‘Never forgotten’: Tribute paid to entrepreneur whose international business started in Tumbler Ridge

TUMBLER RIDGE, B.C. — A tribute has been paid to an entrepreneur, businessman and philanthropist with ties to the Peace region who passed away after a battle with cancer. 

Scott LaPrairie – president, chief executive and chair of the board of the LaPrairie Group of Companies – died in March. 

In a press release on May 12th, his group of companies described LaPrairie as a “uniquely gifted, incredible corporate leader” who dedicated more than four decades to the business.

It started in Tumbler Ridge’s Flatbed Creek in 1982 with a one-crane, two-man operation which offered mobile crane and rigging services to the new coal mines in northern B.C.

That business now employs over 800 employees and works in a variety of industry sectors such as heavy-duty equipment and light-vehicle fleet maintenance, highway and bridge maintenance, and civil infrastructure construction.

It operates from the northernmost points of Canada to the southernmost points of North America, and even overseas in the Philippines.

“Scott was a much-loved family member and a close friend to many,” the press release reads. 

He supported local endeavours and carried on his mother’s tradition of community beautification through large-scale tree donations throughout the Peace region, it added. 

“Scott will forever be remembered as a risk-taker who never turned away from a challenge.

“He was a staunch wheels and grease guy who was just as adept in the boardroom as he was operating in the field.

“Our LaPrairie team will miss him greatly. His indomitable spirit will remain in our hearts, and he will never be forgotten.”