First Onsite acquires restoration firm, talks expansion strategy 

First Onsite Property Restoration has acquired RBT Restoration By Trades — a property restoration company based in Kelowna, British Columbia. 

The acquisition, announced yesterday, brings First Onsite permanently into Kelowna. 

“First Onsite has found that acquisitions provide a great launching platform for entering a new market. We’re able to expand more quickly by acquiring an established company and that gives us greater market share immediately as well as a competitive advantage,” Peter Corsano, First Onsite’s executive vice president of operations, tells Canadian Underwriter in an email statement.  

Asked for comment on its acquisition strategy, Corsano said First Onsite is prioritizing deals that expand its geographic reach and better serve clients.  

“When we look at entering new markets, we are identifying areas where we can better support our existing client base and open up new opportunities for our business,” he said. “Expanding our geographical coverage and services helps us get closer to our customers and meet their needs in many ways.” 

RBT Restoration will now become the Kelowna branch of First Onsite. The company now has five branches in the province, including Fraser Valley, Fort St. John, Metro Vancouver, and Victoria. 

“With this latest acquisition, we’re bringing into our company an experienced team with strong leadership,” Corsano said. “They already have great relationships in the Kelowna region, and we intend to leverage their local knowledge, while also bringing our national relationships to the table, along with the ability to scale rapidly in the face of any disaster.” 

RBT provides professional commercial and residential restoration services, emergency response for flood, fire, and storm events, and complex claims restoration services. The firm was founded in 2020 by co-owners Giles Evans, Brie Greenwood, and Ken Kilpatrick. The co-owners will maintain their leadership roles in the Kelowna business. 

Corsano said First Onsite will be using this acquisition to expand its complex-loss commercial capabilities and offer residential restoration services in a new market. 

First Onsite operates more than 100 locations across Canada and the U.S.

Alyssa DiSabatino

Alyssa Di Sabatino has been a reporter for Canadian Underwriter since 2021, covering industry trends, market developments, and emerging risks.