Town of Taber Public Works foreman wins AB Public Works Award

The Town of Taber is proud to announce that John Browning, Foreman of Roads and Walks in the Engineering and Public Works Department is the recipient of the Alberta Public Works Association’s 2022 Young (Emerging) Leader Award.

As per the APWA, the award “recognizes emerging leaders in the public works section for their far reaching, positive impact of public works program and services.” Candidates must be nominated and “demonstrate leadership qualities within their organization regardless of their position.”

Mr. Browning started at the Town of Taber as an Operator I in the Roads and Walks Department, switching careers from a journeyman welder. Having risen through the ranks to become our Public Works Foreman in 2018, John continues to serve Taber with a high level of commitment for the work he and his crew do.

Though most often publicly seen on road and sidewalk projects, John and his crew work on a multitude of projects throughout the community, oftentimes without being noticed. Beyond the day-to-day quintessential operations of the Public Works staff (sidewalks, culverts, tree care, snow removal, etc.), John also oversees burials within the Taber Memorial Gardens, supports numerous interdepartmental requests for assistance (such as hanging the Veterans Banners or assisting with event setup), and assists with large-scale capital projects that the Department undertakes each year. John is also instrumental in working directly with various community groups such as Taber Communities in Bloom (Christmas displays, beautification projects, etc.), the Taber Chamber (Cornfest setup), and many others.

“Much is expected of Public Works in any community, and particularly the Foremen of those teams. That John continues to grow as a leader and elevate the profession is a testament to his dedication and the trust our staff have placed in him” said Gary Scherer, Director of Engineering and Public Works, “Our thanks could never be enough for all that John does for our team and the people of Taber but suffice to say this award is greatly deserved. We are honoured to call him one of our own.”

“Our Public Works crew works day or night in rain, sun, snow and storms to make sure our Town continues to function well, though their efforts are often overlooked,” said Chief Administrative Officer Derrin Thibault, “with John as Foreman of an incredible team, there is no doubt as to their dedication to Taber. I thank John and each of his teammates for their immeasurable contributions to the Town of Taber and congratulate John on his well-deserved award.”

“On behalf of Council, I would like to congratulate Mr. Browning on being the recipient of such a prestigious award,” said Mayor Prokop, “the work John and his team continue to do is of vital benefit to our community and we thank him and the entire Public Works team for all that they do for our community and its residents every single day. Their work makes Taber a great place to grow.”

The award was presented on September 30th at the APWA’s Manager Workshop in Red Deer.