News

January 22, 2009 - West Canadian settles into Inglewood home By David Parker, Calgary Herald West Canadian CEO George Brookman has moved his team of 240 people to a new, high-tech home in Inglewood. Photograph by: Grant Black, Calgary Herald, Calgary HeraldIf it were possible to add up the amount of volunteer time George Brookman has spent helping and guiding the Calgary Stampede over the past few years, the result would be staggering. In March, he steps down as president after two years--an intense period that he prepared for by handing over the reins of his West Canadian company to Irene Price. She was appointed president of the digital printing, graphic design, microfilming, document management and digital imaging operation when Brookman became Stampede president. But Brookman was never far away. West Canadian sold its building on 8th Street and 10th Avenue S. W. and went through the process of buying land and, with the help of architect Cohos Evamy, designing a new building in Inglewood at the corner of 9th Avenue and 15th Street S. E. Although the exterior is still being worked on, CEO Brookman, Price and their team of 240 have moved into the new head office and what they say is the most advanced plant of its kind in Canada. The building provides ample and better production space, which allows for a streamlined flow for three million documents per month. The digital self-serve print centre is on the main floor, as is the main plant, where I recently watched a huge amount of drawings being produced for major projects such as The Bow and South Calgary Health Campus. Brookman says 90 per cent of work comes into the plant electronically from architects and engineers, and the 17 offset centres that West Canadian runs in Edmonton, Fort McMurray and Sarnia, Ont. Fifty-two servers keep track of the flow of work. I was most impressed with a new book scanner--the only one in Western Canada--which photographs a whole book, page by page, for conversion to digital storage. Administrative offices are on the second floor along with Orange Door, a graphic design and advertising division of West Canadian. The four-storey building was designed with the latest environmental technologies, including large green roof balconies on all floors, which allow impressive views of Inglewood and the nearby downtown skyline. The top two, which have 360-degree views are available for lease. Glenn Simpson of Avison Young Commercial Real Estate has listed them at 10,000 square feet each and as high-technology space with ample parking. David Parker appears Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. He can be reached at 403-830-4622 or e-mail info@davidparker.ca. © Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald November 13, 2008 - West Canadian Moves Calgary Facility to Historic Inglewood Our brand new building is finally done and production is rolling! There is still some work to do but the facility is great and already more efficient. Walk-in customers will have to use a temporary entrance for a few days....   We have moved our Calgary office and production facility to 1601 - 9th Ave SE in historic Inglewood. The 901 - 10th Ave SW location is now closed. Self-serve computers and copiers will be available on Tuesday, November 25th at the Inglewood location. Please call 403-541-5650 for questions regarding existing orders or 403-245-2555 for all other inquiries.   October 2008 - Team West Canadian joins in the race to end breast cancer 2008 marked the 5th anniversary of West Canadian's sponsorship of the Canadian Breast Cancer Run for the Cure. This year teams in Calgary, Edmonton and Fort McMurray, joined thousands of Canadians of all ages in the October 5th event. Through fundraising efforts and sponsorship dollars, West Canadian contributed nearly $20,000 to this years run. West Canadian Calgary headed up several fundraising events including a global potluck, dunk tank and hugely successful West Canadian Idol, while WC Edmonton hosted a Community Business BBQ, poker tournament and 50/50 draw. It was all caped off with the run held on October 5th, where almost 23,000 Albertan's joined in the race to end breast cancer. Team West Canadian Calgary Team West Canadian Edmonton Sept. 16, 2008 - Team West Canadian, raises over $2,400 for Cardel Walk a Mile in Her Shoes With big hearts and better balance, Tim Flaman, VP Sales & Marketing and Sid Nieuwdorp, VP Business Development took to Olympic Plaza in stylish stilettos to raise money for the YWCA Crisis Housing Fund. The fund will support women and their children to successfully transition into permanent, stable and supported housing after leaving YWCA's emergency shelter or crisis transitional housing. Two laps around the plaza was enough for the duo, who where eager to get back in their flats. Despite the pain, both Tim and Sid where glad to be apart of the event and are looking forward to next year; they have already begun recruiting for Team West Canadian 2009. June 2008 - Business in Calgary - Mr. Stampede honoured with Distinguished Business Leader Award 2008 It is a quintessentially humble and plain-spoken George Brookman that sits in his office at West Canadian Industries Group on 10th Avenue and 8th Street SW as he contemplates the latest recognition he received... Please click here to read the full article May 18, 2008 - Calgary Herald - Meet Calgary's No.1 Leader How a man with gung-ho personality built an empire & respect. West Canadian Industries CEO George Brookman has been awarded the 2008 Distinguised Business Leader Award. Please click here to read the full article May 20, 2008 - West Canadian: new building, new look, same trusted company. West Canadian Digital Imaging Inc. today unveiled its new revitalized corporate identity. The new brand is designed to reflect the exciting changes that are taking place in 2008 for West Canadian, while still being recognizable to their current and past customers. West Canadian, a company that has been in operation in Calgary for more than 50 years and has been in its present location since 1980, is moving to historic Inglewood. "The new building will house our corporate business solutions and our full service digital printing facility. We're proud that our new building has a variety of LEED components, such as a green lawn roof and birdseed walls," said George Brookman, CEO of West Canadian. March 11, 2008 - Over $110,000 in donations for Arcelie Laoagan Fund The community support around Calgary is just amazing! We have surpassed $110,000 in donations for the Arcelie Laoagan Fund. More than 500 individuals and corporations donated to Arcelie's fund. Thanks again to the perfect strangers, friends, customers, suppliers and competitiors of West Canadian for coming together for Arcelie's family. Please see the news release from January 22 below on how you can help. March 4, 2008 - BOSTON - Kirtas Technologies Provides West Canadian With the Latest in Digitization Quality and Speed

