Gary Vermeulen is the founder of WestVac Industrial. He is a pioneer in the hydrovac industry and has been in the industry for over 30 years. WestVac is the Vac-Con dealership in Western Canada and the company is built on values, powered by integrity, and driven by a relentless commitment to quality products and service.On this episode of VacconJohn Unplugged, I sit down with Gary Vermeulen, founder of WestVac — a pioneering hydrovac contractor turned Vac-Con dealer from Western Canada. Gary walks us through the early days of daylighting and hydrovac, how Precision Daylighting evolved into a full dealership, and the real-world lessons learned building a business in extreme northern climates. If you want the origin story of hydrovac in the north, practical winterization hacks, and contractor-to-dealer lessons, this one is a must-listen.🎙️ What you’ll learn in this episode:How Gary moved from surveying & facility locates to founding a hydrovac contracting fleet — and why the survey → hydrovac combo is powerful.The reality of early hydrovac adoption in Alberta and how the tech trickled into the U.S..Winter survival tips: glycol recirculation, boiler use, parachute + heater tricks, and other winterize strategies for -30/-40 climates.Why boilers matter beyond frost — melting clay, boosting productivity in sticky soils.Contractor → dealer transition: turning heavy equipment ops into a parts, service, and sales business (the WestVac origin story).Front-mounted vs rear-mounted boom pros/cons, hose wear, and real operator-centered tradeoffs.How hydrovac adoption changed hand-digging practices, improved safety, and sped up complex locates.Whether you run a hydrovac crew, sell combo trucks, or spec equipment for harsh climates, Gary’s practical field stories and dealer lessons are full of actionable takeaways.👉 Connect with Gary / WestVac:Website: https://www.westvac.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-vermeulen-779821b/👉 More from VacconJohn:🌐 https://linktr.ee/vacconjohn📺 Subscribe to VacconJohn Unplugged for more conversations about hydrovac innovation, dealer history, winterization, and the people who built this industry.#VacconJohnUnplugged #Hydrovac #Westvac #Daylighting #Winterize #Boiler #PublicWorks #SewerCleaning #VacuumTrucks #hydroexcavation
