About Us
The Sleva family name has worked in the Interior Systems Mechanics industry since the late 1940s. To understand K. Sleva Contracting today, you need some history of the Sleva family.
Over 80 years our family has counted ourselves lucky to work with passionate people in such a tough, but rewarding industry. As you can imagine, we have developed quite a repertoire of experiences and stories over the years.
This chapter in our family history starts three generations ago with Johnny Sleva and his brother’s Joe, Frank, Benny, Steve and Tom. Johnny was no stranger to hard work, growing up in Stead, Manitoba as the second youngest of 15 children. When his brother Joe Sleva invited him to work in the new family business, (Associated Drywall Co. Ltd in Surrey, B.C. EST: 1950) he jumped at the chance.
Johnny loved building with his own two hands, almost as much as he loved chatting around the roulette table, while surrounding red 36 with multiple chips. He fell in love with wife Sonja and grew a beautiful family of 3 boys (Sam, Ken, and Rick) in BC while growing another “child” – his own drywall business.
Ken started his career in the industry working for his dad Johnny, where he learned the value of hard work, beginning his career sweeping and scraping out multi-family suites for $8.00 per suite and $20.00 per suite for wall sanding. Soon after he became an apprentice carpenter and proceeded from there into an ISM (Interior Systems Mechanic). One of Ken’s most memorable experiences was traveling to Holland with his father for a 14 month job, to train local young Dutch men the longevity of wood framed construction and all aspects of the drywall trade.
At the time, the family business was focused on the wood part of the construction industry. So when the innovation of steel framing rose in popularity, Ken motivated his father to entertain projects that included steel stud framing and they never looked back.
Years later in 1985 Ken decided to go out on his own, moving to Winnipeg, Manitoba where he met his soon to be wife, Irene Sleva.
In 1988, K Sleva Contracting was founded by Ken Sleva.
He started as a jack-of-all trades, as one must when founding a business. As Ken grew the business, his family also grew, as him and Irene were blessed with two sons (Josh and Kyle).
Over the years, K. Sleva Contracting has had the opportunity to complete some iconic buildings in Manitoba including:
- Asper Community Campus Including Greys Academy,
- Red River College (Princess Street Campus),
- Women’s Corrections Centre,
- Hilly Brown Southport,
- Workers Compensation Building,
To name a few. More projects can be found on our Project Page. Although photography was not Ken’s craft, we do have a few photo’s from the past.
K. Sleva Contracting has many passionate people and without them we would not be the company we are today. We are forever grateful for their hard work, loyalty and the good times along the way.
When someone asks us “Tell me about K. Sleva Contracting” our answer will always focus on people as without people, our business is nothing!
We are thankful for the past 30+ years as a company and look forward to the future!
Work with us
Reach out for a conversation to see if we are the right partner for your commercial build or the right employer for you.