By Natalie Bruckner
It’s through adversity that you often find strength, as Walter Keating, president and owner of Ontario-based Keating Insulation Inc., can attest to.
It’s fair to say that Keating’s road has been a little rocky with its fair share of potholes since he first set the company up 35 years ago. Despite this, he has driven the road skillfully, soaked up the bumps, and still has as much gumption in him at the age of 70 as he did when he first entered the industry back at the age of 18.
Originally from Newfoundland, Keating, his wife, and three young children moved to Thunder Bay, Ontario, 39 years ago to pursue his career and master his craft. In 1992, on his 40th birthday, Keating decided it was time to branch out on his own and Keating Insulation Inc. was born. When you ask him what his wife’s reaction was he laughs and says: “Her response? She said, ‛What are you saying to me? You’re making good money now, why would you want to do that?’ I told her I just need to do it and to say that I’ve done it. If it doesn’t work out, I can go back to work for somebody else.”
But Keating had something that is invaluable in business, not just in the founding years, but throughout the life of the business, and that is support—the support of his family, friends, former colleagues, and the community. This support was even more important during the first few months of the business when Keating’s son took his own life, which had, as you can imagine, a profound impact on the entire family. “We had to deal with growing a business during that time… it was pretty tough. But through good friends and so much support we moved forward. My son left us with a beautiful granddaughter, who is now 23 and so much like him. We are so proud of her. Sometimes you have to fall down to get up.”
It’s this attitude that has undoubtedly resulted in the success of the business, and a trait that Keating has passed down to his other son Walter Keating Jr. who took control of the reins of the company eight years ago.
What started off as a one-man show has now become one of the biggest firms of its kind in Northwestern Ontario, with a multifaceted team that specializes in industrial and commercial insulation contracting, asbestos abatement, sheet metal and siding, duct cleaning, stucco and fireproofing, spray foam insulation, and mould remediation.
“It started just as insulation and this evolved into asbestos, then ductwork, then mould,” Keating says. “This came in useful when the pulp mills started going under, which was a big source of business for us, and soon the commercial side became a big part of our business. We started by doing $5,000 jobs and ended up with $2 million projects, but every job has been fun for me.”
While Keating has taken more of a backseat these days, his love of the business means he is still very much involved. “My son says to me, ‘Dad you’re not 50 anymore, you need to slow down.’ But I wake up every morning at 5 a.m. and when I go into the office my son tells me I have to go out on the floor to stir the pot. He tells me I’m the highest paid apprentice he has,” Keating laughs.
His passion for the insulation industry is undeniable. Not only has Keating built an incredibly successful business that has weathered a few economic storms all while being a family man, but he was president of the board of the Master Insulators’ Association of Ontario (MIAO) for two terms, president of the Construction Association of Thunder Bay, co-chair of the health and safety committee for the Master Insulators’ Association of Ontario, and of course the president of TIAC.
These days, when Keating isn’t in the office, you are likely to find him fishing on the ocean near his family home in Newfoundland, on the golf course (a sport his son, Walter Keating Jr. introduced him to when his son was doing his golfing scholarship), or helping the local community.
“Supporting the community is extremely important to me, and something I get from my father,” Keating says. “He was always making sure everyone had everything they needed, like food and fuel. If you look after people the best comes back to you.” ▪
