Wakefield Canada president Dave Fifield addresses the company’s employees.
Wakefield Canada – makers and distributors of Castrol-branded oil products – celebrated its 10th anniversary yesterday.
“It was a decade that seemed to fly by, didn’t it?” said president Dave Fifield, addressing employees during festivities at the company’s Toronto facilities. “The number of accomplishments in that time is astounding.”
His remarks, and those of company founder Bob MacDonald were beamed via web-cam to the company’s facilities in Vancouver and Edmonton. Wakefield also has facilities in Winnipeg, Moncton, and Laval, QC.
The Toronto-based company started with 70 employees and now employs more than 200.
“This is really a celebration of what can be accomplished by people with a common goal,” said Fifield.
Wakefield Canada founder Bob MacDonald said the company has always had a “culture of customer first.”
MacDonald recounted the company’s origins, pointing out that in 2005, “the trend was to downsize Canadian operations and consolidate management south of the border. We had a different idea.”
He describes Wakefield’s business model as unique then, and still unique today.
“I’m very proud of what we have built, the milestones we have reached, and what we have achieved.”
A celebratory mosaic of the company logo, made from hundreds of employee pictures was unveiled.
Long-time Castrol-sponsored racer D.J. Kennington chats at Wakefield Canada’s 10th anniversary festivities.Wakefield employees check out the mosaic of photos that make up the company logo.Company Bob MacDonald cuts the birthday cake.A bank of games and challenges kept employees occupied all afternoon.A “Wipe-out” like challenge kept employees on their toes.Larry Cariou of the Neil Young’uns entertained with selections from a Canadian icon.At right, 10-year-old Alec and 12-year-old Kloe Drummond (with Mom Karen) talk about their karting exploits, sponsored by Castrol.
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