BC Bearing Engineers Limited

Our Mission: To achieve long-term business relationships as the premier distributor of high quality industrial products and services.

The development and success of few corporate organizations has been linked so inexorably to the personal life, accomplishments and tragedies of one woman. Her tenacity and drive has led the company from the fledgling offshoot of her late husband's machine shop to the standing that The BC Bearing Group enjoys today. This summarized chronology traces only some of the major milestones in the history of BC Bearing and in the fascinating story of zeal and success of its leader, Chairman and CEO, Wendy B. McDonald. Widowed three times, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, she has guided The BC Bearing Group for over 50 years to its present global status.

1936	Northern Metals and Engineering, precursor to BC Bearing Engineers, founded by R.A.S. MacPherson
1937	Northern Metals and Engineering incorporates. Located at 1556 W 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC
1938	Northern Metals appointed authorized distributor for Fafnir Bearings
1941	Wendy Stoker marries Robert A.S. MacPherson
1942	First bearing store opens at 1393 Granville St., Vancouver; a separate operation from the machine shop
1944	BC Bearing Engineers Limited incorporated September 30th, and Northern Metals maintained as machine shop
1945	First branch office opens in Calgary, Alberta
1948	Edmonton, AB branch opens
1950	Robert MacPherson dies in airplane crash Wendy MacPherson becomes president of BC Bearing Engineers Limited
1954	Direct computer costing implemented
1964	Duncan and Prince George, BC branches open
1965	BC Bearing has five branches; three in BC and two in Alberta
1969	Prince Rupert and Kitimat, BC branches open
1970	Kamloops, BC branch opens BC Bearing now has eight branches; six in BC, two in Alberta
1973	Vernon and New Westminster, BC and Red Deer, AB branches open
1974	Campbell River, BC and Fort McMurray and Grande Prairie, AB branches open
1975	BC Bearing enters Yukon with opening of Whitehorse branch BC Bearing now has 15 branches; 9 in BC, 5 in Alberta, one in Yukon
1976	Winnipeg, MB branch opens
1978	In-house computerized inventory system installed North Edmonton, AB branch opens
1979	Export department established Sparwood, BC and Hinton, AB branches open US Bearings and Drives is incorporated
1980	Saskatoon, SK branch opens Nanaimo, BC branch originally opened US Bearings opens first branch in Bellingham, Washington
1981	US Bearings opens Seattle, WA; Santa Clara, CA and Portland, OR branches Scott MacPherson appointed Vice President, US Bearings and Drives
1982	Wendy McDonald named Canada's first winner of Schenley's "Veuve Cliquot Award of Distinction" as businesswoman of the year Alberta Distribution Centre opens in Edmonton, AB
1983	Tumbler Ridge, BC branch opens BC Bearing begins supplying Taiwan with bearings and power transmission components
1984	Wendy McDonald first woman elected President of the Bearing Specialists Association
1985	Wendy McDonald hosts the Bearing Specialists Association International Convention, Vancouver, BC
1986	US Bearings opens Missoula, MT branch
1987	BC Bearing Engineers Limited honoured as Power Transmission Distributor of the Year Wendy McDonald proclaimed Better Business Bureau's 75th Anniversary Business Person of the Year BC Bearing now has 23 branches in Western Canada and 7 in the US
1988	Dawson Creek, BC branch opens US Bearings opens Phoenix and Tucson, AZ branches BC Bearing Engineers (Singapore) Pte Ltd is established and opens Singapore branch
1988	Robby MacPherson appointed President/Chief Operating Officer; Wendy McDonald assumes role of Chairman/CEO
1989	New corporate headquarters opens in Burnaby, BC Mackenzie branch opens BC Bearing de Mexico S.A. de C.V. opens office in Hermosillo, Mexico 1990 Wendy McDonald becomes first woman elected Chairman of the Vancouver Board of Trade in its 103 year history Robby MacPherson elected President, Bearing Specialists Association Peace River branch opens Technical Services (AB) Division established in Edmonton, Alberta
1993	BC Bearing named in "TOP 50 Best Managed Private Companies in Canada" by the Financial Post and Arthur Andersen BC Bearing Chile, S.A. established a South American joint venture distributorship in Antofagasta. Synergy Engineering joint venture concluded to market and service adjustable frequency drive products
1994	Penny Omnès, Vice President Marketing, elected General Chairman Mining Suppliers, Contractors and Consultants Association of BC Wendy McDonald appointed to Board of Governors at BC Institute of Technology BC Bearing Engineers Limited celebrates 50th Anniversary
1995	Technical Services (BC) Division opens Quesnel branch opens ISO 9002-94 Approved and Certified Wendy McDonald receives Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Simon Fraser University BC Bearing again named in "TOP 50 Best Managed Private Companies in Canada" by the Financial Post and Arthur Andersen
1996	Abbotsford, BC branch opens; Mesa, AZ branch acquired by US Bearings
1997	Montana Bearings in Billings and Helena, acquired by US Bearings; BCB Chile S.A. relocates its Head Office to Santiago and expands to five locations: Antofagasta, Copiapo, Chuquicamata, Los Angeles; Wendy McDonald awarded The Order Of Canada; Scott MacPherson appointed President and COO, US Bearings.
1998	Wendy McDonald receives "Leading Woman Entrepreneur of the World Award"; The BC Bearing Group achieves the "Jaguar Achievement Award for Family Enterprise of the Year"; BC Bearing Engineers Limited awarded "Canadian Power Transmission Distributor of the Year Award"; leading edge technology of Radio Frequency Warehouse Management System implemented in Distribution Centres; Penny Omnès appointed Vice President Marketing and Human Resources; Spokane,WA; Houston and Williams Lake, BC branches open.
1999	Dryden, Ontario branch opens.
2000	Robert S. MacPherson named CEO, The BC Bearing Group; Scott MacPherson elected as President of the Bearing Specialists Association for the 2001/2002 term; US Bearings and Drives acquires Besco; opens in Anchorage and Fairbanks Alaska with new Seattle, WA location
2001	New Enterprise Resource Planning System implemented (Eclipse) in North American operations
2002	BC Bearing Peru SRL established in Lima Wendy B. McDonald honoured as one of “The Leading Entrepreneurs of the World”
2003	ISO 9001-2000 certified in all North American Operations
2004	Robert S. MacPherson named Vice-Chairman and CEO, The BC Bearing Group; Dermot Strong named President and COO, The BC Bearing Group; The BC Bearing Group now operates in five countries: Canada, USA, Mexico, Chile and Peru; US Bearings and Drives acquires Bearings & Drives of Fargo, North Dakota with 4 branches in that state (Fargo, Grand Forks, Wahpeton and Bismarck) and 2 in Minnesota in Maple Grove (suburb of Minneapolis) and Mankato; US Bearings and Drives celebrates 25 years of service; The BC Bearing Group celebrates 60 years of service

