Rexel Canada Inc. operates throughout Canada under three banners, Nedco, Westburne and Rexel Atlantic.
Westburne’s story began in 1926 when a gas boom in Turner Valley, Alberta prompted a group of Calgary businessmen to form a small exploration company. This company, Ainsworth Oils Limited, later became Commonwealth Petroleum Ltd., which John Scrymgeour and his partner Bill Atkinson acquired in 1959. Mr. Scrymgeour was Chairman of the Board of Westburne International Industries Ltd. and he later combined Commonwealth and General Petroleums of Canada, two of the oldest contract drilling firms in Canada, to launch the Westburne group of drilling companies.
With the future in mind, Westburne Oil Company Limited changed its name subsequently to United Westburne Industries Limited.
In 1971, United Westburne entered the Canadian electrical supply industry, and continued to expand through various acquisitions over the years. Indeed, 1979 was a pivotal year for United Westburne in the electrical supply industry when it completed the acquisition of Nedco and Zentronics from Northern Telecom.