Thompson Rivers University Construction Trades Instructor Hank Bangma has been recognized by BC Homes Magazine as one of BC’s Most Influential People in Residential Construction.
Bangma is featured on the cover of the April/May issue along with Premier Gordon Campbell and three others from the group of 20 deemed most influential by the magazine published for the Canadian Home Builders’ Association of BC.
“I have a lot of respect for the other people that were recognized,” Bangma said. “The premier obviously, but also Jim Thomson (owner of Plainsman Construction and chair of the Southern Interior Development Trust) and M.J. Whitemarsh (chair of the Residential Construction Industry Training Organization). To be placed among this group is really humbling.”
Tim Kasten, first vice president, Canadian Home Builders Association BC, nominated Bangma for the honour, having worked with Bangma and TRU Trades Students on the training house for the past eight years. It’s an award-winning collaboration that gives TRU’s Residential Construction Foundations students an opportunity to build a real home as part of their first year of studies and a key fundraising initiative for the Kamloops YMCA.
“He goes above and beyond what is required to train young people in the trade. Hank sets a high standard and he demands a lot from his students, instilling in them a real pride for doing a quality job,” said Kasten, who has hired several TRU students for his company Hillside Contracting.
Besides his full-time responsibilities as instructor Bangma sits on the Provincial Carpentry Articulation Committee (9 years: 4 years as chair) and is currently reviewing 80 plus chapters of content for the first Canadian revision of the textbook Carpentry.
<p.Contact:
- Hank Bangma Residential Construction Trades, TRU, (p) 371-5663, (c) 851-6686
- Tim Kasten, Canadian Home Builders’ Association BC, (c) 682-0200
