The year was 1954 - the year RCA introduced colour television and transistor radios flooded the market. In Holland, Klaas Pastoor, his wife and four children packed up and moved his business to Canada at the invitation of the Alberta government. The Pastoors were ready to make their mark on North America.

Although the Saskatchewan government also had issued an invitation, the Pastoors chose Lethbridge as the site of Ducan Canvas Co., an agricultural canvas manufacturing company.

Ducan Industries Inc. - DU for Dutch and CAN for Canadian - today manufactures furniture, drapes, mattresses and bedspreads for the Recreational Vehicle, Hospitality, Institutional and Modular Home Industries. In addition, the company includes a custom steel fabrication and spring core operation. A staff of more than 70 produce these products out of a 51,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Lethbridge's Industrial Park.

Ducan's growth demanded much from the Pastoor's; Klaas and his three sons, Peter, Dirk and Bill. In the early years, servicing local farmers and dealers necessitated long, hard hours during peak season from June to September. At first Peter was the only son old enough to work. He was the single employee for the first two years.

Ducan's first location was in a building, which had been used as part of a World War II prisoner of war camp in north Lethbridge. The building was small and Bill, then six years old, recalls his father and oldest brother repairing tents behind their home.

Although there was a large demand for the work, Peter remembers it was difficult. "There was one major challenge serving the agricultural business - we had to work around the clock because of the orders that might come in the next spring". Peter remembers sleeping on the floor at the plant because it was more convenient than going home. During the winter they repaired tarpaulins.

In 1956, Ducan won its first major contract with Canadian Co-op implements. Later came contracts with Versatile, International Harvester, Massey Ferguson, Case, John Deere and others. The company hired additional employees to handle the extra workload. Although work was plentiful, success wasn't guaranteed.

"If we didn't get rain, the farmers wouldn't buy the equipment. Also, the business was cyclical. We wouldn't know from one year to the next what the company could count on," says Peter.

The 1960's brought Klaas's retirement and his second eldest son Dirk's decision to become a geologist. Although working in this profession for many years, Dirk returned to the company fold in the late 1980's.

The 1960's also saw a development that in retrospect proved to be a dramatic breakthrough for the company. An increase in the Recreational Vehicle Industry prompted Scamper Trailer to approach Ducan for assistance.

"They contacted us to find out if we were interested in making R.V. upholstery and curtains. We had never manufactured upholstery and had no idea what we were getting into" Peter comments. Ducan rose to the challenge and not long after, a Lethbridge mobile home manufacturer asked them to produce furniture and drapes for their units. "We hired a local upholsterer who trained our employees to make furniture."

Expansion was rapid. In 1970, Bill opened another plant in London, Ontario. The following year Ducan faced a major decision. Farm implement dealers advised them that canvasses could be phased out in five years with the development of the auger. They sold the canvas business to a Winnipeg firm and plunged vigorously into the furniture business.

Although the furniture business was successful, six years later Peter needed a break. He sold the company to four partners - two in Lethbridge and two in London. Bill had left the London plant three years previously to open his own canvas company in Lethbridge.

In 1981 and '82, the economy "took a nosedive" and Ducan was having problems. The new owners asked Peter to act as a consultant and get the company back on its feet, which he did. In 1985, Bill decided to buy out the 50 percent share of the two Lethbridge partners. He assumed the presidency and subsequently the business nearly tripled in volume.

The late 1980's brought on further challenges to Ducan Industries and all small manufacturers. Competition from the United States with their lower labour costs and larger market, coupled with the upcoming acceptance of the North American Free Trade Agreement resulted in the decision to produce their own foam in order to remain competitive. Although the moulded foam concept was revolutionary in furniture manufacturing in North America, it was ahead of its time as the market slipped with the implementation of Free Trade and the company was initially hurt.

In 1993, Ducan Industries was brought back entirely to the family fold. Klaas's son Dirk and his grandson Clarence Taal took over the reins of the company with Peter as the President and consultant to the company.

A re-emphasis on the initial values of determination, integrity, customer service and a focused and conservative approach to business returned. Solidifying their energies towards their core markets, Ducan Industries has continued to expand their production capabilities to enhance their product and service to the core industries of Recreational Vehicles, Hospitality, Institutional and Modular Homes.

The introduction of Ducan’s own line of mattresses and acquisition of key supply ingredients such as spring core and fibre manufacturing has enabled Ducan Industries to apply their core principals of product quality, excellent service and timely delivery to all of their customers.

As a third generation family company, we continue to be proud of our history and look forward to the future.