From opening in 1964 as an industrial wiring and maintenance service company to now, as Canada’s one-stop shop for overhead cranes, welders, induction heating equipment and plasma cutters, Kristian Electric’s growth and impact have been continuous for 60 years.
“My parents started Kristian Electric in their garage in Calgary,” says Kevin Gjertsen, president. “In 1991, we opened our second location in Edmonton on 98th Street. The first year we had one small bay.”
By 1992, Kristian Edmonton had grown enough to take over the bay next door. In 1995, they relocated to a 10,000-square-foot shop on 184th Street.
“It didn’t take us long to outgrow that shop either,” says Kevin. “In 2001, we moved to our current facility on 121A Avenue and we’ve been making good use of the 25,500 square feet ever since.”
Today, Kristian Electric is well known across Western Canada as the single source supplier for anything related to welding and overhead cranes. Whether their customers need sales, parts or service for their equipment, the company prides itself on being a one-stop shop.
“One of Kristian Electric’s milestones was becoming an official repair centre for Miller Welders,” shares Chad Gjertsen, Edmonton’s branch manager.
There are challenges, of course. The ongoing labour shortage means finding trained employees is difficult. Kristian Electric takes this challenge head on, providing solutions instead of simply observing the problem.
Kevin explains, “Finding employees is challenging, especially those trained on our specialized equipment. We have to find the right people and we train them from the ground up. This includes in-house training, manufacturer training and supporting apprenticeships for all the trades we employ. Our team includes many different trades, including welders, iron workers, millwrights, parts technicians and electricians. We are proud to support them through on-the-job learning and training at top schools like NAIT, SAIT and SIAST.”
“What we are the proudest of,” adds Chad, “is our team. We are just so grateful to all the people who have worked here. Their knowledge, ambition, and ideas have truly helped us grow and prosper for the last 60 years.”
Kristian Electric is also grateful to the local businesses that support them and values being an active part of the local business community.
“Choosing local is important,” says Chad. “In Edmonton, Saskatoon and Calgary, the business community comes together to support each other instead of outsourcing. We enjoy a 60-year history in Alberta.”
Kristian Electric has always given back to the community in both Edmonton, Saskatoon and Calgary over the years, supporting local food banks, the Salvation Army, the Alberta Children’s Hospital, the Shrine Circus, Shriners Hospitals for Children, the Mustard Seed, the Alberta Masonic Higher Education Bursary Fund and the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation.
The company has been recognized many times by industry suppliers, manufacturers, major clients and vendors, and there are no plans to slow down.
“We look forward to another 60 years – and beyond. We may expand to some new locations and consider adding more product lines. Growth is definitely on the horizon,” says Kevin. “Our next step is getting our large inventory online. We are thrilled to be opening an online store in September 2024 to allow our customers the opportunity to browse and purchase our products from anywhere at any time.”
From the dream of one ambitious couple to today, Kristian Electric is very proud to be where they are and what they have accomplished. Kevin and Chad both agree that they could not have done it without great employees, great suppliers and especially the great customers who have continued to support them throughout their history.
“Without these important pieces of the puzzle, we would not be where we are today,” says Chad. “For that, we are very thankful.”
Learn more online at www.kristian.ca. You can also find Kristian on Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.
1-877-292-9111
www.kristian.ca
