Reaching back 162 years to the founding of the Richardson family business, the owners of Tundra Energy Marketing Limited, or TEML, have given it a new name – Kingston Midstream.
Hartley T. Richardson, president and CEO of parent company James Richardson & Sons, Limited, was on hand at Southeast College in Estevan on Monday to reveal the new name and logo to the company’s staff.
He explained that his great great grandfather, James Richardson, had started out his grain trading business in Kingston, Ont. Thus, that was where the new name was drawn from.
“The name Kingston Midstream is a reference to the roots of James Richardson & Sons, Limited 162 years ago, which started as a small grain merchandising operation in Kingston, Ontario,” said Hartley Richardson. “Kingston is a name that serves as a reminder of the values and ambitions we continue to hold as an organization and a reflection of our long history of safely moving Canada’s most precious resources.”
That afternoon, the sign in front of the company’s building on Estevan’s Kensington Avenue also changed to reflect the new name.
Jim Hand, president and CEO of TEML, now Kingston Midstream, gave two reasons behind the rebranding. One was the merging of the two companies three years ago – Tundra Energy Marketing Limited, and Enbridge Pipelines (Saskatchewan) Inc. The other reason was to differentiate this company from its original roots.
TEML had spun off from Tundra Oil and Gas, the Richardson family-owned oil and gas company which is, by far, Manitoba’s largest producer.
“In 2011, TEML was founded as an independent subsidiary of James Richardson & Sons, Limited’s oil and gas exploration and production division,” said Hand. “As the company has grown significantly and now services a broader customer base; we believe the time is right for an evolution of its brand identity.”
The name change has been a long time coming, as Hand noted that when he became CEO seven months ago, one of the first questions he was asked by the staff was what the new name would be. It had been kept under wraps for a long time prior to that, and was under wraps, literally, on Monday, when Richardson lifted a sheet off the sign showing the new name.
While at the opening, Richardson took the time to sit with several tables of staff members, speaking to them directly after the ceremony had concluded.
The company will be adopting the new name immediately, and staff were handed out hats and the like to get the word out. Several members of the company’s executive attended the Estevan fair later that day.
For more detailed coverage, watch for the upcoming edition of Pipeline News, or visit www.pipelinenews.ca.
