Our history
The company is founded
The company was founded by the Castonguay brothers, the first service point was officially opened in Sherbrooke, Quebec.
1971
Office in Val-d’Or
An office is opened in the Abitibi region. This new service point leads to the undertaking of major hydroelectric projects in the James Bay area and to mining projects throughout the region.
1985
Office in Sudbury
The first office outside of Quebec is opened in Sudbury. This service point allows the company to participate in the growth of the industry in Ontario, particularly with major mining and road development projects.
1991
Canadian Malartic project
Castonguay Blasting secures a major drilling and loading contract with Osisko Mining Corporation to develop Canada’s largest gold mining project: the Canadian Malartic mine.
2010
Projects in South America
A major breakthrough is made with the acquisition of the company’s first international contracts. Collaborations with the Guyana Goldfields mining company and on the Iamgold project in Suriname.
2016
Contract with ArcelorMittal
Castonguay Blasting obtains a major drilling and loading contract with the mining company ArcelorMittal at its Mont-Wright mine on the North Shore in Quebec.
2017
Company ownership
Pierre and Yuri Alexandre complete the buyout of the company. They both have a vision of development and growth for the organization, while proning the consolidation of the values and culture of the company.
2019
Partnership with Austin Powder
Castonguay Blasting becomes the exclusive distributor in Quebec for the world-renowned Austin Powder brand explosive products.
2020
Tata Steel Contract
Castonguay Blasting obtains a turnkey contract for a drilling, blasting and explosives supply project as part of the DSO project in Schefferville.
2021
Sayona Contract
Castonguay Blasting secures a contract for a turnkey project involving drilling, blasting and the supply of explosives as part of the large-scale North American Lithium project.
2022
our mission
Deliver superior quality drilling and blasting services and develop innovative and profitable business solutions for both our clients and our shareholders in a secure work environment for all.
OUR VALUES
Respect
Respect is an obvious priority for our organization. We cultivate it among our employees and our clients alike, as well as with all of our suppliers.
Respecting our employees means acknowledging that they make up the heart of our company. We offer them quality working conditions to ensure a workplace that promotes a sense of well-being and safety.
Respecting our clients means that we offer the most advantageous solutions so that their projects can be completed in full compliance with their standards and established timelines.
Respecting our suppliers means that our business partnerships are based on and rely on transparency and trust.
Family
Our foundation is built on the strength of family; this value is written in our DNA. For us, family spirit goes hand in hand with our promise to ensure synergy in all our actions. Today, our extended family spans several continents.
We are proud to offer a work environment that prioritizes work-life balance. To enhance our employees’ quality of life, it is essential for us to further this value that we hold dear. We are committed to creating a corporate culture that prioritizes collective contribution and collaboration, where every member is part of the wonderful Castonguay Blasting family.
Quality and Excellence
Each day we work to achieve the highest industry standards, in order to offer services and products that are synonymous with superior quality. Whether it be in terms of blasting results, work precision or quality explosives products, these are all priorities for our team. Thanks to our exceptional tools and proven working methods, we constantly strive to adapt to satisfy our customers.
Health and Safety
The health and safety of our employees and the communities in which we operate are paramount. In order to uphold this value, we rely on rigorous training about health and safety standards. We provide safe facilities and are mindful of the impacts of our operations. All our teams are involved in health and safety.
We have developed a culture that lets us identify and eliminate potential risks and to respond appropriately in case of an emergency.
OUR COMMITMENTS
To ensure that we are able to achieve the impossible, we need ambition. In order to meet this standard, we are working hard to prioritize the implementation of our commitments.
our equipment
No matter the size of the projects or the type of terrain, the diversity of our equipment fleet allows us to achieve the impossible.
To be leaders in our industry, we have purchased the best drilling equipment available on the market. We have even developed our own drills, whose agility, performance and precision allow us to work in the most difficult-to-access places.
Furthermore, to complete our turnkey service, we have acquired explosive distribution equipment adapted to the Canadian market, including emulsion pumping trucks and packaged explosives transport trucks.
A diverse fleet consisting of 65 drills
Over the years, we have adapted our equipment fleet to effectively meet the needs of our clients in both the mining sector and the aggregate and civil engineering sectors. Today, we rely on technologically advanced drills equipped with automated functions and capable of being operated remotely with GPS positioning, pressurized cabins, reduced fuel consumption and the ability to achieve optimal performance and the highest productivity constraints.
Our fleet also includes our exclusive drills manufactured in our own workshops, which allow us to access difficult and rugged areas without compromising productivity and operational efficiency.