AIIM INTERNATIONAL EXPO AND CONFERENCE -- Kirtas
Technologies, the leader in quality, high-speed, nondestructive book
digitization, today announced it is providing West Canadian Digital Imaging
Inc., a leading provider of document scanning, records management, newspaper
archiving and digital printing services in Canada, with additional solutions
to augment the company's existing offerings to their university and library
customer base.

West Canadian is installing the Kirtas APT BookScan 2400RA(TM), a new,
high-volume fully automated book scanner. The system provides remote access
allowing users to capture raw images in one location and process them at
another. The system will also provide increased storage capacity and a faster
processing speed.

"We are excited about the opportunities the Kirtas BookScan brings to West Canadian's strategy of delivering rich, clean, digitized quality images of bound books to all Canadian archives, libraries and universities," said Irene Price, president of West Canadian. "The BookScan provides us with the ability to efficiently scan bound collections for the purpose of preservation and research. Archives and collections will be digitally brought to life for the world to see."

Currently West Canadian provides microfilming and digitization of
newspaper collections for their existing university and library customers. The
new Kirtas APT BookScan will allow them to expand their offering to include
digitization of bound book collections.

"Digitization of bound documents-particularly the collections held at
universities and libraries-provides an entirely new generation of users with
electronic access to historic documents", said Kirtas CEO and Founder Lotfi
Belkhir. "West Canadian realizes what a tremendous value this is to their
customers, and Kirtas is excited to be supporting them as they deliver this
significant capability."

About Kirtas Technologies

Since the company was founded in 2001, Kirtas Technologies has pioneered
and perfected the technology used today in quality, high-speed, nondestructive
mass book digitization. The company's revolutionary technology redefines
digitization of all bound documents, delivering the gentlest handling, the
highest image quality, faster and with fewer errors than any other solution in
the marketplace today.

February 2008 - Charmaine Reid's Quest for the 2008 Beijing Olympics

The Olympics will only allow 86 men and 86 women participants for the Badminton competition - the top 38 male participants in men's singles, the top 38 female participants in women's and top 32 pairs each in men's, women's and mixed doubles competition based on the international badminton rankings.

January 29, 2008 - Over $30,000 in donations for Arcelie Laoagan Fund

Great news - we surpassed $30,000 in donations today for the Arcelie Laoagan Fund!! The amazing stories just keep coming as more people hear about Arcelie's story. Both corporate and individual donations continue to come in from the many friends of West Canadian as well as caring citizens of Calgary with no direct connection to Arcelie or West Canadian. Thank you so much! Please see the news release from January 22 below on how you can help. We will continue to update the progress.

January 25, 2008 - Arcelie Laoagan Fund donations exceed $20,000

Thank you to all who have donated so generously to the Arcelie Laoagan Fund. With just over $20,000 so far, we have covered the funeral and transportation expenses of approximately $15,000. That leaves $5,000 in the fund for Arcelie's five boys. We really need to keep this going to continue her dream of having her children come to Canada. Please see the news release from January 22 below on how you can help.

January 24, 2008 - Police arrest suspect in Arcelie Laoagan homicide

Police announced that they have made an arrest in Arcelie Laoagan's murder case. They released the information tonight, just moments after Arcelie's memorial service at the Calgary Full Gospel Church. Mourners at the service erupted when told of the news. Click here for the full story.

January 22, 2008 - How to contribute to the Arcelie Laoagan Fund

On behalf of Arcelie's family and West Canadian, we thank you very much for your overwhelming support. We have received countless calls at West Canadian from customers, friends and industry competitors asking how they can help. We appreciate the support and can't thank you enough.

Here is how you can help:

1. Click here to download a donation form (PDF format)
2. Fill out the form
3. Make cheque payable to the "Filipino Catholic Society"
4. Mail or drop off your cheque/cash (do not mail cash) to West Canadian at 901-10th Avenue SW, Calgary, AB T2R 0B5 ATTN: Arcelie Laoagan Fund
5. Alternatively, our West Canadian delivery team would be happy to pick up your donation (within Calgary). Call our dispatch line at 541-5200 and indicate that the pick up is for a donation cheque.
6. Tax receipts will be issued for donations of $25.00 or more

Funds will be used to cover funeral expenses and transportation costs to the Philippines which will total about $15,000. Donations surpassing the $15,000 mark will be put into an account for Arcelie's children to help continue her dream of bringing her boys to Canada.

January 21, 2008 - Fund being set up on behalf of Arcelie Laoagan

We regretfully announce that one of West Canadian's employees, Arcelie Laoagan, was reported missing on Thursday evening January 17th, 2008. Subsequently, on Friday January 18th in the morning, a body was found near the Franklin LRT station in Calgary which was later identified as Arcelie.

West Canadian and its employees are deeply saddened by these events and we are in the process of working with Arcelie's family to establish a legacy fund. Arcelie, originally from the Philippines, moved to Canada three years ago with the goal of bringing her five children and husband to Canada for a better life. Arcelie's co-workers at West Canadian say she always walked into a room with a smile and was an extremely hard worker that they could depend on.

To start it off, West Canadian is donating $10,000 to the family's fund. There will be more specific information soon on how the public can contribute. In the meantime, please call West Canadian's head office in Calgary at 245-2555 or 1-800-267-2555. We will take your name and call you back once we have details on the exactly who to make your cheque out to.

West Canadian has also donated $10,000 to the Calgary Crimestoppers program. We hope this helps raise the awareness of the Crimestoppers program and remind people that every bit of information helps. Anyone who has any information on this case should call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submit a TIP online at the Crimestoppers website.

January 4, 2008 - Global National Television interview with West Canadian CEO George Brookman

January 4, 2008 - Calgary Herald article re West Canadian's new building in Inglewood

Click here to view the article.

November 19, 2007 - Charmaine Reid continues Olympic Badminton quest.

After some great results at a tournament in Norway last weekend, Charmaine Reid is en route to China to continue her quest for a berth on the 2008 Canadian Olympic Badminton Team. The doubles team of Reid and Fiona McKee are currently ranked 30th in the world. Keep going Charmaine - we're behind you all the way!

July 6, 2007 - George Brookman is tough enough to wear pink during the Calgary Stampede Parade.

George Brookman, CEO of West Canadian and President & Chairman of the Board of the Calgary Stampede blended in with tens of thousands of Calgarians and visitors that were "tough enough to wear pink" during the Calgary Stampede's "30-Hours of Tough" campaign. The campaign raised over a half million dollars for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation - Alberta/NWT Chapter. For more information on the "30-Hours of Tough" campaign click here.

May 18, 2007 - Charmaine Reid and Fiona McKee win gold...

Reid and McKee defeated the U.S. Women's Badminton doubles team of Lee and Mangkalakiri to take gold in the 2007 Pan American Badminton Championships last night. George Brookman was at the event to cheer them on.

May 16, 2007 - Charmaine Reid continues to amaze...

This morning in the Pan American Badminton Championships singles quarter-final, Charmaine Reid defeated Brazilian Paula Beatriz Pereira. Then, in the doubles quarter-final, Reid and her partner McKee, defeated the USA team of Coleman & Kesythelyi. The semi-finals take place tonight at the Calgary Winter Club; starting at 6:00 pm. Reid is up against Peru in both singles and doubles matches. Good luck from the team at West Canadian!

March 25, 2007 - Canada's Charmaine Reid and Fiona McKee Win Badminton Gold in Romania!

West Canadian-sponsored Charmaine Reid and her partner, Fiona McKee have won their first International gold medal in women's doubles at the Banuinvest International Badminton Championships in Romania. They beat the home team Romanians in a very tight match. Charmaine and Fiona are off to Finland for one last tournament before returning to Canada to prepare for Olympic Qualifying which begins in May. The Pan American Championships are in Calgary May 15-19, 2007 so come out and show your support for Charmaine and the rest of the Canadians.

November 6, 2006 - We're growing in Edmonton!

It didn't take long to outgrow our Edmonton plant. We have tripled our space and have a fantastic new facility at 10567 - 109 Street, just a half block north of Grant MacEwan College. Check out our business centre - self serve computers, copiers and printers, laptop plug-ins, internet access and a video conferencing room at your convenience from 7 to 11, Monday to Friday.

New Additions to the WC Sales Team

Our Edmonton office is also pleased to have Terry Masson join the team as Divsion Manager - Document Management Solutions. Terry has over 20 years experience in records management and electronic document management solutions. Please feel free to give Terry a call at (780) 424-1000.

In Calgary, please welcome Kevin Marshall as Account Manager - Digital Printing and Reprographics. Kevin has 10 years of sales experience with the last 4 years at Rileys Reproductions and Printing. Kevin is looking forward to sharing his extensive knowledge of the digital print business with West Canadian's customers. Kevin can be reached at (403) 541-6427.

Calgary Plant Relocating to Inglewood in 2008

After almost 30 years in our current location on the corner of 8th Street and 10th Avenue SW, we have sold our building and purchased land in historic Inglewood. Plans have been submitted to the City for a brand new West Canadian facility to be constructed on the corner of 9th Avenue and 15th Street SE. At 50,000 square feet, the four-storey brick building will enable us to streamline the operation and support our expansion plans. Watch for updates on the progress!