History

Six decades of making buildings work.

Modern Niagara started in 1959 as a local plumbing services shop. Today it’s a national contractor specializing in mechanical, electrical and other systems.

The first 20 years

1959: Jan Kaminski and Joe Clark open Modern Plumbing, a plumbing services shop in Ottawa that later became Modern Mechanical

1961: Mechanical services shop Niagara Mechanical opens in Toronto

1973: Joe Clark sells his shares and Jan Kaminski brings in shareholders Jack O’Brien, Bob Dube and John McAninch

1980s

1981: Modern Mechanical’s principals establish Colonnade Leasing and Colonnade Developments (1985) to develop suburban real-estate in Ottawa

1989: Modern Mechanical and Colonnade Developments separate, leaving Jack O’Brien and John McAninch as the sole owners of Modern Mechanical

1990s

1992: Modern Mechanical’s first acquisition is Ottawa-based Gorlan Mechanical

1995: Modern Mechanical acquires HVAC specialist company Robertair

1997: Modern Mechanical creates Integrated Control Solutions Inc., an Ottawa-based building controls service provider

1999: Modern Mechanical Inc. acquires Niagara Mechanical in Toronto and rebrands as Modern Niagara Group Inc.

2000s

2000: Modern Niagara creates a Special Projects division in Ottawa and Toronto to meet client needs for mechanical retrofits, tenant fit-ups and energy solutions

2004 to 2006: Modern Niagara Group expands further with the purchase of three Ontario HVAC services companies: Niagara Mechanical Services and Air Force Inc. in Toronto, and Brough Mechanical Services in Kingston

2007: Modern Niagara Group acquires a company in Halifax and renames it Atlantica Mechanical, adds five new service locations in Ontario

2008: Modern Niagara Group establishes a branch in Calgary, Alberta

2010s

2010: Modern Niagara acquires sheet metal company DMC Mechanical Inc. to drive growth in the Toronto market and expand its design capabilities

2011: Modern Niagara Group establishes its Saskatchewan branch

2013: Modern Niagara Group founds a building controls line and purchases Breneck Technical Services Inc., doubling the size of the company’s Ottawa building services division

2014: The company expands its footprint in Alberta with the founding of Modern Niagara Edmonton

2016: Modern Niagara acquires Laser Electric and Industrial Electric in Ottawa and establishes Modern Niagara Vancouver with the purchase of Keith Plumbing & Heating in Vancouver

Decades of experience have made Modern Niagara the dependable, multi-trade contractor we are today.