In 1988, Luc Bouchard, a 25-year-old
father of three, took a gamble on an
idea, mortgaging his home to raise the
funds to start his own business. Twentyeight
years later, that gamble has more
than paid off, as Northern Truss is still
going strong and growing.
Located in the small town of
Moonbeam, just south of Kapuskasing,
Northern Truss designs and manufactures
roof trusses, floor systems, wall
panels, wood sheds, laminated veneer
lumber (LVL) beams, hangers, and custom
wood projects.
The company started out servicing
clients situated along the Highway 11
corridor between Hearst and Cochrane,
and has slowly extended its reach
into Timmins, Longlac, Northwestern
Quebec, and the James Bay coast.
“Northern Truss has been able to
increase sales and clients by providing
a more diverse product line and building
solutions to its existing customer
base and seizing opportunities within
its existing market segment,” notes the
company.
“The company’s growth strategy within
its existing market exemplifies the
qualities and attributes of strategic planning.”
A key investment came in 2011 when
company operations were expanded
as part of an $800,000, 6,000-squarefoot
addition onto the existing facility.
With the adoption of new technology
— including a computerized wall panel
machine, air guns, and a mobile crane
— the new space provided room for the
company to produce wall panels and
floor systems, adding to its product line.
“Northern Truss is now a one-stop
source for the building contractor,” the
company notes.
“Instead of taking close to a full week
to frame walls, install floor joists and
install trusses, it can now take less than
two days. Northern Truss can build the
entire system, deliver on site, and help
install the entire building solution.”
With the investment came increased
productivity and sales. Between 2009
and 2013, Northern Truss has more than
doubled its annual sales numbers and
increased its profit margin.
The expansion also allowed the company
to participate in a number of major
infrastructure projects. Northern Truss
secured a number of contracts through
the Lower Mattagami hydroelectric project,
providing concrete forms for the
expansive initiative.
And there has been additional work
beyond the construction industry: as agriculture
in the North makes a comeback,
Northern Truss has found it has filled a
niche market building large barns.
With the extra work came a need for
more employees. Over the last six years,
the company has created four new fulltime
jobs along with work for students
and seasonal employees, bringing the
total workforce to 15 people. Sixty per
cent of the company workforce is under
the age of 30, all of whom left the region
to pursue a postsecondary education
and were lured back by the opportunity
offered by Northern Truss.
“The company strongly believes in
providing opportunities to Northern
Ontario youth and that the success of
the company relies heavily on a strong
succession plan,” notes the company.
Part of that succession plan has
involved Luc passing along company
knowledge to the next generation; his
son, Mathieu, has, over the last few
years, become increasingly involved in
the management and oversight of the
business.
Community involvement is also
important to the company, and over the
years Northern Truss has contributed to a
number of local schools, events, organizations
and sports teams.
To recognize its impact on the community,
Northern Truss was named Business
of the Year in 2014 by the Kapuskasing
and District Chamber of Commerce.