About

What We Do

We are your one-stop shop for reliable communications, from handheld portables to site-specific network systems. We provide a full-service package, from advising on the best solution, providing reliable communications equipment, setup, and installation, as well as ongoing maintenance and service. We have spent years building great relationships with our suppliers so that we can provide the best quality equipment to our end users at reasonable prices. We have a fully equipped service department and have gone to great lengths to find the most qualified and knowledgeable radio technicians in B.C.

Our Philosophy

"If you don't know what your options are, you don't have any."

Our starting point is always to try and understand the exact nature of your business operations so we can provide the best options for your needs. We're in the business of forming partnerships built on trust to ensure our customers' communications are always taken care of based on best practices under the guidance of our senior technical advisors.

We cannot provide great service without our fantastic staff, and we care for our team the same way we care for our partners—you. Our staff's average tenure proves this, and we are a proud member of Living Wage BC.

Our Leadership

Studies have shown that the strength of a company comes from its leadership, and we are infinitely fortunate in that regard. Our company is owned and operated by Ryan Rowat and Scott Owen, and together they are a force to be reckoned with. Their leadership style takes a family-oriented and personal approach to mentorship. As a result, each member of our team is highly motivated and driven by a sense of personal responsibility and a desire to make B.C. Communications the best it can be.

Scott Owen originally started in the Rental Department in 1992, and in 1994, Ryan Rowat was brought in as a senior technician and quickly became service manager. Both Scott and Ryan enrolled in The University of British Columbia’s Sales and Marketing Management Executives program (SME), an intensive three-year night school business course. In 2010, Ryan and Scott purchased B.C. Communications Inc. and Canada Wide Communications (1981) Corp. Both companies were amalgamated into one entity under B.C. Communications Inc., but the Rentals and Cellular departments continue to operate under the long-trusted Canada Wide Communications name.

Company History

Glenn Owen started the company in 1981, making it one of the first Motorola dealerships in Canada. B.C. Communications (BCC) was established as a Motorola Service Shop (MSS) in 2004. In 2005, a trunking radio system was installed on Mount Seymour to provide coverage throughout the Lower Mainland for rental customers. In 2006, a cellular division was opened for the rental of cellular and WiFi devices. In 2009, BCC installed a trunking system at YVR for Vancouver Airport Authority and continues to manage it to this day.

In 2010, BCC was contracted by the Vancouver 2010 Olympics to verify radio compliance at various Olympic events. In 2015, B.C. Communications acquired Glentel Solutions Burnaby’s B.C. Technical Field Service Team, further increasing technical capabilities. In the same year, partner company Canada Wide Communications supplied a communication system for the Squamish Valley Music Festival with approximately 1,000 radios, a 20-channel digital trunking system, plus standalone repeaters, providing coverage from Britannia to Alice Lake.

In 2016, BCC became Western Canada’s largest Motorola Solutions Channel Partner. Since 2018, BCC has upgraded two major container terminals within the Port of Vancouver to MOTOTRBO digital trunking, with TRBONET radio consoles and RFID. Today, BCC has its own in-house Trotec Laser engraving system to improve turnaround times for radio engraving, seven service and delivery vehicles, and has almost doubled its building space for expanded operations.

Notable Motorola Achievements

2023 Empower Circle winner – This exclusive group of annual winners represents the top Motorola Channel Partners in North America.

2003 – B.C. Communications was the first radio dealership in Canada to earn the Motorola Top Canadian Dealer award in the Falcon League.

1999 – B.C. Communications was the first radio dealership in Canada to earn the Motorola Pinnacle of Customer Excellence Award.

Since 1996 – B.C. Communications has been a member of Motorola’s prestigious Pinnacle Club (now rebranded as the "Empower Circle").

Donations

2025 – Ronald McDonald House yearly “Chesterman Beach Room” sponsor since 2017.

2025 – Burnaby Firefighters Charitable Society annual golf tournament cart sponsor since 2013.

2025 – BCIT Program Advisory Council membership and B.C. Communications Award bursary for the wireless program—awarded annually for over 20 years.

2019, 2018, 2017 – Me-N-Ed’s Golf for Parkinson’s cart sponsor. Me-N-Ed’s raised $41,000 in 2017 toward the $215,000 total since inception for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s (Team Fox).

2019 – We donated a fleet of radios to Honour House for their new Honour Ranch near Ashcroft. Honour Ranch provides a peaceful space and companionship for military, police, fire, ambulance, and dispatch personnel to heal from PTSD. We couldn’t think of a better cause—we are proud of our first responders!

2016 – Continued support for BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, providing discounted radios for their fundraising events.

2015 – A fleet of eight radios was donated to the Nicaraguan Police Force. Additionally, eight new digital XPR mobile radios and Capacity Plus trunking licenses from Motorola were donated to BCIT for their wireless technician course, allowing them to replace their outdated analog LTR trunk system.

2013 – Donated long-term radio rentals to The Sharing Farm Society as well as to Team Irene Longboard.

The Greater Vancouver Food Bank and St. Joseph's High School – Continued contributions and support.

Territory Acknowledgement

B.C. Communications acknowledges that it operates on the unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.