Tennacor Canada Inc. is a key player located in Alberta and serving the globe with fire equipment, industrial supplies and project management services. Tennacor has grown consistently since it opened in 1993 and incorporated in 1994. Founded by Lorne Annett and now co-owned by Brad Annett, business manager, and Scott Annett, senior project manager, the family business is thrilled to be celebrating 30 years.
“Tennacor Canada Inc. was created to serve the fire protection and water delivery equipment needs of industrial and municipal fire departments across Canada,” says Brad. “Early on, we worked with a local Canadian manufacturer to design and develop firefighter bunker gear to the highest government and third-party standards. Once developed, we successfully marketed and supplied the gear to major fire departments across Canada such as City of Vancouver, City of Edmonton, City of Regina and numerous industrial clients and municipalities.”
Scott adds, “In addition to our gear, we supplied various pieces of fire protection equipment such as hoses, foam, gloves, boots, helmets, fittings and more. We also took on the role of manufacturer representatives for a number of consumable safety products that were stocked and sold by distributors such as Grainger and Vallen.
The company expanded rapidly through the 1990s, with Tennacor entering the industrial fire equipment market. By the early 2000s, the client base had grown “tremendously,” including clients such as Syncrude, Suncor, Shell, CNRL, Dow and Imperial Oil.
Before Lorne’s retirement in 2006, he had the privilege of seeing Tennacor grow from a home-established business to a thriving corporation with the capability to bid on projects such as Suncor Millennium and Suncor Firebag (stage 1).
“Another notable project involved a major pipeline client in British Columbia,” adds Scott. “We supplied custom high-volume firewater manifolds, which were particularly unique due to the client’s stringent adherence to pipeline-specific standards (CSA Z662). Typically, firewater manifolds are governed by ASME B31.3, so this requirement added an extra layer of complexity. We took pride in using local Alberta suppliers for materials, coating and valves, and relied on Alberta trades for welding, coating, NDE and engineering. Whenever feasible, we prioritize local suppliers and trades, reinforcing our commitment to supporting the regional economy.”
The Annetts say the most rewarding aspect is the people they serve.
“The equipment we provide is used by first responders, firefighters and operations personnel—true heroes on the front lines. It’s incredibly fulfilling to support them in their work, knowing that what we do helps protect lives and assets. We are grateful for the strong relationships we’ve built with these professionals over the years and it’s an honour to be a part of their missions. We’re proud that the same equipment has been supplied to numerous industrial end-users in Canada, playing a critical role in protecting assets and, ultimately, saving lives.”
As they reflect on the past 30 years, the Annetts say thank you to The Alberta Industrial and Emergency Management Association, our employees and industry colleagues, for being key parts of Tennacor’s success.
Brad and Scott conclude with this fun tidbit: “Our company name is our last name, Annett, spelled backwards with cor added to the end for corporation. It was dreamed up one night between our Dad and our cousin!”
Learn more about Tennacor online at tennacor.com
