About Us
Vandepas Welding started out of a double car garage back in 1988. The business ran out of that garage until a Quonset building was constructed where they welded until 1997. Vandepas Welding started on the agricultural side of things and then progressed into the structural side. They then became CWB certified. Cheryll and John started doing custom jobs and have now become renowned for their specialty projects including spiral oval staircases. Vandepas Welding has grown to nine employees, including two of their own children, a true family business. The last several years the business has continued to grow rapidly. Some of the prominent works include the Fergus library, the Teviotdale OPP station, many school additions and renovations in Oakville, Kitchener-Waterloo and surrounding areas. They are looking forward to many more years of growing the family business.
Family Values
Strong family values were key when John and Cheryll Vandepas started Vandepas Welding back in 1988. Leon, John’s dad, helped out a lot in the early days of the business. He would run to the galvanizers and make trips to pick up supplies. John and Cheryll are the proud parents of three children and four grandchildren. Ashley and Scott have both taken on key roles in the business. Ashley, like her dad, has a pivotal role in drafting and design but she also handles sales, and makes her way out to the shop to do some welding as well. Scott is managing the shop and looking after day to day operations. John and Cheryll continue to run the business in every facet including overseeing all jobs, inventory, drafting and design, hands on in the shop and the much needed office work. Twenty years after the start of a dream they have grown and nurtured both the business and their family to one day pass the torch and keep this family run business thriving for generations. Cheryll describes Vandepas Welding as ever changing, challenging and a unique business. “We strive for quality of excellence, prompt and reliable service, second to none”.
Services Provided
Structural steel, Custom fabricating, Craning, onsite welding, stairs and handrails, specialty items – spiral oval staircase, handrail at Cambridge city hall.
Down but not out
On October 1st 2007 the generator room caught fire. The office was located in the shop at the time with all of the tools, computers, equipment and the life blood of the business. “We pretty much lost everything that day, we salvaged what we could” says Cheryll. This was a horrible setback to the ten year old business but with the outstanding support of the friends, family and local Mennonite community, Vandepas Welding was back in business in just under six weeks. For the first while, the office actually ran out of a tent trailer to keep the business going. The shop was rebuilt into the current structure and now houses an office building in front of the shop.