Challenge
Capture a builder’s life before the blueprint faded
In 2010, Ryan Beedie called Echo.
His father, Keith, was 84 and had been the heart and soul of Beedie—the real estate firm he founded in 1954—for more than 50 years.
Now Ryan was stepping into the role of President. He wanted to get the family legacy down on paper, not just as a tribute to his father, but as a way to honour Beedie employees and clients, whose contributions helped grow the business.
He also wanted to preserve the values that shaped Keith’s life and work, a kind of roadmap for future generations.
There was just one catch.
Keith Beedie wasn’t exactly a spotlight guy.
Ryan had to convince him to share his story and help bring Something to Build On to life.
Solution
Decades of history, designed to reflect the man who lived it
It worked.
Keith agreed, and we couldn’t wait to begin.
Echo assembled a storytelling team and started digging, gathering stories, photographs, and archival material stretching from Keith’s childhood in the 1920s through to the 2010s.
And there was no shortage of content.
Interviews, family photos, blueprints.
Press clippings, company lore, turning-point moments.
We shaped the material into a rich personal narrative, grounded in both family and business.
The book design took inspiration from blueprint drawings, using Beedie’s signature navy for quotes and captions. Headers were clean, elegant, and playfully arranged in an inviting structure that reflected Keith’s straightforward, down-to-earth style.
Result
A legacy shared, expanded, and updated
When Something to Build On was released in 2010, the response was overwhelmingly positive.
Employees, partners, and peers saw more than a life story.
They saw a portrait of the company’s culture and core values.
In 2023, Ryan Beedie and his team returned to Echo to update the book.
The second edition included:
- A smaller trim size
- A fresh, modern cover
- New chapters from the 2010s
- A moving foreword from Ryan
“I’ve heard from dozens of businesspeople, entrepreneurs, Beedie employees and friends who say they were deeply moved by my dad’s story—not only the triumphs he achieved and the hardships he overcame, but also his vision, his tenacity and his relentless drive.”
— Ryan Beedie
One more cool thing...
Business cards, handshakes, and Friday afternoon beverages
Keith Beedie did business the old-fashioned way.
He was known for a firm handshake and a solid word.
So it made sense that the “book tour” for Something to Build On wasn’t really a tour at all.
Friends, tradespeople, suppliers, and longtime employees would simply come by his office. Keith would hand them a signed copy, swap a few stories, and—if it was Friday afternoon—maybe share a drink.
It was personal.
It was informal.
It was perfectly Keith.
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