Welland Tribune e-edition

Electrical firm charged up for anniversary

Kraun Electric unveils rebrand; Emterra completes long-term plan for hospital foundation; chamber wraps up recovery series

GORD HOWARD Gord Howard is a St. Catharinesbased reporter with the Standard. Reach him via email: gord.howard@niagaradailies.com

For its 25th anniversary, Kraun Electric got itself a new brand and two new logos.

The company was founded a quarter-century ago in St. Catharines by John and Irma Krause, their son, Kevin, and daughter Kelly Braun with four employees in the office and a few others working in the field.

It expanded into the residential market in 2013 and opened another full-service outlet in Hamilton last year, and now Kraun employs close to100 fulltime staff members.

Braun credits employees for the company’s ability to prosper over a long period of time. Many have been with Kraun for several years, including some right from the start.

“At Kraun, we’ve been looking at ways to better invest in our community,” Braun said in a release. “We are proud to have our living wage certification, and we hope that other employers will follow suit. It’s one way we can contribute to ending poverty in Niagara.”

Company president and chief executive officer Aaron Jones is a licensed electrician who started there as a general labourer and worked his way up, becoming a part-owner in 2018.

“After 25 years and new ownership, we wanted to take a fresh look and carry a bold vision into the future,” he said of the rebranding.

The new brands represent the company’s work in residential (“Kraun Home Electric. Connections that last”) as well as industrial, commercial and institutional projects (“Kraun Electric. Powering potential”).

Local projects the company

worked on include FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre in St. Catharines and redevelopment at the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge.

Currently, it is finishing up work at a Habitat for Humanity home in Welland.

It also works in electric vehicle charging and home automation installations, design-build services and preventive maintenance.

Emterra caps eight-year program of helping Niagara Health Foundation

Emterra Environment recently capped off its eight-year project of helping Niagara Health Foundation by donating $27,098.

Over that time, the company has given more than $372,000

to the foundation to help patients at Walker Family Cancer Centre at St. Catharines hospital.

Emterra is the contractor previously responsible for curbside pickup of trash, composting and recyclable materials across Niagara from 2011 until last fall.

Niagara Health Foundation is an independent agency that carries out fundraising for Niagara Health, the local hospital system.

During its time in Niagara, Emterra conducted its Make Your Contribution at the Curb program.

Its annual donation was tied to the volume of recyclables and batteries Niagara residents safely disposed of each year. For every tonne that was recycled,

Emterra donated $1 to the hospital foundation.

Over the years, the money it raised helped Niagara Health purchase medical equipment used to treat cancer patients.

“We chose to give to the Walker Family Cancer Centre, which at the time wasn’t even open yet, because we wanted to help Niagara residents who were fighting cancer to receive treatment close to home and to have the support of their loved ones with them through the process,” Emterra chief sustainability officer Paulina Leung said in a release.

Foundation interim president and chief executive officer Andrea Scott said the company “provided incredible support to local cancer care” over the years.

South Niagara chambers to air final episode in five-part recovery series

South Niagara Chambers of Commerce wraps up its fivepart Niagara’s Road to Recovery online series on June 29 with a look at the future of not-forprofits in the region.

The session runs 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. More information, including how to book free tickets, is available at southniagaracc.com. Previous episodes examined agriculture and wineries, manufacturing, tourism and construction sectors and are available to watch on YouTube by searching “Niagara’s road to recovery.”

BUSINESS

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2021-06-24T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-06-24T07:00:00.0000000Z

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