In 2026, NCS Fluid Handling Systems proudly celebrates 10 years in business, a milestone built on hard work, adaptability, technical expertise, and a commitment to solving complex water management challenges for customers across Canada.
Founded in 2016 in Nisku, Alberta, NCS began with a small team, limited resources, and a clear vision: to build a trusted industrial water management company known for excellent service, safe execution, and a practical, problem-solving approach. The early days were not polished or predictable. They were long, hands-on, and often challenging, but they created the foundation for the company NCS has become today.
For Clint Johnstone, one of the original members of the NCS team, those first months were defined by determination and belief.
“It was chaos and the drive to succeed. We were grinding every day, trying to get the most production out of a 14-hour work day and staying busy. But from early on, I believed in the team.”
That belief was shared across the organization. Adrian Gallant, another early team member, remembers the excitement of starting from square one, taking on new customers, and doing whatever was needed to get the job done.
“Every single day, it felt like this could work. Clients loved us. The vision was to provide excellent service and expertise with a positive attitude, and I think we still do.”
Growth came quickly. NCS expanded into British Columbia in 2016 and continued building its Western Canadian presence with additional people, equipment, facilities, and operational capability. Along the way, projects such as the YVR Jet Fuel Line, LNG Canada, the Trans Mountain Expansion, Coastal GasLink, and the Ridley Island Propane Export Terminal helped establish NCS as a trusted partner in dewatering, pumping, water treatment, filtration, hydro-testing, sewer bypass, and industrial water management.
For Adam MacDonald, who joined the company after meeting founder Owen while selling pumps, it was the energy of the crews that made the decision to join NCS an easy one.
“I had witnessed first-hand the dedication of the crews. People would show up for work and be told they were flying out that night with no idea how long they would be gone. Most people would complain, but they were genuinely excited to get into a major project. That was an energy I wanted to be a part of.”
That mindset has remained one of the company’s greatest strengths. In markets where environmental requirements, engineering expectations, and customer needs continue to grow more complex, NCS has built its reputation by adapting quickly and finding practical solutions.
“There has never been a challenge that we’ve shied away from. Something might not be in our wheelhouse right now, but if the opportunity is there, we’ll find a way to make it happen.”
As NCS has grown, so have the opportunities for its people. Brooklyn Olson, who has worked in several areas of the business including finance, project management, operations coordination, and operations controls, has seen the company evolve from multiple perspectives.
“NCS has never put me in a box or limited me to a single role or way of thinking. I’ve been encouraged to learn, take on new challenges, and explore different parts of the business. When people feel valued and have opportunities to develop, they tend to stay.”
Even as the company has expanded in size and capability, the culture remains a defining part of NCS. The same teamwork, accountability, and willingness to help that shaped the early days continue to influence how the company operates today.
“The people and the culture have stayed the same,” Brooklyn says. “There has always been a strong sense of respect, collaboration, and accountability. People genuinely care about the success of the company and each other.”
In 2025, NCS joined the Technosub Group, marking an important new chapter in the company’s story. The integration expanded NCS’s connection to a broader North American network while allowing the company to continue operating under its established name, team, standards, and customer relationships.
According to Chief Operating Officer Duane Burkard, the qualities that built NCS are the same qualities that will help drive its future. “The culture at NCS is a vibrant solve-the-problem mentality. An eagerness to help the customer, solve their problems, and help each other internally is part of the way we conduct business.”
Duane believes NCS’s success has been built on a tenacious “get it done” approach, exceptional customer service, a strong commitment to safety, and the mentoring of an up-and-coming workforce. Looking ahead, the company sees exciting opportunities to expand its capabilities into new sectors, including mining, and to grow its presence across Canada as part of the Technosub family.
Ten years after a small team set out to build a trusted water management company, the mission remains the same: work hard, support one another, solve the problem, and help customers succeed. From Alberta to British Columbia, Saskatchewan and beyond, NCS continues to deliver professionally designed fluid solutions for industrial, construction, mining, municipal, and energy-sector clients.
The projects have grown, the footprint has expanded, and the team has become stronger, but the values that built NCS continue to shape its future. As NCS celebrates its 10-year anniversary and enters its next chapter with Technosub Group, one thing is clear: the first 10 years were only the beginning.