2023 Year in Review

What a year we’ve had! As 2023 draws to a close, we reflect on a year filled with significant achievements, beautiful projects, an influx of new and returning customers, captivating new designs from our reputable brands, and milestone team changes. As always, our heartfelt appreciation goes out to each member of the UQ team for their dedicated efforts in materializing our customers’ design aspirations throughout this entire year!

Let’s take a look back at a few of our 2023 highlights:

Ownership Announcement + Retirement

After 35+ years of dedicated leadership, Urban Quarry Founder, Laurent Bellavance retired earlier this year officially stepping down from his role as CEO to focus on spending time with his family and pursuing his passions. His legacy and teachings live on through his kids as Serge Bellavance (VP, Sales and Marketing) and Mireille Bellavance (VP, Operations) have continued as co-owners. In addition, President, Bob Gould, and General Manager, Brian Gray, have also assumed ownership roles.

In November, the team celebrated Laurent’s retirement in a dual celebration with Peter Hibbert, who after 27 years, also retired from his role as Account Manager. In a tearful goodbye, the showroom was filled with designers, customers, friends and family who stopped by to say congratulations and farewell to the two legendary gentleman who formatively shaped Urban Quarry into the thriving business it is today.

GOHBA Housing Design Award Winner

In October, we proudly accepted a glass trophy as a winner at the 2023 Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association’s 40th Annual Housing Design Award for Best Custom Bathroom (100 sq. ft. or less, traditional). “Project Good Vibes House” was beautifully designed by Sascha Lafleur and her talented team at West of Main with Urban Quarry countertops.

New Equipment

We are continuously evolving and looking into new equipment to improve our processes and our product offerings. This year we introduce a few new machines into the shop, including:

  • D2 Scanner: this vertical stone slab photo scanner allows to have the most accurate detail, texture, imperfections and dimensions of the slabs.
  • Speed Label: an advanced labelling system for the shop that simplifies the process and enhances the quality. It tracks every piece of countertop in the shop and maintains accountability for quality control piece by piece.
  • Miter X: this powerful miter saw allows for a faster processing speed and provides the power required to cut the hardness of materials with ease like Quartzite and Dekton.

Years of Service Wall

Earlier this year, we worked on creating a Years of Service wall on the second level of the Urban Quarry office. The wall display differentiates 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30+ years of company contributions with name plaques secured to stunning pieces of stone, all mounted to the wall. Each slab represents a 5-year milestone achievement, along with mountain-like visuals that were engraved on each slab demonstrating the upward journey to each team members’ careers. Set in stone – we felt it was important to acknowledge and recognize our dedicated team of employees who have been working with us for so many years in a proper display of appreciation.

Hard work, play hard! The fun never stops at Urban Quarry, all year long we continued with our team lunches and team building activities. Commando Paintball, NKBA Gala, GOHBA’s Curling Bonspeil, design launch parties, many sponsored golf tournaments, community events, and so much more – you can always find members of our team out and about, and giving back wherever we can. We couldn’t do it without all of you. Thank you to all our clients, partners, friends and families for another memorable year! See you in 2024.