About

Established in 1984, Drain-All has expanded steadily since its origins and currently employs more than 200 team members at our offices and operating facilities in Ottawa and Napanee.

Overview

Drain-All Ltd. is a family-owned environmental, industrial and plumbing solutions company. We provide services to industrial, commercial, utilities, residential, institutional and municipal customers in Ontario and Quebec.

Learn more about the customers we serve

CORE VALUES

Service Excellence

We focus on exceeding standards and providing a quality experience, through relationship building, an outstanding work ethic and a high level of expertise.

Integrity

We build trust by being honest and transparent, accountable and reliable.

Collaboration

We are committed to building strong teams and partnerships, working together to achieve results.

Health and Safety

We believe in putting people first and promoting a healthy and safe work
environment.

Family

We are guided by loyalty and commitment, always showing that we care.

Innovation

We promote continuous improvement and creative problem solving through flexibility, ingenuity and resourcefulness.

Our History

Founded in 1984 by Frank Cardinali, Drain-All began as a small plumbing company with one truck and a single employee. Over more than 35 years, Frank has grown Drain-All’s service offering to create one of Ontario’s foremost environmental services companies. Still owned and operated by Frank, Drain-All now employs more than 200 people, runs a fleet of over 150 pieces of equipment and staffs offices in Ottawa and Napanee.

1984

An Ottawa company is founded by Frank Cardinali as “Drain-All” Drain & Sewer Cleaning Service Ltd.

1987

Ministry of Environment approves Drain-All’s first waste transfer and processing facility in Ottawa.

1990

Frank changes the company name to Drain-All Ltd., reflecting the growth of environmental services, plumbing/CCTV, household hazardous waste and emergency response offerings.

1992

Corporate offices and transfer station built at Stevenage Drive, Ottawa.

1994

Ministry of the Environment approves Drain-All’s second waste transfer and processing facility in Ottawa.

1996

Corporate offices and operations teams move to Liverpool Court, Ottawa.

2002

Business continues to grow and family members come on board. Frank has an eye to training the next generation.

2009

Drain-All expands to Napanee, opening new industrial operations, including a wastewater treatment facility.

2015

Drain-All exceeds 125 employees and expands its fleet to more than 100 vehicles.

2020

Drain-All expands its land and building holdings to mirror the company’s growth. Head office and industrial operations move to Hawthorne Road, Ottawa. Staff has grown to more than 200.

Our Team

Drain-All has built a management team with the expertise to support steady growth over more than three decades. As the scope and nature of services has expanded in this family-owned business, we have brought in the professional skills Drain-All requires to meet our customers’ expectations for service, quality and safety.

EXECUTIVE TEAM

Frank Cardinali

President and Founder

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Frank Cardinali

President and Founder

Frank founded Drain-All in 1984 with one plumbing van and a vision for the future. Over more than 35 years, Frank has successfully grown his family business to be a leader in the environmental services industry in Ontario and Quebec.

Entrepreneurial in spirit, and with significant technical knowledge, Frank has been hands on in the company’s many expansions over the years, including the establishment of Drain-All’s Stevenage waste transfer and processing site, and our state-of-the-art Napanee water treatment facility.

Frank’s management style and honourable business approach have enabled him to build a team within the company that is long in tenure and committed to upholding its President’s high standards of excellence.

Frank has been proud over the years to add capable family to the business, ensuring the continued growth of Drain-All for the next generation. Now he is able to get out once in a while for a round of golf – his other passion.

Richard Roth

Chief Executive Officer

View bio

Richard Roth

Chief Executive Officer

Richard joined Drain-All in 2017 after decades holding senior executive positions at public and private companies such as Bakermet, ArcelorMittal and Raymond EMC.

Richard’s extensive experience in executive management, operations, strategic development, and purchase and sale transactions have supported Drain-All in its recent corporate expansions. This intense work has included growing the company’s sales, strengthening its management team, relocating offices and operations, expanding the IT infrastructure, rebranding, and succession planning.

Richard is active in the Ottawa Community, having served as Chair of the Board at the Ottawa Community Foundation and as a Board Member at the Ottawa Art Gallery. Richard is an avid snow and water skier, with a competitive spirit.

SENIOR MANAGEMENT

Stephen Huza

Manager, Business Development

16 Years

Neil Brown

Manager, Operations

25 Years

David Elsie

Manager, Waste Transfer and Processing Facility

24 Years

Brian Molnar

Manager, Operations and Waste Transfer and Processing Facility, Napanee

2 Years

Tony Santurbano

Manager, Plumbing, CCTV and Utility Locating

36 Years

Rob Banfield

Assistant Manager, Sales

25 Years

Bob Goodfellow

Emergency Response

9 Years

Steve Tebworth

Household Hazardous Waste

25 Years

Joey Cardinali

Manager, Household Hazardous Waste

10 Years

Jeff Hoover

Manager, Emergency Response and Sales

1 Year

John Devegt

Assistant Manager, Operations, Emergency Response

23 Years

Paul Fydenchuk

Manager, Transportation

24 Years

Community Engagement

Drain-All has built enduring relationships with the many customers and businesses that have helped support us over more than three and a half decades.

