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Canada's
original and oldest dedicated lighting agency, Medgar Sales Limited
started life in July 1968 with one owner/salesperson - Epp Jones.
Since Welshmen at the time were often nicknamed "Taffy", Epp was
soon known to everyone in the electrical industry as Taff Jones.
The name Medgar came from the fusion of Medland Enterprises and
Garcy Lighting, which were the first two companies that Taff worked
for after he arrived in Canada in 1952.
Over the next twenty years, as Medgar grew, Taff surrounded himself with quality lighting people who all subscribed to the same mission statement - "provide the lighting community in our territory with unparalleled service". Honesty and integrity, backed by strong lighting knowledge and a superior work ethic (call it hustle) have been the hallmarks of this agency and remain the core values that we continue to use everyday. With primary emphasis on sales to the discerning specification community, contractors, and end users, mixed with a strong service orientation for wholesalers and exceptional design input, Medgar brings optimum results to the lines that it represents. At the end of the 1980's, Taff began to add key personnel to the agency that would shape its future and take over from him. Beginning in 1989 through 1991 he hired Brian Phelps (from an electrical wholesaler), Gareth Jones (his son - fresh from the University of Guelph), and Lori O'Hare (from an electrical wholesaler/showroom). During the next five years, these three key additions contributed to a quantum leap in Medgar's market penetration, and by 1994 Taff was able to retire and leave the company in the capable hands of his son Gareth and the rest of the Medgar team. Taff's contribution as founder of this company and as a friend of the electrical industry will never be forgotten, and he occasionally continues to watch over us today in his role as Golf Ambassador. Exceptional growth followed the new young team's development into lighting veterans, and by the late 1990's, Medgar expanded its reach from its traditional Oakville to Kitchener territory to include S.W. Ontario (London through Windsor). Increased market penetration for its manufacturers continued with this strategic change, and Medgar Sales went into the 21st Century at the top of its game. 2002 was a bittersweet year for Medgar, as they moved into their long-planned-for new larger premises in Burlington over the summer, but then lost Brian Phelps suddenly to a heart attack on September 29 at the tender age of 41. Brian left his mark on the company and everyone he touched, and his funeral was one of the largest ever seen in Brantford. We will never forget his contributions and his friendship. For more about Brian click here. Recovering from Brian's passing, Gareth and Lori decided to reorganize the company and recruited Barry Thomson, who had been the General Manager of Thomas Lighting Canada, to be a partner in a new and revitalized Medgar. The new Medgar came into being on March 17, 2003 as The Medgar Lighting Group Inc. with three partners - Gareth Jones, Lori O'Hare, and Barry Thomson - ably supported by a strong group of Lighting veterans both inside and out. Today, as always, The Medgar Lighting Group represents a fine group of quality lighting manufacturers, and has one of the highest market penetration rates of any lighting agency in Canada. We look forward to being able to professionally assist you with your lighting needs. |