Our Company

Better mobility for life

Our history

In 1989, Marcel Bourassa found a small company called Savaria that was building wheelchair lifts. Looking for a business he could grow for the long term, he saw the potential to serve the growing needs of the aging population. He purchased Savaria and set upon a path to expand the company’s product line and distribution.

As the CEO of Savaria today, Marcel looks back on 30 years of history with a deep sense of pride for what the entire team at the company and he have accomplished to become a leading manufacturer in the accessibility industry. In 2014, he created the Bourassa Savaria Foundation to give back to people challenged with mobility issues.

Savaria is a global leader in accessibility solutions, specializing in personal mobility in and out of the home.

With a strong commitment to making a positive difference in people’s lives, we design, manufacture, and install products to make people live, work, and play more accessible. With a dedicated team of over 2,300 employees worldwide, we strive to provide the best possible service to our customers, both directly and through our trusted network of international partners.

Our product portfolio is one of the widest in the world. Within our accessibility division, we offer a wide range of solutions, including home elevators such as the Vuelift panoramic glass elevator, commercial lifts, stairlifts, and wheelchair platform lifts. Additionally, our patient handling division provides ceiling track lifts and patient slings.

As part of the Savaria Corporation, both Handicare and Garaventa Lift contribute to our mission of accessibility. Garaventa Lift joined our company in 2018, followed by Handicare in 2021. This strategic expansion has further strengthened our ability to cater to diverse customer needs across the globe.

With 11 state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in North & Central America, Europe, and China, we are well-positioned to efficiently reach global markets and tailor our products to meet specific customer requirements. Furthermore, our extensive sales offices, spanning over 30 locations worldwide, ensure that our accessibility solutions are easily accessible to customers everywhere.

At Savaria, we are committed to our mission of providing “Better Mobility for Life.” We constantly strive to innovate and provide cutting-edge solutions that enhance accessibility and improve the quality of life for our customers. With a strong focus on customer satisfaction and a dedication to excellence, we look forward to continuing to lead the industry in the years to come. Our vision is to be the premier accessibility solutions provider, recognized worldwide for our commitment to quality, innovation, and customer service. We are excited about the future and the opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of people around the world.

About us
  • While the headquarters of Savaria Corporation are in Laval, Quebec, Canada, the Company operates several divisions around the world. Here are the major divisions:

    Savaria Concord Lifts Inc.
    Elevating & lift division with manufacturing in Brampton, Ontario Canada and Magog, Quebec Canada (ceiling lifts)

    Savaria Huizhou & Xiamen, China
    Pre-assembly operations in China for home elevators, wheelchair- and stairlifts.

    Handicare Stairlifts International
    Stairlift division with manufacturing in Kingswinford, UK and Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands

    Garaventa Lift
    Elevating & lift division with manufacturing in Surrey, British Columbia Canada and Milan, Italy

    Span America / Span Medical Products
    Medical beds and therapeutic surfaces with manufacturing in Greenville, South Carolina USA and Beamsville, Ontario Canada

  • With the shared vision of enhancing accessibility and making a positive impact on people’s lives, Handicare and Garaventa Lift have seamlessly integrated into the Savaria Corporation, bringing with them their extensive experience, expertise, and capabilities. This strategic expansion has further strengthened our ability to meet diverse customer needs and provide exceptional accessibility solutions worldwide.

    Garaventa Lift: Since 1928
    Garaventa Lifts’ origins trace back to 1928 in Switzerland, where Karl Garaventa built his first of many cable cars. In 1967, the company entered North America and began designing and building mountain tramways. Garaventa Lift manufactured its first wheelchair lift in 1978 and has since provided accessibility solutions for residential homes, businesses, government buildings, schools, places of worship, and transit systems around the world. In 2008, Garaventa Lift expanded to become an industry leader in home elevators.

    Handicare Stairlifts: Since 1886
    The roots of Handicare go back to the year 1886 when its founder, Mr. Jan Hamber, established a “technical trading firm” selling lifts and other items. Innovation has always been in Handicare’s DNA throughout its over 135-year history. The company has been at the forefront of making stairlifts safer, more user-friendly, and customizable to suit individual requirements. Handicare continues to take big steps forward to serve its customers in the best ways possible. Its innovative PhotoSurvey tool accurately measures staircases while generating a 3D image of the stairlift that will appear in the home.

