Our company was founded in 1947 by Omer (Joe) Chaput. Whilst excelling as a Sales Manager for a leading intercom and sound manufacturer, Joe decided to pursue business ownership. He identified the need within the market for a company dedicated to sales, installations and service of intercom/sound systems. Joe Chaput opened I.S.I Ltd. in February 1947, establishing a company as a single source provider for Sales, Installation and Service.
While the primary focus of the business was within the educational and healthcare markets, the company embarked on limited security and alarm type systems. In the late 1970’s Mr. Joe Chaput retired and his eldest son Mr. Paul Chaput became President. The market focus remained the same; Educational and Healthcare. During this time period advancement of technology became stagnant as Manufacturers were reluctant to invest in R & D.
In August 1980, a significant ruling from Canada’s regulator for telecoms (CRTC) created a new opportunity for small businesses within Canada; CRTC ruled that companies other than Bell were allowed to provide telephone services to the Canadian market. In late 1980, we officially became AATEL Communications Inc, embarking on a strategic growth cycle with the Telecom market, quickly rising as the dominant telecom provider for Small to Medium business’s within Southern Ontario. AATEL Communications experienced expediential growth during this period, and as new markets developed there was a greater need to enhance our product line to develop into a Communications Integrator.
By 1990, Manufacturers began to invest heavily in research and development launching new and emerging technologies which the market embraced, communications equipment and the infrastructure which supported the technologies such as structured cable was advancing at a rapid rate. AATEL Communications invested into the market change, developing employees and process to seize advantage of the emerging technologies, incorporating several leading manufacturers’ product lines within structured cabling to add to our systems integration portfolio. These technologies enabled AATEL Communications the ever increasing network market at a very early stage, whilst remaining true to the “traditional” systems of intercom and sound. During the late 1990’s AATEL Communications continued to add both traditional and emerging technologies to its portfolio with established manufacturers such as Rauland, Pelco, Sony, Toshiba, Mitel, Amp, Visonic and many more.
In 1999 Mr. Paul Chaput stepped down as President, and Mr. Gord Chaput, brother of Paul, became President. Based the evolution of his predecessors, it was over the next 6 years that Gord Chaput facilitated AATEL to grow into a full scale Communications, Life Safety, and Security Integrator. The focus of the company remained predominantly in the Healthcare and Commercial markets, with strong investment into Government and Commercial markets. During this time period AATEL Communications set itself apart from the competition taking many large projects, especially within the Long Term care market, completing sales, installation and service for over 50 homes across the province as part of the Ministry of Health initiative for new bed development. Almost all of the projects included at least 7 different types of products and systems integrated to operate as a single platform.
By mid 2005 Mr. Gord Chaput stepped down and Mr. Darren Croucher became President. The legacy of a family led company ended and a new era continues to develop. Over the next two years Darren Croucher continued to lead AATEL in the Healthcare market, and has opened the business into a vertical market concept. This new structure benefits our customers, as each market is unique, as are their needs and requirements. It allows our professional teams at AATEL Communications to tailor design, install, and support and service each markets necessities.
Today, AATEL is a leader in the Communications, Life Safety, and Security Integration industry. Company growth has come from offering an unparalleled variety of innovative products, quality through experience, and service from the dedication of each of the company’s employees.
We think Omer (Joe) Chaput would be pleased.
