Westend Piano Ltd. -

Our Company

Our business speciality is piano restoration; however, we are conscientious of our clienteles' needs and offer many other piano industry-related services. We offer our expertise and experience in a wide range of areas including buying, selling, restoring, renting, moving, storing, tuning, and repairing pianos.

The beginning of craftsmanship

Westend Piano Ltd. was founded by Eric Kaunat in 1948. Mr. Kaunat was a skilled piano technician who imported his craft from Europe.

A devoted apprentice

One day in 1966, Mr. Kaunat made the acquaintance of an avid pianist with a strong desire to learn more about pianos. Mr. Kaunat had found a worthy apprentice in Mr. John Yeats, an electrical engineer from Northern Telecom. In 1971, Mr. Yeats bought the company. By 1977, now retired, he was immersed full-time in his passion.

Like father like son

Doug, John's eldest son, was 20 in 1977, and had been involved in the piano business part-time since the age of 14. Doug was very intrigued by the positive effect this new business activity had on his father, and decided to follow in John's footsteps.

Doug's upbringing involved music. He realized early on that his passion for music and the piano was substantial. He studied Mechanical Engineering with a subspecialty in acoustics & piano technology, and obtained a Bachelor of Engineering degree from Concordia University in 1985.

In 1989, Doug was now ready to take over the business. He therefore continues the legacy and the upstanding reputation of Westend Piano, built by John Yeats and Eric Kaunat.

Important dates :

1948	Founding of Westend Piano Ltd. by Eric Kaunat in Pointe St-Charles
1966	John Yeats is apprenticing with Eric Kaunat
1971	John Yeats purchases Westend Piano Ltd.
1974	Relocation of the business to Montreal-West
1977	John Yeats retires from Northern Telecom and pursues his passion full-time
1989	Doug Yeats takes over the family business
1996	John Yeats passes away
2001	The business is relocated to a bigger facility at 17 Ronald Drive, Montreal-West

Westend Piano today

Westend Piano is a high-quality piano restoration facility. Its association with many outstanding people in the piano technology trade makes it a leader in this field. Some of these people have been trained in house over the years, developing highly specific skills. Others have been trained elsewhere bringing and sharing their knowledge with us. Our team is vibrant and passionate about the work we do.

Some of Westend Piano's regular associates include :

Tuners / Technicians:	Woodwork Specialists:
Kati Yeats	Romuald Karny, keyboard
Claude Thompson	Wladyslaw Karny, soundboard / bridges
Marie-France Baribeau - www.pianodaccord.ca
Marc Cerisano	Piano Movers:
Alan Probets	John Yeats Jr.
Kazuhiko Kaneta	Peter Yeats
Allan Sutton	Tom Rebelo, Move 'N' Tune
	Clark Davis, Premier Piano
Musicians:
Esfir Dyachkov, pianist and teacher	Industries
Dang Thai Son, concert pianist and teacher	Déménagement Westend - demenagementwestend.ca
Trevor Payne, Jubilation Gospel Choir	Pianophile
Tristen Lauber, pianist and teacher	GC Piano Co
Andrea Cochrane	Mr Tuner

There is more to Doug...

Doug was also an accomplished athlete in Greco-Roman Wrestling.

Between 1975 and 1992, representing Canada, he won medals in numerous international competitions and represented Canada at 5 Olympic Games.

1999 : Admitted to the Canadian Amateur Wrestling Hall of Fame
2001 : Admitted to the Concordia University Sports Hall of Fame
2004 : Admitted to the Quebec Sports Hall of Fame