Alfred (Fred) Voytek
Alfred (Fred) Voytek, born 1927 in Vienna, grew to adulthood in a most tumultuous time for European sensibilities. Immigrating from, perhaps more like escaping, Russian occupied Austria (an occupation that continued for 25 more years) to Canada, it could be said touching down on Canadian Soil July 1, 1952, was a rebirth for Him on the nations own birthday. Soon after son Fred and Wife Herta follow and dedication to their welfare would be fulfilled from hard work and determination.
As a twenty-five year old, Fred demonstrated discipline and remarkable intelligence at immersing himself towards success in a new culture and country. For instance, he changed his name from Vojtek to its more phonetically sound spelling of Voytek, making it easy to be recognized and welcomed. English as a second language was achieved with perseverance, even though his days were spent immersed among Italian immigrants, neither of them with English speaking fellow workers to learn from.
Fred’s progression to an executive and admired consultant in matters of construction, would have a most humble start. His first job, as a Burlington Steel crane operator, would give way 13 months later to electrical apprenticeship. It paid $2.00 over the $1.84 per hour crane operating rate. The stability of work was terrific support to his family life, and the foundation for his first car loan. And in 1953 Fred and Herta purchased land on West 27th street for $550, with $10 building plans, nearly $11,000 in materials, 20 months labour (Herta mixing the mortar, Fred laying each block & brick) and moved in just before having to sell for Fred’s new job in London.
Fred obtained his certification as an electrician and became a Master Electrician using a prodigious determination to master the language and best of electrical work practices. His experience led to teaching electrical estimating at Delta Collegiate (Hamilton) and some time later, his successful 1969 completion of the Dale Carnegie Course would lead to the Dale Carnegie Institute (NY) certifying Fred as a Dale Carnegie “Effective Speaking” course instructor, which he did for 6 years.
By 1958, a mere six years after immigrating and soon after obtaining his electrical licensing, Fred was leading major projects for Canadian Comstock. His projects included the 1956 Oakville Hospital Extension as Foreman, Project managing the 1958 Skyway Bridge, Main West Federal Building, Canada Wire and Cable (Simcoe) Plant, and Guelph Hospital.
In 1960 Comstock moved Fred to Windsor to lead the Hiram Walker Bottling Plant and shortly after became the firms Windsor area manager, responsible for its services for the New Post Office and the conclusion of work on the Cleary Auditorium. A transfer back to Hamilton in 1965 came with responsibility to coordinate Comstock Trades for the construction of Dofasco’s new head office on Burlington Street.
A partnership of R. D. Stewart (’10), Bill Weatherley and Fred Voytek create Aldershot Industrial Installations. Weatherley was first president, and Fred took the helm soon after; the three partners created a major contracting firm of 450 people serving the burgeoning institutional, Commercial, and Industrial sector in Greater Hamilton and Halton.
Volunteering, like his interest in giving others of his experience and knowledge, came naturally to Fred. He was President of the Electrical Construction Association of Hamilton (19xx), Mechanical Contractors Association of Ontario (1978-79), and Hamilton (Halton) Construction Association (1971). Fred served on the Board of the Mechanical Contractors Association of Hamilton (MCAH).
In retirement from active construction business, Fred served as the lead labour relations contract negotiator for the MCAH for many years. His experience in construction Labour-Management came to the attention of Ontario Premiere Bill Davis, who appointed Fred to the Ontario Construction Review Panel. One of three contractor executives, joined with three labour leaders, Fred advised Labour Minister Dr. Bette Stephenson and Premier Davis with implementation of recommendations of a 1976 Franks Report. Through his contributions, the panel led and achieved province wide construction collective agreement negotiations, ending the leap frogging wage increases which plagued the industry and bringing increased labour stability and remarkable reductions in construction industry labour interruptions.
Serious about business, strategic and forthright in service to labour harmony in Ontario, Fred was kind, generous, and considerate of others. He worked hard to live well in Canada, providing for family and the many others who relied on his leadership. Fred enjoyed cottage life on the Severn River waterskiing, Tennis in good weather, winter snowboarding and Florida in Lake Worth. He was always turned out perfectly, well mannered, a true gentlemen until his death this year, his 97th.
He was a quiet and unassuming philanthropist, giving over half a million dollars to McMaster University Health Sciences research in omics and significant contributions to others, including Joseph Brant Hospital.
For the type of leadership that included influencing the work of construction associations, the many projects his leadership built, and for his dedication to education and improvement of labour relations, it is an honour to induct Fred Voytek into the Hamilton-Halton Construction Hall of Fame.