Page 69 - At Home Prince Edward County

Keeping it in the Family

... with Joel and Cathy Walker
by Sharon Harrison
Joel Walker has seen a lot on weekends. “If I wanted to spend time
in his 40 years in business with my family, they had to come with me.
in Prince Edward County. It’s the way things went around.”
s a long-time Milford resident, he HOW IT STARTED
has watched the County change County born and bred, Joel became inter-
Aand grow and evolve. As an ested in being an electrician in high school
experienced licensed electrician, he has and took an electrical course. “I really en-
seen the profession change too, the evolu- joyed it and I had a teacher, Ron Hotston,
tion of technology over four decades has who really got me interested in it,” he says.
greatly affected the way he does business. Before that, Joel was planning to take over
Joel Walker Electric began operating on Jan- his father’s farm. “But I decided I wanted
uary 1, 1981. to do this instead.”
“I originally worked by myself and within Joel operates the business out of his
a year, I started hiring employees and prob- home, the house he built on a corner of his
ably had my first apprentice after about father’s farm just before he was married,
two years,” says Joel. Married just two and where has lived ever since. The Walker
years prior, in February 1979, he and wife name is synonymous with the Milford area.
Cathy started the business together, and The well-known Walker’s Greenhouse be-
Joel is quick to add that Cathy has always longed to his grandparents and is now run
taken care of the bookwork. “Between us, by his cousin’s wife, while his cousin runs
we’ve always done the bookwork our- Walker’s Garage “Glendon Walker runs the
selves, all the billing, pricing and payroll.” garage now, his father and my dad were
FAMILY TIES brothers, and that was my Grandma
While Joel’s wife plays a key role in the Walker’s homestead there.”
operation of the business, Joel is pleased to IMPORTANCE OF THE TRADES
include both his sons, Mike and Greg, in its He speaks of the importance of the trades
continued success. “It’s always been a fam- generally and worries many younger peo-
ily affair,” he delights, adding that he has ple are no longer interested in pursuing a
one additional employee currently. His career in the trades. “Trades are very im-
oldest son Mike has been a licensed electri- portant. We are always going to need
cian for several years, and his youngest son trades people, no matter what trade you are
Greg is a licensed auto mechanic. in,” he says. His concern also stems from
“Greg wanted a career change, he was young apprentices getting proper training.
looking to do something different, so he’s He reminisces about his high school
been in the apprenticeship program with us days in Picton and how the school he
this last year.” Both boys grew up helping attended had one of the top technical wings
in the business. in the province. “Honestly, that’s why I
“When I went out looking at a job, I took went into the trades because of my school-
them with me when they were still in their ing and what they could teach you, and it
car seats, so they grew up always being wasn’t just electrical. They had very good
around my work,” he fondly recalls. His courses in automotive and machine shop
boys are now in their late 30s. Joel explains and woodworking and carpentry.” A few
many of his customers were seasonal and years later, the entire technical program
the only time he could meet with them was
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