REGINA — The return of the goose emblem to the steel plant in Regina is just the latest piece of history associated with the long-established operation.
The plant has gone under different names and different ownership over the years. But the unveiling of a restored goose statue last week at the newly renamed Interpro Pipe and Steel, at an event attended by the company’s employees on Sept. 24, harkened back to the glory days when Ipsco owned the plant.
The unveiling was an exciting and emotional moment for employees at the steel mill, whose roots date back to around 1956 when it was originally known as Prairie Pipe Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
It took on the Ipsco name around 1960 as Interprovincial Steel and Pipe Co, or Ipsco for short, and began manufacturing its own steel at the plant at that time.
For years, Ipsco’s logo with the goose insignia donned the side of the steel mill building and was a familiar sight to those on the highway coming into Regina.
But things changed in 2007. Swedish-based SSAB purchased Ipsco that year, and then in 2008 it was EVRAZ Group that bought the Canadian and North American tubular operations, including the Regina plant.
With the changes in ownership the goose logo went away. But the steel mill continued to be a vital part of Regina and a major employer of manufacturing jobs.
Eventually the EVRAZ era came to an end after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. With the Russian company hit by crippling sanctions soon after, in particular from the UK, it was forced to sell.
In 2025, US based Atlas Holdings, a private equity firm, announced it had acquired EVRAZ North America including the Canadian operations. Atlas soon formed Orion Steel Companies to operate the North American entity.
“As a well-capitalized strategic supplier, Orion Steel is poised to become a central player in the North American market, helping to ensure economic and security interests of the United States and Canada are advanced through significant, local production,” said Doug Matthews, CEO of Orion Steel, at the time. “I’ve been in this business for three decades and I am completely energized by this unique opportunity. This is a historic operation heading into a bold new chapter.
“I’ve seen the look in steelworkers’ eyes when they push an operation to new heights. We are going to see that same look from our team members across all Orion Steel facilities as we write the next chapter of this essential North American steelmaker. We have a partner in Atlas with a stellar record in the United States and Canada of building great industrial companies over the long-term. And Atlas is committed to ensuring we have the human and financial capital we need, and the strategic guidance, to achieve lasting success.”
The Regina plant and other operations in Alberta were renamed Interpro Pipe and Steel. And there soon came word that the famed goose logo would be coming back. That was confirmed in August at a media event by Mike Day, president of United Steelworkers Local 5890.
“Atlas Holdings is the parent company, and the overall structure of the steel facilities in North America is Orion Steel. What they're doing is trying to get back to the grassroots of what we used to be,” said Day.
He told reporters there were roughly 525 workers at the steel plant, but that the plant is looking to ramp production back up in the tubular division.
“We are in the middle of recalling everybody that's backed in the tubular seniority list, and they're not sure how much they're going to have to hire, but they're looking for a lot of maintenance and production individuals.”
The restoration of a goose statue on the historic steel mill property was a proud moment for the company and the staff.
“Early on in this process, we were engaging with Atlas, the new team that obviously has partnered with us and set up Orion Steel and now Interpro Steel. They revealed the logo to me one day, and I was so proud,” said Brad Forster, vice president at Interpro.
“Just to see the goose back was something that I'll never forget. And I was so proud that they took the time to understand our roots and make sure that they were going to leverage that moving forward."
Turbulent times for the steel industry
The irony is not lost on people that the Regina steel mill is getting new life under new American ownership at a time of turmoil, with a full-blown US trade war in which President Donald Trump imposed steep tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum.
To counter those tariffs and help protect Saskatchewan jobs in the steel industry, the Saskatchewan government announced in March that its provincial Crown would purchase steel and more than a hundred kilometres of pipe from the EVRAZ plant.
“The Government of Saskatchewan will always stand up for Saskatchewan's interests, focusing on pragmatic and sensible solutions, while protecting our jobs, economy and residents," Crown Investments Corporation Minister Jeremy Harrison said in a statement. "By prioritizing the purchasing of local steel for SaskPower and SaskEnergy infrastructure projects, we are helping to keep over 400 hardworking Saskatchewan people on the job right here in Regina."
In July in Saskatoon, Premier Scott Moe spoke to reporters about his meetings with those at the Regina plant. He spoke of the steel plant being “sold to an American owner, ironically, in light of the discussion around U.S. tariffs on steel.
“But there is a path and I think the steel industry certainly is an example of just how integrated we are across the 49th parallel in our North American economy.
"We've always focused on doing what we can to add to that North American energy, food and manufacturing security… And we will find a path with our largest trading partner, which is the U.S.
“EVRAZ in Regina is the very core of their operations in North America. And they are a North American operation now, American owned. But a lot of their product will find its way to Seattle and then come back and make pipe for the oil field.
“And so I would say, despite some interim challenges here, that the future is bright for the folks at (Interpro) and each and every individual that works there.“
– With files from Jon Perez
