It's been 50 years since B&R Eckels Transport Ltd. pulled their first loads from Edmonton. "It is a great milestone," said Ed Rondeau. "They have been such a great community supporter all the way through.
It's been 50 years since B&R Eckels Transport Ltd. pulled their first loads from Edmonton.
"It is a great milestone," said Ed Rondeau. "They have been such a great community supporter all the way through. If you were to award a company for what they have done to the community as a whole; B&R would definitely be up there with the best of them."
In 1965 Victor Ringuette and friend Andy Beaupre formed a partnership and started B&R Transport. They each borrowed $2,500 from their parents to cover start-up costs and purchase the company's initial trucks. Over the course of the past 50 years, the locally owned company has expanded that initial fleet of five trucks to a fleet consisting of approximately 600 power units and 800 trailing equipment units.
The company's evolution to providing daily freight services, rig moving, heavy oil field trucking, pipe storage yards, highway trucking, tank moving, oil field trucking, bulk trucking, cranes, trailer rentals, and warehousing is a significant rise from the small operation that started up right here in Bonnyville.
"In those 50 years things weren't always easy for Victor and through it all he remained extremely generous to this community," said Bonnyville Coun. Ray Prevost. "B&R Eckels is Bonnyville."
Throughout the past half a century B&R Eckels has been a huge helping hand for many charities and local organizations all across Alberta. The company has expanded out from Bonnyville and is involved in Boyle, Calgary, Cold Lake, Edmonton, Elk Point, Lloydminster, Red Deer, Redwater, Rocky Mountain House, St. Paul, Vermillion, and Wainwright.
"They are by far the most involved organization towards charities and strengthening the community that I have ever seen," said Rick Swan, head coach and GM of the Bonnyville Jr. A Pontiacs. "We are overwhelmed by Mr. Ringuette's generosity and support. He is really the number one person that helps sustain non-profit organization and organizations such as the Bonnyville Pontiacs."
In the beginning, the B&R office was located in Victor's Bonnyville home, with his wife Greta serving as the receptionist, secretary, accountant and doing any other job that was needed.
It wasn't until 1968 that the business expanded, purchasing Bonnyville Trucking. Five years later, in 1972, the company purchased the land and building in town they operate out of today.
In 1974 Beaupre wanted to try his hand at other things and sold his half of the company to Ringuette.
Three years later B&R expanded again, this time purchasing Martin's Transport in Cold Lake. A year after that, in 1978, B&R purchased Eckels Transport in Goodsoil, which allowed them running rights in Saskatchewan. They also bought out Bill Fox in Elk Point and took over freight services from that terminal. Around the same time, B&R also purchased BM Transport in Bonnyville and Pollock's Transport in Pierceland.
The late seventies also saw B&R become involved with the oilfiled industry, with one of their first load types being drilling mud.
The early eighties saw the oil industry boom and B&R was right there to boom with it. The local company was hauling much of Imperial Oil's freight and was a beneficiary of the oil industry until the bust of 1986.
On March 15, 1986 a total of 50 loads were hauled out of B&R's Edmonton terminal. The next day oil had bottomed out and there were only nine loads.
The company came on tough times. B&R sold its freight division along with other equipment and shares in the Central Truck Depot. The company rode out the tough times and was there to bounce back when the oil industry rebounded.
In 1987 BP and Esso began drilling like crazy and the economy turned the corner.
A few years later in 1991 B&R re-established its freight division and Ringuette bought back his shares in the Central Truck Depot.
In 1998 the company established a pipe yard, which warehouses and transports pipes. Two years later, the company purchased Curuthers' Transport in Vermillion and opened up its own shop and office in Edmonton.
Over the course of the next 15 years B&R would continue to expand and flourish as the oil industry was booming. While the company was expanding it also expanded its donation budget and became very generous to many community groups and organizations.
"Victor is a good guy and he has stuck with this community," said Gerry Storoschuk, former president of the Bonnyville Chamber of Commerce. "Nobody has ever contributed more to this community and nobody has ever been more dedicated to this community than Victor."
Prevost added, "It would be interesting to figure out how much Victor has donated over the years. I don't think it would be even possible; if it is not the Rodeo Association, or the Chuckwagon Association, or the Hospital Gala, it is the Pontiacs, it is minor hockey, B&R is involved in everything."
From the B&R sponsored chuckwagon to the B&R patches on the backs of the Jr. A Pontiacs jerseys the local company's generosity can be seen all over the community.
"He is by far an exceptional person and truly does make a difference in the lives of other and our community and the lives of the people that live in our community," said Swan.
"A quote that really typifies Mr. Ringuette was said by Henry Ford 'to give more to the world than the world gives back to you, that is the definition of true success.'"