As a socially responsible, family-run business, we believe in engaging with the communities we serve, and giving back. We also enthusiastically support our customers’ many charitable enterprises, including sponsoring local teams and events. Here are a few of the organizations and causes we support:

Drain-All is an enthusiastic supporter of Christie Lake Kids, which runs community programs for economically disadvantaged children.

Christie Lake Kids programming includes summer camp, arts and recreation experiences after school and on weekends, and leadership training for teenagers. Children of all ages develop physical, social and character skills that can help enrich their lives and encourage them to engage in the natural world.

Every child should have an opportunity to swim in a lake, paddle a canoe and sit by a campfire. Drain-All is proud to sponsor this pillar of Ottawa’s community, which has operated since 1922.

Drain-All has been working in Greater Napanee since 2009, when we established industrial operations and a waste and water management facility in the area. Drain-All works closely with this community, supporting a number of local charities and organizations, including the annual Napanee Riverfront Festival, Napanee Pet Control and various arts and sports organizations.

We proudly support the Greater Napanee Fire Department’s events. The annual FireFit obstacle course competition, often referred to as the toughest two minutes in sports, draws firefighters and spectators from across Canada and the United States.

Drain-All also hits the dirt track regularly in Lennox and Addington County on the O’Blenis high performance racing car. Annual competitions give us chance to support the community while we promote the Drain-All logo on a car that consistently ranks near the top.

Certifications, Memberships and Specialized Training

Drain-All’s many certifications and longstanding professional relationships position us among the safest and best-qualified operators in the environmental services field. Our ongoing commitment to health and safety, and to expanding our knowledge and skills, ensures our customers receive reliable and cost-effective service on every job.

Certifications and permits

  • eRailSafe Certification
  • Lateral Assessment Certification (LACP)
  • Manhole Assessment Certification (MACP)
  • Ministry of Transportation (CVOR) – “Excellent” Commercial Vehicle Operators Registration rating
  • Ontario Water Works Association (OWWA) Cross Connection Control and Backflow Prevention Specialist Certification
  • Pipeline Assessment and Certification Program (NASSCO)
  • Security and Emergency Response Training Centre (SERTC) – Advanced Tank Car Specialist
  • Technical Standards & Safety Authority (TSSA) – Fuels Safety Contractor
  • Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP),
  • Monitoring and Recovery Well Contractors Licence
  • MECP, Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA), Receiver, Processor and Transfer Facilities (Ottawa and Napanee)
  • MECP, ECA, Transportation Waste Management Systems
  • MECP, ECA, Mobile Household Hazardous Waste

Association memberships

  • Association of Ontario Road Supervisors (AORS)
  • Canadian Association for Laboratory Accreditation Inc. (CALA)
  • Canadian Common Ground Association (CCGA)
  • Canadian Emergency Response Contractors Association (CERCA)
  • Canadian Truck Equipment Association
  • Eastern Canada Response Corporation (ECRC)
  • Emergency Response Assistance Canada (ERAC)
  • Infrastructure Health & Safety Association (IHSA)
  • Info-Excavation Association (Quebec)
  • Kingston Construction Association (KCA)
  • Kingston, Napanee and Belleville Chamber of Commerce
  • National Capital Heavy Construction Association (NCHCA)
  • NSI Laboratory Solutions Proficiency Testing Program
  • Ontario Waste Management Association (OWMA)
  • Ontario Regional Common Ground Association (ORCGA)
  • Ottawa Construction Association (OCA) and Dig Safe
  • Proficiency Testing Canada
  • Rail Association of Canada, Associate member
  • Responsible Distribution Canada (RDC)

Specialized training

  • Advanced Tank Car Specialist
  • Aerial lift (PEWP)
  • Asbestos abatement – Type I and II
  • Bonding and grounding
  • Compressed gas (ammonia, propane)
  • Confined space awareness and rescue ERAP, product specific training
  • Fall Protection and Arrest
  • First aid/CPR
  • Flammable liquids (crude oil, gasoline, diesel)
  • Forklift training
  • Hazmat training (National Fire Protection Association 472)
  • Industrial Facility Fire Fighting
  • Lockout tagout
  • Marine emergency response and boom deployment (ECRC)
  • Respiratory protection and fit test
  • Spill response
  • Traffic control
  • Transportation of dangerous goods
  • WHMIS (GHS 2015)
  • Working at heights

CONNECT 24/7

Safety and quality. All the time.

Whether you need emergency assistance or would like to request a quote, we are here for you.

Contact us

Drain-All has joined one of North America’s leading diversified environmental services providers. We are now GFL Environmental!

Though our name and look will be changing, you may rest assured that the quality service you’ve come to expect from us will remain the same.

We look forward to working with you as GFL. Should you have any questions about this transition or require further information, please visit gflenv.com or contact us directly.