For the Bourassa family, supporting Saskatchewan Polytechnic is both a tribute to the past and an investment in the future.
In memory of their father, Dan Bourassa Sr., the family has donated $100,000 to Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Time to Rise campaign to help expand and renew the Agricultural Equipment Technician (AET) program learning spaces in Saskatoon. The gift will support hands-on training spaces that prepare students for careers in Saskatchewan’s vital agriculture sector.
“Truthfully, the sale of the business sparked the desire to make a meaningful donation in our dad’s name,” says Kurtis Bourassa, former partner of E. Bourassa & Sons now E. Bourassa & Sons, a Redhead Equipment Company. “This felt like the right way to give back to an industry and an institution that has meant so much to our family.”
Over four generations, the family built a reputation rooted in integrity, service and community involvement. Today, the company continues to operate four locations in Assiniboia, Carlyle, Radville and Weyburn as part of Redhead Equipment, preserving its century-long legacy.
Founded in 1924 by Emile Bourassa in Radville, Saskatchewan, E. Bourassa & Sons grew from a small coal and wood business into one of the province’s most respected agricultural equipment dealerships. In 1948 the business became Bourassa and Sons when Emile partnered with his sons, Albert and Romeo. After Emile’s retirement in 1950, Albert and his wife Madeleine took the reins. They introduced new equipment including Morris Rod-Wheeler, Versatile and John Deere. The company continued to grow as the third generation joined. Dan starting in 1964 and his brother Richard in 1968, both contributing significantly to its growth. Dan worked in the sales end of the company, eventually becoming the sales manager. Richard obtained his Farm Machinery Mechanics (FMM) diploma as it was know in 1971, working as the sole mechanic in the shop.
Dan played a pivotal role in the company’s growth from the 1960s onward, helping guide its expansion through his leadership and strong relationships with customers and staff. Known as a “people person,” he believed in developing talent and supporting the communities the business served.
That commitment to people and education is also reflected in the family’s long-standing connection to Saskatchewan Polytechnic.
The company is now operated by the fourth generation, Dan Sr. and Cecile’s children Dan Jr., Doug, Kurtis and their sister Diane. In 1995 Dan Jr. entered the business, after completing a 2-year Business diploma. He began his career working under the mentorship
of his father, becoming the sales manager in 1998. In 1997, after graduating with a Parts Management diploma, Dan’s son Doug joined the family business. He started in the parts department and helped in sales and on the road. Kurtis earned a Civil Engineering diploma, eventually joining the business in 2003 as the general manager. Diane followed in 2007 as the controller after obtaining a university degree in business.
Together with their uncle Richard, they represent generations of Sask Polytech alumni who helped shape the family business. “We’re actually all alumni in one way or another,” Kurtis says. “Without Saskatchewan Polytechnic and its training programs, I don’t know what our dealership world would look like.”
Throughout the years, E. Bourassa & Sons relied heavily on alumni of the AET and Parts Management programs, often sponsoring students from their communities and supporting them through apprenticeships and distance learning. This approach helped develop skilled technicians who returned to work in rural Saskatchewan.
“Without trained technicians, we don’t have customers,” Kurtis explains. “It’s an essential service for our industry and it always will be.”
The family’s gift will go towards the expansion, helping double the size of the AET training space and introduce new technologies that reflect modern agricultural equipment and systems. The expanded training space will allow students to gain experience on the same types of machinery they will encounter in the field, strengthening their readiness for the workforce.
Kurtis says he was especially pleased to learn that the AET program spaces will be renewed and expanded “I was really happy to hear it was going to be repurposed and improved,” he says. “There’s going to be more space and better use of it, and that’s going to make a real difference for students.”
Dr. Larry Rosia, President and CEO of Saskatchewan Polytechnic, says the Bourassa family’s support reflects the strong partnership between industry and education. “Gifts like this ensure our students have access to modern facilities and industry-relevant training,” Rosia says. “The Bourassa family’s generosity will benefit learners and employers across Saskatchewan for generations to come.”
Following the December 2025 sale of the business to Redhead Equipment, this donation also marks a meaningful transition for the family. While ownership has changed, the Bourassa legacy and the name continue as E. Bourassa & Sons, a Redhead Equipment company. Now working alongside Redhead Equipment to support staff and customers through the transition, Kurtis and his siblings remain deeply connected to the people and communities that shaped their careers.
“This gift is about more than enhancing learning spaces,” Kurtis says. “It’s also an investment in people, bright futures and strong rural economies.” For the Bourassa family, the donation is more than a financial contribution. It is a reflection of their father Dan Sr.’s values, their own experiences as alumni and their belief in the power of education to transform lives.
By honouring their past and strengthening opportunities for future agricultural equipment technicians, the Bourassa family continues a century-long tradition of fostering growth in Saskatchewan’s agriculture industry.