2021 marks PF Collins’ 100th anniversary. And what a journey it has been! We are proud of our rich history in supporting our clients in their international trade and logistics activities.
From the early days of moving goods to ports along Newfoundland’s coast, to supporting today’s major industries. We have certainly witnessed many changes!
What began as a one-man operation has evolved into a fourth-generation family business, proudly supporting clients in Canada and around the world.
Patrick Francis Collins, a St. John’s clothing merchant, became a Customs Broker shortly after a fire destroyed his store in 1913. During the first part of the 20th century, international transport was still largely marine and St. John’s was the key port of entry for Newfoundland.
Newfoundland was still a colony of Great Britain when King George V appointed PF Collins as the dominion’s Customs Broker in 1921. PF Collins helped arrange for the import and movement of goods throughout the island. This role would prove to be critical to the development of Newfoundland’s first industries.
After confederation with Canada in 1949, Newfoundland’s trading patterns and transportation systems changed significantly. PF Collins and his son Bernard L. Collins, who joined the firm in 1935, welcomed these challenges as an opportunity to expand the business.
They participated in early industrial developments, including the Grand Falls and Corner Brook pulp and paper mills and the Pepperrell and Argentia U.S. military stations. They represented the Holyrood and Come-By-Chance refineries, the Churchill Falls Hydroelectric Project, and the Province’s fishing and mining companies.
By the 1970’s, Bernard J. (Tanny) Collins had joined the family business and took responsibility for the company’s involvement in Newfoundland and Labrador’s offshore oil and gas industry. Offshore oil and gas was a new frontier for local business. As a result, a new trading landscape was emerging and customs laws were changing.
Tanny worked with key industry players to advance the regulatory environment for offshore operators and supply companies. His expertise in customs legislation helped reduce trade barriers for critical elements of development, including seismic exploration, drilling operations, and immigration for temporary foreign workers.
Meanwhile, Tanny was expanding PF Collins’ range of services and capabilities to meet the needs of his new offshore clients. He sponsored staff education, committed resources to new technologies, and registered the company to the ISO 9001 quality management standard.
Gaining the confidence of the world’s largest oil and gas operators, PF Collins has participated in the development of each of Atlantic Canada’s major offshore projects (i.e., Hibernia, Terra Nova, White Rose, Sable, Deep Panuke, and Hebron).
Today, PF Collins is recognized worldwide for our history and expertise in international trade and logistics to Canada’s Marine, Energy, Industrial, Aerospace, and other industries.
We have expanded to include offices in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Alberta, and continue to provide end-to-end solutions to a wide variety of clients and projects in Canada and internationally.
Current President, Raymond Collins, continues to focus on expanding the company’s market presence while maintaining its traditional family values of quality and service excellence.
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