In Memoriam: Robert (Bob) Spenst, FCSC, CTR, CCCA,. Life Member
In Memoriam: Robert (Bob) Spenst, FCSC, CTR, CCCA,. Life Member
December 15, 2025 | By Nick Franjic
Robert “Bob” Spenst, FCSC, CTR, CCCA, Life
Member
December 5, 1949 – November 24, 2025
Construction Specifications
Canada mourns the passing of Robert (Bob) Spenst, FCSC, CTR, CCCA and CSC Life Member.
Robert (Bob) Spenst passed away peacefully on
November 24, 2025, at the age of 76, after a long and courageous battle with
lung disease. His life was full—rich with hard work, deep commitment to his
profession, and countless adventures shared with his wife, family, and friends.
Bob leaves behind his beloved wife, Evelyn
Blenkinsop; his children Werner (Sherry) Spenst, Lori (John)
Wilkinson, Samantha (Lawrence) Hinke, Bobbi-Leigh Spenst, Candace
Byers, Jason (Nicole) Byers, and Greg Byers; along with
numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family members, and
friends. The family extends heartfelt appreciation to the caring staff at Saskatoon
City Hospital for the comfort and support they provided.
Born in Crystal City, Manitoba, on December 5,
1949, to Thelma and Ted Spenst, Bob experienced the loss of his mother
at a young age. He and his sister, Shirley, were lovingly raised by an aunt and
uncle on their family farm before later moving to Winnipeg with their father.
Bob attended a Technical Vocational high school, where he excelled in
drafting—an early passion that became the foundation of his long and successful
career in the construction industry.
In 1976, Bob moved his young family to
Saskatoon after being transferred by Midway Sales, where he had begun his
professional journey. As his children grew, so did his career. He went on to
work with Westland, Indal Metals, and eventually Caradon Metals, where he spent
more than 15 years as an estimator for commercial metal siding and roofing
projects. When Caradon changed ownership, Bob was instrumental in helping
establish and operate the start-up company Super Steel. In 2001, drawing on
decades of experience and strong industry relationships, he founded his own
company—SMP Metal Systems Inc.
Bob and Evelyn shared a love for travel and
adventure. Avid weekend campers, they explored countless destinations with
their 5th-wheel trailer and their dogs in tow. Golf became their favourite
pastime, complementing Bob’s earlier years spent playing hockey, baseball, slow
pitch, and darts. Winters often saw them escaping the cold for warmer climates,
eventually spending several months each year in Yuma, Arizona.
Bob’s greatest professional passion was his
long and dedicated involvement with Construction Specifications Canada (CSC).
A member since 1988, he earned both his Certified Technical Representative
(CTR) designation in 1996 and his Certified Construction Contract
Administrator (CCCA) designation in 1998—becoming part of the first cohort
to achieve both. He played a significant role in the redevelopment of CSC’s
education programs through the DACUM curriculum process and devoted countless
hours to improving CSC’s educational content and standards.
Bob’s contributions to CSC at both the
National and Chapter levels were immeasurable. He served on CSC’s Board of
Directors during two separate terms (1999–2001 and 2009–2011) and was a
longstanding member—and often Chair—of both the CTR and CCCA Education
Subcommittees. Within the Saskatoon Chapter, Bob held numerous executive
positions, including Chair, Vice-Chair, and Trade Officer. His leadership
helped guide the Chapter to receive the Lloyd Boddy Award for Chapter of the
Year.
He and Evelyn were proud and enthusiastic
participants in CSC’s National Conferences, attending more than 20 together and
forging lifelong friendships along the way. Bob was widely respected for his
attention to detail, strong principles, dedication to CSC’s mission, and
leadership rooted in empathy, fairness, and integrity.
Bob’s significant career accomplishments and
selfless volunteerism were recognized through many honours, including:
- Chapter Award of Merit (2001)
- Program Director’s Awards (2001; 2009–2010)
- Eureka Club Awards (2001, 2002)
- Induction into the College of Fellows (2017)
- CSC Life Membership (2021)
Bob Spenst, FCSC, CTR, CCCA—Fellow and Life
Member—will long be remembered for his commitment to excellence, his generosity
of spirit, and the profound impact he had on his community, his profession, and
those fortunate enough to know him.
Sincerely,
Construction Specifications Canada
