18 l ROOFINGBC l SUMMER 2018 RCABC MEMBER PROFILE W illie Meier died in 2014, just four years short of what would have been the 50th anniversary of the business hestarted,101IndustriesLtd.,amulti-dis- ciplinary contractor in northwest B.C. that serves the Kitimat, Terrace, Prince Rupert, Stewart, Smithers, Hazelton, Haida Gwaii and Nass Valley areas. The company works in the commercial, resi- dential and industrial markets performing services such as roofing, heating, venti- lation and air conditioning, plumbing, fabrication and structural steel. “We would have loved to have had him around for the 50th anniversary of the business. It would have meant the world to him,” says the company’s general manager, Thom Meier, who is also Willie’s son. The company was founded in 1968, just 14 years after Willie Meier arrived from Munich, Germany, as a 22-year-old immigrant. While the company was orig- inally called 101 Sheetmetal, Plumbing and Roofing Ltd., the name was changed in 1998 to better reflect the diverse work the firm undertook. The origin of the company’s name was a nod to Canada’s confederation, with 1968 marking 101 years since Canada became a nation. “It was critically important to him [Willie Meier],” said Thom Meier. “He was so enamoured with Canada and everything to do with Canada. This was his dreamland; to come here, as a young person and make a life here. He really appreciated everything that Canada was all about. He was definitely a very patri- otic immigrant, I can tell you that. He always flew the Canadian flag off the front of the building.” As the company celebrates its fiftieth year, some of the conditions that drew Willie Meier to Kitimat seem to be repeating themselves. He moved to the area because of an aluminum smelter that was being built and the economic boom this presented. Today, two liquified natural gas (LNG) projects may come to fruition in the area: Kitimat LNG and LNG Canada. “It’s pretty exciting,” said Meier. “The community and the whole area is on the edge of their seats.” According to the LNG Canada project website, during the first phase of construc- tion, employment would average 4,500 people, with a potential peak workforce of 7,500 people. Much of the construc- tion workforce would be skilled trades, labourers, management, supervisors and technicians. The Kitimat LNG project website says more than 3,000 workers would be needed at peak construction for the plant site, while another 1,500 people would be needed to build a pipeline. STAYING GOLDEN 101 Industries Ltd. celebrates its 50th year By RICHARD WOODBURY