Altona’s Laverne Siemens has been recognized by the Western Association of Broadcast Engineers (WABE) for a career of excellence and dedication. Siemens has been presented with the R.W. Lamb Award.

The honour is the highest WABE can bestow on an individual.  It recognizes an individual whose personal achievements and contribution to the broadcast industry over their lifetime is outstanding. Recipients are considered pioneers in the broadcast engineering field, forging new, previously unexplored paths.

“I was not expecting this,” said Siemens in his acceptance speech during November’s virtual annual WABE convention. “This really is an honour. I have to think back to 1979 in the Hotel Macdonald in Edmonton as part of that scared, green as grass SAIT Class of ‘79. Back then it was in Spring, and so we had the opportunity to meet with Chief Engineers for interviews and stuff, and I remember doing a couple of those, and wondering what I was getting into, and then getting hired on by Golden West.”

Siemens in front of equipment in the early 80s

Siemens, who was born and raised in Saskatchewan, graduated from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) in Calgary and has worked with Golden West since being hired in 1979, living in Altona since that time. He joined the company as Station Engineer in Altona and was named Chief Engineer shortly afterward.

During his acceptance speech, Siemens reflected on one of the first jobs he took on after being freshly hired, and that was helping re-tune a four-tower AM radio array near Boissevain for CFAM Radio 950’s sister station CJRB Radio 1220.

Siemens was named Director of Engineering for Golden West in 1996, and took on the role of Vice President of Engineering in 2017.

During the virtual ceremony, colleagues of Siemens from across Golden West shared stories and reflections of their time working with him, and he was quick to shine the spotlight back on them when accepting the award.

Siemens in a suit in the 80s

“I’ve told many people when they’ve wanted to send accolades my way, I’ve said ‘No, no. I’m just here. These other guys are the ones doing the heavy lifting, the real work, I’m just here cheering them on,’” explained Siemens. “They have absolutely made me, and made the company, look good.”

As of June 2020, Siemens started transitioning toward retirement after his 40-plus-year career and continues to work with Golden West as its Senior Broadcast Technologist.

“I’m partially retired, not fully retired, so still getting a chance to come in and fix some of the old equipment, so that’s what keeps me going,” said Siemens, who noted in his closing remarks, how humbled he was to be recognized with this award.

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Written by Chris Sumner