Proudly Local Business: North Star Oilfield Services and Distribution Ltd.

The town of Wainwright is an east-central Alberta community made up of major oil and gas production and agriculture, meaning a lot of families in the area are immersed in either farming or working the oil fields. But Jennifer and Jason Miller, longtime Wainwright area residents and owners of North Star Oilfield Services and North Star Distribution Ltd, get to experience the best of both worlds with family by their side.

In 1995, shortly after getting married, the couple decided to return to Jennifer’s farming roots. “We moved back to my mom and dad’s farm because we wanted to farm as well,” says Jennifer. But farm life wasn’t all the couple desired for their future. To keep himself busy, Jason took on some contract work and spent a lot of hours on his bobcat doing odd jobs all around town.

Eventually, after making a name for himself, Jason bought a steamer truck to build up some more contracts on the oil fields in and around Wainwright during the winter months. “We just took baby steps,” says Jennifer, and after a while, North Star Oilfield Services was born.

By 1999, the couple had saved up enough from their business to buy their own quarter section of land and a move-in-ready house to suit their growing family and growing business.

"We just kept moving forward, forward, forward."

Since then, North Star has grown into a full-fledged industrial business with a fleet of two one-tonnes, a steam truck, a vac truck, a hydro-vac, an excavator, a grader and a gravel truck. “We just kept moving forward, forward, forward,” says Jennifer.

As their three boys grew older, they joined in on the fun too. “When our oldest son was 14, he started out as a labourer with Jason on the side,” says Jennifer. Their middle son followed big brother’s footsteps and by the time both boys were old enough, they each got their class one license to join their dad in operating the big trucks. 

In 2020, the family business expanded even further when they opened their oil field supply store, North Star Distribution Ltd. This was a perfect opportunity for their youngest son to show off his people, sales and customer service skills and join the family business. “He dove right into the store atmosphere,” says Jennifer. “We all just intertwine and help each other out.”

That family-first attitude is something that makes North Star stand apart from other business models, especially in the booming oil and gas industry. “We’re not a corporation where you don’t know your people,” says Jennifer. “It’s Jason and I and our boys and we even consider our employees family too.” 

Having these meaningful connections to the Wainwright community all their lives make it even easier for Jennifer and Jason to stay involved with all aspects of life there and pay it forward when they can. “If there’s an opportunity, we’re always wanting and willing to support it,” says Jennifer. “The community is so important to our family.” 

Jennifer has high hopes for the future of their business. “Our boys are young and can take it and go who knows where,” she says. “We started this, and they’re the next generation.” 

Phone: (780) 842-1518

1902 1 Avenue, Wainwright, Alberta T9W 1L7, Canada