“We Look into the Earth” – An Early Canadian Transnational

Central to the development of Canada’s post-World War II resource-based economy was the identification of potential commercial mineral deposits. One of the central components of this process is exploration drilling using drill bits encrusted with diamonds – commonly called diamond drilling. Through the 1930s to the end of the 1960s Boyles Brothers Drilling Ltd was one of the major players in the Canadian industry. Headquartered in Vancouver, it had office across Canada. It had a major drill and diamond drill bit manufacturing operation in Vancouver. It was able to enter the international market given its expertise. It exported services and drilling equipment around the world and opened subsidiaries in the United Kingdom, East Africa, Southern Africa, South America and Asia – making an early successful multinational company. Drilling technology can also be used in mining operations, foundations of high-rise buildings and infrastructure projects such as dams, bridges, ports and roads. Boyles Brothers was involved in many of the major infrastructure projects in Canada. This was all run out of Vancouver when communications were rudimentary and logistics for both equipment and individuals was slow and difficult. This article explores the challenges of running a transnational operation largely beyond the fringe of civilization in Canada and across the globe.