Poole's Rules

Our founder Ernie Poole started out in 1906 as a builder of small projects, such as farmhouses and four-room schoolhouses.

A good businessman with long-term vision, Ernie knew that the key to securing client confidence was to not only deliver a project on time and on budget, but to deliver it using the time-honored principles of honesty, fair play and providing good value for one’s construction dollar.

Those principles have made PCL what it is today…and are still very much a part of our culture.

For readability, the rules (written circa 1948) are reprinted below:

Contracting is an interesting and risky business and for success over long term requires strict adherence to sound basic principles. A few of these are listed below:

• Employ highest grade people obtainable.
• Encourage integrity, loyalty and efficiencies.
• Avoid side lines.
• Do not permit side lines by employees.
• Be fair in all dealings with owners, architects, engineers and sub-contractors.
• Keep your word as good as your bond.
• Give encouragement and show appreciation.
• Be firm, fair and friendly.
• Avoid jobs where design is not good or financing doubtful. Let your competitors have these.
• Good accounting and cash keeping are essential.
• Do not let finishing up of jobs or collecting payments lag.