Saskatchewan’s Prairie Cedar Homes Receives Founder’s Circle Award
Sir Walter Lindal, Founder of World-Reknowned Lindal Cedar Homes, Returns to his Birthplace
Sir Walter Lindal, founder and chairman emeritus of Lindal Cedar Homes, will revisit the place of his birth to honor Saskatoon-based Barbara and Douglas Pocha of Prairie Cedar Homes with a Founder’s Circle Award. At 89 Lindal, who grew up on a Saskatchewan farm with five siblings, is still active in the company--the largest and original manufacturer of custom cedar homes in the world—which he founded in Toronto in 1945.
Pocha invited dignitaries representing the Federal, Provincial and Civic Governments, as well as leading business leaders, to meet this award-winning native son at the Delta Bessborough Hotel. The visionary Lindal, who is putting finishing touches on what will be his 22nd patented building product said, “When I first hung out my shingle, I knew that I had an invaluable concept that would succeed, grow and last. I still have a copy of the 30-page manual I wrote in 1944, a year before Lindal was born.”
Environmental consciousness has been a Lindal cornerstone for over 60 years because the company has made the responsible use of natural materials a priority. “We have led the industry in creating energy-wise building components that help keep a home warm in winter, cool in summer, naturally lit and healthy,” said Lindal.
Like Lindal, Douglas Pocha also grew up in Saskatchewan on a farm that was in his family for four generations. He operated and managed the farm for several years, at the same time as he completed his pre-law studies at the University of Saskatchewan. Pocha was also involved in residential and commercial projects. Following his passion for the construction industry, he acquired the commercial, residential and SunRoom Dealership for Lindal Cedar Homes. “In 2000, it was exciting to re-establish a Lindal office back into Saskatchewan and reintroduce the superb quality of the Lindal products.”
In 2006, Pocha was named top Canadian Lindal dealer—in competition with 17 others—and that year Prairie Cedar Homes was inducted into the manufacturer’s Premier Club and again the next year when he was also welcomed to the prestigious President’s Club.
About Pocha Lindal said, “This building expert and his team have been responsible for punctuating mountains and fields, ponds and farms throughout Saskatchewan with homes featuring Lindal's signature expanses of glass and long spans of open space permitted by our post and beam building system. We can achieve such architectural silhouettes because posts, not interior walls, support a roof's weight.”
Lindal, named the first Man of the Year at the Home Manufacturer’s Council of the National Association of Home Builders in 1986, acknowledges that the company’s success and longevity is thanks to its dedicated dealer network—some 130 worldwide--as well as to his family’s involvement. Robert Lindal is chairman and CEO, Martin Lindal directs the information systems division, Douglas Lindal was a former Lindal president and Bonnie McLennaghan headed marketing. His granddaughter, Trina Lindal is web manager, her younger sister, Christina, works in the internal sales division and their cousin, Jacob, is a sales associate for a US dealer.
As part of the celebration and to take advantage of Sir Walter Lindal’s visit from Seattle headquarters along with Sig Benson, vice president of marketing, Prairie Cedar Homes will conduct a custom home seminar on Saturday, October 25 from 7 pm to 8 pm at the Delta Bessborough Hotel, 601 Spadina Crescent East, Saskatoon, Mezzanine Level. To make a reservation and for more information please call Prairie Cedar Homes, 306-934-6666, or toll free 1-866-581-8777; or e-mail lindalcedarhomes@sasktel.net or visit www.lindal.com/prairiecedarhomes.
