John Aarts Group, London, ON

The John Aarts Group story begins in 1978 when John Aarts purchased a small bulldozer and started his own excavating company called John Aarts Excavating and Grading. Four years later, John and his wife Loralee, purchased another bulldozer and a tractor backhoe and in 1982, incorporated J-AAR Excavating Limited with the first office starting out in the basement of Loralee's grandparent's farmhouse. They began by taking on small contracts with John operating equipment, performing labour, estimating jobs and preparing quotations for contracts. Loralee worked diligently along side John, undertaking administrative duties and whatever was needed in support of their dream of J-AAR Excavating Limited.