The BC Bearing Group of companies is truly a family endeavour with four of Wendy McDonald’s children and two grandchildren involved
in its operation. Her “extended family” of over 300 employees worldwide handles over 100 product lines and hold to the family values
vital to the company’s long-term presence in the international marketplace. All are dedicated to maintaining a strong commitment to the roots and values that have led to this half-century of success.

In addition to guiding the progress of the company over this time span, Wendy McDonald and her family have contributed their
knowledge and expertise to the success of many other organizations. To name a few, Mrs. McDonald and family members have served as
officers, directors or as active participants in the following:

British Columbia Advisory Council on Mining
BC Institute of Technology
Coal Mining Association of Canada
BC Paraplegic Association
Mining Suppliers, Contractors & Consultants Association of BC
Canadian Association of Family Enterprise
Associated Bearing & Power Transmission Association
Fraser River Discovery Centre
Bearing Specialists Association
Sales & Marketing Executives International
Power Transmission Distributors Association
The Red Shield Appeal – Salvation Army
Asia Pacific Initiative
University Hospital
International Trade Advisory Committee
Vancouver Whitecaps
Pacific Advisory Council & Task Force for Export Services
Whistler Land Company
Pacific Corridor Enterprise Council
BC Bancorp
Canada West Foundation
Sandwell Swan Wooster Inc.
Vancouver Board of Trade
Westcoast Energy Inc.
Vancouver Economic Development Council
Zurich Canada
BC Sports Hall of Fame
NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement)
PARC (Pacific Advisory Regional Council)

Click on "60 Years" logo to view flash presentation