WHO WE ARE
Founded in 2015, The Western Investment Company of Canada is a publicly traded private equity company based in Western Canada.
Our common shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbol WI.
Our purpose is to create long-term wealth for shareholders by building and maintaining a portfolio of strong, stable, and profitable western-based companies and helping them to grow and prosper. Our strategy is to use our expertise and capital to grow already great Western Canadian businesses, ultimately contributing to their success and legacy over the long run.
BUILT FROM A LEGACY
Western Investment Company’s Founder, President and CEO is no stranger to building a successful financial company. Scott Tannas founded Western Financial Group and served as its CEO from 1996 to 2014. Western Financial Group was created as a Junior Capital Pool in 1996. From its headquarters in High River, Alberta, Mr. Tannas oversaw the building of Western Financial Group through more than 100 acquisitions and a number of strategic initiatives. Today, Western Financial Group is a diversified financial services organization with more than $1 billion in annual sales. Over 1,400 employees provide nearly one million customers with insurance and investment products and services. The company’s network of more than 160 offices stretches across Western Canada from Winnipeg to the Pacific coast.
On April 15, 2011, after 15 years as a publicly traded company, Western Financial Group was acquired by Quebec-based Desjardins Group, in a $440 million transaction. In the time between the IPO in 1996, and Western Financial Group’s exit from the public market in 2011, the company’s stock price rose 1,038%.