One Man’s Legacy to the Sheet Metal Industry
By Deb Draper
Photo courtesy of SMACNA-BC
It takes a great deal of hard work and perseverance to build and maintain a successful business. Contributing countless time and energy to help build the strength of an entire industry is nothing short of astounding. Yet these accomplishments are exactly what Craig Benson, owner of Paramount Sheet Metal Ltd. in Port Coquitlam, BC, has achieved through almost four decades in the sheet metal industry.
In December 2018, Benson retired from that business, but all that he brought to the industry will continue into the future.
In an video interview from the 75th annual SMACNA Convention in October 2018, Benson recalls how he found his life’s work in the industry almost accidentally when helping out a friend turned into working every weekend as a materials man while finishing high school. “I became an apprentice and then went on to journeyperson,” says Benson in the interview. “I realized that sheet metal was a great business to be in, and knew that one day I wanted to be my own boss.”
Thirteen years later, in 1989, he saw his chance when he learned of an opportunity to buy into Paramount; that’s also when he met what he describes as his biggest hurdle—getting the bank to give him enough credit to make it happen, using savings, credit cards, whatever it took until finally he managed a small line of credit.
That first year as a contractor, he pushed himself further and went to his first SMACNA-BC meeting. “I remember how friendly they were,” says Benson. “There I was, meeting guys who were like sheet metal ‘gods’ to me. But I got to know them, and some became my good friends for life. And they taught me a lot.”
Jim Paquette, business manager and financial secretary-treasurer at Local 280 knows Benson as a strong member of the sheet metal industry on all levels. “He started out very small, grew his company to a size he was comfortable with, and has kept his crew working for many, many years,” says Paquette.
As a contractor, Benson was always conscious that people depended on him, and he took that very seriously, right away taking a place on the SMACNA-BC Negotiating Committee. In 1992, he was elected to the Board of Directors where he continued to serve in one capacity or another – including three times as president – until his retirement.
He also became a management trustee of the SMACNA-BC/SMWIA (later to become SMART) Local 280 Health Benefits & Pension Fund. This medical and pension plan is jointly managed by three Trustees from labour and three Trustees from management, responsible for making all the decisions and Plan provisions, and ensuring that everything, including investments, is being run properly.
“Craig has been a long-time trustee on our Health Benefit Plan Board,” says Paquette. “All the personal time involved in keeping up to speed on health issues, attending the meetings and then bringing that knowledge to our plan… it’s incredible, the commitment he has shown.”
Never forgetting how he got his own start in sheet metal, Benson took a place on the Sheet Metal Industry Training Board, also a joint board of SMACNA-BC and Local 280 and responsible for administering the Sheet Metal Workers Training Centre Society. Funded through local collective bargaining agreements and training contracts with the Industry Training Authority, the Centre strives to provide the highest quality of training and upgrading to sheet metal apprentices and journeypersons in the province.
“I’ve been dealing with Craig forever,” says Bruce Sychuk, executive director of SMACNA-BC. “In partnership with another management trustee, he facilitated purchase of the building for our hugely successful Training Centre in Surrey.”
As Benson said in the SMACNA video, “Getting the workforce needed is an ongoing challenge for the sheet metal industry in BC, and our local apprenticeship program helps. As it is right now, we’ve never seen so many apprentices going through our school.” He notes that they plan to add another two weeks of school to the program, and that means looking for a larger space.
Wherever he could, Benson put his commitment to bringing new workers into the sheet metal trade into action—such as serving on the International Training Institute’s apprentice contest committee until it was discontinued after the final competition in 2017.
“It’s more a question of what Craig hasn’t been involved in,” says Paquette. “From my perspective, he’s been active on just about every level of the sheet metal industry.”
Throughout his career, Benson never hesitated in his commitment to strengthening and improving that industry. He also served on the National Joint Apprentice and Training Committee, the SMACNA-BC Nominating Committee, Partnership Committee, and SMACNA’s Duct Cleaning Task Force.
In September 2014, SMACNA National elected Benson to serve a four-year term on its Board of Directors where he could continue in his desire to find solutions to industry issues and challenges.
“Craig has done so much for the sheet metal industry, locally and nationally,” says Sychuk. “And even though he’s now out of the industry, we still want him to represent us. At the 2018 annual SMACNA-BC convention, in recognition of his distinguished service, he was inducted into the SMACNA College of Fellows. This is a lifetime membership, a very prestigious position for top industry professionals who have made significant contributions to advance the sheet metal industry.”
Although Benson has now retired from active involvement in business, he will continue in his position on the Health and Pension Benefits plan.
When asked what he would say to new contractors looking to succeed in sheet metal, Benson advises that they get involved in their industry and in SMACNA to network and find new ideas.
“And don’t be afraid to try something outside your comfort zone,” he says. “But most of all, believe in yourself, even if others are doubtful.” ▪
