Consilium/ARDOS/Aarluk: Our Times

DATE: January, 2008 ISSUE: 68

The Special Edition

No gift in life is greater than the opportunity to do work of real importance with colleagues of merit for clients of distinction.

Ryan R. Weismith, 1885-1957

This month, as a special holiday treat, we step back from the day-to-day and dip into our archives to bring you some treasured moments and images from Consilium's first century.

NEW DIGS (1908)

In January 1908, Ryan R. Weismith opened his first, tiny storefront on Booth St. in Ottawa, proudly named “Consilium Fine Buggy Whips, Dowsing Rods and Consulting Services Incorporated”. Some of the original product lines were dropped over the years…but that historic day marked the humble beginnings of what would become the Consilium Consulting Group – Aarluk Consulting Inc., Stonecircle Consulting, and Consilium.

January 3, 1908: Consilium Founder Ryan R. Weismith and associates at opening of the first Consilium offices.

NEW PROJECTS (1929)

Following the closure of the Consilium Dowsing Rods Division, shareholders made a collective decision to enter into new business and consulting lines. This photograph was taken at the launch of Consilium Investment Counseling and Stock Management Services on October 27, 1929.

Oct. 27, 1929: Eager new Consilium Investment Brokers Lotan, Sutherland, Kenney, Rigby and Bradshaw poised for an exciting day of Wall Street Trading.

HAPPY ENDINGS (1945)

Over the years Aarluk staff have developed a strong reputation for effective facilitation, the application of solid adult learning principles, and sound organizational development and strategic planning principles. They’ve frequently been called upon to moderate discussions and mediate conflict management situations.

Feb. 8, 1945: Facilitators Klengenberg and Forth (second row) working with a particularly challenging group of clients.

HAPPY ENDINGS (1955)

In the early 1950s Aarluk and Consilium began the first of several projects in the areas of tourism development and parks promotion. Our first project was undertaken for the Government of Quebec, with the goal of promoting tourism to the Gaspé region. Our team implemented a bold new re-engineering of a hitherto undistinguished rock face.

April 23, 1952: Grosset, Black and Gilhuly receiving rapturous applause from L’association québécoise pour le développement de l'industrie touristique for their proposal to redesign Percé Rock. Construction began that summer and was completed in the spring of 1954.

NEW NAME (1962)

We thought our readers might be interested in seeing an actual sample of our newsletter as it was originally published in print, before we moved to the online edition.

This article originally appeared in 1962, shortly before ARDOS changed the corporate name to Stonecircle Consulting Inc. following a planning retreat.

NEW PROJECTS (1970)

The Consilium Corporate Group has always had a strong interest in cultural affairs and event management. “Consilium Conpsychelic Extraterrestrial Caravans” was incorporated in 1970 under Dev Boult, with the announcement of an all star travelling music festival planned for early 1971.

March 1970: Press conference announcing the launch of the “Consilium Conpsychelic Extraterrestrial Caravan”. The tour was cancelled shortly afterwards for various reasons.

That closes our little sojourn down memory lane. On behalf of all staff, partners and associates who have worked for Consilium, Aarluk and Stonecircle over the last century – have a happy and fulfilling holiday. We look forward to working with you in the new year.

P.S.: To everyone who wondered why they didn’t get an invite to this year’s Christmas bash…it’s because there wasn’t one. Our special event has been moved to a date this spring, and you’ll be invited to that one. But that’s a story for another newsletter.