40 Years of Service Award

OH BOY here’s a perfect example of “I’ll never make 40 years of service!” statement coming back to haunt me!!!  Yes I was initially supposed to retire in 2010 but circumstances deemed it necessary to stay working a year and then another, then my “retirement trip” to Australia was kinda postponed from 2013 to 2014 so I decided to stay working still another year.  WELL lo and behold I will even surpass my 40 years of service for the Province of Manitoba (all with the Dept of Agriculture) by the time I actually pull the pin so to speak and retire.

Anyways Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives (department name now) honoured long time service employees on Friday, May 3^rd, 2013 and my Manager Bob Ward and myself were presented with our certificates and official photos taken with the our respective Bosses, Dori Gingera-Beauchemin - A/Deputy Minister and the Honorable Ron Kostyshyn - Minister of Agriculture.  Bob asked if I had my Thank You speech ready and I kinda panicked and then started to get nervous while waiting, but once the presentations started I realized I did not have to do such, I relaxed some.   There was no time allowed for a “rebuttal” to Bob’s introducing me and my accomplishments over the years, with some of his own comments added to my prepared speech for him. 

Bob Ward introducing me

David Kaminski presenting awards

My chosen black framed gift by http://www.expressiveframes.ca/

L-R:  Dori Gingera-Beauchemin, Bob Ward, myself, the Hon. Ron Kostyshyn

L-R:  Myself, Bob Ward (Manager), Margot Cathcart (Director)

After the presentations the various honorees, their invited guests and Committee Members etc milled around enjoying a light but lovely lunch – I had invited my niece Pat and her Mom Sylvia (my sister) to join me on this special day – before leaving to join fellow quilters at the Winkler/Morden quilt retreat weekend. 

Yes a lovely milestone in my years with the Department.  Thank you.