Help Support Students Through Terry’s Legacy

Not every leader wants to turn a working partnership into something more, but that can’t be said about Terry Gifford – he wanted more, not just for his company, but for students and all others involved. After his first retirement from The Appraisal Institute of Canada, he worked as the Executive Director of The Certified Technicians & Technologists Association of Manitoba (CTTAM) from 2006 to 2016. Under his watch, CTTAM supported students, competition, and incentives at Red River College Polytechnic (RRC Polytech) more than ever before.

Gifford passed away in May 2022 and is truly missed. His colleague Dale Watts, former Dean of Industrial Technologies at RRC Polytech, says Gifford was always a huge benefactor in the relationship between CTTAM and RRC Polytech.

Gifford, a graduate of RRC Polytech’s Business Administration program, enjoyed volunteering on behalf of CTTAM at RRC Polytech’s model wind turbine building contest, an event co-sponsored by CTTAM, Skills Manitoba and RRC Polytech noted Watts. High school students were given materials and tools to build a model wind turbine, but the construction plan was up to them as a part of this event. The goal was to generate the highest voltage based on a fan blowing at it at varying speeds.

“Terry was a pleasure to work with and open to ideas like these to help foster interest in the engineering technologies. Over time, it did a lot for both CTTAM and RRC [Polytech],” says Watts.

A longtime supporter of RRC Polytech, CTTAM has donated over $156,340 to annual alumni initiatives and special projects like the Princess Street Campus Capital Campaign, the Global Emergency Student Support Award, the Electrical Engineering Program, the Shell Eco-Marathon Challenge, the CTTAM Instrumentation Student Games Project, the COVID-19 Emergency Student Support Fund and more.

Historically, CTTAM has also given out four $1,000 scholarships to students entering the second year of Civil Engineering Technology, Electronic Engineering Technology, Instrumentation and Control Engineering Technology and Mechanical Engineering Technology, based on academic standing.

In memory of Terry, CTTAM is establishing The Terry Gifford CTTAM Leadership Award, which will beavailable to a student entering the second year of any of the following Engineering Technology programs: Civil, Electrical or Mechanical, including all related specializations. The recipient will be selected by faculty based on interpersonal skills, ability to lead teams with compassion, willingness to go the extra mile to help other students and excellent academic standing.

CTTAM will match the first $10,000 to support this initiative. To keep Gifford’s legacy alive, and support students in these programs, you can donate to this initiative here.

On the form, please select “Student Awards” enter “CTTAM” in the text box. Please then select that this is an “in memory” donation and enter “Terry Gifford” in the text box.