Northwest Tent & Awning (NWTA) opens its doors on historic Jasper Avenue in downtown Edmonton, AB manufacturing tents, tarps and Awnings. Initially using cotton and canvas NWTA positions itself to become a fabric specialist in the Industry.
Alvin Bryant acquires NWTA, operating out of a three-storey location in Edmonton’s downtown core. Bryant’s entrepreneurial ambition leads to innovations in camping trailers, rig shelters and RV awnings. Bryant develops a no-rip grommet and begins to lay the foundation for the development of a retail outlet.
With a long standing history of products developed for protection from challenging conditions, there was a natural fit with Norsemen who using their intelligence, strength, collaboration and determination were able to conquer extreme environments. This persona became the unifying theme behind Norseman's products and the incorporation of the Viking head in the logo was used to signal the strength of the Norseman brand. This logo was in use from approximately the 1960's to 1999.
Campers Village opens on the main floor of NWTA to serve as a retail outlet for the developing brand of Norseman products.
NWTA begins manufacturing fold down tent trailers to meet the demands of a growing industry.
Recognizing the growing diversity of the marketplace, NWTA completes the sale of their first rig shelter. Composed of a steel frame and specialized fabric, the rig shelter is for use by exploration teams in Canadian Arctic drilling programs.
To Keep pace with the evolution of the RV awnings NWTA is licensed by U.S based Inst-Awn Inc. to manufacture and sell retractable awnings for the RV Industry.
NWTA purchases Denco Welding and expands their steel fabrication plant into an east Edmonton industrial park. The Norseman Shelters Division, created to meet the needs of the growing energy and mining sector, sets about pioneering the process of year-round protection for people and equipment on a global scale.
