The Early Days
Our story begins at the turn of the 20th century when our co-founder, George Dennis Horsman, left his home in Hamilton, Ontario.
With only a Colt revolver and a knapsack, he boarded a train and headed west in search of work and a new adventure.
He stopped in Regina to work at a small hardware store. Soon after, a similar hardware store in Moosomin, Saskatchewan went up for sale. Sensing an opportunity in this humble railway town, he contacted his father, Edward B. (E.B.) Horsman to pitch a business idea.
A Bright Future Out West
After honeymooning in Vancouver, B.C. a few years later, George Dennis fell in love with the growing West Coast city. So, in 1907, the father-son duo expanded the business westward, opening a shop in the heart of downtown Vancouver.
Not long after, following the invention of the incandescent lamp, a wide range of electrical products became available across North America. In 1923, the Horsmans decided to add a small electrical supply division to the business.
As it turned out, the future of the electrical business was bright. Within just two years, George Dennis and E.B. dropped the balance of their hardware stock to focus exclusively on electrical wholesale, constructing a 8,400-square-foot warehouse in 1928.
Tim Horsman - CEO
Growing the Family Business
In the 1930s, George Dennis’s two sons, Harry and Edward, joined the business. Our family continued to expand in the 1940s and 1950s, opening up branches all across B.C.
After George’s death in 1948, Harry and Edward became fully responsible for the company. From the ’50s onwards, the business passed down through the Horsman generations, while our product inventory, suppliers, and locations continued to multiply.
In 2011, we built a 103,000-square-foot head office and distribution centre that supports our teams and stocks our branch network today.
E.B. Horsman & Son Today
Across B.C., Alberta, and Saskatchewan.
To help with electrical projects of all sizes.
Who are at the core of our success.
Still Family- and Employee-Owned
Today, our offerings cover all things electrical, from local contractor quotes to large-scale corporate contracts.
Our humble beginnings are important to us, and we plan to remain family- and employee-owned for the long-haul. Tim Horsman, a fifth-generation Horsman, has been our President and CEO since 2011.
As the world of electrical evolves, we will innovate, too—just like George Dennis and his father did in the early days.
No matter how our business changes, our family values will always remain!