When Bill Torry started his small mechanical contracting business back in February 1981, he couldn鈥檛 have known the effect it would eventually have on the fabric of the Comox Valley. Thirty years later, Torry and Sons Plumbing & Heating is one of the largest mechanical contractors on Vancouver Island, employing more than 100 people in the Comox Valley alone.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 one thing we鈥檒l never take for granted, the people we have working for us,鈥� says Scott Torry, who took over his father鈥檚 company six years ago with partner Brian Farnham. 鈥淲ithout them, we鈥檇 be nothing.鈥�

In addition to being one of the Valley鈥檚 largest employers, Torry and Sons has also proven to be a generous corporate citizen. The company sponsors several minor sports teams, contributes regularly to the St. Joseph鈥檚 Hospital Foundation and supports initiatives such as the Relay For Life and the Salvation Army鈥檚 Adopt-a-Family program.

鈥淲hat we鈥檙e really proud of is the role we鈥檝e been able to play in the community over the years,鈥� says Farnham. 鈥淧eople want to know that you鈥檙e a responsible company and an ethical employer.鈥�

Torry and Sons鈥� transformation from a one-man business to an industry juggernaut largely occurred after Torry and Farnham took the company鈥檚 reins in 2004. Torry and Sons opened its Nanaimo Division soon thereafter, and in six short years the company had grown more than 300 per cent, from about 40 employees to 135.

Remarkably, Torry and Sons has continued to grow during a period in which other companies have struggled just to keep afloat.

鈥淥ther than the incredibly talented people we have working for us,鈥� says Torry, 鈥渙ur biggest strength is our partnership. Brian and I have known each other a long time, and I don鈥檛 think there鈥檚 been a single day we haven鈥檛 gotten along.鈥�

鈥淭he big thing,鈥� adds Farnham, 鈥渋s that we鈥檙e all able to work together. Staff, management and our customers 鈥� we鈥檙e all in this together, and each part of the equation makes the other parts stronger.鈥�

With the opening of a satellite office in Victoria just last fall, Torry and Sons may be on the verge of its next growth explosion. Yet when asked about what the next 30 years may hold for the company, Torry and Farnham are more concerned about preserving the Torry and Sons family tradition while continuing to recognize the importance of their customers.