Battleford Asphalt – Brody Gervais
By: Cassi Smith
For Brody Gervais, entrepreneurship was the natural next step in a career rooted in expertise and hard work. Born in Saskatoon and raised in The Battlefords, Brody has spent his life in the paving and road-building industry. After earning a diploma in Civil Engineering Technology from Sask Polytech and working for over a decade, he took a bold leap in 2022 and with the help of Clarence Campeau Development Fund (CCDF), purchased Battleford Asphalt Services (BAS).
“I come from a paving and road-building family,” Brody explains. “My uncles owned a company of their own, so I grew up seeing them succeed and be part of the community. I’ve always wanted to do my own thing and try going out on my own.” Brody’s company focuses on asphalt patching, crack sealing, and seal coating, providing essential maintenance services to municipalities, residents, and businesses in Northwestern Saskatchewan. But transitioning into ownership required more than technical skills—it demanded vision, determination, and the ability to tackle obstacles head-on.
“The hardest part is getting the work,” Brody shares. “If you have the workload and the know-how, everything just rolls. Lots of hills and valleys, but before you know it, you always have another job to look forward to.” Despite the challenges, Brody’s focus on building a strong, loyal team has been key to his success. “The best part for me, being seasonal work, is the crew that keeps coming back. I’m proud of the amount of work a small but determined group can do. Without the crew, Battleford Asphalt isn’t anything but a pipe dream.”
Brody attributes his leap into entrepreneurship to his discovery of CCDF. “I found CCDF while looking for Métis grants online. Their 0% interest loans and easy process were hard to pass up,” he says. By leveraging CCDF’s support, Brody transitioned from a skilled tradesperson to a thriving business owner, a shift that opened new opportunities and growth. “I feel really blessed to be Métis and to have the opportunities not everyone has. Being Métis has let me be part of CCDF. While dealing with the banks, it’s a lot easier when they know I’m partnered with CCDF.”
By 2024, Brody’s entrepreneurial efforts had paid off, and he returned to CCDF for expansion opportunities. “They have many programs to use and to learn from,” says Brody. “I’ve so far only used them for funding, but I’m looking to expand my knowledge in some business areas, and they have programs to help do that.” Brody’s success story is a testament to CCDF’s role in empowering Métis entrepreneurs, helping them grow beyond their initial business ventures.
Battleford Asphalt Services continues to grow steadily under Brody’s leadership. With a focus on servicing the Northwestern region of Saskatchewan, his company is making an impact by supporting local infrastructure and connecting communities. And Brody has big plans for the future: “We plan to keep building the company, growing every year. BAS has big dreams and aspirations, and we are just getting started. In 5-10 years, we’re hopefully going to be in our own shop, have triple the manpower, and be working all over western Canada.”
For Brody, success comes down to hard work, determination, and the courage to take risks. His advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is straightforward: “If you have the opportunity and the courage to do what you want, why not take the risk? Failing isn’t the end of the world—if you never take the chance, how will you ever know if you can do it or not?” With CCDF’s continued support, Brody Gervais is building a business and a legacy, one project at a time.