Supporting the needs of remote communities in Northern Canada, the Woodward Group of Companies has a history dating back nearly 70 years. What started with an investment in delivering home heating fuel expanded into a diversified organisation with operations in aviation, auto and marine sectors. Still a family-owned business, Woodward Group maintains its success by remaining focused on the rural areas it serves.

The first spark

Woodward Group of Companies was founded by Melvin Woodward Sr. in the late 1950s. His first step in entrepreneurship was buying a truck to deliver home heating fuel in Goose Bay, Labrador. He quickly expanded by starting another business that handled the loading and unloading of cargo ships in the area. Since the beginning, Woodward was focused on seizing opportunities to grow across industries and support Northern communities.

His work with maritime freight and heating fuel helped Woodward develop a relationship with Imperial Oil to serve Goose Bay. In 1967, his company also partnered with Imperial to manage tank farms in Resolute Bay and Iqaluit, delivering, storing and distributing fuel to communities further north.

 

A wider reach

Continuing to grow, in the ‘60s, Woodward Group also expanded into aviation fuel and services, establishing a private terminal in Goose Bay. The U.S. Air Force was active in the area at the time, and Woodward played a key role in supplying and supporting its operations. Woodward Aviation later expanded to have operations in St. John’s, Deer Lake and Gander.

In 1973, Woodward saw an opportunity to enter the marine transport industry. Noticing inefficiencies in delivering fuel to the Arctic, he purchased a tanker ship and established Coastal Shipping. Initially, the division serviced all ports throughout Nunavut. Over time, its marine shipping services extended to other areas in the Arctic and communities along the coast of Labrador. Coastal Shipping now has a fleet of four tankers and serves a global market.

As the population of Labrador City and Goose Bay grew throughout the 1980s, Mel Woodward and his son Peter further diversified the family business to support transportation needs. They purchased a General Motors franchise in Goose Bay and expanded operations to Labrador City, so residents had easier access to new vehicles. This brought two new brands to the family’s group of businesses, Labrador Motors and Woodward Motors. Woodward Group now has car dealerships in nine rural locations throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

 

Still in the family

Today, Woodward Group of Companies continues to operate in rural communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador and throughout Northern Canada. Maintaining a diverse portfolio, the company has divisions in home heating fuel, car retail sales, aviation services and marine transport. Still in the family, Melvin Sr.’s two sons own the business, with Peter Woodward as president and CEO and his brother Mel as vice president and corporate secretary.

Note: A representative of Woodward Group was unavailable for an interview; the above article is based on third-party research.

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