When T.H. Stevenson noticed construction equipment sitting idle in the postwar boom, he saw more than inefficiency, he saw opportunity.
Eight decades later, that observation still defines how Hub Equipment operates.
As Canadian soldiers began to return from Europe following the Second World War, construction surged.
The return of about one million veterans sparked a housing boom for a country with a population of only 11 million people. As building boomed, Stevenson, a contractor at the time, noticed that construction equipment would often sit idle.
He decided to turn that observation into a business opportunity and founded Hub Equipment in Moncton, New Brunswick, in 1946.
Celebrating a legacy forged in heavy iron
T.H. Stevenson Building and Hauling in Thunder Bay, Ontario in 1930.
This year, Hub Equipment — named after Moncton, known as the Hub of the Maritimes — is celebrating 80 years of selling and renting heavy equipment to Canada’s contractors.
To commemorate the milestone, Hub Equipment hosted an 80th anniversary celebration at the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto in April.
“Few Canadian equipment rental companies survive 80 years, and even fewer continue to grow and prosper across generations,” said Tom Stevenson, President of Hub and grandson of T.H. Stevenson. “Hub’s longevity is a testament to the dedication of our team, the loyalty of our customers and the values that have guided us from the very beginning in 1946.”
Hub heads west
When construction of the Saint Lawrence Seaway began in the 1950s, T.H. Stevenson’s son, Verne, moved Hub Equipment to Brockville and Cornwall, Ontario, to serve the massive construction undertaking. The company eventually migrated to Toronto in 1957 and would expand to focus on buying and selling used equipment, as well as the growing rental industry.
Verne Stevenson led the company for 48 years, building a legacy of integrity and respect in the construction world.
“He was especially known for his honesty and his deep knowledge of used equipment, often closing a sale with nothing more than a phone call or a handshake,” said Tom Stevenson, who has led Hub Equipment since 2001. “And throughout his tenure at Hub, Verne consistently sought the opinions of our team, who were instrumental in making Hub successful, and the only reason we’re really here tonight.”
Tom Stevenson said succession planning became one of the most important responsibilities in ensuring the company’s continued long-term success.
“For Hub, it was essential to find a strategic partner who shared and practiced our values, offered meaningful growth opportunities, provided long-term security for our employees and respected the history that shaped this company,” he said.
In 2023, Tom Stevenson found that partner, and 100 per cent of Hub Equipment was sold to Cooper Equipment Rentals. The two companies aligned on several shared values, including looking after customers, building strong relationships and delivering on commitments.
“It’s the same value system, the same mindset. It’s the same belief that you take care of your customers, and you build strong relationships,” said Brian Spilak, CEO of Cooper Equipment Rentals. “When we brought Hub into the Cooper family a few years ago, we knew we were taking stewardship of a name that actually meant something in this marketplace.”
The same year Cooper acquired Hub, it also opened a new location in Moncton, New Brunswick, the Hub of the Maritimes.
“I love the full-circle symmetry of that,” said Darryl Cooper, President of Cooper Equipment Rentals.
The strength of the brand
Verne Stevenson visits a jobsite in 1956.
As a testament to the strength of its brand, Hub is the only company among Cooper’s 19 acquisitions that didn’t transition immediately to the Cooper brand.
“That’s intentional. We knew that it meant something in this marketplace and we wanted to honour that legacy,” Spilak said.
Doug Dougherty, Executive Chair of Cooper Equipment Rentals, said he understands how difficult it is to find the right buyer when selling a legacy business. He grew up in his own family’s business, Ray-Gordon Equipment, where he served as president for 15 years. In 1996, Ray-Gordon Equipment was acquired nearly 60 years after its inception.
“Our Cooper team feels honoured to have been chosen as the partner to steward the Hub business through the last few years towards this important milestone,” Dougherty said. “The history is long, the legacy is strong and the pride in what has been achieved will live on.”
Cooper Equipment Rentals was founded by Darryl Cooper’s father, Gord, in 1972. Like Hub’s legacy, Gord started his company based on respect and a goal of building long-term relationships.
While both companies worked in the same markets, they enjoyed a competitive coexistence. In the ’90s, Cooper and Hub were even neighbours on Markham Road in Toronto.
“Our dads, Verne Stevenson and Gord Cooper, were very different people, but they shared many of the same values: respect for tradition, craftsmanship and quality; respect for integrity, fair business and win-win outcomes; and respect for people, as evident in the tenure of long-term Hub and Cooper employees,” Darryl Cooper said.
Today, Hub Equipment operates alongside Cooper’s heavy rents divisions in Brampton and Edmonton.
“Our promise is to stay true to the values laid down by Verne and Gord: putting customers and people first,” Darryl Cooper said.
