Trenton Plaizier, Jaden Plaizier, John Jr. Plaizier, Emma Plaizier, Jason Plaizier, Jackie Plaizier, John Plaizier Sr. and Darcy Kessler.
Plaizier PERSEVERES In business for 50 years, the family behind Plaizier Container Services has learnt a lot about how to thrive in business – and in life. By Nerissa McNaughton Casey Plaizier
T
he Netherlands translates to “low-lying country” and Holland translates to “wooded land.” It’s a small country, edged by the sea, and some would argue that it’s one of the most beautiful places in the world. From this low-lying wooded land comes the most beautiful tulips and some of the best cheese in Europe; and 65 years ago, Holland also gave Canada John Plaizier Sr. At first glance, he’s a non-descript man. He doesn’t wear a flashy suit and he doesn’t boast about his accomplishments – although, as you will soon learn, he has much he could boast about. He doesn’t drive a fancy sports car. In fact, if you notice anything about him it’s the vintage Cadillac that he keeps in prime condition, a car that he’s driven for well over 20 years. Yet it just takes a few minutes of talking to John to realize there is something truly special about him and his family. There is an undercurrent of strength, determination and humility seldom seen in a company founder whose business has endured for more than half a century. You see, for John it all comes down to one simple word. A word that carried him overseas to Canada, a word that sustained him when his business was in jeopardy and a word that helped him keep body and soul together after the death of one of his sons. It’s a word that he will lean on all his life. That word is: perseverance.
This is the story of how John learned to persevere. It started with the war. “I had a brother that went to Germany and never came back,” John explains. “After the war, things were not very fun. A few fellows from Holland didn’t come back. I was supposed to go into the army but instead, put in an application to come to Canada. I arrived here in 1951. It was hard for my parents to let go of more children. My sister came with me. She was a little older. My parents thought she would look after me.” He wasn’t a man that needed a lot of looking after. His feet barely touched Canadian soil before he found himself a job. In a theme that would reoccur throughout his life, he simply “went to work”. He was 19 years old. “I started working on a farm, and then started working in construction and got married in 1953. Then I worked for a company. I tried farming in 1960 but between freezing out and drying out, I had to give it up.” With seemingly boundless energy, John had tried farming and working in construction at the same time, so when the farm didn’t pan out, he was, luckily, still employed. “I bought a repossessed truck and a guy came to work for me, giving me a staff of one. That guy would stay with me for 17 years. Then slowly through the years, I bought another truck
Plaizier Container Service | 50 Years | 1
91