Modern Windows is a company with a great success story to tell. When you look at all of the changes that have happened in the past 25 years, you could say that Modern has lived up to its name. The Courtenay location celebrated its 25th year in the Comox Valley this year, and still supplies customers with windows and building products with the latest styles and technologies.
Dave Eliason, who manages the Courtenay location, has lived in the Comox Valley most of his life. He met company owner Dan Agius in college, and maintained contact as family friends through the years. When Agius was looking to expand the Modern business to Courtenay in 1990, Eliason started working for the company in sales, initially shipping orders from the basement of his home. Much has happened since that time, with new locations, more employees and an expanded product line that includes everything from patio railings, Duradek and patio covers, to gutters, garage doors and vinyl siding.
"Modern is literally part of the community we live in, and we’ve grown right along with it," says Eliason. "A lot has happened in 25 years, and when we stop to think of all the different renovation projects and in some cases entire neighbourhoods that include our products, it’s really pretty amazing.”
The Powell River-based window manufacturing company started in 1984. The owners are Agius and Gary Dietrich. By 2008, the company had outgrown its facility and a location was needed. With some innovative planning, Agius transformed an old public school that was slated for demolition into a state of the art factory. The trades building of the school became the factory floor, the hallways became staging areas and the classrooms became offices. It was the same secondary school Agius attended. Some of the original lockers are still used for storage.
The company offers supply only, or supply and install options for Energy Star vinyl and aluminum frame windows, through its locations in Courtenay, Powell River, the Sunshine Coast and Vancouver.
“We’ve built a company that values community, and it’s rewarding to be creating local jobs with a locally made product. We know we’re doing something right, because our customers keep coming back.”
For more information about Modern Windows, visit www.modern.ca.