Plainsman Builders has been a trusted name in Kamloops for over 55 years, renowned for their high-quality work across single-family homes, multi-family developments, and commercial and industrial projects. Plainsman was founded in 1968 in Saskatoon by Mr. Harry Koehn. Under the leadership of Mr. Koehn, the company spread their wings from Manitoba to BC and in the 1980s had eight branch offices spread throughout Western Canada. The head office was relocated to Kamloops in 1989 headed by Jim Thomson. In the years since, Plainsman has grown into a diverse and versatile builder and landlord, known for their commitment to value and integrity. Jim began his career as a construction surveyor while working his way through university originally studying Science and eventually earning a Business Administration degree. He joined Plainsman as an estimator before eventually taking on more responsibility and working up through the ranks managing branch offices in Calgary, Edmonton and Kamloops. In 1989, Jim eventually obtained full ownership and took over the reins as President. Jim has long been celebrated not only for his business acumen but also for his contributions to the local community and industry. He has served as CHBA President at the local, provincial and national levels as well as the founding Chair of SIDIT a $50 million economic Development Initiative established by the provincial government. He has also served on the board of a large credit union and on a committee of the National Research Council. In recent years, Jim served on the Board of Governors of TRU including three years as Chair of the Board. “My dad started this journey decades ago, and he’s been a huge influence on the building industry, the community, and our company,” MARCH 2025
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