Across The Street, Across The Country

It is now official. The most recent ice storm that wreaked havoc and robbed hundreds of thousands of hydro in Central Ontario, was the biggest storm of its kind since 1998. It means Rick Rimkey, Owner of DKI – R&F Construction in Orillia and his crews set aside much of their own personal damage mitigation, to deal with that of their clients.  Because that’s what Canada’s leader in Property Res...

It’s not that she wasn’t truly happy in her position leading DKI’s Remote Estimate Desk. Heck, Amanda Saunders says she loved that job. But when an opportunity arose – one with more responsibility, but also more opportunity to nurture and encourage more people – she couldn’t resist. DKI Canada’s new Senior Manager of Essential Services tells about this new career, and life, transition. DKI - Bravo...

There’ve been some new faces in the DKI family, recently. Well, not “new” per se. But they’re new in their new roles - as location owners! JP Giroux spent time in DKI head office, before landing as the owner of DKI - Kingston. Neil Thomas was an integral part of DKI - Winnipeg. But he’s now fully in charge of the Manitoba location. Mike Howes is no stranger to being an owner, with DKI locations in...

DKI Canada has long been a big supporter of Ronald McDonald House Charities. But members from coast to coast go well beyond just fundraising – (in the thousands and thousands of dollars, by the way!) – for the charity. They roll up their sleeves – literally - don a hairnet, gloves and apron and get to work as part of RMHC’s Meals From The Heart.  DKI Canada Business Development Manager Ira Brenton...

It’s the first interview we’ve conducted with a guest in ski boots. And hats off – (or toques off, eh) – to Michael Meinig. The office manager with DKI - Bravo in B.C. slowed his stride (but only slightly) while training for a solo, 24-hour cross-country ski marathon in support of The Kootenay Christian Academy. He explains what inspired him to go without sleep for that stretch  – and how it’ll ma...

Every team depends on dedicated teammates, playing both ends of the ice – together - to ensure a win. But before that can happen, that team needs a strong and motivating leader. Fatema Hardwarewala is DKI’s expert in budget planning. But she’s also an inspiring leader to the members of her finance team. She shares her story, and what it takes to be a good coach in a game that is as much about peop...

Who knew there’d still be so many wonderful stories to share, three years later? Well, we did. Because DKI, Canada’s leader in property restoration is, at its core, about people – and how DKI members care about, and for, people. And people have always been a source of great stories. Now a tradition, this end-of-year episode features some of the highlights of episodes in 2024. It includes emotional...

You’ve heard his name mentioned in each and every one of our near-100 episodes over the past three seasons. Darryl James. In this special Holiday Season episode, we sit down for a one-on-one with the bass player with internationally-acclaimed The Strumbellas, and the creative force behind Close Kicks, Darryl’s solo project that contributes our show’s music. We managed to catch Darryl between conce...

It’s one thing to hear a college administrator extol the virtues of a new course for those looking to enter the restoration industry, or upgrade their existing industry skills. And we did in Episode 6 this season, via John McNeil of Humber College, as well as DKI’s VP of Business Development Adam Tzarik – the latter, along with David Goetz, DKI VP Essential Services, played no small role in helpin...

Food as Fuel. It takes the right kind, and the right amount, for DKI’s teams to do the hard work of property restoration – which often demands long hours. Matt, Kyle and Ryan Douglas know this, and live by it. (Hey, when the brothers and owner/operators of DKI  - CRCS aren’t on the job, there’s a good chance they’re participating in, or leading, a cycling tour for charity). And they want to ensure...

Hey, who among us isn’t carrying a few extra pounds? That's why Matt Holmwood knew he’d have plenty of participants (including himself) when he set up a workplace weight loss challenge. To make it even more motivating, Matt, the president and general manager of DKI – Miller, turned it into a fundraiser for Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada. He tells us how the challenge works – and how t...

Chris Nordyke has spent his career in sales, training, coaching, and consulting – most of it with an emphasis on the property restoration industry, where he also worked. The Oregon-based entrepreneur and his Floodlight Consulting Group co-founder and podcast co-host, Brandon Reece, will be the featured speakers at DKI Inspire in November. In this special episode, Chris joins us for a one-on-one co...

