For half a century, the sound of safety in the Saanich community has been defined by the work of Cantec Fire Alarms.
The business, which is family-owned and operated, is celebrating 50 years of servicing Vancouver Island this year, thanks to the hardworking hands of the three owners throughout its life. Ed Life founded Cantec in 1974, followed by Tim Lindsay, and now Kane Wyatt, who took over the business when Lindsay retired in 2022.
And that shared vision?
"We have a mission statement that's very complex," said Lindsay, playfully. "Be helpful. If we can be helpful, we're going to survive."
Company founder Ed Life always had an affinity for technology. Following four years with a telephone company, he wanted to explore the idea of connecting smoke alarms through the telephone system so they could phone the fire hall if there was a fire.
While the idea faced issues, it introduced Life to fire alarm systems and led to the creation of two companies.
"I started two businesses at the same time. I started a computer business, computer support, but there weren't any computers. I knew they were coming. At that time in 1974, there were three computers on Vancouver Island."
"The fire alarm business actually carried the computer business until 1980," he said.
After Life's company Tecnet took off, he sold Cantec to Lindsay, a high school friend who went on to work with the company.
Many employees have stayed with the company for 20-25 years, which Life in part attributes to Lindsay's leadership. "Tim was very good with the staff," said Life. That staff retention has continued under new owner Wyatt's leadership. "All the employees that worked for me are still there," Lindsay said. "So everybody's happy."
Despite a trend of national companies dominating the fire alarm and life safety industry, the local company has flourished in part due to the relationships it has built.
"We had buildings that had fires and had to go in the middle of the night to help them," Lindsay recalls. "We didn't have a telephone answering machine. There was no 'Push one' for English. Somebody always answered the phone."
"I think that's really made the difference," added Life.
And the company shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Since Kane Wyatt, 32, has taken over the company, Lindsay describes it "like it's on steroids now."
"There were only two technicians when I took over from Ed, and now there's 17."
"Kane's quite a bit younger than us and he's grabbed a hold of it. He's got no fear."
Wyatt, the son of a competitor, conglomerated his father's business Sidney Fire under the Cantec umbrella and has made it even bigger still, expanding the company into sprinkler testing and as a manufacturer representative for Mircom.
Just like Life and Lindsay, Wyatt continues to carry the torch and the passion for community safety forward.
"It is effortless to be passionate about life and building safety," he said. "We are completing meaningful and fulfilling work that leaves us believing that we are making a difference and contributing to our community by keeping them safe daily."
