How did the Stirling family really create their legacy? Well, Churchill, Simms, and Stirling had built a solid foundation, and now wanted to start expanding into electrical services. By the 1980s, Epscan had built a solid foundation. The company expanded into electrical services, cementing its growing reputation in the industry.
“Dad was always looking for a deal. He was always buying surplus equipment at auctions, like wire or fittings. There was always a sale for something.”
– Shane Stirling, Chief Strategy Officer (CSO)
In the 1980s, Don, Bob, and Earl brought on George Rolfe, Brian Hughes, and Doug Nay, whose electrical expertise expanded the company’s capabilities. By having a new service offering, this was a big milestone.
The company’s mission from the start was to create long-term relationships and offer stable careers.
From the beginning, Don’s vision was clear. Epscan would be a company that empowered its employees and treated them like family.
This principle of people-centric leadership became a cornerstone of the company’s culture, and his acts of kindness became legendary.
“They created Epscan to put more focus back on the employees. To empower them.”
– Linda Stirling, Shane and Dustin’s Mom
Don was a leader who treated employees like family, and his acts of kindness—like visiting their homes during the holidays and bringing children gifts—helped form part of the company’s culture.
“I would set it all up and the parents would provide the gift. I would do the background stuff and write the cards and as we drove from house to house, Don would read the cards so that he could talk to the kids about personal things.”
– Linda Stirling, Shane and Dustin’s Mom
1990s: Family Brand and Technological Innovation
While Epscan continued to grow, they began solidifying their identity as a family brand. When Shane was only 12 years old, he was already helping his father’s company by cleaning the company trucks and sweeping the floors. Stirling often spoke to Shane about being part of the business.
As the instrumentation and electrical services prospered, Epscan set its sights on expanding into new regions. Recognizing the opportunities in Fort Nelson, they brought Richard Dyck on board as the manager to oversee the new branch. This expansion marked another key milestone in the company’s growth, allowing them to serve more clients in Northern BC.
“Fort Nelson had prolific oil and natural gas fields…and it just made logical sense to go and open a branch up there.”
– Shane Stirling, Chief Strategy Officer (CSO)
2000s: People-First Culture and Expansion
With Richard on their team and the two Stirling sons, expansion continued. The sons were apprentices and became woven into the lifestyle of tradesmen.
“Back then the company consisted of two industries: electrical and instrumentation, which are two different trade groups. Even though I was an instrument apprentice, I did a pretty significant amount of electrical work, especially at the beginning of my apprenticeship. And that was kind of the way that we did it right up until around 2010.”
– Dustin Stirling, COO, Vice President
Epscan’s reputation as a people-first company was already well-established. The company expanded into new markets, all while continuing to prioritize its employees
“We do special family events, like camping in the summer and the kids’ Christmas party. It’s great to see more young families coming to these events.”
– Shane Stirling, Chief Strategy Officer (CSO)
Although they could have sold the company, they chose to continue building the legacy of Epscan.
“In 2008, we had a potential for a sale of the company, but my brother and I became part of the ownership before that. That was a turning point when we took on more active roles.”
– Shane Stirling, Chief Strategy Officer (CSO)
In 2009, Epscan opened a new branch in Dawson Creek, led by Dan Pingitore. The hub for designing and building solar-powered products, with their most popular solar product being chemical injection system across BC, Alberta, and Saskatchewan.
Epscan became more than just a company, but part of the community. How did Epscan deepen its roots into the community? Click here to find out.
