said. “Everybody nominated deserves it. I didn’t feel any more deserving than the next instructor.” He had been nominated once before but never won, making this recognition his first.

The college has produced several previous recipients of the award, highlighting the institution’s long-standing commitment to excellence in trades education.

“This means more to me than anything I’ve ever won,” Jones said. “Because it came from the students. That’s why we’re here.”

Jones’ nomination highlighted his commitment to diverse teaching methods and his efforts to connect students to real-world industry experience. A long-time member of the Canadian Standards Association, he regularly has students draft proposals for CSA consideration, some of which have led to changes in Canadian electrical law.

“I’ve sat in meetings in Ottawa and watched five student submissions come up and pass unanimously,” he said. “They drove the process. I just facilitated it.”

He also brings in industry experts from across the country and teaches students not only the technical content but the reasoning behind the rules.

“I always try to diversify how I deliver material,” he said. “Different students learn in different ways. As long as they’re putting in effort, I’ll bend over backwards to help them in and out of class.”

Reflecting on his early years as an instructor, Jones said the biggest challenges were outside the classroom — lesson prep, long nights and learning the demands of the role.

“Every instructor has that phase. The classroom is the easy part. The hard work is everything before you step into it,” he said.

Winning the award, he added, won’t change his career path, but it will recharge him. “Awards like this pump you up. They rejuvenate your energy. I just want to keep getting better.”

Jones expressed gratitude for the support of Assiniboine College staff, managers, facilities workers and fellow instructors. He said his success is tied to the work his colleagues do in preparing students in Levels 1 through 3.

“They made my job easier,” he said. “Those students came in ready because of the instructors who taught them before me.”

He also thanked Apprenticeship Manitoba and Skills Manitoba for recognizing instructors’ work in the trades, noting that the gala and awards help to rejuvenate educators and celebrate the vital contributions of skilled tradespeople across the province.

But above all, Jones credited his family — especially his wife, Tracy — for helping him through the demanding early years of teaching.

“In the beginning, it couldn’t have been easy on her,” he said. “There were nights I was up till one in the morning getting ready for class. She never complained, not once. She was always supportive. I don’t know if I could’ve kept going without her.”

Jones said he is grateful to his students most of all. “Having great students makes the job fun to come to,” he said. “This award is because of them.” He smiled and added, “This one means the world to me.”

Other 2025 Awards of Distinction winners included JM Truck & Trailer Repair Ltd. for Rural and Northern Employer of the Year, Transcona Roofing for Urban Employer of the Year, and Alysha Willis of the Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology for Pre-Employment Instructor of the Year. Rural and Northern Journeyperson of the Year went to Terry Hayward, and Urban Journeyperson of the Year was awarded to Andy Kehler.

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