Few things in business last long enough to be called generational. E.B. Horsman & Son has been supplying electrical contractors, engineers, and industrial clients across Western Canada since 1900 — through two world wars, multiple economic shifts, and five generations of family leadership.

Founded: 1900 · Headquarters: Surrey, British Columbia · Locations: 23+ across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan · Ownership: Independently owned · Employees: 400+

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact current location count (approximated as 23+, not individually listed)
  • Full list of brands carried across all branches
  • Specific online portal features such as real-time inventory check
3Timeline signal
  • 1900: Founded as hardware store in Moosomin, SK (E.B. Horsman & Son blog)
  • 1937: First branch opened in Victoria, BC (E.B. Horsman & Son blog)
  • 2015: First Alberta location opened in Edmonton (E.B. Horsman & Son blog)
4What’s next
  • Continued expansion likely across Western Canada given recent growth into Alberta
  • Digital service improvements as the company expands online account access
  • Sustained competition with national chains like Rexel and Wesco

Seven key facts, one pattern: E.B. Horsman & Son combines a 125-year legacy with the reach of a modern distributor — and it does so without surrendering independent ownership.

Attribute Detail
Year Founded 1900
Headquarters Surrey, British Columbia
Ownership Type Independent / privately held
Number of Locations 23+
Provinces Served British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan
Employees 400+
Suppliers Represented 600+
Product Range 1 million+ products
Website ebhorsman.com
Known For Largest independently owned electrical distributor in Western Canada

The implication: this is a company that has outgrown competitors by staying local, not by cashing out.

What is E.B. Horsman & Son?

Company overview

E.B. Horsman & Son is a full-line electrical distributor serving contractors, engineers, and industrial clients across Western Canada. The company describes itself as having the largest branch network in the region, with 23+ locations in British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan (E.B. Horsman & Son business page). It is independently owned and has been operated by five generations of the Horsman family, with Tim Horsman serving as president and CEO (ABCMI business information provider).

Its product categories span electrical distribution, lighting, automation, tools, safety gear, and data communication equipment. The company represents over 600 suppliers and offers more than 1 million products (ABCMI business information provider). Services include commercial project quotations, panel modification, industrial services, and lighting design.

History and founding

  • 1900: E.B. Horsman opened a small hardware store in Moosomin, Saskatchewan (E.B. Horsman & Son blog).
  • 1907: The business relocated to Vancouver, British Columbia (E.B. Horsman & Son blog).
  • 1918: An electrical supply department was established (E.B. Horsman & Son blog).
  • 1925: The company shifted entirely to electrical wholesaling (E.B. Horsman & Son blog).
  • 1937: First branch outside Vancouver opened in Victoria (E.B. Horsman & Son blog).
The upshot

A hardware store that pivoted to electrical distribution in 1918 and never looked back — that 107-year head start is the reason EB Horsman has the deepest branch network in Western Canada today.

Bottom line: E.B. Horsman & Son is a 125-year-old independent electrical distributor, not a corporate chain. Contractors get local decision-making and five generations of supply-chain knowledge, while national competitors get a smaller share of the Western Canadian market.

Where are Eb Horsman locations?

List of locations in BC

British Columbia holds the majority of the company’s 23+ branches. Key locations include Langley, Courtenay, Campbell River, Victoria, Richmond, Prince George, Vancouver, Surrey, and several others across the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island.

The Richmond branch, for example, serves industries including electrical, mining, oil and gas, and forestry (E.B. Horsman & Son Richmond page). The company says its first branch outside Vancouver opened in Victoria in 1937 (E.B. Horsman & Son blog).

Locations in Alberta and Saskatchewan

E.B. Horsman & Son opened its first Alberta location in Edmonton in 2015, followed by a Calgary branch the next year (E.B. Horsman & Son blog). Saskatchewan is the company’s original home province — the first store opened in Moosomin in 1900 — though today the branch network is concentrated in BC and Alberta.

Head office address

The company’s headquarters is located in Surrey, British Columbia. The head office oversees operations across all 23+ branches, including supply chain management, vendor relations, and strategic planning for the Western Canada region.

The pattern: EB Horsman’s branch map mirrors the economic spine of Western Canada — from resource towns in northern BC to the industrial corridors of Edmonton and Calgary.

How do I log in to Eb Horsman?

Online account access

  • Login is available through the company website at ebhorsman.com.
  • Accounts are designed for contractors, engineers, and business customers.
  • Online access may include pricing, order history, and product catalogs.

E.B. Horsman & Son offers an online account portal for its customers. According to the company’s service listings on ABCMI business information provider, the online account feature is part of the company’s digital service suite. Registration is required, and the portal is tailored to commercial and industrial customers rather than retail walk-ins.

Customer portal instructions

To access the portal, visit ebhorsman.com and navigate to the login section. New customers typically need to contact their local branch or the head office to set up an account. Once registered, users can access pricing, place orders, and track shipments. The exact features of the portal — such as real-time inventory visibility — are not detailed in publicly available materials.

The trade-off: online self-service is available, but the company’s strength remains its in-person branch network and local account managers.

What products does Eb Horsman supply?

Electrical distribution products

The company’s core offering is full-line electrical distribution: wire, cable, conduit, breakers, panels, transformers, and related components. With over 1 million products from 600+ suppliers (ABCMI business information provider), the inventory covers residential, commercial, and industrial electrical needs.

Lighting and automation

EB Horsman operates an Albrite Lighting division and offers lighting supply and design services. The automation side includes process instrumentation, industrial controls, motion systems, and data communication products (ABCMI business information provider). These specialized divisions serve engineers and plant managers, not just electricians.

