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True North Solutions | Vision, Talent and Technology

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.


True North
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.

Green line What We Do Green line


Automation
Automation
SCADA, PLC &
DCS
Electrical and Instrumentation Engineering
Electrical &
Instrumentation
Engineering
Integrated Commissioning Completions Solutions
Integrated
Commissioning
& Completions
Solutions
Industrial Telecommunications Networking
Industrial
Telecommunications
Networking
Recruitment Services
Recruitment
Services
Cyber Security
Cyber
Security
Project Management
Project
Management
Automation
Integrated
Solutions
Automation
Field
Services

Vendor Neutral: Many Sources. One Perfect Solution.


Vendor neutrality is a key aspect of every system we design and deploy. This important core of our business model gives our teams the freedom to design non-biased solutions that strive for the best deliverable value. This results in the consistent provision of best practices via best-of-breed technology. We are purposely structured to provide innovative, thoughtful and client-based solutions to multiple industries while ensuring an entrepreneurial employee-based work environment.

Since True North’s inception, we have made the conscious decision to operate as a vendor-neutral system integration company. It's a status we take pride in, and it continues to pay dividends in multiple ways. We have the freedom to design and implement solutions that are truly in the best interests of our clients. We attract key people who want to be exposed to new products and cutting-edge technologies. And we begin each day knowing we're capable of anything.
ABB
Autosol
Cisco
Emerson
Honeywell
Kepware
Rockwell
Schneider
Siemens
Yokogawa
Siemens
Eaton

Blue line Industries Served Blue line


Our clients differ vastly in focus from oil production to breweries to manufacturing, but they share the exact same needs: lower total cost of ownership, increased productivity and reliable operations.
Oil and Gas
Oil & Gas
Mining
Mining & Material Handling
Electric
Electric
Forestry
Forestry & Engineered Wood
Waste Water
Water & Wastewater
Power
Power Generation
Manufacturing
Manufacturing
Food and Beverage
Food & Beverage
Telecommunications
Network & Telecom
Government
Government
Life Sciences
Life Sciences
Renewable Energy
Renewable Energy

Blue line Management Team Blue line



Blair Hanel

Blair Hanel

President
Raised 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 Gibson

Gordon Gibson

Vice President Finance and Business Development
The 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 Sharpe

Darren Sharpe

Vice President Legal and Safety
Darren 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 Dmytryshyn

Rick Dmytryshyn

President, U.S. Operations

Rick 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 Hanel

Blair Hanel

President
Raised 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 Gibson

Gordon Gibson

Vice President Finance and Business Development
The 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 Sharpe

Darren Sharpe

Vice President Legal and Safety
Having 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 Dmytryshyn

Rick Dmytryshyn

President, U.S. Operations
Rick 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

Why True North?


In any given industry, leveraging technology and specialized services it is a business requirement. The question then becomes who you entrust to manage this essential aspect of your business. We recommend you break this important question down into several smaller ones.

Does the candidate have extensive experience meshing the disparate needs of facility engineers, production foremen, operators, information systems and production accounting into a single engineered solution?

Can they provide a best-of-breed vendor-neutral solution from a spectrum of suppliers? Does the partner offer, design, electrical engineering, automation, communications, testing, management and commissioning services? Do they have a state-of-the-art automation lab to fully test your system before deployment? Are they singularly committed to the success of your project? If you're looking for the right answers to these questions, look no further than True North Solutions Solutions.

Quality Assurance


We have embedded quality assurance and controls within our methodologies. This ensures an extremely high level of quality and repeatability to lower the risks involved in the human execution process. Whether your project is big or small, our methodologies are scalable and based upon decades of real world experience in the industry.

Our entire Client Engagement Experience Road Map includes documented methodologies in:

  • Project execution
  • Project accounting
  • Quality assurance checklists

Blue line Awards Blue line


Best Workplaces
Best Workplaces
Best Workplaces
Best Workplaces
Profit 50
Profit 500
SME
Fast Growth 50

True North recognized for leadership, values and vision


From the very dawn of the company, founders Blair Hanel, Darren Sharpe and Gordon Gibson have surrounded themselves with exceptional leaders to help promote the True North vision – both within our walls and to our external stakeholders.

Above all, the people who run our company are keenly aware of two overarching responsibilities: to consistently deliver excellence to our clients, and to preserve the distinct True North culture that makes this possible. They're approachable, they're accountable, and they take great pride in mentoring, motivating and leading some of the best people in the industry.

