Dave Rector

Co-Owner & President
Rector Machine Works Ltd

Why a career in mining?

We didn’t start out in Mining… our company established by my Grandmother and Grandfather in 1933 started as a supply business to the Steel industry and progressed to the Wood and Forest industry as they went along.  My father (Herv) took over the company in 1967 and continued it on with my mother (Sandi) and here we are today 87 years later with my brother and I being the owners.  We got into mining supply when we diversified the company in the 2000’s to keep our employees working during the downturn in Forestry and Steel.  I personally tend to do research on the companies that we work with and found that I had a real zest for Geology and the mining process.  Rector’s became a member of SAMSSA (now Mine Connect) in the early days and have sat on this volunteer Board of Directors since 2009.  We enjoy the value working together with other members across Northern Ontario to service our customers in a way that keeps people working in the North.

Why do I love my job?

I really do love my job, it really does have an impact when you get to continue a family legacy and work with your family to provide a living for people in the community as well as have the wherewithal to give back to your community and those that you work in.  I love the travel, the people and relationships you make along the way.  Mining has led to working in different environments and is always challenging and motivating. One thing I realized is how much talent and pride our employees have when working with them on job sites away from our facility.  Rector’s really does enjoy working with post secondary institutions to further much needed people in trades and we always look forward to the next diamond in the rough becoming part of our family team.

Benefits to a career in mining:

A career in trades is always sought after by companies like ours, with hard work and determination we can provide an amazing atmosphere to work and make a great living.  Our employees have had the chance to travel all over our great country to work, see amazing things and work with some fantastic people.  You can truly make an enjoyable career in the trades and it can take you anywhere you want to go.  To quote Dr. Suess, “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you chose. Oh, the places you will go.”