Residential

Residential

Residential

The Master Group is the largest independent HVAC-R distributor in Canada. Our company is a prime example of Quebec's entrepreneurial spirit, with over 950 employees at over 44 branches and four distribution centres spanning from coast to coast.

  • We took our first steps in the 1950s.

    The story of The Master Group begins in 1952, with the creation of Master Refrigeration Supplies. Under the leadership of owner Guy Forget, the company quickly became a recognized and respected name in the refrigeration market. After opening branches in Quebec City and Ottawa in the 1960s, our first exclusive agreement with York marked a turning point in our company's history.

  • We weathered recessions and expanded into new territory.

    With the 1970s came a surge in concerns about an energy crisis, which caused a considerable demand for energy-efficient products such as York heat pumps and other specialized equipment. Demand was so high that we opened a third branch in Laval.

    Fortunately, we weathered the recession of the early 1980s and even opened branches in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, and Moncton, New-Brunswick, as our reliable reputation followed us into all of Eastern Canada.

  • To reflect our growing offering, we became The Master Group.

    In the 1990s, we focused on improving our operating efficiency, and Master Group president Jean-Guy Lahaie and his second-in-command, Louis St-Laurent, brought on Michel Ringuet as a new partner. The three men restructured the company by bringing together its four divisions under one umbrella. While business thrived, the shareholders resolved to maintain leadership by aggressively adapting to change. They brought in new talent, computerized their operations, expanded their product range and opened more branches. Alain Fournier, an influential and long-standing member of the company's sales force, became a partner. At the dawn of the new millennium, Master is the largest independent distributor in heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration in Canada.

    If we moved quickly in the 1990s, in the early 2000s, we were sprinting. We moved our head office to a 100,000 sq. ft. space in Boucherville, where we combined both our office space and warehouse facilities. We expanded our product range so much that we needed to open a second distribution centre. We also opened our first specialized branch in Saint-Laurent.

  • From an impressive beginning to one of Canada's best companies.

    In 2011, with our impressive reputation and success in Eastern Canada, we expanded into the Greater Toronto Area with three branches. This breakthrough allowed us to take an essential step into new regional markets and prepared the way for our national platform. That same year we were named one of Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies, a business awards program we have requalified for every year since.

    With three branches and a satellite distribution centre, we became a major player in the Greater Toronto Area. We also added a new branch dedicated to ventilation in Laval, Québec and increased the number of our staff to better serve our customers. With the addition of a fourth branch and a distribution center, we established ourselves as a significant player in southwestern Ontario.

  • Looking forward to an exciting future.

    With our significant growth over the last few years and our continued expansion across Canada and into U.S. markets, we needed an experienced, world-class leader with masterful sales knowledge. With a strong background in the CVCA-R industry, Neil Stuart McDougall took over the helm to lead The Master Group. As President, his mandates are many and include expanding our presence throughout Canada – and beyond.

All the most-trusted brands
All the most-trusted brands
A solution for every budget
A solution for every budget
Over 70 years of expertise
Over 70 years of expertise
Choose from over 800 dealers
Choose from over 800 dealers