Ritchie Bros. honors Mervyn Pidherney with Hall of Fame induction in Edmonton

Since founding Pidherney’s Inc. in 1964 with a single gravel truck, Mervyn Pidherney has built one of Alberta, Canada’s most respected companies, supporting transportation, construction, and oil and gas and pipeline industries.

His longstanding relationship with Ritchie Bros., spanning more than 50 years as both a buyer and seller, reflects a shared commitment to integrity and consistency.

The Ritchie Bros. Hall of Fame honors industry leaders whose impact extends beyond business success – individuals who have helped shape the industry through leadership, trust and long-term commitment to the communities they serve.

Ritchie Bros. is honored to induct Mervyn Pidherney in Edmonton into the Ritchie Bros. Hall of Fame, recognizing his decades of leadership and lasting impact on Alberta’s equipment and infrastructure industries.

Humble beginnings, unstoppable growth

An early contract at a new gas plant near Rocky Mountain House gave Marv a foothold, and as he later reflected, he “managed to scoop the work” and never looked back.

From that single tandem truck, Pidherney’s Inc. grew steadily and strategically across the decades:

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• Late 1970s — Launched a concrete company and began expanding the fleet
• Late 1980s — Moved into heavy equipment, water and sewer work, and road construction
• Recent decades — Added equipment rentals, took on the Midwest company acquisition, and grew to a fleet of over 250 trucks

What started with one truck had grown to roughly 100 by the time the next generation joined — and has since climbed to 250 and counting.

Three generations, one family business

Perhaps the most enduring testament to Merv’s leadership is that Pidherney’s Inc. remains a family business, now spanning three generations. For the Pidherney family, being part of something their grandfather and father built from nothing carries a meaning no business milestone can fully capture.

“It’s good to be around the business,” Merv has said of his family’s involvement. “I hope for the long life of the company.”

That long life looks promising. Employees who have spent their entire working careers at Pidherney’s are a common sight — a reflection of the culture Merv built from day one. As one colleague put it: “That’s the sign of a good home and a good operator and a good owner who treats his people right.”

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More than a business — a community cornerstone

Rocky Mountain House is a small town, and Pidherney’s has never forgotten that. From the local curling rink and hospital to BMX parks in Red Deer, the company has consistently put community first. If something is needed locally, the answer has always been to source it locally, support it locally, and give back.

“It’s always about community first,” Merv has said simply.

That philosophy has shaped not just the company’s reputation, but the fabric of the communities it serves across Western Canada. Delivering infrastructure — roads, water, sewer systems, and more — means Pidherney’s work touches everyday life in ways most people never see but always depend on.

A partnership built on shared values

Ritchie Bros. and Pidherney’s share more than a 50-year business relationship — they share a founding story. Both companies were built by men who believed deeply in hard work, honesty, and treating people fairly. When Ritchie Bros. arrived on the scene in Alberta in the late 1970s, Merv recognized a kindred spirit in the way they ran their auctions: straightforward, honest, and professional.

Pidherney’s well-maintained, always-clean equipment became a fixture at Ritchie Bros. auctions over the decades — so recognizable that the color scheme alone draws a crowd. “The Pidherney equipment in a Ritchie auction brings people to town,” as one longtime colleague noted.

Ritchie Bros. Hall of Fame legacy  

When the Ritchie Bros. Hall of Fame induction was announced, the reaction from the Pidherney family said everything. “I’ve never seen my dad so happy since he’s heard about it,” one family member shared. For Merv, a man of few words and immense action, the recognition carries real weight. “Being inducted into the Hall of Fame is quite an honor,” he said. “We got recognized — and that’s pretty big.”

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