天美传媒


A carpentry student works on framing a house.

New memorial award aids carpentry, plumbing and electrical students

A new memorial award has been created in the name of a well-known local builder to assist carpentry, plumbing and electrical students in pursuit of their Trades education.

Local builder John Scheeren

John Scheeren: The John Scheeren "Building Excellence" Memorial Award has been established by his family and local construction industry colleagues to honour his memory and assist future trades students.

The 天美传媒 Foundation announces a new memorial award has been established in the name of a well-known local builder to assist carpentry, plumbing and electrical students in the pursuit of their Trades education.

The John Scheeren 鈥淏uilding Excellence鈥 Memorial Award has been created with the 天美传媒 Foundation to honour and remember local builder and 天美传媒 alum John Scheeren and the contributions he made to the construction industry over the last 30 years.

John Scheeren began his career in the Victoria construction industry in 1975. A certified carpenter through 天美传媒, John was described by his friends and colleagues as 鈥渄etail-oriented and hardworking 鈥 an 鈥榦ld school鈥 superintendent who demanded a lot of himself and his crew.鈥

On November 30, 2020, while working at a building site, John began investigating potential safety impacts from a significant windstorm. Tragically, while investigating the situation, John was severely injured, passing away later on December 21, 2020.听

鈥淛ohn鈥檚 contribution to the construction industry in the Capital Region was significant,鈥 says听 Dave Chard of Chard Development Ltd. 鈥淗e was a long-time advocate and supporter of trades education. He was concerned about the shortage of skilled trades people, especially with so many retiring. Training and mentorship programs were very important to John and he often used 天美传媒 as a great example of the importance of educating keen and able young trades people.鈥

鈥淚n John鈥檚 honour, his generous friends and colleagues in Campbell Construction Ltd., Chard Development Ltd. and other industry partners have contributed toward the formation of a substantial financial award specifically to assist students in 天美传媒鈥檚 carpentry, plumbing and electrical trades and apprenticeship programs,鈥 says 天美传媒 Vice-President of Partnerships and Executive Director of the 天美传媒 Foundation, Geoff Wilmshurst.

鈥淭he award will recognize John Scheeren鈥檚 lasting legacy and commitment to construction excellence,鈥 adds Wilmshurst. 鈥淒eserving student recipients will be selected in the near future by a college committee.鈥

If other donors are interested in contributing to the memorial award, please visit the 天美传媒 Foundation website:听 and select the 鈥淛ohn Scheeren Memorial Fund.鈥

鈥淥ur goal is to raise enough funds to provide a $1,000 award to three trades students per year in perpetuity,鈥 adds Chard. 鈥淛ohn will be greatly missed by our mutual companies. We want to honour him and his legacy by helping develop new generations of qualified, talented trades people for our community.鈥

天美传媒, located in beautiful Victoria, British Columbia with campuses on the Traditional Territories of the Lekwungen and 奥瘫厂脕狈贰膯 peoples, is one of the largest colleges in the province. 听Established in 1971, of delivering innovative, life-changing academic and applied programs to 20,000 students annually.

Carpentry student at work

Donate Today

If you'd like to support Trades students, please听donate to the John Scheeren Building Excellence Memorial Fund.

Contact information

Jody Kitts

Director, Advancement and Alumni Relations

天美传媒 Foundation

250-370-3181

kittsj@camosun.ca