Winner's story: Mike and Dianne Duguid

Mike and Dianne shared a story reflecting on their careers as they prepare for retirement after an incredible 46 and 36 years of service. In their entry, they shared a story filled with dedication, resilience and teamwork.

Mike Duguid joined John Crane Canada in June 1980 after graduating high school at the age of 17. Mike eventually moved into a “Machinist A” position, learning more about the equipment, product and people he worked with.

Mike met the woman of his dreams, Dianne and took her on a romantic first date to a wrestling match! They soon became an item and in 1987 eloped and secretly honeymooned in Acapulco.

While relaxing and enjoying their secret honeymoon, Mike heard his name being called across the Acapulco crowd and noticed a fellow John Crane Canada employee on the same vacation. After that, their cover was blown and the word spread. When they returned home, Mike and Dianne had got hitched!

Mike’s wife, Dianne Duguid was hired at John Crane Canada in February 1990 where she built T-88 seals. After excelling at that, she moved into Assembling and Packing T-37 split seals before moving into the Lapping Department.

As time went on, Mike and Dianne settled into their work routines while also enjoying work functions such as golf tournaments, BBQs, Christmas and retirement parties as well as many years of slo-pitch, pick-up hockey and United Way fundraisers.

Throughout the years, Mike and Dianne survived union contract negotiations, Y2K, automation, ownership and personnel changes at John Crane. In 2014, both suffered health issues. Dianne developed epilepsy, resulting in surgery to reduce the severity and frequency of her seizures. Mike had open heart surgery to have a valve replaced that same year.

They are both extremely thankful for the support, patience and understanding of the company and most of all their coworkers for being there for them during their times in need.

This short-term pain led to long-term gain and allowed Mike and Dianne to return to work for the past 12 years, leading them to their well-deserved retirement.

As their journeys with John Crane come to an end, they look back and see how much has changed.

In the Assembly department, Dianne has seen wands being used for picking inventory instead of signing and recording with pen and paper, seals come in larger and more varied designs and the job class now includes lapping, welding, assembly and disassembly.

In the Machine Shop, Mike has gone from manual production to CNC, hand ground tools to inserts, inches and fractions notched on boring bars to digital read outs, computer screens instead of blueprints, timesheets and fobs instead of punch cards.

Once retired, Mike and Dianne hope to carry on with their passion for fishing at the French River. They plan on enjoying ice fishing, making muskie and pick bucktail spinners, harnesses and hair jigs.

Dianne plans on working on her fishing journals and home cooking. They both plan to plant hot peppers and tomatoes for jarring salsa, hot sauce, pickled peppers, jellies, pepper flakes and powders.

Mike and Dianne hope the next generation of employees remain engaged, curious, and dedicated to finding innovative and efficient ways to do their work, helping to keep John Crane at the forefront of an ever-evolving industry.

They wish John Crane Canada and its employees continued success and hope the company remains strong and relevant for many years to come, allowing others the same opportunity to build their careers and plan their futures, just as they did.