Monday, April 21, 2025

80,000 Hours—and Counting

People need at least 10,000 hours to master any skill, according to writer Malcolm Gladwell. Local 63 member Shawn Farmer has hit that benchmark—eight times over

Shawn, 61, is a journeyman carpenter in Edmonton who began with Ledcor Construction Ltd. in 1984—and has been there ever since. The company made a big deal out of his 80,000-hour achievement.

“I was approached by our regional manager who said, ‘You probably want something low key,’” says Shawn.

Low key turned out to be a party last November with almost 80 people, a special cake for the occasion, and a photographer to record the event. The office staff made a book for him that everyone signed with their well wishes.

“I think they went above and beyond for someone who just got up every morning to go to work,” says Shawn.

His long service with one employer is unusual in Alberta construction, where skilled tradespeople often move among various employers, depending on the project.

“It’s not that common for a member to hit 40 years with one single contractor,” says Matthew Guay, CLAC representative. “We have other members with that amount of hours but not usually in construction with one company.”

Shawn gives full credit to Ledcor for creating a positive, busy, and fulfilling work environment.

“I get asked a lot why I’ve stayed so long,” he says. “Occasionally, there has been the chance to make a dollar or two an hour more elsewhere. But it’s the people I work with that have kept me there.”

And although he has spent some time in the busy northern work camps, Shawn is happy that many of his jobs have been in the Edmonton area, close to home, his wife, and his daughter.

“I’ve been very fortunate to be involved with a company that hasn’t been short of work,” he says.

It’s gratifying to drive through the city and point to all the projects he has worked on that have helped shape the community—the Royal Alberta Museum, the 28-storey Epcor Tower, and the Art Gallery of Alberta, to name but three.

The city has changed a lot in the last 40 years, and so has the construction industry.

“The technology is the biggest difference,” says Shawn. “All the tools are cordless and, of course, computers changed everything. When I started, there weren’t even fax machines. Now, everything has gone paperless, and we get our drawings on an iPad.”

He appreciates working with younger tradespeople, who in turn appreciate his experience and guidance.

“Some of the people signed my book saying, ‘Thanks for being a good mentor,’” says Shawn. “I never really saw it like that. When you’re working side-by-side with people, you just share what you know.”

He is currently working on a 200,000-square-foot warehouse in Edmonton’s Cornerstone Business Park, where he expects to be until fall. After that, it will be on to the next project.

After four decades, Shawn still loves what he does and has no immediate plans to cut back or retire.

“As long as my health stays with me,” he says, “I’m happy to keep going.”

Shawn Farmer

80,000 Hours—and Counting

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