Our Story
Built from the Ground Up
In 1970, three tradesmen made a decision that would shape Cape Breton's built environment for generations. John Yurchesyn, Nelson Latimer, and Jim Kehoe purchased the small jobs division from the contracting company where they had been working, and set out on their own.
They called it Joneljim — a name built from their own: John, Nelson, and Jim. Starting with residential and commercial work, they built a reputation across Cape Breton for reliability, craftsmanship, and delivering on time.
Over the decades, Joneljim grew into one of Cape Breton's largest construction enterprises, with over 250 employees. With growth came diversification — building supplies, millwork, windows and doors, well drilling, seniors housing, and real estate all added along the way.
Today the Joneljim Group remains rooted in Cape Breton, owned and operated by the same family that started it all.
"From three tradesmen and a small job division, a company was built — and with it, a piece of everything Cape Breton has become."
