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Bug-Busting Cowboys
Just Business Magazine April 2007
by Candice Martins
Admittedly, it wasn’t without apprehension that I agreed to do a story on our two local pest-control companies. What could there be to write about, besides bug-busting exterminators in moon suits and gas masks? Hoping a food and wine assignment would soon come my way, I set out skeptically on my interviews.
It turns out that my preconceived notions of Sunshine Coast Pest Control and Innovative Pest Control could not have been more wrong. As part of a progressive Canadian industry, the two companies are developing safe and effective approaches to pest management. And while going green is obviously good for the environment, it is sometimes tough on business. The transition can be especially trying for small enterprises, which often lack the resources to respond quickly to legislative and market changes. But with no shortage of work, these local businesses are proof that it is possible to go green without getting in the red.
The sun-filled offices and professional attitudes of Sunshine Coast Pest Control’s Ron Dickinson and Charles Jeffery quickly dispel old industry images of chemical-shooting cowboys. Rather than lamenting the loss of efficient pesticides, the two biologists emphasize effective preventive strategies and safe materials. “When a product is pulled from the market,” explains Dickinson, “it’s for a good reason. We’re happy to see it go.”
Jeffery agrees, adding that safer options become available once conventional products are discontinued. For instance, Sunshine Coast Pest Control recently acquired a machine to suffocate wasps with soap. The smart invention means the Wilson Creek company no longer relies on poisonous dusts to kill the winged insect. “Pesticide restrictions force our industry to develop better solutions,” says Jeffery. “They also help us implement environmentally responsible practices when our customers would sometimes rather stick to convenient, but harmful, pesticides.”
In fact, Dickinson and Jeffery would like to see more regulations in place. For example, Dickinson, a 30-year veteran of the pest-control industry, says the Coast needs building codes to help prevent termite infestations. He would like to see new bylaws for foundations, explaining that the use of specific soil combinations could prevent ground termites from nesting under homes. “The Sunshine Coast has large termite populations,” he says. “When areas are cleared for development, the insects lose their natural habitat and move into houses. We could limit infestations and pesticide use if we changed our building methods.”
Shawn Kendel of Innovative Pest Control also spends much of his time advocating alternatives to pesticides, and eschews the bug-busting exterminator image of the past. Instead, all his marketing tools, from his business name to his informative website, promote his company’s environmental approach to pest control.
“When we’re called to manage a pest population, we look for the source of the problem,” he says. “Rather than just putting out fires, we educate our clients about long-term solutions.” Thanks to this proactive approach, Kendel’s Sechelt-based company manages 95 percent of its rodent control without pesticides, opting instead for biological controls and non-toxic products. When pest problems do require chemicals, such as when they pose a health risk to people, Innovative Pest Control applies pesticides that don’t persist long in the environment. The company is also careful not to affect organisms other than the target pest.
Both companies keep up to date on advances in sustainable materials and methods by working closely with professional associations that provide expert advice and feedback on new products. This allows the two companies to respond quickly with new solutions when conventional products are pulled from the market or when customers request alternatives. As a result, they don’t lag behind big business when it comes to industry innovations.
Kendel says the Sunshine Coast is a good place for companies offering sustainable products and services. Citing Gibsons’ pesticide bylaws, he observes that local residents are looking for alternatives to overused chemicals. “The Coast is a good fit for us. We look forward to growing here.”
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