Brands carried

The company represents more than 600 suppliers, though a complete brand list is not published on the website. Major electrical manufacturers common across independent distributors — such as Schneider Electric, Eaton, Siemens, and Leviton — are likely represented. For a specific brand inquiry, the best approach is to contact the local branch directly.

What this means: the product range is broad enough to cover most electrical, automation, and lighting projects in Western Canada, but the full brand list is not transparent online.

Is E.B. Horsman & Son a good choice for contractors?

Upsides

  • Independent ownership means local decision-making and flexible pricing
  • 125+ years of Western Canada supply chain relationships
  • 23+ branches enable fast delivery across three provinces
  • Specialized services: panel modification, industrial automation, lighting design
  • Family-owned with five generations of continuity

Downsides

  • Smaller online ordering infrastructure compared to national chains
  • No published brand list — requires branch inquiry
  • Limited to Western Canada — no national coverage for multi-region contractors
  • Less 24/7 digital service compared to competitors like Rexel or Graybar
The trade-off

Contractors who value local relationship and branch speed over a polished e-commerce experience get a clear advantage with EB Horsman. Multi-province firms that need a single national account may find the Western Canada focus limiting.

When was E.B. Horsman & Son founded and how has it grown?

Timeline of key milestones

  • 1900 — Founded as a hardware store in Moosomin, Saskatchewan (E.B. Horsman & Son blog).
  • 1907 — Relocated to Vancouver, British Columbia (E.B. Horsman & Son blog).
  • 1918 — Electrical supply department established (E.B. Horsman & Son blog).
  • 1925 — Company is exclusively an electrical wholesaler (E.B. Horsman & Son blog).
  • 1937 — First branch location opens in Victoria, BC (E.B. Horsman & Son blog).
  • 2015 — First Alberta location opens in Edmonton (E.B. Horsman & Son blog).
  • 2016 — Calgary branch opens (E.B. Horsman & Son blog).
  • 2025 (present) — 23+ locations, 400+ employees, remains independent (ABCMI business information provider).

Expansion to 23+ locations

The company grew from a single Vancouver store to branches across BC, then Alberta, and now Saskatchewan. The move into Alberta in 2015 was a strategic shift — the first time EB Horsman operated east of the Rockies. Today, the company says it has the largest branch network of any independent electrical distributor in Western Canada (E.B. Horsman & Son blog).

Why this matters: the timeline shows a company that expanded patiently — 37 years before the first branch, 115 years before crossing into Alberta. That pace is unusual in an industry where consolidation is the norm.

What we know and what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

  • E.B. Horsman & Son was founded in 1900 in Moosomin, Saskatchewan (E.B. Horsman & Son blog).
  • Headquarters is in Surrey, British Columbia (E.B. Horsman & Son business page).
  • The company is independently owned and family-operated through five generations (ABCMI business information provider).
  • Operations span 23+ locations across British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan (E.B. Horsman & Son business page).
  • Core product categories: electrical distribution, lighting, automation, tools, safety gear (ABCMI business information provider).
  • Represents more than 600 suppliers and offers over 1 million products (ABCMI business information provider).
  • Employs 400+ people in Western Canada (E.B. Horsman & Son blog).

What’s unclear

  • The exact number of current locations — the company says 23+ but does not publish a complete list.
  • Full brand roster — not publicly listed; requires branch inquiry.
  • Specific online portal capabilities — real-time inventory and live pricing are unconfirmed.
  • Detailed financials — as a private company, revenue and profit figures are not disclosed.

“E.B. Horsman & Son is Western Canada’s largest independent, employee- and family-owned electrical supplier.”

— ABCMI business information provider

“Celebrating 125 Years of Serving Western Canada’s Electrical Community.”

— E.B. Horsman & Son blog

“The company serves industries including electrical, mining, oil and gas, and forestry.”

— E.B. Horsman & Son Richmond page

For a contractor or engineer in Western Canada, the choice is clear: if you value local branch relationships, specialist knowledge, and the stability of a 125-year-old family business, E.B. Horsman & Son is the distributor that will know your name — and your project — by the time you walk in the door.

Related reading: Mark Carney: Family, Irish Passport, and PM Career · Terry Fox: Marathon of Hope, Legacy & Impact

For a deeper look into the company’s 125-year legacy, readers can explore E.B. Horsmans history and services across Western Canada.

Frequently asked questions

What is E.B. Horsman & Son?

E.B. Horsman & Son is an independent electrical distributor based in Surrey, British Columbia. Founded in 1900, it is the largest independently owned electrical supplier in Western Canada, with 23+ locations across BC, Alberta, and Saskatchewan.

Who owns E.B. Horsman & Son?

The company is independently owned and has been operated by five generations of the Horsman family. Tim Horsman is the current president and CEO.

What products does Eb Horsman sell?

The company sells electrical distribution products, lighting and lighting design, automation equipment, industrial controls, tools, safety gear, and data communication products. It represents over 600 suppliers and offers more than 1 million products.

Does Eb Horsman deliver?

Yes. With 23+ branches across Western Canada, the company offers delivery services to contractors, engineers, and industrial clients. Delivery areas and times vary by branch location.

How do I open an account with Eb Horsman?

Visit ebhorsman.com and navigate to the account login section, or contact your local branch directly. Accounts are typically set up for commercial and industrial customers, not retail walk-ins.

Is Eb Horsman open to the public or only to contractors?

The company primarily serves contractors, engineers, and industrial clients. While some branches may serve walk-in customers, the business model is wholesale and commercial.

What payment methods does Eb Horsman accept?

Payment methods are not publicly detailed. Commercial account holders typically use credit terms or corporate credit cards. Contact your local branch for specific payment options.

Does Eb Horsman have a location in Prince George?

Yes. E.B. Horsman & Son has a branch in Prince George, British Columbia, serving the northern BC region with electrical supplies and services.