Article by Michelle Heslop. Photos by Jody Beck.
Your family has been doing business in Greater Victoria as Brenric Construction for almost 35 years. What do you see as being the key to its success? The people. We have built an incredible in-house team at Brenric, alongside a network of expert sub trades, all of whom I attribute our success to.
Where did the name Brenric originate? Any significance in this name? My father, Rick, started the company in 1983 and it combines his name with my mother’s name, Brenda.
Is it important to your clients that you are a local company? Absolutely. Brenric has been part of Greater Victoria’s fabric for over 30 years and I believe clients appreciate and recognize that history. Being born and raised in Victoria, I understand the importance of community. Locally driven thinking is part of everything we do day to day, whether it’s contracts with local businesses, using local suppliers and sub trades, to the location of our offices. This is becoming something that really matters to people.
What are some of the projects you are most proud of? We’ve been fortunate to work with a number of talented designers and consultants in the City of Victoria; choosing just a few to call out would be a challenge. We’ve had opportunities to work in both the public and private sectors, tackling rewarding projects that range from financial institutions to retail spaces and universities.
Victoria is having a significant burst of growth. What do you attribute this boost to and how has it impacted your family’s company? Growing up in Victoria I’ve always loved this city; it offers a very high quality of life. That’s one obvious reason why things are booming. Also, there is a lot more opportunity in the city for young people to stay and work. The businesses within the city are very supportive of one another so it’s a close knit community. We have built for some of these local companies that have taken advantage of this boom, which directly impacts our success. What is equally important to us, however, is watching these companies thrive, which I hope continues.
What do the next 35 years look like for Brenric Construction? I would like to expand the company so we are able to take on larger projects while continuing to serve our loyal clients — the ones that have supported Brenric from the beginning. I’d like to build on the foundation we have in place and explore new opportunities every year.