    Handicare stairlifts increase the independence of people in later life or with disabilities, enabling them to live an active life on their terms. It sells straight and curved stairlifts for indoor and outdoor installations in over 40 countries worldwide.

  • MARCEL BOURASSA
    Chairman, President, and CEO – Savaria
    With his vision of an aging population in need of accessibility equipment in the future, Mr. Marcel Bourassa purchased Savaria in 1989, taking the company public in 2002. In 2014, he formed the Bourassa Savaria Foundation a registered Canadian charity that provides funding to people with mobility challenges. In 2018 Mr. Bourassa was honored by Les Affaires as CEO of the Year for a medium-sized Canadian enterprise. He holds a BBA from HEC Montreal. On August 5, 2021, Mr. Bourassa, was named one of seven EY Entrepreneur of The Year® 2021 Québec winners.

    STEPHEN REITKNECHT
    CFO – Savaria
    Mr. Reitknecht assumed the role of chief financial officer for Savaria Corporation in September 2020 and is responsible for providing strategic financial leadership for the company. Prior to joining Savaria, Mr. Reitknecht worked for global and Canadian public and privately held companies spanning multiple industries including medical device manufacturing, wholesale distribution and technology services. Mr. Reitknecht has a B. Comm. in economics and is a designated accountant in Ontario, Canada (CPA, CA).

    SEBASTIEN BOURASSA
    Chief Operating Officer – Savaria
    Mr. Sebastien Bourassa oversees general operations of Savaria and works with newly acquired businesses to maximize synergies. He was instrumental in setting up operations for Savaria in China in 2007. This initiative has provided critical advantages for Savaria and Savaria Huizhou has continuously grown. He has a BBA from HEC Montreal and an EMBA from Ivey Business School in Hong Kong.

    ALEXANDRE BOURASSA
    Sales Vice President – Savaria
    Mr. Alex Bourassa oversees worldwide dealer sales of the elevator and lift division as well as direct store operations in North America and Australia. Under his strong leadership, dealer sales have continued to grow, and distribution has strengthened across the U.S. market. His acumen for sales and product knowledge has contributed to the leadership position Savaria enjoys today.

    LES TEAGUE
    President – Span America
    Mr. Teague joined Savaria in 2017 following the acquisition by Savaria of Span America Medical Systems. At that time, he was Vice President of Business Development. Mr. Teague was named President of Span America January 1, 2021. Prior to joining Span America, he held a variety of roles, including President, of a large manufacturer and packager of personal care products. Mr. Teague has an undergraduate degree in Biology from The University of Georgia and a Master of Business Administration from the University of South Carolina.

    VINCE SCIAMANNA
    President – Garaventa Lift Group
    Mr. Sciamanna joined Savaria in 2018 following the acquisition by Savaria of Garaventa Accessibility AG group. He began his career with Garaventa Lift in 1999. Vince joined the Garaventa Lift Group management team as Global Director of Business Development. Mr. Sciamanna holds a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Berne.

    HÉLÈNE BERNIER
    Finance Vice President – Savaria
    Ms. Bernier is the Corporation’s Finance Vice President since 2004. With over 30 years of experience including over 15 years at Savaria, she has built expertise in reporting, internal controls, due diligence, merging & acquisitions, financing, and governance. She obtained her BAA in accounting from HEC Montréal and her CPA of Quebec during her professional training with the chartered accountant firm Deloitte.

  • The Bourassa Savaria Foundation was created in 2014 to support people facing mobility challenges. It aims to provide financial assistance to in-need Canadians with disabilities related to physical mobility. It was founded by Marcel Bourassa, President, and CEO of Savaria Corporation.

    If you’d like to donate, apply for funding, or learn more…

Vuelift
savaria vuelift mini home elevator
Vuelift
Artira
Artira inclined platform lift
Artira
Brands

Representing Savaria, Garaventa Lift and Handicare brands in Asia

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