Paul Crane to receive honorary diploma from Assiniboine

Assiniboine Community College will be presenting Paul Crane with an honorary diploma in Construction Trades at this year’s graduation ceremony in Brandon to be held in October, 2020.

Crane is well-known and respected in Westman and Manitoba as the founder of Crane Steel Structures in Brandon and Winnipeg.

“Mr. Crane is as much a fixture in the Westman community as the structures his company has built locally,” said Assiniboine president Mark Frison.

His commitment to enhancing the community around him while building a successful business that serves that community is admirable. The college is thrilled to be recognizing and celebrating such a worthy recipient.

His presence in the local building industry began five decades ago, when he joined BB Steel Builders in 1978 after 10 years as an engineering consultant. Crane Steel Structures was born three years later when Crane took equity in the company. In 1995, he acquired a Winnipeg-based dealer and renamed it to Crane Steel Structures, expanding his business further across the province.

Now, the local landscape is dotted with Crane Steel buildings. His company has played a role in some of the largest commercial buildings in Westman — community centres, car dealerships, fire halls and feed mills on that list.

“I was surprised and humbled that the Board of Governors had selected me for this honour,” said Crane. “To be recognized for personal and professional achievements through my life is amazing. My life in the business world, the construction industry, and the community has many bright spots.”

Crane’s commitment to community has been evident throughout his career. He has served on numerous boards and committees in Westman and his business has long focused on being a good corporate citizen. Under his leadership, Crane Steel has been active in sponsoring community events, youth sports teams and supporting charitable organizations, including the Heart & Stroke Foundation, Cancer Society of Manitoba, Canadian Diabetes Association and United Way Brandon.

The largest benefit of community involvement is the many people that you meet; they all become friends. One of my proudest achievements is having my two sons carry on our family business.

Crane built his business from 12 employees within a single 400-square-foot office to 60 employees with two locations in Manitoba. Today, Crane’s sons, P.J. and Jarod, have taken the reigns of Crane Steel.

He has long been an advocate for post-secondary education after graduating from Red River College’s Civil Engineering program that helped launch his own successful career.

Crane’s honorary diploma adds to the list of awards he’s received for his business and community work, including the President’s Award for Business Person of the Year from the Brandon Chamber of Commerce in 2008, the Ben Wiebe Memorial Award in 2008 for his contribution to the construction industry and community, and a multitude of industry awards.

Assiniboine awards honorary diplomas to individuals who demonstrate high standards of excellence in their personal and professional achievements and whose involvement in the community is widely recognized.

List of past Assiniboine honorary diploma recipients

2019 Kelly McCrimmon

2018 Ron Helwer

2017 Phil Fontaine

2016 Beverly Bunn

2016 Ian Grant

2016 Jason Yates

2016 Rick Borotsik

2015 Mildred Murray

2014 Jim Treliving

2014 Harvey Armstrong

2013 Dave Baxter

2012 Carmel Olson

2012 Allen Dowhan

2011 Dennis Hunt

2010 Bob Mazer

2009 Gord Peters