I met Andre Chevigny some 10 years ago when he worked on a small project in WL with me. That is when I learned about the impressive projects he was sending out of the country which used local labour to build, dismantle, ship, and erect in the USA and elsewhere.

Now there is value added! There are true qulaity wood buildings that will last for centuries!

Quality craftsman/builder. Well deserved.

From an article on his web page http://www.pioneerloghomesofbc.com
“Asked what it was about the little Williams Lake company that so impressed the U.S. multimillionaire, Mr.Chevigny replied: "Its about the quality of work. Honestly it wasn't until I got out and started traveling the world that I realized how good we are.”

I never realized Williams Lake was in Northern BC.

I suppose everything north of Hope has become Northern BC. After all, it is north of the only part of the province that seems to matter.

Interesting viewpoint Gus. As a resident of Williams Lake, the only reputation I know of Andre is the big multi million dollar home he built himself over looking the city,, while laying off workers from his company left, right, and center quoting tough economic times.



Thanks for the different point of view.

Did he build that big multi million dollar home all by himself? Or did he maybe have some help from employees? Just asking.

For those not familiar with his buildings, the most visible one in Williams Lake is the Information Centre on the north side of the Highway next to the Casino.

Take a look at some of the projects on the company's web page. Most are very beautiful buildings.

Yes, business can be harsh on everyone. Laying off people left right and centre means that he also employed people left right and centre. Not his fault that the bottom dropped out of the world financial markets. It would not benefit anyone to keep people on, paying them when they have nothing to do.

However, that is a good time to build any projects that can be seen as an infestment, such as a personal home. Remember, when the market picks up, he could easily sell it if need be and make his investment back again.

One would have to know a bit more about the details to see whether it was a reasonable thing to do and whether he actually reduced the "damage" being done to his business and the livelyhood of some of his longer term employees.

Laying people off and having to re-hire several new people is not exactly cost effective since the workers will likely need some training or retraining before they become productive again.

My view was an expression of both the quality of work and the magnitude of projects he produces. His other attributes as a businessman, I do not know. He did deliver on time and within the quoted sum, all to excellent quality, on a small project which he really did not need to take on at the time since he had much larger projects he was working on.

Here is another site from their Wsiconsin operation. Made in BC, of course, sounds very exotic when looking at it from their point of view.

http://www.pioneerloghomesmidwest.com/articles.html?ID=19

Quoted from the site:

"Motorists traveling British Columbia's highway 97 get a spectacular view on the approach to Williams Lake. Massive stacks of logs, large cranes and builders form a fascinating panorama. So many drivers pull over that there has been talk of widening the shoulder to accommodate all the vehicles.

"This hive of activity is Pioneer Log Homes of British Columbia Ltd. Bryan Reid, Sr. formed the company in 1973 and was joined in 1986 by his brother Andre Chevigny as a partner and general manager. After 31 years in business, Pioneer Log Homes remains a family operation. Employing 105 workers in Williams Lake and a network of 15 staff in the United States, Pioneer is upheld as a excellent example in the value-added sector of British Columbia's forestry industry."

I knew they were in the USA. I did not know that they had 105 employees in Williams Lake at the peak.