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.
Norseman Shelters is incorporated as a separate company. Fred Pheasey, CEO of Dreco Energy Services Ltd. and Alvin Jones, former Sales Manager of Norseman Shelters, join Alvin Bryant as partners. Norseman Shelters cements its global presence servicing sites from the Russian Arctic to the African Desert.
Norseman Manufacturing is created as a new division to manufacture and expand distribution of recreational products, including RV awnings, tents and sleeping bags and Ron Bryant joins the company on a full time basis.
NWTA Calgary location opens on Blackfoot Trail.
NWTA creates Dove of Peace for Pope John Paul II’s visit to Edmonton. Originally erected near Namao where the celebration was held, the event was attended by over 150,000 people. The Dove currently resides on Conner’s Hill.
Terry Bryant joins as controller
While the oil and gas sector slows down, NWTA acknowledges the need for product diversity by becoming the exclusive Alberta distributor of Dow ethafoam products.
Despite the uncertainty of the oil and gas sector, NWTA continues to experience growth. In an effort to meet the diverse needs of the foam industry the Foam Products Division is created in Calgary under the leadership of Terry Bryant. The Foam Products Division offers a ‘Concept to Completion’ solution for customers from the industrial, environmental, medical and recreational sectors with an initial focus on packaging and telecommunications.
Campers Village opens its first stand-alone retail store on 170 Street in Edmonton.
NWTA appoints Bruce Finley to lead the new branch located in Surrey, B.C. Expansion West further allows Northwest Tent & Awning to offer ‘Concept to Completion’ solutions to a broader geographic area.
NWTA supplies set decor for the filming of Legends of the Fall as much of the film is shot in Alberta.
Impact Images is founded as a new division of NWTA with the purchase of large format printing equipment from 3M.
NWTA celebrates 75 years with a move to a newly-constructed, 7000 square foot office building at 14545-115th Avenue in Edmonton.
Campers Village moves to a stand-alone location on MacLeod Trail in Calgary in order to meet the demands of a growing customer base. Impact Images is sold, along with the Norseman awnings equipment and inventory to focus on priority markets for an increasingly diverse customer base.
NWTA officially becomes Norseman Group Ltd. The name change is necessary to illustrate the evolution of the company that over 75 years has become the largest and most technologically advanced custom industrial fabric and foam manufacturer based in Western Canada with a global customer base.
With the existing Norseman logo having been in use for over 40 years, Norseman wanted to update the look and feel while maintaining the most recognized element of the logo, the Viking head, this element of the logo was modernized and carried through to the new execution. This logo execution was used from approximately 2000 to 2010.
Wanting to signal the diamond alliance in the Norseman corporate structure, as well as the independence of the Norseman Allfoam business, a Norseman Allfoam logo incorporating a diamond and a graphical styling of the texture of foam was used to create the logo. This logo was in use until approximately 2010.
Norseman Group Ltd. begins sourcing products and materials from Asia building key relationships with suppliers overseas
Norseman Group Ltd., completes the purchase of Allfoam Industries and acquires Factory Direct, an Edmonton based manufacturer of fabric membrane steel structure buildings. The completion of a 15,000 square foot, clear span, fabrication plant allows Norseman Group Ltd. to offer customers immediate access to inventory.
Norseman Group Ltd. once again visits the big screen supplying set decor to the film The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.
A second Campers Village location is opened in Edmonton on Calgary Trail.
Wanting to reflect the solidity and strength of the company as it continues to move forward and grow into new markets the logo typeface was modified slightly to help better communicate these attributes. The long standing logo element of the Viking head has been in existence since the 1960's and has been carried through a number of logo executions. The Norseman Viking head continues today as one of the most recognized elements of the Norseman brand.
Norseman Group Ltd. purchases the Cover-All assets and creates Norseman Structures Inc. which operates alongside Norseman Inc. and Campers Village. The purchase of Cover-All’s assets means Norseman Structures Inc. now operates over 200,000 square feet over of quality controlled manufacturing space. Norseman’s existing experience positions them to be a world leader in the manufacturing and distribution of steel framed, fabric covered buildings.
Norseman Inc. continues to grow as well and an Eastern distribution center is opened under the management of Terry Craig with the aim of expansion into American markets in mind. Norseman also participates in the 2010 Winter Olympics held in Vancouver, British Columbia by providing a number of foam and fabric custom products to be used as protection for the athletes and in the choreography of the closing ceremony.
Norseman Group Ltd. generates the largest revenue sales in its history. Product diversity and a willingness to offer customers a ‘Fiercely Reliable’ solution to their protection needs are among the reasons Norseman enjoyed such success. Looking forward, Norseman is committed to providing sustainable, quality, innovative solutions to exceed our customer’s expectations and develop long-lasting relationships.
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