Spotlight on Keystone leadership

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 03/03/2025 (395 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A motivated businessperson who accomplished much in his life, Willie Dueck was known to say: “Where there’s a Willie, there’s a way.”

Dueck, who died in April 2021, is being honoured posthumously for founding Vidir Solutions Inc. in Arborg. The Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters will present Dueck’s family with the GHY Pioneer Award at its annual Manitoba Gala Awards at the end of the month.

The award celebrates an individual who started a manufacturing business in Manitoba and nurtured it into a successful company.

“A pioneer award is a perfect award for him because he was a pioneer in many ways,” said Carissa Rempel, a co-owner and manager at Vidir Solutions and one of Dueck’s grandchildren.

Now in its third generation of family ownership, the company provides automated material handling solutions, including lifts, carousels and lockers. It employs more than 250 people, most of them in Manitoba, and provides products to 45 countries.

In addition to Vidir Solutions, Dueck started at least one other business and was a driving force behind the construction of schools, churches and personal care homes in the three places he lived: Manitoba, Mexico and Texas.

“(We’re) very grateful, very honoured on his behalf,” Rempel said. “We always knew he was special and it’s just great to see him honoured by others as well.”

Meanwhile, Roger Dack of Nordstern Group will receive the Safety Leadership Award, which celebrates an individual who has created a lasting safety legacy within their organization and industry.

The recognition feels surreal, said Dack, environment, health and safety manager at the company that manufactures aluminum and zinc.

“I did not expect to get an award,” he said. “I don’t feel I deserve one; I feel everyone I work with deserves one. They’re the ones that put in the real effort.”

Dack has worked in health and safety at Nordstern for the last 15 years.

In that time, he’s played a key role in fostering a strong safety culture and driving continuous improvement across the business, which has more than 200 employees in Manitoba and Minneapolis. He’s also integrated continuous improvement principles with safety initiatives to enhance workplace efficiency and risk reduction.

The accomplishment he is most pleased with, though, is when employees return to work every day without injury. “I’m proud of all our workers that have bought into safety and think before they act,” he said.

In addition to the individual awards, the CME is honouring two Manitoba businesses.

Diamond Doors Inc. will receive the Export Award, which honours a company that demonstrates excellence in expanding its market numerically and geographically.

The Winkler company, which manufactures and delivers doors across North America, continues to expand into new markets, predominantly in the United States. From 2018 to 2023, its revenue in the U.S. grew by approximately 1,100 per cent.

The growth has led Diamond Doors to nearly double employment at the business and its subsidiary companies — JRT Metalworks, Slipstream Trucking and Linear Product Solutions — since 2020. The company and its subsidiaries employ nearly 100 people.

Winnipeg plastic packaging giant Winpak Ltd. will receive the inaugural Efficiency Manitoba Sustainability Award.

It honours organizations that contribute to a sustainable and economically resilient future for the keystone province.

Last year, Winpak ran an employee energy efficiency awareness campaign; solicited suggestions from employees on improving the company’s energy efficiency; and upgraded equipment to make them energy efficient.

The upgrades resulted in the company estimating a reduction in electricity use of 1.3 million kWh per year, saving more than $50,000 annually on energy bills.

The contributions of this year’s award recipients exemplify the strength, innovation and resilience of Manitoba’s manufacturing industry, according to Terry Shaw, CME regional vice-president for the Prairies.

The CME is Canada’s oldest and largest national trade and industry association, and it’s important to celebrate the great work its members are doing, he said.

“It was so hard to choose,” Shaw said. “There’s so many potential great stories to tell out there.

“(We’re) very much looking forward to recognizing this year’s award recipients, but there’s so many more within the manufacturing community that should be acknowledged and celebrated as well. It’s cool to have that much great stuff going on in one industry in Manitoba.”

The awards will be presented during CME’s annual gala dinner, which takes place at the RBC Convention Centre in Winnipeg on March 27.

About 400 people are expected to attend.

— with files from Gabrielle Piché

aaron.epp@freepress.mb.ca