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BURNSWEST Corporation is a family owned and operated company in Calgary, Alberta, Canada that has a history spanning nearly 90 years and four generations. Today, BURNSWEST operates under a new mandate but currently retains the spirit and active involvement of two generations of Burns'. Once involved only in the mining operations of sand & gravel properties and their associated plant sites, we have now shifted our main focus to land reclamation and development and management of those properties.
BURNSWEST was started back in 1912 in Calgary by James F. Burns (I) as a concrete and excavating operation under the name J.F. Burns. J.F. Burns used a horse-drawn dumpwagon to haul sand and gravel to various job sites and performed concrete mixing by hand.
He sold the business to his son, James F. Burns (II), in 1946 after claiming that his files would "no longer fit in the glove compartment" of his Studebaker car. James F. Burns (II) combined his father's business with his own concrete and sand and gravel business and created J.F. Burns Sand & Gravel, True-Mix Concrete Ltd., South Side Concrete Mix Ltd., and Pioneer Paving Ltd., the three later companies with partners. James F. Burns (II) was ambitious and built the business up through hard work and a series of labour-saving innovations.
During the 1950's, James F. Burns (III) entered the scene and began growing the business from his position of Manager of the Sand & Gravel area. Through his influence and vision, many properties were purchased to secure gravel supplies and plant sites for future operations. This proved critical to the success of the company in later years. In 1975 he took over his father's entire business and renamed it BURNCO Industries Ltd. as the parent and land holding company and BURNCO Rock Products Ltd. as the operating company. Steady growth ensued, and in the coming years, BURNCO Industries Ltd. developed into an enviably large private company.
In 1993, BURNCO Industries Ltd. sold off it's interest in BURNCO Rock Products Ltd. to Scott M. Burns (4th generation) which continues operating today as a major player in the Alberta ready mix, precast concrete, sand and gravel, asphalt, packaged mixes and retail centres. BURNCO Industries Ltd., which still owned the majority of the land holdings, changed its name to BURNSWEST Corporation.
Today, BURNSWEST Corporation continues to oversee the mining and reclamation of gravel lands and sets a course for new, exciting uses for these lands to enjoy. Our mandate has shifted to a developer and manager of land and property holdings in which businesses can thrive. We take great pride in our ability to transform land in useable ways for future generations to enjoy and appreciate. Our plans encompass long term uses for land and much care and attention goes into every detail of our developments.
Our success stories include the beautiful Carburn Park in Calgary, Alberta, a 30 acre park which was carefully sculptured through selective gravel mining, natural tree and foliage preservation, and creation of aesthetically pleasing pathways, park benches and park facilities. It sets a high standard for what can be accomplished when various governmental bodies and private enterprise cooperate for mutually beneficial results.
In our role as landlord, we have many satisfied long-term tenants and look after them with the highest regard for their ongoing success. We treat people with the fairness and respect that we would expect as tenants.
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