The History of Nedco
February 22, 2018
In 1911 Northern Electric Co. Limited, manufacturers of communications products and wholly owned by Bell Telephone Canada Limited, opened an electrical distribution office in Winnipeg.
To service the market, Northern found it necessary to import many of its products. Over the years it encouraged Canadian manufacturers to produce more and more of these. This policy helped to develop Canada’s present electrical manufacturing industry.
The distribution division successfully expanded to cover all provinces in Canada with about 40 outlets handling the products of Northern Electric and other suppliers.
In the early 1970s, the distribution operation was named Northern Electric Distribution Company and became Nedco.
Nedco’s first president was Jim Manning, who was succeeded by Sid Walker.
Gerry Dunnigan, then Vice-President of Marketing for Nedco, indicated there were 750 people on staff, operating from 28 full stocking locations and more that 20 sales offices. It was acknowledged as the largest electrical distributor in Canada.
Nedco expanded in the early 1970s with the acquisition of Zenith Electric Supply Limited, Masco Electric, Johnson Electric Supply, Thomas Electric and Zentronics, which added 10 new outlets.
In the mid 1970s Northern Electric, the parent company of Nedco, moved more strongly into the expanding communications market and began to divest itself of non-allied interests. Nedco was purchased by Westburne in 1979.
The favourable influence Nedco had on Canada’s electrical industry was substantial. Among its many “firsts” was the development of a most professional personnel training program. The electrical industry in Canada and the U.S. is sprinkled with graduates from Northern Electric and Nedco, and one must wonder where, in the future, will our industry find a “university” of the same quality.
Presently still active or just recently retired are such well known Nedco people as Gerry Dunnigan (Westcan), Jim Dougherty (Steetley), Gord Henderson (Westburne/Nedco), Roy Martin (Westburne/Nedco), Jim Simpson (retired), Walter Jamieson (retired (again)), Jack Milburn (retired), Geoff Peach (Steetley).
It’s no wonder that one of Nedco’s advertisements credited much of its success to the Nedco people.
