In the mid 1970’s, a young Powell River, BC accountant named Wayne Rourke began working with a Fisher Stove dealer in his home town. The time he spent there got him fascinated with the wood stove industry. He eventually purchased the company in 1977 and ran it from the basement of the city’s old post office.

Fisher Stoves relocated to North Vancouver where it remained for several years. While in that location, Wayne hired Mike Harstone and Dan Kosovic, who are both still with the company today. The company’s focus changed from being a manufacturer to one which centered around distribution and it was during this period that Fisher became Northwest Stoves.

After years of steady growth to the point where another move was necessary, the decision was made to move Northwest Stoves centre of operations to a more spacious and newer building in Langley in 1994, where it remains today. Wayne continued to lead Northwest Stoves for more than 30 years since its inception.

Wayne has recently stepped away from the day to day operations of the company, paving the way for new president David Rosvold to bring his energy and enthusiasm to Northwest Stoves. Like Wayne, David has an accounting background and developed a taste for the industry after first beginning his tenure in the company’s accounting area.

Despite nearly 35 years of business, the primary focus of Northwest Stoves has changed very little. It considers safe and responsible wood burning to be a viable, efficient and largely inexpensive heating alternative. This is why the majority of the business Northwest Stoves does is centered around wood burning products. Of course, gas is still considered to be a safe and effective way burn an appliance, which is why Northwest Stoves also sells gas-burning stoves and fireplaces.

Northwest Stoves has two primary sales areas. First, it is a leading distributor of fireplaces, stoves, heaters and grills to authorized specialty retailers possessing territories across BC, Alberta & the Yukon. Second, it distributes to BC and Alberta building supply dealers a wide range of accessories, insulated chimney, paints and hearth products.

Northwest Stoves is the exclusive distributor for a number of different manufacturers in BC, Alberta and the Yukon. These include:

• Pacific Energy have been building woodstoves in Duncan, BC for as long as Northwest Stoves has been in business. We distribute these stoves within BC (excluding Vancouver Island), the Yukon and Southern Alberta.

• Hearthstone designs beautiful, traditional cast iron wood and gas stoves, many of which contain soapstone. Soapstone holds and distributes heat longer than traditional materials used in stoves and fireplaces. Vermont based Hearthstone also make contemporary products as well. These stoves are distributed throughout Western Canada.

• Jotul is a Norwegian manufacturer who have been building European style cast iron wood & gas stoves more than 150 years. Jotul is distributed throughout BC, Alberta & the Yukon.

• Scan contains a number of contemporary wood and gas burning alternatives. Scan, which was recently purchased by Jotul, is based in Denmark. Scan is distributed in BC, Alberta & the Yukon.

• Town & Country Luxury Fireplaces have been designed and built in Duncan for several years. Being the original “clean face” fireplace, Town & Country’s traditional or contemporary options changed the way people looked at a gas fireplace. Town & Country is distributed throughout BC (excluding Vancouver Island).

• RSF Energy are beautiful and efficient wood burning fireplaces built in Quebec. RSF is distributed in BC & the Yukon.

• Renaissance is a manufacturer of a magnificent, clean burning, open wood-burning fireplace also made in Quebec. These fireplaces won a number of industry awards when they were introduced a few years ago. They are distributed throughout BC.

• Warmland is a pellet burning stove built in Duncan, BC. The Warmland stoves are distributed in BC (excluding Vancouver Island), the Yukon & Southern Alberta.

• Marquis Collection by Kingsman contain collections of traditional and contemporary gas burning fireplaces, stoves and inserts manufactured in Winnipeg, Manitoba. We distribute these products throughout BC (excluding the Okanagan and Kootenays).

Northwest Stoves supports its dealers with extensive technical support in both wood & gas technology, co-op advertising and marketing support. Priority is made to ensure quick and accurate turnaround from the time an order is placed to the time it physically leaves the building via carrier. This is made much easier given the company’s strategic location virtually right next to Highway #1 and the large amount of products kept as stocking items in the warehouse.