Message from Jeff Murrell, associate dean, School of Trades:
It is with mixed emotions that I write another retirement announcement, as the School of Trades is losing another valuable team member. Don Gemmell, after 14 years of service, is retiring at the end of June 2021. Don started with the Skills Centre at Niagara College in 2007 as a part-time faculty member and made an immediate impact, quickly transitioning into a full-time position in 2008. Don was no stranger to Niagara College and the education sector though, as he had taught for the Continuing Education department in the 1990’s and for other post-secondary institutions for several years.
Don was instrumental in providing guidance and input into the development of not only the physical space of the welding shop but also the Welding program itself. Even before I came to Niagara College, I considered the Welding program here to be second to none in the system, something that is a direct result of Don’s commitment and passion for the trade.
Don spent the first 30 years of his career working in the welding industry at Stelco. It was here that he fabricated, hardened, and refined his skills as a welder achieving several designations in the trade that included his Red Seal. Don is a highly regarded member of the welding community and this is demonstrated by his continued involvement in the Canadian Welding Bureau and Skills Ontario. He once told me “he was too smart not to become a welder” and that is so true. Don is extremely intelligent which is exemplified in the heights he has reached in the trade of welding.
Don also brings a unique disposition that he has developed over years of participation in martial arts, in which he holds a black belt. As a result, he has a very calm demeanor coupled with a firm belief in what is right and what is wrong. This translates directly into everything he does and how he approaches interactions with the students, who tend to excel once they understand this. This instills a disciplined attitude towards safety, welding, working and life in students, which makes a significant positive shift in who they are when they leave the program.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Don for 14 years of dedicated service to the students, the Welding program, the School of Trades and Niagara College.
Please join me in wishing Don all the best in his retirement.
