Embracing new challenges, McNab finds the sky is the limit

It may seem incongruous that an air ambulance paramedic woundup building properties for a living. But it was Scott McNab’s off-timethat sealed the deal. To pass the hours while working on-call in therural Northwest he found a local contractor who was willing to takehim on as an apprentice homebuilder.

“It was a win-win for both of us,” Scott says of the arrangement. “Ilearned a life skill and he was able to have flexible labour.”

What McNab didn’t know was that 15 years later his second jobwould turn into his primary career as a property developer, buyingrental units to support his two children’s university education.

He coupled his eye for development with the satisfaction ofbuilding quality properties.

“Holding to the standard that I would never own a space that I wasnot willing to live in myself proved to be valuable,” Scott says.

That principle evolved into the construction of commercialproperties, including the new head office of his HPG PropertyDevelopment in the former TD bank in Thunder Bay’s downtown northcore.

He calls it The Vault on Red River and here againthere are two things going on. The Vault is where Scottruns his property company with a staff that averages adozen people, depending on the size of developments under management. But it is also a business incubator of sorts where those with work to do but who don’trelish their own bricks and mortar can flourish.

McNab calls it a co-workspace that, throughmembership, gives access to a modern and progressiveworking environment for less than the cost of a lunchmeal.

“In today’s modern work world, flexibility with nooverhead is the only way to succeed,” he says. “At TheVault you have the opportunity to sharpen your ownsteel while collaborating with other like-mindedindividuals.”

McNab views Thunder Bay as “a metaphoricalisland” where it is essential to collaborate. Every localbusiness faces a number of common obstacles andcommunication is critical to finding ways around them.

“Experience has taught me that success is a result of harnessingthe power of a team, not an individual,” Scott says.

During 20 years as a critical care flight paramedic and five yearsconcurrently as a tactical medical officer with the provincial police,Mcnab earned a variety of certifications, diplomas and a degree thathave nothing to do with running a business. However, he says, theexperience has everything to do with creating and managing systemsand solving problems, large and small.

“I have always maintained that education is never wasted, andexperience is hard-earned. I have learned that in all experiences thereare lessons to be learned,” he says.

With words of gratitude to the residents of Northwestern Ontario,Scott offers what amounts to his own credo: “Embrace change in life!It is a constant that can be filled with endless new experiences andsatisfactions. Challenge yourself to be the best version of yourselfevery single day and be grateful for the amazing community we livein. Contribute to your family and community, and once you have foundyour purposeful work, dive in.”