In 1992, Peter Moolyk transformed an electrical contracting company into a general contracting company to meet the growing demands of its clients. The paradigm shift was the right move; Peter J’s General Contracting is now celebrating 30 years of meeting – exceeding – their customers’ needs. Today the company completes projects all over Western Canada, from Winnipeg to Kelowna.

Darin Brindle, owner and general manager, discusses the company’s history. “Peter J’s has been serving clients in the local area and across Western Canada since the early ‘90s. In 2013, with the intent of succession planning, I was brought on board as the first full-time employee outside of the original owners to take the company in a growth trajectory and to continue to serve the demands of our repeat clientele.”

In 2017 Brindle took the company into a new combined office and warehouse space to accommodate the brand’s growth in clients and talent. In October 2020, Moolyk officially retired.

Even with the change in ownership and rapid growth, the vision has never changed. Brindle explains, “Peter J’s General Contracting is a small family-owned business with a goal of assisting our clients and employees in opportunities of support, growth and learning. Much of our work is with repeat and referral-based clients, which I feel speaks to the care, attention and understanding of which we approach our projects.”

Those projects are varied, ranging from painting small interiors to managing 25,000 square foot interior buildouts. Peter J’s main scopes of work are interior commercial construction and renovation, commercial modifications for property owners/property managers and installations of retail fixtures and millwork directly or as a subtrade.
Testimonials from Peter J’s clients show why the company enjoys its high level of success.

Brindle says, “Clients have told us they appreciate our cost value. We continue to work behind the scenes to ensure the projects are successful, high quality and the client’s needs are always top of mind. We are also known for our integrity and transparency; we’re in it for the long haul, not a short-term win. Our approach is consistent, with respect and a customer-first accountability and mindset. Clients further appreciate our reliability and responsiveness. We do what we say and when we say it, consistently. We always intend to understand the dynamics of our clients’ needs from their perspective. Client needs are varied; we know that quick actions are sometimes required.”

He continues, “We commit ourselves to a common goal of a successful project. The success of everyone involved from the client down to our trade partners and vendors will ensure the success of the project every time.”

Each project and company phase are appreciated, including two milestone standouts.

According to Brindle, “A highlight was a quick growth opportunity and project success with our first project build over the $1 million dollar mark. This happened in the summer of 2016 with the work we did completing Winners in the Edmonton Brewery District. I’m also very proud of our resilience and our ability to pivot during the last two years with the implications of the recent health pandemic on our industry. It’s been a ride but we’re healthy out on the other end.”

While “ensuring that we have a great employee base for our representation, quality of work and the people who interact every day on our site with clients,” can be a challenge in the current labour market, Brindle also notes, “the ability to foster a supportive, safe and comfortable environment so that people within our organization can achieve resilience and growth,” to be a consistent highlight, in addition to, “being able to connect with people at a much deeper level than transactional through business. Everything we do is about people and relationships, even though everything we work on is about construction materials, and buildings.”

The team at Peter J’s is very community minded and giving back is part of the corporate culture. Brindle says, “I love how the business community is working so cohesively together. Networking is now made up of more like-minded individuals offering collaboration and assistance regardless of if they are in a competing industry.”

He adds with a laugh, “In addition to the other ways Peter J’s gives back, we’ve been happy to construct and install the Crime Stoppers jail for their annual fundraisers at Southgate Centre. We are proud to assist in putting all those business leaders and local celebrities ‘behind bars,’ at least until they’ve paid their fundraising bail!”

Peter J’s General Contracting thanks their clients, vendors, team, founder and supporters for a great 30 years. They also thank TJX Canada, who helped open the doors to growth and opportunities for the brand.

“Going forward, we intend to continue to reinforce the foundation of our company and the people within it, as we look to meet the growing needs of our clients and the new opportunities that allow us to tackle future challenges and further growth,” Brindle concludes.