May 31, 2010 - 3:18am
“A
delightful surprise.”
That’s how
Ross Somerville describes his feelings about receiving this year’s Outstanding
Service Award from Vancouver Island University.
Somerville
will receive the special honour at VIU’s Faculty of Trades and Applied
Technology graduation ceremony June 25.. The award recognizes
Somerville’s outstanding service to VIU over many years.
“This is
completely unexpected and I am deeply humbled,” he said.
Somerville
retired in January 2009 as Sales and Marketing Director at Cummins Western
Canada after 30-plus years of service. During his career, he supported VIU
Trades and Applied Technology Department by arranging donations to the Heavy
Duty mechanic program from Cummins Western Canada. The total value of these
donations is in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The list of
donated items range from software to a 700-horsepower diesel engine with
computer-controlled engine systems. The donations were mainly focused on the
Heavy Duty /Commercial Transport program, but the Power Sports and Marine
Technician program also recently received a complete new diesel engine/stern
drive package valued at $35,000.
Somerville
also developed and taught two courses in Leadership and Supervisory Skills in
the Trades program for two separate cohorts, in addition to his regular job
with Cummins Western Canada.
“Ross not
only did an amazing job in the development and instruction of these courses but
he took the salary he had earned from VIU and put it back to VIU students
through a bursary,” said Fred MacDonald, Dean of Trades and Applied Technology
at VIU. “He is a person who has demonstrated in word and action his dedication
to student learning and to VIU.”
Somerville
started his career as a marine engineer on the Great Lakes. After a few years,
he thought it would be more fun on land and became an apprentice mechanic.
After
earning his Red Seal certification, he started working for Cummins Engine
Company in eastern Canada as regional service manager. He was promoted to Sales
Manager at the company’s western Canada office.
Years ago,
Somerville met Dan Lines, former Associate Dean of VIU’s Trades and Technology
program and Heavy Duty Mechanics Instructor Paul Mottershead.
“Paul was always very
helpful to us at Cummins and, like Dan, was one of the reasons we choose VIU
for most of our contributions,”he
said.
“I had a
soft spot in my heart for VIU, so they got bulk of the donated goodies,” said
Somerville. “They had the deepest roots in the industry that we earned our
living in. VIU truly teaches young people the diesel business. So I thought
they should have the latest equipment on which to train students.”
“It was a
great opportunity to give back to the industry that had been so good to us.”
Today,
Somerville is enjoying retirement at his home on Protection Island with his
wife Joan. They have two children.
He’s
rekindled his love of marine life by launching a second career driving the ‘pickle
boats’ between Newcastle Island and Maffeo Sutton Park.
“There’s
nothing better than being on the water,” he said. “It soothes the system.”
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