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John J. Aprile was a seaman patrolling the Atlantic Ocean in a convoy for the Canadian Navy during World War II. After the war, he returned to his hometown in Toronto in need of a job. He purchased a dump truck and later a pick-up truck, and started his company by hauling sand, gravel, and cement.
John would drive his truck to Buffalo, where he would pick up cement and haul it back to Toronto to be sold. As time passed, the first truck broke down, but John kept persevering and eventually the business started booming. Over the past 60 years, as the company prospered, more pieces of equipment were added until his company developed into the two companies they are today.
John has since passed the reigns of the business down to his sons, Michael, Patrick, Danny, and Jimmy. Michael is the president of Elirpa Construction & Materials Limited, Patrick the president of Pick-A-Mix Concrete Limited, Danny the vice-president and general superintendent of Elirpa Construction & Materials Limited, and Jimmy the main operator/driver of equipment for Elirpa Construction & Materials Limited.
Since the l950's, Elirpa Construction & Materials Limited has been involved in the construction of sewers and roads ranging in projects from large highways to small side streets in the southern Ontario area. By the early 1980's, Elirpa Construction & Materials Limited ventured into concrete recycling due to the need of disposing excess materials created from sewer and road building, and having the facilities on site to undertake it. Having the manpower and expertise, Elirpa Construction also began working alongside municipalities with bridge construction and rehabilitation. During the winter months, Elirpa Construction & Materials Limited holds snow removal contracts with the municipalities.
Pick-A-Mix Concrete Limited was formed in the mid-1960's with the purchase of concrete trucks to fulfill demands required from constantly renting the equipment. The mobile trucks are its own batch plant and do its own mix. Patrick Aprile is committed to staying current on all the new technologies. Pick-A-Mix Concrete Limited was one of the first companies in this area to supply unshrinkable fill.
Our success has been the ability to adapt over the years by providing what our customers' need. Change is a certainty in the industry and regulations shapes the nature of doing business, and you have to be able to change with it.
A third generation of Aprile's are now involved in the business. Mike's son, Nick; Danny's son, John; and Patrick's son, Michael; are committed to continue the legacy that began with their grandfather, John J. Aprile.
John J. Aprile passed away on April 11, 2008 in his 88th year. He is lovingly remembered by his family and by all his business associates he developed over the years.