Ralph Belisle

WHAT GOT YOU STARTED?

by Burke Campbell 

Published in the Financial Post

 Jun 15, 2009

Ralph Belisle, along with wife Hélène, run TQ Construction  (www.tqconstruction.ca). This home renovation firm is headquartered in Vancouver. Ralph Belisle tells the Financial Post what motivated him to become an entrepreneur.

Late bloomer: “I worked mostly odd jobs till the age of 27, in construction and carpentry. In the early 1980s, Vancouver suffered an economic slump. Jobs were scarce, and I was forced to go door-to-door, offering to do home repairs. My wife and I hoped to run a business; we just never expected it to be in renovations.”

 Opportunity: “With each construction project, I learned about bylaws, building codes, environmental concerns, anticipating solutions for my customers that would save them time and money, while delivering ‘top quality’ (TQ) construction.”

Innovation: “Today, homeowners renovate to conserve energy and water and to improve the air quality inside their homes. Our customers have come to rely on the solutions we suggest and provide.”

Expansion: “Canadians spend an annual $53 billion on renovations, and that figure has been growing 7% per year since 2000. For any home construction company, service and reputation are paramount. Word-of-mouth has especially propelled our growth, winning us numerous awards.”

Proud: “I work with a terrific team. It’s a great feeling to build, restore, and beautify.”

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