The president of a high-profile union local is among the latest class of distinguished alumni of St. Clair College.
Unifor Local 444 President Dave Cassidy is one of six St. Clair alumni who will be honoured at the 31st Annual Alumni of Distinction Awards.
Cassidy told WindsorNewsToday.ca that the call from St. Clair President Patti France threw him completely off guard.
"I was just in shock when she told me that I won the Alumni of Distinction. I was tickled pink and humble, that's for sure," said Cassidy.
Cassidy went through the college's Electrician Construction Maintenance Program, graduating in 1991, and he is being recognized as an alum of the apprenticeship program. He said the program taught him more than just operating machines and making electrical systems work.
"It just shows that through continuing to learn and continuing to go through these trades, it opens so many more doors," said Cassidy. "At the college, I could teach skilled trades, I could've moved up through the management side and ran crews, or I could've become a labour leader like this."
Cassidy gave credit to his union and the rank-and-file membership that put him in a leadership position.
The other members of the 31st class of distinguished alumni are as follows.
Ursell Abands, Vice-Prime Minister of Aruba, and a 2005 graduate of the International Business Program.
Larry Delaey, President and CEO of Arkael Group in Wallaceburg, and a 1989 graduate of the Mold Making Technician Program.
Chaouki Hamka, Community Leader of MADD Windsor and Essex County and a corrections officer at the Southwest Detention Centre in Windsor. He is a 2009 graduate of the Law and Security Administation Program.
Dan MacDonald, a local radio show host, and a 2002 graduate of the Journalism Program.
Bhupinder Singh, a professional TNA wrestler based in Windsor. He is a 2018 alum of the Human Resources Program and also a 2019 graduate of the Event Management Program.
The six individuals bring the number of distinguished alumni honoured since 1992 to 137.
"What is always heart-warming about our Alumni of Distinction isn't just the phenomenal success they've enjoyed in their professional lives, but how they've passed along their knowledge and skills as mentors to foster the success of others and given invaluable service to their communities in ways unrelated to their occupations," said France.
The 31st Alumni of Distinction Dinner will take place on April 13 at the St. Clair College Centre for the Arts Skyline Room. Tickets are $75 a person, and tables for eight and ten people are available. For more information, visit the official St. Clair College Alumni Association website.