TOP 100 MAGAZINE

Curtis Van Damme

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Curtis Van Damme, the owner and president of SouthWest Fire Protection Ltd., has transformed the company into one of Winnipeg’s premier fire protection companies. Starting his career in construction in 1997, Curtis soon found his niche in the sprinkler industry. By 2002, he had earned his Red Seal certification as a Sprinkler Fitter. His journey took him from truck driver to certified expert, and in 2013, he joined SouthWest as a minority owner. By 2016, his leadership had propelled him to vice president, and in 2021, he became owner.

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Under Curtis’ leadership, SouthWest has grown significantly. What started as a small, home-based operation in 2004 with a five-person team has blossomed into a thriving regional business employing over 30 field staff and six office professionals. Curtis has overseen hundreds of projects, including high-rise apartments, commercial facilities, and residential care homes across Manitoba.

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Curtis’ expertise and commitment to the industry have earned him recognition, including his 2023 nomination as the Manitoba/Saskatchewan regional chair for the Canadian Automatic Sprinkler Association (CASA).

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Curtis’ Journey in the Fire Protection Industry

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Curtis’ path to success in fire protection began from a young age. His parents instilled a true work ethic and the skills to back it. In 1997, when he entered the construction industry straight out of high school, he worked for a local asphalt company under his father. Though willing to work hard and put in the long days, the seasonal nature of the work wasn’t appealing to him. In 1998, Curtis leaped into the sprinkler industry, starting as a delivery driver for a company known for handling major commercial and industrial projects. By March of that year, Curtis was enrolled as an apprentice, and within four years, he had completed his apprenticeship.

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Curtis worked for several years, continuing to hone his skills, before joining SouthWest in 2013 as a minority owner and working manager. At that time, SouthWest was a small operation, but Curtis had big plans for its future. He worked closely with clients after hours and helped develop strong relationships contributing to the company’s growth. In 2016, Curtis took SouthWest from its garage roots to the office it’s in now, and by 2021, he had bought out the company and refocused SouthWest to be more client-centric, a move that has significantly contributed to its success.

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Key Projects and Expansion

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SouthWest has become known for its work on a variety of important projects. A large portion of their work is in residential care homes, particularly in response to a significant initiative by the Manitoba government to improve life and safety standards in personal care homes. Notable projects include the Minnedosa Personal Care Home, a 50-suite PCH, and Holy Family Home, a 142,000-square-foot facility. Additionally, SouthWest has worked on many high-rise apartment buildings, including their first high-rise project, 300 Assiniboine in 2013, a 26-story, and more recently, larger apartment complexes with well over two hundred units.

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The company has also completed large-scale warehouse projects, including a 180,000-square-foot facility with a diesel fire pump, which later they were told by the customers themselves that it was the best install of a fire pump they had seen spanning their portfolio across Canada. A standout moment for Curtis and SouthWest came when they were hired to complete a large project in Ottawa after the original contractor failed to meet expectations. This successful turnaround solidified their reputation for reliability and expertise.

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The many relationships built with developers gave SouthWest the ability to build relationships with property managers and the opportunity to expand their service, inspection, and maintenance departments as well. A model once driven by a phone call reminder by a select number of customers has become more complex in which automatic customer reminders, annual inspection reports and invoicing, and maintenance and/or deficiency estimates follow a specific sequence.

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What Makes SouthWest Unique

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Curtis believes that SouthWest’s success is largely due to their unique approach. Having worked on the tools himself for years, Curtis understands the nuances of sprinkler installation from firsthand experience. This hands-on expertise is shared by all of SouthWest’s managers, who have worked directly on projects and are deeply familiar with every stage of the project, from design to execution. This commitment to quality, hands-on experience, and accountability sets SouthWest apart from others in the industry.

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Knowing your customers’ pinch points and being able to address them in a timely and professional manner is key. From project consulting to costing exercises, right down to project timelines, it all plays a huge role in their success.

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Curtis also emphasizes the importance of honesty and integrity in their work. He instills these core values in his team, which has become the foundation for the company. Curtis often reminds his team that if an installation fails, his name will be the one remembered, stressing the importance of doing the job right the first time.

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The Road Ahead

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Under Curtis Van Damme’s leadership, SouthWest Fire Protection Ltd. has become a regional powerhouse, and its future looks bright. The company continues to grow, fueled by Curtis’ dedication to quality, integrity, and client relationships, ensuring that SouthWest Fire Protection remains a leader in the fire protection industry for years to come.

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Curtis Van Damme
Owner/President
SouthWest Fire Protection Ltd.

Website: https://southwestfirepro.ca
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/curtis-van-damme-369301149
Facebook: https://facebook.com/southwestfireprotection