By Justin Wharton, Director of Operations – Canada West, Cooper Equipment Rentals. Published by Site News.

Cooper Equipment Rentals’ Director – Canada West shares his thoughts on construction’s biggest challenges and what lays ahead.

From turning wrenches as a young heavy-duty mechanic to leading the Western Canadian operations of one of the country’s largest rental providers, Justin Wharton’s career has been shaped by a deep passion for the equipment rental industry. Now Director of Operations – Canada West at Cooper Equipment Rentals, he has overseen remarkable growth in the region while helping contractors adapt to evolving challenges—from technology adoption and safety demands to labour shortages and trade uncertainty. In this Q&A with SiteNews, Wharton reflects on his journey, the trends shaping construction, and how Cooper is supporting customers, workers, and communities across Western Canada.

SiteNews:Tell me a bit about how you found yourself in the construction sector and equipment rentals. Is this where you thought your career would take you?

Justin Wharton: I started out as a heavy-duty mechanic and, by the time I was 22, was a service manager for a local rental company. A few years later, I built and sold a business in the automotive sector, but I knew I wanted to get back to the rental industry – it’s where I’d always felt the strongest pull. That path led me to co-found Alberta Lift, a rental company specializing in aerial equipment, serving southern Alberta.

In 2017, we were acquired by Cooper Equipment Rentals. It felt like a natural fit. Our approach to customer service and company values really aligned, which was something that mattered a lot to us when looking for a partner.

After the acquisition, I stayed on to help grow Cooper’s presence in Western Canada. Back then, we only had 11 or 12 branches in the region. Today, we’ve grown to 23 and we’re still expanding. The goal is to continue increasing our reach, improve equipment availability, and offer even more flexibility and support for customers throughout Alberta and across Western Canada.

READ the full article at Site News.