Vector Corporate History

The beginnings of Vector Industries were in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in 1968 as a service contracting company called Gateway Refrigeration Ltd. Our founder, J.W. (Bill) Ohe, worked hands-on repairing residential and small commercial refrigeration equipment.

Over a ten-year period, Bill moved away from the residential market and was able to incubate the commercial business to the point of respectability within the Alberta refrigeration industry.

By 1978, Gateway employed 20 employees and was in prime shape to react to the Alberta boom, as a serious competitor in the commercial refrigeration service and construction markets. Bill had adapted well to the role of entrepreneur and expanded the technical and management skills within the company to fully exploit the construction opportunities of the times.

By the early 1980s, the company had captured a major share of the commercial refrigeration market in Northern Alberta. However, the construction volume was quickly disappearing. In 1983, the company started the heating and air conditioning service group. This diversity of service was a strong replacement for the weaker construction market and added operational and financial stability during a time of economic insecurity.

The company employs approximately 200 people and is organized into several operating entities.

1980 - Gateway Mechanical Installations Ltd. was formed to respond to expanded contracting opportunities. When the construction market dropped, this company converted to a capital asset leasing company to serve internal needs. In 1995, the name was changed to Vector Capital Inc. to closer reflect its true purpose. In 1996 Vector Capital was fully absorbed by Vector Industries.

1984 - Park Refrigeration of Edmonton was purchased for the strength of its staff and its customer base, most of who are still with us today.

1988 - Gateway Refrigeration (Calgary) Ltd. was started on the strength of a long-time Calgarian and industry leader, Allen Hettinger from Reggin Industries. When Reggin was disassembled, Allen held the refrigeration group together and entered the Southern Alberta market in partnership with Gateway.

1992 - Gateway Refrigeration (Saskatoon) Ltd. was started by transferring one staff member from Edmonton to manage a large kick-off project and to incubate local staff and business. This business did not produce the results needed and was wound down in 1997.

1993 - Pace Industrial Refrigeration Ltd. of Edmonton joined our group and expanded our service technology to include industrial markets. Over the past twenty years, Pace has developed a very high level of technical expertise. This, combined with Vector's marketing and administration, has propelled them to lead the industry in Northern Alberta.

1994 - Commercial Refrigeration Inc. of Edmonton and Kelowna joined our group, allowing us access to recreational fabrication and installation markets. We immediately reconfigured Commercial to focus on its strengths in fabrication. Commercial has since incorporated in the United States as Commercial Refrigeration (USA) Inc. with a small location in Los Angeles.

1999 - Canadian Boiler Industries Inc. joined the Vector Group with full offices in Calgary and Edmonton and branch offices. CBI represents Cleaver Brooks boilers with parts sales and service throughout Alberta and Saskatchewan.

2000 - Indus HVAC joined Gateway Refrigeration (Calgary) Ltd. in Calgary. Indus expanded Gateway's HVAC customer base and added to the company's management capacity. Indus's former principal, Colin Andrews, was appointed Gateway's general manager in late 2000.

2000 - Edson Refrigeration joined Gateway Refrigeration Ltd. in Edmonton as a satellite service operation.

2001 - Rainbow Refrigeration Ltd. of Vernon became a Vector company. Rainbow serves the north/central Okanagan valley in the heart of British Columbia. The founder and manager, Breck Sinclair was a former Gateway Refrigeration Ltd. - Edmonton team member.

2001 - Pace Industrial opens an office in Calgary with the help of the team from Altech Mechanical.

2001 -Canadian Boiler Industries Inc. opens an office in Calgary.

2001 - Tundra Mechanical of Camrose joins Gateway Refrigeration Ltd. in Edmonton.

2001 - ThermoTech Mechanical of Vernon joins Rainbow Refrigeration Ltd.

2002 - Care Systems Ltd. of Calgary joins Gateway Refrigeration (Calgary) Ltd.

2002 - AMS Boilers & Welding Ltd. joins Canadian Boiler Industries Inc. in Edmonton.

2003 - Altair Refrigeration Ltd. of Nanaimo joins the Vector group of Companies.