Photography by 2C Media
In the world of cabinetmaking and woodworking, precision matters. A joint that’s off by a few millimetres can make the difference between a piece doomed for the firepit and an award-winning work of beauty. Harold Bergmann has spent most of his life mastering a trade where details, speed and dedication matter. His abilities have earned international recognition: he has coached six competitors to the WorldSkills stage since 2015 and is recognized globally as an expert in his craft.
Bergmann has been passionate about woodworking since he was young, discovering a love for the wood trades in a junior-high shop class.
"I got the bug pretty early and it never left," he reflects. He became a cabinetmaker after graduating from SAIT in 1991, then returned as an instructor in 2005 — finding a way to blend his woodworking skills with his drive to help others through teaching on campus and beyond.
"At WorldSkills, we're trying to make the experience as good as it can possibly be for competitors," he shares. And that goes beyond providing a well-stocked workstation to focusing on the person wielding the tools.
"You are really trying to find out what's going to help this person work; what's going to get the best out of them,” he says. “It's very cool when you see a competitor find that moment where everything falls in place and they recognize, ‘Yeah, I got this.’"
Bergmann is proud of what he and his SAIT colleagues have built together, from the fully equipped woodworking facility to comprehensive programs supporting student learning. But when asked what stands out most, he returns to the people and the community he has helped shape.
"Honestly, probably what I'm most proud of is when I look at our faculty team right now," he says. "Three of our faculty members are former students."
For Bergmann, success isn't measured by perfect woodworking joints, competition medals or receiving awards. It's measured by helping students discover confidence, purpose and careers they love.
"You get a student telling you that, 'Man, I hated school, but I finally found something I like,'" Bergmann says. "I love doing this."
Meet the maker: Woodshop edition
WorldSkills woodworking expert Harold Bergmann talks cutting tools, unexpected customer requests, and his best advice as a competition coach.
Oki, Âba wathtech, Danit'ada, Tawnshi, Hello.
SAIT is located on the traditional territories of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) and the people of Treaty 7 which includes the Siksika, the Piikani, the Kainai, the Tsuut’ina and the Îyârhe Nakoda of Bearspaw, Chiniki and Goodstoney.
We are situated in an area the Blackfoot tribes traditionally called Moh’kinsstis, where the Bow River meets the Elbow River. We now call it the city of Calgary, which is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta.