In Pictures: Canada's biggest installers of solar photovoltaic power arrays
Michelle and Andrew Isbester are the co-owners of North Key Construction, are now the largest installers of solar photovoltaic power arrays in Canada. But if it wasn't for them being open to new business, the company may never have found its calling
Michelle and Andrew Isbester are the co-owners of North Key Construction, the largest installer of solar photovoltaic power arrays in Canada.Lars Hagberg/The Globe and Mail
In Wallace Immen's article, Ms. Isbester says that when the couple first started in 2005, she and her husband would bid on small projects, such as clearing land for building stores or gas stations.Lars Hagberg/The Globe and Mail
But it was a headline in a newspaper that gave them an idea. "There were plans to build Canada’s largest solar photovoltaic project, practically in our back yard. It was something that we hadn’t done, but no one else had, either," she said.Lars Hagberg/The Globe and Mail
After several failed attempts to reach the project manager of Sun Edison LLC., they were awarded the agreement to clear the 300-acre site of brush and boulder in 2007.Lars Hagberg/The Globe and Mail
This photo was taken in the village of St. Eugene, near Hawkesbury, Ontario. Here North Key Construction installed solar panels on over 200 acres of property.North Key Construction
Rapid growth for North Key Construction was a double-edged sword. In 2008, the company moved from 15 to 75 employees as it expanded into setting up solar panels. Today the company has 265 employees.North Key Construction
Mr. Isbester says keeping organized has had to become a priority, especially when you're moving from one to 20 projects.Lars Hagberg/The Globe and Mail