Company History

The Pollard experience extends back to the 1920's when BJ Pollard first applied liquid calcium chloride on gravel roads in suburban Detroit, Michigan.  Brother Joseph had worked with BJ in Detroit and suggested to brother Raymond in 1937 that they try the same in Canada.  Hence the Pollard Brothers partnership began.  The first load of calcium chloride was spread in Colchester South Township in that same year.

Throughout the years,  Pollard Brothers were entrepreneurs of other business activities.  From building ammunition boxes to equipment manufacturing to crop spraying in the fifties and sixties, Pollard Brothers was always ready to entertain new opportunities.

The death of co-founder Joseph in 1967 left a huge void in the liquid calcium industry.  Fortunately brother Raymond was quick to maintain strength in continuity with the addition of sons Larry and Brian into the Pollard Bros Limited operation.

Equipment leasing was added in the seventies to the Pollard experience when fleet tractors, dump trailers and tankers were maintained and leased to Allied Chemical (predecessor to General Chemical Canada Ltd.)

1979 saw the incorporation of Pollard Bros (Calcium) Ltd. and Pollard Bros (Sunflower) Ltd. with an appropriate division of activities.  The corresponding retirement of Raymond Pollard left Lawrence Pollard as president and CEO of Pollard Bros (Calcium) Ltd. and Brian Pollard as president and CEO of Pollard Bros (Sunflower) Ltd.

The entrepreneurial spirit of the Pollards continued under Lawrence Pollard.  The 80's and 90's saw Pollard return to the US where it had its first experiences in liquid calcium chloride.  The expansion of trucking services (through its affiliate pollard Transport) included the distribution of highway salt to Ontario highway storage depots on behalf of major salt producers.  This further development complimented Pollard's high profile serving the municipal road maintenance industry.  During the past ten years Pollard has also taken more involvement managing remote distribution terminals to better serve the same industry.  With the relatively recent introduction of pre-wetting and de-icing products Pollard has been a pioneer in product development and application techniques in Ontario.

The corporate name change to Pollard Highway Products Ltd. recognizes its focus and identity as a leader in the municipal roads industry.  To protect its customers and provide adequate supplies of quality products pollard has partnered with many colleagues and companies including Univar and Enbridge.

From its initial involvement in dust suppression in the thirties to road stabilization, dust control, de-icing, freeze-proofing, pre-wetting, trucking and product distribution networks, the Pollard tradition and entrepreneurial spirit continues.