Our History
In 2016, The Universal Group began as a collection of several independent companies managed by local BC entrepreneurs focused on flagging, traffic control, personnel services to the construction industry and safety education. Those companies included Universal Flagging, GOtraffic, M3 Personnel and Universal Health and Safety.
Since 2016, the company has flourished with exponential growth driven by an aggressive mergers and acquisition strategy.
An aggressive growth strategy
The Universal Group, led by Michael Menzies and Kobie Brandt, partnered with CAI Capital Partners in 2020, bringing Ansan Traffic Group into the fold allowing the company to become a regional operation with expansion of operations outside of the Greater Vancouver area.
Sets it sights on Western Canada
Continued expansion came three short months later with the acquisition of Valley Traffic Systems based in Langley, BC, which included both traffic control operations and state of the art sign manufacturing operations. The purchase of Valley Traffic cemented The Universal Group as the largest traffic management company in BC. Entry into Alberta came shortly thereafter with an operation based in Edmonton.
New Industries
Despite the pandemic, opportunities for further growth continued. 2021 was a year of significant acquisitions beginning with the opportunity to branch out into Landscaping and Municipal Maintenance with the purchase of Earth Enterprises and Victoria Contracting.
Eastern Canada becomes a reality
During the second half of 2021, The Universal Group expanded outside of Western Canada acquiring Beacon Lite and Signebec in Ontario and Quebec. The Beacon Lite and Signebec purchase provided the company with both traffic control operations and sign manufacturing in Eastern Canada.
The most recent acquisition for The Universal Group has given the company an opportunity to further its operations throughout Quebec. In May, Groupe Signalisation, based in Sherbrooke, QC, its seven locations and sign manufacturing operation operating as Goliax became part of The Universal Group of companies.
Our history will continue to unfold as we look for the next opportunity to expand our operations within Canada and into the US.
Universal Personnel
The Universal Group announces the sale of Universal Personnel. One of the Universal Group’s primary goals in its strategic five-year plan is to build the largest traffic control company in Canada. UG already achieved that goal, however UG still has lots of work to grow, integrate, and optimize our core business of traffic control. This sale allows UG to better focus on its primary goal.
Groupe Signalisation (GS)

Universal Group acquires Groupe Signalisation and its Goliax sign manufacturing operation based in Sherbrooke, QC, further expanding our operations in Quebec. The ownership group of GS remains with The Universal Group in leadership roles.
Beacon Lite and Signebec

Universal Group acquires Beacon Lite and Signebec from owners Luc Lemay and Simon Lemay, beginning our expansion to the Eastern Canada. Both Luc and Simon remain with the business today in leadership roles.
Earth Enterprises

Universal Landscaping was rebranded to Earth Enterprises
Universal Personnel
M3 Personnel rebranded to Universal Personnel . Transitioning our service to offer a skilled workforce, providing a number of different skilled trade personnel to the same client base.
Jada Traffic

Alliance Traffic acquired Jada Traffic in Kamloops, BC.
Valley Traffic Systems

Acquisition of Valley Traffic Systems and Dinamac, which include the sign manufacturing business.
Earth Enterprises

Acquisition of Earth Enterprises, a Burnaby-based landscaping company.
Ansan Traffic

Merged with Ansan Traffic, headquartered in Surrey with additional locations in Burnaby, Kamloops, Kelowna, Langford, Port Coquitlam, and Prince George. This included under the Ansan Umbrella: Western Traffic, Island Traffic, Alliance Traffic, Lanetec Traffic, Van Isle Traffic, and DL Safety Consulting.
Universal Landscaping

Acquired two landscaping companies and launched “Universal Landscaping (UL). UL offers innovative ideas to solve our strata and commercial customers landscaping needs.
Universal Health & Safety

Universal Health and Safety (UHS) was launched. We later acquired another safety business named ER PLus in 2017. UHS is a free-standing training business.
Universal Traffic Supply

Universal Traffic Supply (UTS) was launched. A “one stop shop” for clients who want to purchase or rent Traffic Control equipment.
GOtraffic Management

GOtraffic Management: Acquisition of ATC Traffic. We then rebranded the company to GOtraffic management.
Universal Flagging
The owners of M3 Group came together with Kobie Brandt to purchase Universal Flagging from owner Stoney Biddle. Mr. Biddle remains a key part of our Sales team.
M3 Personnel
M3 Personnel: Three friends with first names beginning with the letter M, began a temporary labour staffing company. M3 Personnel Group quickly grew to include two offices which supplied temporary on-call labour to the construction and hospitality industry on a temporary or on-call basis.