From age 11 on, Ryan worked in his dad’s shop every summer. He helped with after-hours service calls where “holding the light” was an important task that required his attendance. For times when Ansgar was out of town, Ryan would do services calls himself, pulling a toboggan of tools and parts to the job, and sometimes farmers would drive into town to pick him up to do the work at their farms, because he wasn’t yet old enough to drive. Ryan went on to become a Journeyman in the plumbing trade, and also attained a General Gasfitter’s Licence. In 1989 he moved to Swift Current, when an opportunity came up for him to become a Gas Inspector. Thirteen years later, Ansgar’s entrepreneurial spirit inspired Ryan to leave the gas inspecting profession and purchase Swift Plumbing and Heating, becoming a member of MCAS imme- diately. The business has grown and continues to thrive today. Ryan’s son Cory began working in his dad’s shop when he was 14, moving to a full-time position when he graduated high school. In 2013 he achieved Journeyman status in the plumbing trade, and General Gasfitter certification in 2013. Cory continues to work at Swift Plumbing & Heating today, along- side his dad. He now has children of his own as well, so the fourth generation of Tynnings in the trade may already be in the works. ANSGAR MCAS: Did watching Ivar run his business help you decide to become an entrepreneur yourself? ANSGAR: Ivar, no, but in my last year at a country school at Pinkham (Grade 8), I took a correspondence course called “Accounting 1 and Business Essentials.” While attending trade school, the head instructor, Albert Bernard, made a comment to the class that I was one of the few in the room that would end up running my own business. That comment has always stuck with me, and I guess gave me confidence. MCAS: What are the biggest changes you’ve seen in the industry since beginning in 1950? ANSGAR: The biggest change in the trade is Plumbing becom- ing a Compulsory Trade. With materials, I have been through the change from hub and spigot cast-iron to MJ, to ABS; and water lines from galvanized to copper to PEX. With equipment I have seen the change from oil conversion burners to standard gas furnaces to condensing high- efficient equipment. Tools are probably the biggest change for tradesmen. We have gone from threading by hand to machines, from pre-drilling ductwork and putting in flathead screws with a screwdriver to cord- less drills and self-tapping screws, and from cutting register holes with a brace and bit and a keyhole saw to cordless reciprocating saws. MCAS: What is your most memorable experience on the job? ANSGAR: The memory that sticks out the most is when a new Hutterite Colony north of Kyle wanted to put air conditioning in their church. They said if I could guarantee them a system they could not hear and could not feel, that I could go ahead and install it. I did, and it worked. MCAS: How did MCAS help you during your membership? ANSGAR: Through my membership in the Association I became part of a committee to try to set standards for sheet metal, includ- ing sizing and inspections. Apparently this goal is still being worked on. Over $100,000 was spent conducting a study to determine which way most people prefer to place toilet paper on the roll — with the flap facing out front or behind. The findings? Three out of four people prefer the flap to face outwards. 23 A Century in Review MCAS FEATURE