Automation Canada Quarterly Volume 2 Issue 3 - 18

Paul Tervit

on Canada Controls and the
Importance of Education
BY BLAKE MARCHAND

Canada Controls, currently in their fifth year, is a unique company in
the system integration and building controls industry. Their business
model revolves around inventory, training, and support with the intent
of developing and supporting quality system integrators.
Located in Mississauga, Ontario, they maintain an extensive inventory
for the controls market, while also providing training courses and expert
support for system integration/control of HVAC Equipment, Burners,
Boilers, Lighting, Electrical Metering & Distribution, Data Center
Equipment, Security, and Video.
"I'm involved in sales, but I'm primarily a technical designer," Tervit
explained with respect to his role at Canada Controls. Coming from a
technical background he provides sales support, but also utilizes his
skillset in the educational and training aspect of the company.
An Electronic Technologist out of Ryerson, he initially got his start
in the industry with Tervcon Controls, where he gained experience
working with flame safeguard controls, PLC, solid state, and SCADA
systems within the Pulp & Paper and Steel & Refining industry. Before
Canada Controls he also worked for Caledon Controls and Yorkland
Controls, operating again in Pulp & Paper and Steel & Refining, as well
as the automotive industry.
While working with PT Energy Solutions, Tervit was partnered with
Cochrane Supply, a company out Detroit. Cochrane Supply is one of
North America's largest companies in IoT and building controls supply.
18

CANADIAN AUTOMATION

A partnership that was actually facilitated by Honeywell, Tervit noted.
Essentially, Honeywell was looking for a company operating in Canadian
market, similar to Cochrane Supply, that would supply products as well
as provide expert training and support.
So, they started Canada Controls modeling the business on the
Cochrane Supply philosophy, which aligned with Tervit's technical
background. He noted that, as a professional, he has difficult time
walking away from a job when there are still problems to be solved.
Which is where the technical support aspect comes in.
"We will help train them, we will help them with their programming
and commissioning at a learning level, all with the endgame that they
become self-sufficient."
"You just can't know everything, now-a-days," he said, "but you have
to know who to call."
Tervit and Canada Controls take education seriously, particularly
when it comes to the younger generations coming into the industry. "For
me personally, it's very important to bring the younger generation along,
to help them, to educate them, and give back to the industry."
Building controls and automation is a large part of Canada Controls'
business, which includes the integration of networks, data and security,
and IoT (Internet of Things). As a rapidly growing and changing sector
of industry, technical support as well as training has become that much
more important for manufacturers.
VOLUME 2, ISSUE 3
Automation Canada Quarterly Volume 2 Issue 3

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Automation Canada Quarterly Volume 2 Issue 3
