Across The Street, Across The Country

Think of it as a jumbo-sized Play-Doh dispenser. But instead of child’s clay, it squirts out a specially-formulated concrete-like material. And instead of it being used to create a dinosaur or a volcano on the kitchen table, it’s used to build houses on lots – faster, less costly and better able to withstand natural disasters than conventional construction, say its practioners. Three entrepreneurs...

It’s not that learning-on-the-job can – or should – be replaced. But DKI knows that formal training, in a classroom setting, for its members – present and future ones – also helps to guarantee its standing as Canada’s leader in property restoration. It’s why DKI played no small role in working with Humber College to develop a new 14-week virtual program for those new to the industry, as well as th...

The restoration industry will always rely on skilled people using good old-fashioned hand tools. And DKI has those in spades. (Get it?) But Canada’s leader in property restoration also knows it has to be a leader in industry innovation. That demands adapting to, and embracing,  digital technology.  DKI’s VP of Software Development, Jason Rosen, tells us how this is being achieved with all its memb...

Ryan, Matt and Kyle Douglas weren’t quite satisfied with just one DKI outlet – carrying on a legacy that was built by the Douglas patriarch, Cris, who is also a DKI founder. So the bros headed 80 Ks north east from their Oshawa location to expand their DKI - CRCS in Peterborough. They share their story of expansion, from the site of their new venture – days before its official opening.  Gary Chant...

Some DKI business owners thrive, even rely on, that high-energy, never-stop, Go Go Go personality.  And then there’s Jason Gaudet.  DKI - ER Global’s owner/operator does get the job done – always with precision and deft attention to detail. But there’s a very easy-going, calm, confident and thoughtful manner to Jason that belies his age and his dedication to an industry predicated on the hectic an...

Accepting a promotion comes with rewards. But it usually also comes with more responsibility, more challenges, more stress - and less time away from the job. Sure, staying put may be the safer and easier option. Unless you thrive on that challenge –and you’ve given a lot of thought to making the leap. DKI’s David Goetz and Peter Hickey did just that, recently, assuming bigger roles with Canada’s l...

Whew! For sure, the past year was, in so many ways, so much better than 2022, right! It was also a great year for Canada’s leader in property restoration. But it still presented challenges – which DKI always met. The past 12 months also brought a lot of wonderful successes and touching stories. We revisit some of these highlights via last year’s episodes – a kind of time capsule into the lives of...

Most of us kick back on Christmas morning. But when DKI’s Members kick back on their special day with family, they do so with their boots on. Because when you’re Canada’s leader in property restoration, you know that a call to an emergency can come at any time. And it does, Often. We bring you three stories where DKI members – Ryan Douglas of DKI-CRCS, Ryan L’Heureux of DKI-RCCN and Kate and Daryl...

Rick Rimkey didn’t just set out to demolish a house that was completely lost to fire and rebuild a new one on the same site. The president of DKI R&F Construction in Orillia wanted the family to experience, first-hand, the evolution of its new incarnation. And in the process, he also helped the family get closure. How does that expression go? “There’s no ‘I’ in team.” We talk to an endurance a...

The people of DKI, despite all having a shared passion to help people, all have their own unique back stories. And Dan Fitzpatrick of DKI RCC Red Deer has an especially compelling back story – one in which Ronald McDonald House played a major role. Recently, Dan and his family decided to share that story via a professionally-produced video. He tells us what led to this decision to go public. Kaele...

David Hepworth had a successful career as an independent general contractor east of Toronto. But when opportunity knocked – many kilometres north – he answered. We make the trek to North Bay to hear David’s story – and learn what drove him to assume the helm of DKI TRC, at this later stage of his working life (while foregoing a less snowy climate!). If you’re looking to hire good people – (and who...

It’s more than just starting a new business from scratch.   When you take over an existing and successful enterprise – whose long time owner/operators were beloved by staff, clients, suppliers and the community – it can be a steep hill to climb.  But Kev Algar is making that climb - with a calm and poised confidence. The new face of DKI Pro Pacific on Vancouver Island is continuing the legacy buil...

Being Canada’s leader in property restoration means serving more than just those living in large centres across the country. Disasters, after all, don’t follow geographic boundaries. They can affect anyone, anywhere no matter how large or small – or remote – their community is.  We speak with Derek Thomas of DKI-AT Restoration in Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland and Craig Schaeffer, of DKI-Elite...

It has been a record summer – from coast-to-coast – for wild fires.  But especially for those living in Western Canada.  Evacuations. Damage. Destruction. And, in many case, homes lost.  We hear from a new homeowner from West Kelowna whose house was spared. But the memories of evacuating – and waiting – will stay with him.  Mike Howes and his crew at DKI Sparklean are a good 14 hours drive from Ye...

Stephanie Beattie of The Center for Disaster Recovery delivers training that’s directed to the root of what DKI does - empathizing with its clients, while restoring their lives following a property disaster.  We sit in on her classroom at DKI-Disaster RX in Kingston, where she taught her students a better appreciation – and understanding - of equality, diversity, sensitivity and inclusion. And how...

Shaun Delorey and Josh Defoa, with DKI Canada , thought they’d have a breather, following a harrowing week in Montreal, assisting DKI-Refexio with a surge in claims as that city dealt with major flooding.  But once back at their respective homes in Southern Ontario, both barely had time to remove their boots, before another emergency call came. This time, Shaun and Josh grabbed their gear and rush...

Mena Pereira and Mario Caetano, along with their children Diego and Mikaela, own and manage two DKI outlets in Ottawa and Montreal.  And when two different weather events hit those two separate cities, causing major damage – on the same day – it could have proved overwhelming for DKI Novatech and DKI Refexio.  But here’s the thing: DKI members are never really alone.  We hear how DKI members from...

DKI does much more than rebuild properties. It builds communities - by welcoming, and working with - all communities.  And it does this  not just with words, but actions.  We talk to DKI Corporate’s Adam Tzarik and Alex Dafoe – just as they’re getting ready roll (literally) to show they’re true allies in Toronto’s Pride Parade.  LINK Canada aims to make the insurance industry the employer of choic...

It happens.  A client and/or their insurer deem a disaster too big, so they opt not to rebuild.  But when that property is more than just a building – like a place of worship, for example – that decision weighs heavy. On the people for whom that church was a place of community, certainly. But also for the people who believe it could – it should – be restored.  Mike Foley of DKI-Foley shares why su...

For any organization to be successful in the present, it needs to not just accept that change is inevitable, but to embrace it.  The DKI Future Council is comprised of young, but wise-beyond-their-years, DKI members from across the country who do more than just welcome change; they know how to help shape it.  In this episode we talk to five Future Council members – (and DKI’s next generation of le...

It’s all around us, unavoidable and, when we better understand it, a great way to get a message out. Veteran journalist and communications expert Nancy Payne explains, by providing us with a teaser of what we can expect at DKI’s AGM, Evolve 2023, in New Brunswick in May.  Her workshop “Make Your Point: Media relations demystified” will help DKI members gain a better appreciation of how that newspa...

Every disaster causes stress – for the property owner and the restoration experts. But when that disaster was not “natural” or the result of a human error – but of human intent – it can be traumatic. In this episode we speak with Dylan Parker of DKI Parker in Windsor, which specializes in restoring properties following break-ins and vandalism. Dylan details some of the technical skills required fo...

“I was never told that I couldn’t do something because I was woman.” DKI Canada and its Member locations across the country have made it their mission to not just welcome women, but to actively recruit them. From management and administration roles to the certified tradespeople and technicians who have boots on the ground, women are welcome, and sought after, for every role.   In this episode we s...

Cyber attacks aren’t an if, but a when, and when your business is affected, it takes more than just an IT specialist to get you back on-line. In part two of our series on cybersecurity, we speak with Katarina Duke, a lawyer who specialises in helping organizations through the aftermath of a cyber attack. From the proper messaging to deliver in the wake of an attack, to how to proceed in the case o...

Once limited to targeting financial institutions, government agencies and large retails chains, cyber attacks are growing more common, and bolder. Attacking everything from hospitals and small businesses to educational institutions and individuals, threatening to shut down computer systems and destroy data record unless a ransom is paid.   So how do you prevent these attacks? Or minimize their ris...