DKI - Rocky Cross Construction owner, Jason Daniels, doesn’t have aspirations of hob-knobbing with Hollywood’s glitterati, but he was more than willing to lend his on-camera skills for a professional video that will do much to help homeowners mitigate the effects of the next major weather disaster. Jason tells us why he travelled to Toronto from his home base in Alberta for the project, and why th...

October is Fire Prevention Month and we’re honouring the job that is so much more than simply holding hoses, climbing ladders and entering burning buildings. We sit down for a candid, wide-ranging conversation with Bryan Burbidge, Fire Chief for the City of Richmond Hill, Ontario. The 35-year veteran of fire service tells us how the job of fire fighting – and those who do it – have evolved over th...

Ryan Thelwell spent more than 10 years catching hundreds of passes, running thousands of yards and scoring dozens of touchdowns. Today, the former CFL star is channelling many of those skills that come from a storied pro football career and two Grey Cups – the perseverance, hard-work, and team-first attitude – as a leader in the property restoration industry. Thelwell’s new playing field is in Haw...

A teaser for Episode 17 of Season 3

Jeanne McGregor is, by all accounts, a veteran of the restoration industry, and a nurturing leader who’s revered – and not just within her ranks of DKI - Con-tech, but across the country. It’s why she was recently honoured with DKI Canada’s first-ever “EmpowerHer” Leadership Award. Jeanne tells us what that climb, over several decades, to such esteemed status was like. It wasn’t always easy, she a...

Pretty much every industry of late has been struggling to find the best possible staff. It’s meant extending that search well beyond the local community – and the country, for that matter. Recruiting foreign skilled workers, however, requires more than just hanging a “Help Wanted” sign in their country. DKI Canada’s Director of Human Resources, Alex DeFoa, tells us what’s involved in attracting st...

A teaser for Episode 14 of Season 3

TW: The following episode contains content about suicide. Listener discretion is advised. “It’s not for everybody,” warns Chris Kelly of DKI - Parker in Windsor, Ontario. Indeed, the trauma and crime scene restoration specialist has been exposed to work sites that keep him up at night. But a recent one had an especially profound effect on him. It earned him DKI Canada’s Compassionate Restorer Awar...

It’s been almost a year and a half since we last spoke to DKI’s Future Council. Its members have gained a lot of wisdom since that time. They also gained a new member. We reconnect with Mikaela Caetano of DKI - Refexio, Alex Holmwood of DKI - Miller and Jessica Bradley of DKI - Highland. We also connect – for the first time – with their new FC colleague, Jordan Mills, of DKI - SDS. Darryl James is...

DKI is, indeed, the leader in Canadian restoration. And its members achieve this national goal, by knowing how to deliver that message to their own unique parts of the country. Because what works out west may not necessarily work as effectively out east. Then again, it might. Lindsay Sereda, Marketing Director of DKI - SDS in Saskatchewan can speak to this – and does in our feature interview! Nic...

It takes many people with many skills to take on - and successfully complete – a full restoration. That typically requires contracting out one or two (or several) sub-trades. DKI - RCCN, however, found a way to reduce its need to sub-contract. Lory Perizzolo, CEO of the Calgary-based DKI member, tells us how.  Cities, neighbourhoods and homes are constantly evolving, adapting to new challenges – f...

They’re no longer anomalies. Major catastrophes are now regular – even seasonal - occurrences. And they’ve spawned an industry of experts who provide important catastrophe-related data to insurance and public sector stakeholders.  CatIQ is leading that charge, with Laura Twidle at its helm.  The Chief Executive Officer tells us how CatIQ is meeting this (ever-increasing and ever-evolving) demand f...

They may have big monetary value. Or they may not. And it doesn’t matter. Because to the person who cherishes that item - that piece of jewellery, that garment, that picture, that chair, table or dresser - it’s the emotional value that’s most important. So if it’s been damaged due to catastrophe, restoring it is paramount. Sean Carter, of Calgary Contents, has spent much of his career restoring no...