We are excited to announce True North Automation is changing our name to True North Solutions. Strategic growth has expanded our capabilities well beyond automation and SCADA. Today, we provide our clients with cyber security, IIoT solutions, commissioning, industrial telecom, electrical, mechanical and process engineering services. Click here to watch a virtual site tour of our Calgary head office >>
With headquarters in Calgary, Alberta and Denver, Colorado, we provide a wide range of fully customized, vendor-neutral industrial engineering solutions to companies around the world.
Our corporate mantra of Vision, Talent and Technology defines both who we are as a company and why you would choose us for your next project. We employ some of the most skilled and versatile people in our industry, and we tap into a wide spectrum of suppliers to deliver best-of-breed solutions tailored to each unique challenge. This model is what sets us apart, and it's why our clients continue to call on us.
At True North Solutions, we believe in going above and beyond to incorporate fully integrated, multi-faced solutions which manage the respective requirements of engineering, operations and business in a way that ensures your success. We are always listening to our clients and employees, applying our knowledge and experience to propel solutions others don’t envision. True North Solutions is employee centric, client focused and vendor neutral. Our solutions are enterprise and company-wide in their architecture and execution. Whatever the challenge, our highly skilled team members are adept at discovering, designing and deploying the best possible solution. |
Blair HanelPresidentRaised on the prairies of Saskatchewan, Blair Hanel developed an interest in Instrumentation while working as a Heavy-Duty Mechanic and Operator for SaskOil. Following his Instrumentation certification from NAIT in Edmonton, Blair went on to work for Wascana in southern Saskatchewan in the capacity of Lead Automation Coordinator. His automation career then took him to the oil and gas hub of Calgary in the late nineties.Notable Projects Blair has worked on include Encana Wild Goose gas storage in California (Automation Lead); and the CNRL Wildhay Foundation (Field Bus Implementation). When not helping lead True North, Blair plays a variety of winter sports, and enjoys boating and camping in the warmer months with his wife and two sons. |
Gordon GibsonVice President Finance and Business DevelopmentThe diverse challenges and rewarding career opportunities presented by the field of Instrumentation always appealed to Gordon Gibson. Leaving his home on a farm near Moosomin, Saskatchewan, Gordon ventured to Moose Jaw to pursue his formal education at SIAST.Several career-defining projects have led Gordon to his current role as managing partner of True North Solutions, including the City of Winnipeg Utilities SCADA system; the Devon Jackfish Phase 1, 2 and 3; and the Anadarko Chapeta Deep Cut Refrigeration project. When not in the office, Gord enjoys motorbikes, boating and spending time at the lake with his family. |
Darren SharpeVice President Legal and SafetyDarren has gone from reading P&IDs and electrical drawings to financial statements and legal documents. Although, his job functions have changed substantially throughout the years, his pursuit of excellence hasn’t. His journey started in a small town in southern Saskatchewan, continued on at Saskatchewan Polytechnic in Moose Jaw and eventually took him west to Calgary in hopes of finding new opportunities in the automation industry. He has gone on to become a business leader and a proud energy industry supporter. When he’s not working, Darren certainly doesn’t let the moss grow under his feet. He enjoys his daughters’ many sports and school events, and also loves to camp, boat, hunt, golf and play hockey. Despite a crazy schedule, Darren always manages to chisel out time to spend with his wife Carolyn. |
Rick DmytryshynPresident, U.S. OperationsRick Dmytryshyn is President of U.S. Operations and has been with True North Solutions since early 2017. He is a Saskatchewan-born and raised, dual (U.S./Canada) citizen with a BSEE from the University of Saskatchewan (Canada). Rick started his career in Denver, Colorado in 1996 and spent the next 15 years with Hinz Automation Inc. working up to become part-owner, director and VP at Hinz before VP of Business Development positions at Rutter Inc. and Rockwell Automation Inc. (when Hinz was acquired by both, respectively). He later joined Willbros Engineers Inc. and then Samuel Engineering Inc. in Denver both as Strategic Solution Director roles in Specialty Services. Despite starting out as an automaton engineer, since 1996 Rick quickly moved to project manager, business development and executive roles throughout his career in diverse industrial industries. Rick's specialty is on the SCADA Host and IT/OT Enterprise Solution architectures. Outside of work, Rick and his wife have two wonderful children. Rick's passions include competitive hockey, golf, fitness, mountain biking, car racing and spending time with his family. |
Blair HanelPresidentRaised on the prairies of Saskatchewan, Blair Hanel developed an interest in Instrumentation while working as a Heavy-Duty Mechanic and Operator for SaskOil. Following his Instrumentation certification from NAIT in Edmonton, Blair went on to work for Wascana in southern Saskatchewan in the capacity of Lead Automation Coordinator. His automation career then took him to the oil and gas hub of Calgary in the late nineties.Notable Projects Blair has worked on include Encana Wild Goose gas storage in California (Automation Lead); and the CNRL Wildhay Foundation (Field Bus Implementation). When not helping lead True North, Blair plays a variety of winter sports, and enjoys boating and camping in the warmer months with his wife and two sons. |
Gordon GibsonVice President Finance and Business DevelopmentThe diverse challenges and rewarding career opportunities presented by the field of Instrumentation always appealed to Gordon Gibson. Leaving his home in on a farm near Moosomin, Saskatchewan, Gordon ventured to Moose Jaw to pursue his formal education at SIAST.Several career-defining projects have led Gordon to his current role as managing partner of True North Solutions, including the City of Winnipeg Utilities SCADA system; the Devon Jackfish Phase 1, 2 and 3; and the Anadarko Chapeta Deep Cut Refrigeration project. When not in the office, Gord enjoys motorbikes, boating and spending time at the lake with his family. |
Darren SharpeVice President Legal and SafetyHaving a father who worked in a potash mine gave Darren Sharpe a clearer insight into the world of the industrial technologies than most. Darren went on to study Instrumentation Technology by evaluating SIAST programs in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Darren's career with True North and prior has taken him across Canada and the United States. Major projects include the TransCanada Pipeline Compressor Station PLC Control Project; machine control projects in the manufacturing and pulp and paper industries; and ongoing management of True North's relationship with Apache Corporation.Darren's off-the-clock interests involve camping, hunting, and of course spending quality time with his wife and two young daughters. |
Rick DmytryshynPresident, U.S. OperationsRick Dmytryshyn is President of U.S. Operations and has been with True North Solutions since early 2017. He is a Saskatchewan-born and raised, dual (U.S./Canada) citizen with a BSEE from the University of Saskatchewan (Canada).Rick started his career in Denver, Colorado in 1996 and spent the next 15 years with Hinz Automation Inc. working up to become part-owner, director and VP at Hinz before VP of Business Development positions at Rutter Inc. and Rockwell Automation Inc. (when Hinz was acquired by both, respectively). He later joined Willbros Engineers Inc. and then Samuel Engineering Inc. in Denver both as Strategic Solution Director roles in Specialty Services. Despite starting out as an automaton engineer, Rick quickly moved to project manager, business development and executive roles throughout his 22+ year career in diverse industrial industries. Rick’s specialty is on the SCADA Host and IT/OT Enterprise Solution architectures. Outside of work, Rick and his wife have been married for 15 years and have two children. Rick’s passions include competitive hockey, golf, fitness, mountain biking, car racing and spending time with his family |