Our History
120 years, four generations of ownership, and a city's worth of landmark projects.
The Randall Family Era (1905–1959)
After training as a plumber in England, Charles E. Randall made his way to the booming young city of Winnipeg. In 1905, Randall, Bell & O'Connell, plumbers and steamfitters, opened its doors: the genesis of today's Randall Plumbing & Heating Ltd. The firm survived the Depression (Charles famously went without a paycheque to make sure his men never did), grew through the war years, and evolved from its residential roots into Winnipeg's expanding commercial sector. Under Charles and later his sons Gordon and Harold, the firm completed projects that defined the era, including the Winnipeg Arena, Assiniboia Downs, and the head office of Great-West Life.
The First Partnership (1959–1987)
In 1959, the Randall brothers sold the firm to four key employees: Harold Bower, Jim Goodman, Stuart Hay, and Fred Sheldon. It began a tradition that continues today: ownership passing to the people who built the company. Under their guidance, Randall grew rapidly, taking on major work across Manitoba and playing substantial roles in landmarks like St. Vital Centre, the Trizec Building, Winnipeg Square, and Cadham Lab, with payrolls exceeding one hundred tradesmen.
The New Guard (1987–2001)
A new ownership group of Laurie Cleutinx, Bob Lynch, and Art McKenzie pushed Randall into new markets, most notably the pharmaceutical sector, alongside continued strength in healthcare and downtown renovation work. Major projects of the era included the Children's Hospital renovation, Stonewall Hospital, two Manitoba Lotteries casinos, and the firm's first design build projects, including the Faculty of Nursing and the Pan Am Gym.
The Next Generation (2001–Present)
In 2001, Brad Marr and Marc Lynch joined Tom Sheldon to lead the company into its second century, recommitting to the service side of the business and deepening contractor-client relationships. Notable projects included Cangene LSR, the Apotex Perm Hall Expansion, and the Biovail Expansion.
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