In the spring of 1985, Kristian Electric employees, family, and friends joined the Calgary Riverside Modified Baseball League. Kris Gjertsen, then company President, and his wife Bertha sponsored the team, provided the uniforms, and cheered on the team throughout the regular season.

The KEL Team entered the 1985 season in the ‘B’ Division, proving themselves competitive right from the start! By the 1986 season, the KEL Team won their division and moved up to compete in the ‘A’ division for the 1987 season.

Fast forward thirty-two years to 2019… as Kristian Electric prepared to celebrate our 55th anniversary.

The re-designed shirts not only paid homage to the original KEL Team, but renewed the fact that all employees, family, and friends are part of a new KEL Team. (And you don’t need to be able to swing a bat this time!) What better way to show off the company team spirit than with a team inspired shirt?

Since the release of the KEL baseball shirts, it’s hard to find any Kristian employee who isn’t proud to show off their team colors!

o our valued customers across the industrial community: May this message find you well during the holiday season. Although our usual gatherings and traditions are not something everyone can enjoy this year, I hope you are doing your best to persevere.

It has been a difficult year for us all. As we prepare to close the chapter on 2020 and renew our strength for the year ahead, I wanted to take this opportunity to personally reach out to those who make our services possible — our customers.

After 56 years in business, we have seen our share of accomplishments and challenges as a company. 2020 was no exception. Together, we have all faced the challenges to maintain our health, the health of our loved ones, our businesses, and our lives during the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic.

At the end of each calendar year, I often take some time to think about my father, our company founder and former President, Bjorn ‘Kris’ Gjertsen. Although he left us in 2008, we continue to move forward in his absence by remembering his values, especially in times of hardship. He believed that every customer and every employee was part of the family. Just like our company slogan “A Strong Family,” my father knew that we are all stronger together.

Kristian Electric continues to persevere because of you — our customers, our employees, our family. Our gratitude to you is endless as we remember how you continue to support us in these times while facing all of the same challenges.

Thank you for being here for us and know that we are here for you.

On behalf of our entire Kristian family — stay safe, stay kind, and Happy New Year.

Sincerely,

Kevin Gjertsen,

President Kristian Electric Ltd.

Anniversaries are always a good cause for reminiscence and contemplation. When company president, Kevin Gjertsen, was asked to reflect on the past half a century of the family business and what it means to him, it was of no surprise that his ruminations focused on one very particular thing.

Family.

“It is no small thing to be celebrating this anniversary. Fifty-five years is not a small amount of time to be in business.”

“When I was a kid, my Mom and Dad had a ’55 Chevy Bel Air sedan. It was a big green and white beautiful car. I remember my parents up front, Mom holding our baby sister in her arms, while my other sister sat in the middle and us three boys rolled around in the back seat. Of course, there were no seat belts back in the day, so we would lay on the floor or up by the back window. I have so many good memories of that car. For years it was driven by my father and he kept all us kids in line if we started getting too rowdy in the backseat. The car was designed for a family; it was big with lots of room, sturdy and reliable and it kept us all safely within its smooth sturdy panels. Even with all seven of us in the car, there was still room for more people! However, as all things do, the car got older and was eventually replaced. Those were the days! However even today, the ’55 Bel Air is an extremely sought-after car by collectors; even those who don’t have warm, nostalgic ties to it like we do.”

“So, what does this have to do with Kristian? Why does our 55th anniversary remind me of this classic family car? Well, it’s simple. The car really does represent the founding of our company—what began as a reliable family vehicle has now become a classic with a history worth preserving. Although it was originally built during a time that looks quite different from the modern world we live in today – we see many similarities in the values it was built under – for carrying families safely from one destination to another. The ’55 Bel Air served to unite my family – shoved inside its metal frame – and all of those who rode with us along the way – as we grew older, grew wiser and grew together traveling around the prairies. It stands as the first building block in our tower of progress. While we do not drive the ’55 Bel Air today – our choice in vehicles has progressed to suit our new needs and incorporate new technology – it lives on as the foundation on which we stand. The dirt roads we drove on have been paved into highways, but today I still drive them with you – my family – all of us safely in the backseat – just like the Bel Air carried us – to our next destination.”