Fred Richardson

Fred Richardson

For more than 30 years, Fred Richardson has advanced apprenticeship education and careers in the skilled trades in Alberta’s floorcovering industry. His leadership, advocacy, and mentorship have impacted many throughout his career, especially young tradespeople.

Fred’s journey into the industry began at a young age when he worked with his brother helping with a flooring project at a Drayton Valley hotel. After taking time for university and touring in a band, Fred continued to be drawn to the industry. 
Fred’s passion for the skilled trades led to him founding Cutting Edge Flooring Ltd. in 1993, where he continues to serve as a driving force behind the company’s growth and reputation. In his role as President, Fred provides strategic direction, oversees day-to-day operations, and maintains strong, long-term client relationships.

However, Fred’s role in the business goes even beyond serving customers. He is also shaping careers of apprentices. A natural mentor, he is committed to developing talent within the industry, regularly investing in apprentices and building a strong framework for both technical training and personal development.

When it comes to his business, Fred notes, “We've always had a concentration on training. We've always wanted our installers to be the best trained that they can be.” The training and trust Fred put into his apprentices was key when there was a point he could not supervise every day due to a cancer diagnosis and subsequent operations and chemo that took him off the tools for almost a year. “They had been well trained, and I got them to the point where I didn't have to be there every day.” At the same time, Fred sees the importance of keeping himself up-to-date with the industry. “I decided that I wanted to be as good as I could be in the trade, so I went out and I took every training opportunity with every manufacturer that I could do and just bettered myself.”

Fred also recognizes that some aspects of the industry are becoming a lost art, which is why he focuses on keeping apprentices updated with the newest products in the industry. Fred states, “We're trying to get the next generation out there understanding what needs to be done to further their careers and further our reputation.”

This desire to instill quality into the trade led Fred to work to modernize the floorcovering installer curriculum within the province. Fred views this work as one of his key contributions to apprenticeship education in Alberta. “When I took it over, it was mostly materials that were developed in the 70s and 80s, and it was in bad need of a revitalization.” In his business and mentorship, Fred has also taken influence from technical representatives and major manufacturers. He understands the importance of keeping the workforce modern and agile as new products and technology become available.

Fred’s leadership extends beyond his business. He serves as the only Canadian representative on the board of the Fuse Commercial Flooring Alliance, a North America-wide organization that champions best practices, education, and collaboration across the flooring sector.

He is also an active Tier 2 Committee Member with the National Floor Covering Association (NFCA), where he contributes to initiatives aimed at promoting continuing education and creating career pathways for installers transitioning “off the tools” into opportunities such as estimating and sales.  His efforts support the professional growth and recognition of tradespeople throughout the industry.

Previously, Fred served as the Presiding Officer of the Provincial Apprenticeship Committee, where he played a key role in shaping apprenticeship standards and advancing the Red Seal standards for the floorcovering trade in Alberta and across Canada. Through his work in development and maintenance of the trade’s Red Seal exam, Fred played a key role in upholding a high national standard, reinforcing the rigour and value of trade education.

Through this work, Fred also realizes the challenges of an aging workforce. “One of biggest things we need to do is get younger people involved and that's kind of what we're doing with the training and upgrading their abilities so that they can further their careers.”

In his advocacy, Fred consistently promotes the belief that tradespeople are professionals, deserving of the same respect and recognition as those in traditional academic careers. He states, “Skilled trades can be just as lucrative as a job after a university degree.” At the same time, he sees value in this tangible work. “The trades can be so rewarding because you're hands-on every day and you can physically see the changes that you're making, especially in a finishing trade where you walk into a blank space, and you walk out and it's a usable building.”

When it came to joining the Alberta Trades Hall of Fame, Fred states, “I was quite frankly shocked. I'm really honoured to be a part of that.” Fred has been a true champion for the skilled trades, earning deep respect for his unwavering commitment to promoting apprenticeship education both in his community and throughout Alberta. His passion for the floorcovering trade is infectious—he doesn’t just talk about the importance of trades; he lives it every day.