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ALFRED HORIE CONSTRUCTION CO. LTD.

In due course, the sons of the original partners, Mr. G. E. Baynes (1905-1985) and Mr. Alfred J. Horie (1889 - 1975) became active in the firm and in 1936 the partnership was changed to Baynes and Horie Ltd. In 1940, Mr. A. J. Horie took over the interest of Mr. G.E. Baynes and the name of the company was changed to Alfred Horie Construction Co. Ltd. Alfred Horie remained as manager of the corporation until 1956 at which time Mr. Eugene Paone, who had joined the firm in 1936 as a carpenter apprentice, became manager. The Paone family acquired ownership of the firm in 1972, at which time Mr. Eugene Paone became President. As in the history of the company, Eugene's son Stephen took over the position of President in 1981.

The company founders, Will Horie and Ed Baynes were involved in community matters from the time they arrived in Vancouver. Each of them was active in the local carpenters' union when it was formed in 1890, with Mr. Horie being Treasurer in 1892 & 1893 and with Mr. Baynes being Conductor in 1893. Many entrepreneurial pioneers who participated in the growth of Vancouver wished to reciprocate in some way for the benefits they received. This was especially true of Mr. Edward G. Baynes who became active in civic affairs.

He served as Park Commissioner, where his primary objective was to retain the original natural beauty of Stanley Park. He served; too, as Alderman and because of his concern with substandard quality of basement apartments in the West End, he pressured city council into forming a special committee to study the issue. He was known as a fine friend but a tenacious opponent and never was this more evident than in 1938. The provincial government called on select firms to tender some new construction but the Baynes and Horie firm, which had completed numerous government contracts, apparently was overlooked. Mr. Baynes wrote a sharp letter to the legislature regarding their tendering procedures and when his letter was read into the legislature it created quite a furor.

The original partnership and its successors have been involved in many noteworthy construction projects throughout B.C. The firm built a number of the early schools in the city, with the first being Mount Pleasant School in 1897. They erected several buildings on Cordova Street and it is interesting to note that they built the first office building in Vancouver to be serviced with an elevator, the Davis Chambers Building. The first concrete Tilt-up structure in Vancouver, Reid's Holiday Togs LTD in 1945. Amongst varied projects in the 1920's and early 1930's was the Hazelton Suspension Bridge in Hazelton BC, Postal Station "C" at Main and 15th Avenue in Vancouver and the Holyburn Post Office. In more recent years the firm has completed contracts for, a New City Centre in Kitimat BC, Shopping centres in several BC communities, numerous McDonalds Restaurants, IGA Stores, Universities, Colleges, Schools, Churches, Care Facilities Industrial Plants and Restoration of Historic buildings. The Firm had the privilege of working
on the Orpheum Theatre. This lasting monument became and remains a symbol of the performing arts, one of the great show places of North America.

The partnership was particularly well known for the construction of several hotels. These included the Grosvenor Hotel (1913), the Georgia Hotel (1926) and the Alcazar Hotel (1930): all in Vancouver, plus the Union Steamship Hotel at Snug Cove, Bowen Island in the early 1930's. There is an interesting sidelight with reference to the Grosvenor Hotel, a landmark on Howe Street until its recent demolition. They completed it just as a severe depression battered the community and the client could not complete the transaction. Consequently, the Baynes family took over ownership of the hostelry and operated it successfully for many decades.

How history continues to repeat itself. Alfred Horie Construction has been a company that follows a successful recipe of integrity and dependability since 1893. Traditions of this BC Company include family commitment, quality construction, and community involvement. Family commitment means having two generations of Paone family members in leadership, administrative and hands-on construction roles. Quality construction is a cornerstone of all the work that they do. Community involvement includes volunteering for Church Advisory, School, and Construction Association Boards, Canadian Ski & Snowboard Association Board, Canadian Freestyle Ski Association Board and the Vancouver 2010 Olympic bid. From the founding partnership of Baynes and Horie, this construction company has stood the test of time by remaining strong and reliable to it's customers. This family company continues, to this day, to ensure honest, reliable, professional, quality construction and management services.