Bom-Wrapper

The Memorial Candle Program has been designed to help offset the costs associated with the hosting this Tribute Website in perpetuity. Through the lighting of a memorial candle, your thoughtful gesture will be recorded in the Book of Memories and the proceeds will go directly towards helping ensure that the family and friends of Thomas Aspden can continue to memorialize, re-visit, interact with each other and enhance this tribute for future generations.

Thank you.

Cancel
Select Candle

Tom was a Good Man/Mentor

I first met Tom in 1990 when he interviewed me for a position with the Ministry of Revenue in Oshawa. Ultimately, I came to work for the Ministry of Revenue which later became Finance. For the next 10 years, I had occasion to work with Tom, but not for Tom. Then in 2000, I came to work for Tom directly as a result of a reorganization. I had been through an acrimonious divorce a couple of years earlier and my heart just wasn't in my job. Tom helped me find my way back to a sense of professional pride. He first coached me to regain the management basics, the simple but important practices that when done regularly make a huge difference for a manager and their team. Tom mentored me professionally. He shared stories from his career that helped me find approaches that worked for me in several difficult situations. Tom was dependable, steady, and thoughtful. His door was always open. He demonstrated integrity and fostered it in his team. As long as you were straight with Tom, he had your back. He was a good man to work for at a time I was feeling personally wounded. I came to trust Tom's advice in personal matters as well. I remember one occasion when I was building a shed in my backyard. I sought Tom's advice on the foundation, as I was uncertain of the plans in the book. (Vince was there too.) Tom and Vince chimed in with half a dozen pitfalls in the design. They shared with me their approaches to similar projects. I followed Tom's advice, and the results were excellent. By 2004, I had moved on to another assignment. The four years of working and learning under Tom had helped to regain my professional and personal bearings. I am thankful that Tom came into my life when he did. I still use the lessons he taught, and am inspired by the character he demonstrated. He was a good man and mentor.
Posted by Ciaran Hickson
Saturday December 7, 2013 at 2:39 pm
Prev - Story 1 of 1 - Next
Recently Shared Condolences
Recently Shared Stories
Recently Shared Photos
Share by: