In 1971, Grant Tait arrived in Swift Current with just his toolbox and strong work ethic. Given this humble beginning, he couldn’t have known then that he was establishing the foundation for a family business that would thrive into its third generation.
“My dad went down to Beaver Lumber and started unloading cement bags,” reflects Chad Tait. “He ended up getting a job building calf shelters and granary bin floors. Next thing you know, he’s building a house out in Pennant. And that’s how Tait Construction started. Just as simple as being willing to go out and do the job.”
In 1978, Tait Construction became Ltd. and then in 2009 Chad took over the company.
“But I had actually started working for my dad when I was a kid,” notes Chad. “Right out of high school, I was working full-time for my dad in 1991 and have been working in construction ever since. I’ve been a Journeyman Carpenter since 1996. So, I’m mentoring my children the same way my father mentored me.”
Today, Chad’s sons Jace and Jaxon are proud to have joined the family business, expanding the reach and expertise of Tait Construction.
Jaxon designs and installs rural residential onsite wastewater management systems for Tait Construction, having earned certification from the Saskatchewan Onsite Wastewater Management Association.
Jace is the office manager at Tait Construction, and is currently apprenticing to earn his Journeyman Carpentry certificate.
While the brothers may seem like newcomers to the industry, the truth is, they’ve been in construction since childhood.
“Just like our father grew up helping grandpa working construction, he was kind enough to pass along the favour,” says Jace. “We started as young as age nine, working with grandpa from 9 ‘til 3, three or four days a week gave us a lot of life skills. Starting so young, we have a lot of experience.”
Jaxon notes that wastewater treatment systems are expensive to put in place, so by obtaining formal training and certification, he gives customers that extra peace of mind.
“Grandpa did put them in too, in the subdivision he worked on in Valley View Acres. But back then, it was simple – just put in this tank and infiltrator and away you go,” reflects Jaxon. “Now there’s more science to it, with topsoil testing and system design.”
Heading into spring, runoff can be a concern, but there are some ways that Tait Construction can help you out.
“We do fix foundations, so if your basement is all of a sudden springing a leak, we can get on that so that problem isn’t there next year,” says Chad. “We can excavate it, help you seal up that basement wall or install some weeping tile. And we have the equipment to do the landscaping too, and get the water running away from your buildings.”
He says that if your driveway or sidewalk is tipped toward your concrete foundation, it could cause a lot of damage and cost a lot of money if it’s not looked after.
“We can replace those sidewalks, and get those driveways done this summer instead of waiting till the last minute in fall,” Chad suggests. “So let's try and get those things done in summertime so you can get your landscaping done and your grass put in before winter.”
Tait Construction doesn’t limit themselves to only Swift Current, either.
“We've always gone out of town or wherever the work was. The first house my dad built was in Pennant because nobody else would travel out of town to go there,” explains Chad. “So we encompass a 100-mile radius of Swift Current. We keep it local, but we do serve the Southwest. We look after all the small farmers, the little businesses, the homeowners who need a driveway, foundation, or basement.
“When Vanguard got hit with the heavy rains in ‘97, we went down there and excavated basements, put in weeping tiles, helped with drainage, replaced basement floors, fixed foundation walls – whatever we could fix to help. We went out there and worked for quite a while and that's the legacy we've always left, is we do quality workmanship. We do the best we can every time.”
And that legacy is proving itself in customers who continue reaching out to Tait Construction over the decades.
“My dad always took pride in leaving a good quality job for all his customers. And those same customers will look us up today and say, ‘hey, your grandfather built a cabin for us back in the 1980s’ and now it’s the third generation that goes to help them out, building a deck for that same family.”
“We’re very proud of what we've done in the past and the work that we continue to put forward,” says Jaxon. “We arrive at every jobsite wearing our name on our hat, and that just shows that we're proud of what we do. We want you to know who did the work, because it's good quality workmanship.”
“If you have any project in mind, give us a call,” invites Jace. “We’d be proud to help you out.” Call 1-306-773-8091 or visit taitconstruction.ca
