Arthur Skidmore and Herbert Skidmore epitomized those entrepreneurial and personal leadership qualities on which business success stories are built. Fifty years ago they had a vision, and with hard work and determination, today that vision has been realized.

Working together, the two brothers built an international empire from a single automotive replacement glass location in New Westminster. Today TCG International employs more than 3,500 people doing business in automotive replacement glass and related products and communications products and services. The empire encompasses approximately 2,500 franchise owners across Canada, the United States and in close to 50 countries around the world.

Even with this tremendous success in the international business arena, the base of their empire remains here in British Columbia where it began.

Arthur Skidmore, while demonstrating a keen sense for business and a drive to succeed, never lost sight of the importance of family, children, religion and friendship. He dedicated his life to the betterment of others, donating both his time and money to organizations and educational institutions around the province.

Herbert Skidmore was known to shun the spotlight, preferring to help and support others in his own way. In 1994 he led a two-week trip to Albania, arranging for a shipment of glass, to replace the broken windows in children’s hospitals and orphanages. He took the time to provide necessary training in glass installation for local people. After that trip, he arranged additional glass shipments so that facilities for children can be rebuilt in that country.

Both Arthur and Herbert Skidmore were very generous to their adopted province through bursaries for undergraduate students and scholarships for graduate students in educational institutions around B.C.