Father & son combine years of experience to start a new business

by Ruby Arsenault, Employment Coach/Facilitator with the Tignish Employment Resources (ER) Centre

A new business called SSS Stewart Safety Service offering safety training, rescue services, and safety equipment sales is now operating out of O’Leary, PEI.

Jimmy Stewart and his son Zach Stewart have combined their skills and knowledge to offer their services Canada-wide to industries and businesses.

“Our new enterprise is now ramping up after opening our doors in August 2022,” says Zach.

SSS Stewart Safety Service may be a new name in the safety industry, but they are backed with over 40 years of experience from industry professionals. Their team is made up of firefighters and safety minded individuals who want to put their best foot forward to help their clients.

“Certified to work all across Canada, we can provide our training right at the customer’s site, so we can be assured everything will be a custom fit,” says Jimmy.

“We offer onsite training mainly in Atlantic Canada, and we can take on projects Canada-wide. We set up shop at the business location to deliver safety courses and rescue training. If a company or industry does not have a training space available, we can work on providing one.”

They also offer actual rescue services. “Our highly trained teams can rescue clients’ workers in case of an incident in a confined space or at heights.”

“From hard hats and safety harness to toilet paper, hand soap, and bandsaw blades, our industrial supplies team is always working hard to ensure the supplies needed are available. If we do not have it in our catalogue, we will do our very best to find it.”

Jimmy, who has worked in the industry for 40-plus years, has recently semi-retired as a sales representative for a safety equipment manufacturing company. Jimmy felt he had much to offer and is excited to embark in this new chapter with his son.

Zach, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business and worked for six years with an Island potato handling equipment manufacturing company, says he has gained “tons” of hands-on skills and theory that will support this new adventure with his father.

“It has always been a dream of mine to become self-employed,” say Zach. “I am also a level-one volunteer firefighter with the West Point Fire Department, so I understand the need and the importance of safety.

“We are working on a platform which will offer the convenience of online shopping for safety supplies,” says Zach. “This will be an excellent service and we hope to launch this site in the New Year! Our largest seller is leather safety gloves.”