Derksen Manitoba donates $75,000 to RRC Polytech for Skilled Trades

As graduates of the Plumbing program, having a plaque with the family name in one of RRC Polytech’s skilled trades learning spaces (‘J’ building) is meaningful to Chris Derksen and his business partner and cousin, Zach Derksen.

“It was a great opportunity to give back to the place that helped pave the way for our current success,” says Chris, General Manager of Derksen Manitoba.

When he was in school, Chris says he met many people who now work alongside him. He says the biggest reason he is where he is today is because of his education and firsthand experience in the industry. Learning through trial and error in the shop helped him understand how to do things from the ground up.

“I don’t think I would’ve learned things the same way if I had read it in a book or written it down on a piece of paper 1000 times,” explains Chris.

“I think knowing what our workers go through on a day-to-day basis and understanding the services we’re supplying, rather than just knowing the business end of it, is huge.”

Along with Zach’s brother Kurtis Derksen, the three took classes in the J building and graduated together in 2007. After graduation, they all started working for the family business and eventually took over in leadership roles. Kurtis passed away in 2016, leaving Chris and Zach Derksen to manage without their family member, business partner and friend.

When he heard RRC Polytech was looking to add a new Skilled Trades and Technology Centre (STTC) to the Notre Dame Campus and the project came up for tender, Chris says they all got very excited.

Derksen Manitoba was one of the subcontractors that worked with Akman Construction Ltd. to provide plumbing, HVAC and other services, helping build the STTC from the ground up. Chris says working on the STTC generated a sense of pride that he felt and the entire crew shared in.

“Everybody pulled up their socks and really made sure that everything they did was borderline perfection.”

Derksen Manitoba also worked on Manitou a bi Bii daziigae (formerly known as the Innovation Centre). After these two successful projects, Chris says he wanted to help improve the College’s facilities and training for the student who would eventually come work for their company.

In January 2022, Derksen Manitoba made a $75,000 donation, and RRC Polytech recognized the support by naming the Piping Trades room the Derksen Manitoba Lab. Chris says it’s special because it’s where he and his partners took classes.

“RRC Polytech gave me the freedom and ability to understand the ‘why’ and create a company that’s always striving to be different and better than we were before.”