True North Solutions intimately reflects the unique character, personal and corporate values, integrity, tenacity and shared vision of our executives, managers and employees encompassing our entire team.
Like any business, True North exists to succeed in the marketplace. We realized that our key to success rests firmly in the hands and minds of our people. That's why we go to such great lengths to recruit and retain individuals who work with passion and proficiency.

Empowerment is fundamental to the True North culture. We've worked hard to create an environment that attracts the best people in the industry, and that enables them to do the best work of their career. Our environment allows for personal accountability and encourages innovation as a flat organizational structure fueled by camaraderie, open communication and mutual respect.

True North is proud to be recognized as one of the Best Workplaces in Canada. The competition process is based on confidential employee survey results and an in-depth review of the organization’s culture. This offers a rigorous representation of the five trust-building dimensions of a Great Place to Work®: credibility, respect, fairness, pride, and camaraderie.

Blue line Locations Blue line


With corporate headquarters in Canada and the U.S., we serve clients across North America.

Canada US Map

Blue line True North History Blue line


Before True North, the company founders formed the core of an in-house automation team for a multinational oil and gas exploration company. During this period, they sought different methods of streamlining projects and lowering costs. They became adept at evaluating solutions from an end user's perspective.
True North Solutions is based on the idea of employing the best minds in the field who consistently deliver nothing short of excellence. This dedication to clients and staff alike has resulted in lengthy and successful business relationships with diverse clients round the world. Fueled by the momentum of its vendor-neutral, people-focused model, True North is poised to double in size.

Green line What People Say Green line



"True North has the ability to look at the big picture and find the most efficient manners and methods possible, keeping both budget and time in mind. They set the bar high, and we profit from their mandate of doing the job right the first time."

- Operations Manager
"From requiring service in a panic situation to more typical day-to-day support, to researching even better technologies and solutions, True North has the team to accomplish just about anything. Each individual brings a wide variety of talent to the table."

- Production Foreman
“[Your staff] are solution driven and a problem is always viewed as a challenge for solution, never a complaint or blame session. General safety rules are always followed and they lead by example with regard to shutdown setpoints and changes.?
"We've been very happy with our results with True North on our extensive gas storage projects, and would certainly use them again in the future. They're very knowledgeable, very reliable, and a true pleasure to work with on a daily basis."

- Glen Thauberger, Production Coordinator, Wild Goose Storage
"During a summer long weekend, we had PLC issues and the plant was down. Our contact was off the grid on a fishing trip, but he had his laptop and aircard with him on the lake. He had us ready to restart the plant in 15 minutes."

- Production Foreman
"We've had the pleasure of using True North on two different projects at our natural gas storage facility in California. On both occasions they expertly managed all aspects of the complex and extensive automation of our facilities, wells and associated equipment."

- Production Coordinator
"We've worked extensively with True North, and have had great success. The main reasons for this success have been True North's commitment to technical competence, and their ability to deliver under demanding schedule constraints."

- Project Engineer
"The True North group is accomplished in providing service in the planning, procurement, programming and commissioning of automation and facility control systems. They also provide prompt service on maintenance issues if they occur afterwards."

- Facilities Engineer
"[Your] people do an extraordinary job of representing your business and profession in its entirety. Whatever you are using to build your team and train your people, I assure you that it is noticed at a field level and truly appreciated by those of us who recognize it. Many companies would pay a lot of money to buy an internal culture such as yours appears to be, but it has to be built and should not be taken for granted."

Green line Safety Certifications Green line


Whether at our headquarters in Denver or Calgary, or on site with a client, we conduct ourselves with the utmost attention to safety and protocol. We are a COR™ certified organization, and we adhere to a policy that ensures the optimal health and safety of our employees, contractors, clients, and visitors to our offices. From senior management to new recruits, we ensure that all work is carried out within applicable legislated safety regulations and in strict adherence to True North's policies and procedures.
Safety Icon ISNetworld (registered)
Safety Icon Avetta (registered)
Safety Icon Complyworks
Safety Icon Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Safety Icon Mine Safety & Health Administration
Safety Icon PEC Premier
Safety Icon Pipeline Testing Consortium
Safety Icon National Compliance Management Service
Safety Icon Department of Transportation (U.S.)

Green line Industry Associations Green line


Safety Icon Association of Science and Engineering Technology
Safety Icon Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta
Safety Icon International Society of Automation
Safety Icon Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business
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Canadian Headquarters

7180 - 11th Street SE
Calgary, Alberta T2H 2S9


Phone 403.984.2000
Fax 403.259.2243
American Headquarters

8822 South Ridgeline Blvd, Suite 240
Highlands Ranch, CO 80129

Phone 303.740.7555
Fax 303.738.9777
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