Brian Humphreys
Having a work history that covers over 49 years in steelmaking and mining in the United Kingdom and Canada, both as a tradesman and safety professional, Brian Humphreys brings a unique perspective to his books.
His first book, No Smoke Without Fire; A Recipe for Disaster, was published in November 2019 and won a Canada Book Award. It has also received widespread recognition from boardrooms to shop floors in a variety of industrial sectors in both Canada and internationally.
Born in Chester England on Nov. 14, 1951, Brian spent most of his early years living in Buckley Flintshire North Wales. He attended Elfed County High School until, at 16, he started work as an apprentice fitter with the British Steel Corporation, Shotton Steelworks, in Deeside North Wales. He continued his education during his four years of apprenticeship by attending Kelsterton College of Technology.
Steelworks then were fully integrated, making strip steel from iron ore. It employed more than 13,000 workers and was the main provider of work in the area. Brian’s father, sister, brother, grandfather, uncles, and other family members had all been employed there.
In 1979, the steel industry in Britain underwent a radical change under the Thatcher Government. Older steelmaking plants were to be phased out in favor of modern facilities.
Shotton Steelworks could not survive the cuts. Overnight, almost 10,000 steelworkers where made redundant! The whole of Deeside and surrounding area was devastated.
Brian took the opportunity to look further afield and responded to an advertisement in one of the national newspapers for an employment opportunity at Hudson Bay Mining in Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada.
After successfully passing the interview and immigration processes, Brian, along with his wife Helen and daughters Samantha (7) and Colette (4), arrived in Flin Flon in April of 1981. He took up a position at the mine as an industrial mechanic and obtained Red Seal interprovincial industrial mechanic status by successfully challenging the exam shortly after his arrival.
Brian and his family settled into the community quickly and purchased their first home four months after arriving. Over the 12 months after their arrival, 76 other British families also arrived in the area to take up residence in the small, isolated mining community. After 36 years of service, Brian was the last member of that 1979-80 British Invasion to be employed at the company.
As well as industrial mechanics, the mine had required a number of other trades, including electricians, boilermakers, welders, pipefitters and carpenters. As a member of the International Association of Machinists, Brian served as branch 1848 recording secretary for a number of years. He became a Canadian Registered Safety Professional April 7, 2000, until his retirement in 2017. He was also a member of the Canadian Society of Safety Engineers for over 20 years.
In 1989, Brian was promoted to the staff position of Maintenance Health and Safety Co-ordinator, a position he held until his retirement in 2017. During his 28 years in the position, he served on the company’s volunteer hazmat team and fire department for eight years.
As part of his responsibilities as a Safety Co-ordinator, he was involved in all aspects of health and safety, which included worker and supervisor training, accident investigations, inspections, and audits. He also worked closely with health and safety committees.
Brian has three grandchildren: Brandon, Keenan and Kelsey, and three great-grandchildren, Addienna, Zervett, and James.
Brian has had a lifelong passion for the game of darts, having been a dedicated player and board member of the Manitoba and Saskatchewan Darts Association. He represented Manitoba three times, and Saskatchewan four times, at the Canadian National Dart Championships. He also coached the Saskatchewan junior team in 2009 and the adult team in 2019. He also represented the Manitoba Northwest Ontario Legion Command Team at the Dominion playoffs on five occasions.
Brian has been a member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Flin Flon Branch 73, a past executive member, and currently a board member of Flin Flon Legion Jubilee Housing.
Swimming has also been a favourite pastime and, for his 65th birthday, he successfully completed the 1.5-km open-water event during the Barbados Swim Festival of 2016.
Brian and Helen, his wife of over 48 years, have enjoyed travelling the world but since his retirement, they spend the spring, summer, and fall at their home at Bakers Narrows Provincial Park just outside of Flin Flon, and in the winter they join the snowbirds at the Sandy Beach Suites in Osoyoos, BC.Brian Humphreys
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