Paul Myers, owner of North Vancouver-based Keith Plumbing and Heating, made history this month after giving the largest single donation made to a hospital foundation by an individual in British Columbia’s history. Myers donated $25 million to Lions Gate Hospital Foundation.
This money will go towards a new patient facility and future redevelopment of the Lions Gate Hospital site.
"I’ve been very fortunate in life, financially," said Myers, who’s lived on the North Shore almost his whole life.
"I’m 82. I’m starting to feel it is time to give back … I thought it was a good cause and a good place to put it. And, besides that, I can’t take it with me."
Myers got his start as a young plumbing apprentice with Keith Plumbing after partial color blindness dashed his plans to become a commercial pilot.
"I had no idea what I wanted to do so I thought I’d get into a trade and go up north," he said. "At that time, things were booming up north. I thought I’d go up there and get lost for a couple of years, make a little stake and come back and start buying real estate as I was always interested in the real estate business."
Instead, he started his career in North Vancouver as an apprentice. Myers, admittedly not a naturally mechanical person, said he would often stay later to finish jobs without telling his superiors.
"My dad was a machinist. He could fix anything," he said. "I tried to work extra hard to make sure I earned my money. If the journeyman said it should take ‘x’ time to do it, I’d be working until six at night and never tell anybody because I thought I owed the company for my lack of ability."
His hard work paid off as he rose up the ranks. Eventually, Myers was offered a management contract with the option to purchase, which he did in 1953, 10 years after he was originally hired. Keith Plumbing and Heating was one of the first plumbing companies on the North Shore. Myers said the name has been around for 102 years.
He went on to establish Keith Panel Systems Co. Ltd. and Keith Panel Systems (U.S.) Inc., which focuses on functional sun shades and panels. Between his three companies, Myers employs 300 people. While they do call outs to individuals, the focus of the business is commercial. Myers also owns several industrial buildings in North Vancouver, other parts of B.C. and as a far away as the Yukon.
A recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Vancouver Regional Construction Association, Myers is a former director of the Construction Labour Relations Association of BC (CLR) and the Mechanical Industrial Relations Association (MIRA).
Over the years, he has seen the construction industry undergo many changes. It has gotten more complex, more litigious and more difficult – especially for trade contractors.
"A lot of the work I did for years was done on a handshake, never needed a lawyer," he said. "Now you can’t do anything without a contract … we spend a lot of money in a year on lawyers because there doesn’t seem to be a lot of goodwill or trust in the industry."
He added that over the years, much of the risk of a project has been shifted down the chain to trade contractors rather than spread out. Myers still sees the industry as an excellent option for young people looking to start a career.
"I think the trades are a good alternative because not everybody is equipped to be a rocket scientist or a doctor or a lawyer," he said. "And, if you work at it you can make a very good living. A lot of people maybe go to university and take courses that there might not be a lot of real jobs in when they get out. But in good times and bad times, a good tradesman can usually always find a job."
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Lions Gate Hospital Foundation
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