The Legacy Room
In April, we unveiled the new “Legacy Room” at our office—a space dedicated to celebrating Amsted’s rich history. In addition to being an great work space, this room houses a variety of memorabilia, including a large timeline that highlights our growth and achievements since the beginning, as well as displays of our past and current core values. We also introduced a mural made up of the letters “A-M-S-T-E-D,” each one filled with the faces of Amsted team members. It serves as a powerful reminder that the team are what make Amsted what it is today.
Honouring Kirk Haw
Also in April, we had the honour of celebrating Kirk Haw, one of Amsted’s founding pillars, as he began his retirement after an incredible 30+ years of service. Kirk’s leadership and dedication were integral not only to Amsted but also to our sister company, Restore-All. We celebrated Kirk’s retirement with a heartfelt party filled with laughter, memories, and well-wishes for his next chapter.
Commemorative Logo
This year, our marketing team created a special logo that served as a visual symbol of this milestone year. This logo was proudly featured on a variety of our marketing materials, including signage, vehicle decals, promotional swag, and even on our Camp Smitty t-shirts!
Anniversary Lawn Sign Campaign
To mark our 35th Anniversary, we revisited one of our favorite traditions from our 25th anniversary: the Anniversary Lawn Sign Campaign. We invited our clients to display a “Proud Client” sign to help us celebrate, and the response was overwhelming. Over 100 signs were proudly displayed from Ottawa to Brockville and everywhere in between, and we were deeply touched by the outpouring of support. It’s a true honour to have played a part in so many beautiful homes and lasting relationships.
35 Acts of Service
Throughout the year, we also embarked on an ambitious challenge to complete 35 acts of service, reinforcing our commitment to community and giving back. This initiative was incredibly successful, and we’ve dedicated a separate post to it, which you can read here.
Client Appreciation Event at the Canadian Tire Centre
In November, we wrapped up the year with a fun-filled event at the Canadian Tire Centre, where our team, clients, and their families gathered for skating and snacks. As huge hockey fans, it was especially meaningful to be on the professional ice in such a grand arena. To make the day even more memorable, we had commemorative branded hockey pucks created, featuring both our traditional logo and the special 35th-anniversary logo. It was a perfect way to celebrate our love for the sport and our incredible year together! Click here to see highlights from this event.
Year-End Celebration at Tailgators & Celebrating Steve Barkhouse
December brought us our year-end celebration at Tailgators, where our team took a moment to celebrate everything that made 2024 special. In addition to the anniversary initiatives, we celebrated our many awards from the year including OHBA Ottawa Renovator of the Year and GOHBA Ontario Renovator of the Year—honours that truly mean a lot to us, especially in such a milestone year. We also recognized our founder, Steve Barkhouse, who is stepping away from the day-today at Amsted and starting his retirement chapter. Steve’s vision and leadership created the foundation upon which Amsted stands today, and we are excited to continue moving forward with his full support.
