Top 15 Largest Engineering Firms in Canada

Top 15 Largest Engineering Firms in Canada

 

To say Canada’s engineering workforce is huge would be an understatement.

According to statistics from Engineers Canada, there are more than 295,000 registered engineers in the country. This number is poised to grow dramatically as the largest engineering firms in Canada seize opportunities locally and abroad.

Today, we’ll take a look at 15 of these top engineering firms in Canada, in no particular order.

#1. Aecon Group Inc.

Aecon, one of the largest engineering firms in Canada, played a key role in the CN Tower’s construction; Source: Marco Verch

Aecon is the largest publicly-traded construction company in Canada. It provides engineering services through its subsidiaries Aecon Materials Engineering (AME) and Aecon Utility Engineering (AUE).

Like many of its fellow largest engineering firms in Canada, Aecon has worked on projects central to Canadian history. In Aecon’s case, one instantly-recognizable project is the CN Tower, which was the largest free-standing structure in the world for years.

Fast Facts

Employees: 12,000+

Headquarters: Toronto, Ontario

To learn more about the largest overall construction companies in Canada, click here.

#2. Bantrel Co.

Bantrel, one of the largest engineering firms in Canada, is a subsidiary of Bechtel and McCraig Investments; Source: Bantrel

One thing you’ll note regarding major engineering consulting firms in Canada is that they’re often subsidiaries of larger giants.

This is the case with Bantrel Co., an engineering, procurement, and construction management firm owned by Bechtel Corporation and McCaig Investments.

Areas of specialty for Bantrel’s engineering department include oil, gas, chemicals, and mining metals.

Fast Facts

Employees: 1,500

Headquarters: Calgary, Alberta

#3. Canadian Natural Resources (CNRL)

Horizon Oil Sands, the biggest operation of CNRL, one of the largest engineering firms in Canada; Source: CNRL

Although Canadian Natural Resources does not provide engineering as a service, it more than earns its place on this list of the largest engineering firms in Canada.

You see, as one of the largest heavy crude oil producers in Canada, Canadian Natural Resources employs an army of engineers.

Fast Facts:

Employees: 9,709

Headquarters: Calgary, Alberta

#4. CIMA+

CIMA+ provided mechanical and electrical building engineering services for the Learning Commons at Bishop’s University; Source: CIMA+

With the tagline “Excellence in Engineering,” CIMA+ has a pretty self-explanatory mission. Its work in engineering, geotechnics, geomatics, and project management rank it squarely among well-regarded civil engineering firms in Canada.

CIMA+ has more than 30 offices across the country, including five in Africa.

Fast Facts:

Employees: Nearly 2,000

Headquarters: Laval, Quebec

#5. GHD Group

GHD is an award-winning firm that ranks among the best engineering companies in Canada; Source: GHD

The biggest engineering firms in Canada tend to specialize in a variety of areas, and the GHD Group is no different. In addition to engineering, their specialties include environmental consulting, construction, and IT services.

The modern GHD Group is the result of a 2014 merger between Conestoga-Rovers & Associates and the existing GHD company.

Fast Facts:

Employees: 3,000

Headquarters: Waterloo, Ontario

#6. EllisDon

As one of the largest engineering firms in Canada, EllisDon has worked on many impressive projects, including Eighth Avenue Place in Calgary; Source: EllisDon

You won’t get far on any engineering companies in Canada list before you run into EllisDon. The firm is a global leader, completing more than $4 billion worth of contracts, every year, all over the world.

EllisDon describes its Engineering Services Department as providing “the technical backbone” to all of its projects around the world.

Fast Facts:

Employees: 1,904 (Canada)

Headquarters: London, Ontario

#7. EXP (Formerly Trow Global)

Although one of the largest engineering firms in Canada, EXP has made significant strides in the United States, one notable project being Chicago O’Hare International Airport FAA South Air Traffic Control Tower; Source: AIA

In addition to engineering, EXP’s services include architecture, design, and consulting. The firm changed its name from Trow Global to EXP in 2011. As with many of the biggest engineering firms in Canada, it is globally-recognized; Building Design + Construction ranks it sixth on its list of top global architecture firms.

Although the company moved its operational headquarters from Brampton, Ontario to Chicago, the firm still has a large presence in eight Canadian provinces.

Fast Facts:

Employees: 3,000

Canadian Headquarters: Brampton, Ontario

#8. WSP Global Inc. (Formerly Genivar)

The Markham, Ontario office of WSP Inc, one of the largest engineering firms in Canada; Source: Raysonho @ Open Grid Scheduler / Grid Engine [CC0]

The engineering landscape is always changing, as you can tell based on mergers and name changes many of the top engineering firms in Canada have gone through.

WSP Global became such as of 2014 after initiating a friendly takeover of the firm holding its current name. As a global leader in engineering and professional services, the company offers a wide range of services, including environmental consulting, infrastructure development, and even sustainable transportation solutions like minivan rental in Montreal.

WSP hails itself as a provider of “creative, comprehensive, and sustainable engineering solutions” for sectors including:

• Energy
• Environment
• Healthcare
• Transit
• Maritime

Fast Facts:

Employees: 48,000

Headquarters: Montreal, Quebec

#9. Golder Associates Inc.

Golder Associates Inc provided its services as one of the largest engineering firms in Canada to revitalization of the nation’s Parliament Buildings; Source: Golder Associates

In addition to being one of the top civil engineering firms in Canada, Golder is completely employee-owned. Sectors covered by Golder’s engineering services include mining, oil, gas, and transportation.

Fast Facts:

Employees: 6,500

Headquarters: Toronto, Ontario

#10. Hatch Group

Hatch Group is one of the largest engineering firms in Canada; major projects include the Hatch-Glencore Technology Venture; Source: Hatch

The Hatch Group’s expertise includes engineering for areas like green energy, mining, and water development. Contributing to its status as one of the biggest engineering firms in Canada is Hatch’s clientele base of the largest metals and mining companies in the world.

Fast Facts:

Employees: 9,000

Headquarters: Mississauga, Ontario

#11. McElhanney

Among the portfolio of McElhanney, one of the largest engineering firms in Canada, is the Rushbrook Trail Reconstruction project; Source: McElhanney

McElhanney is not only one of the top engineering firms in Canada; founded in 1910, it’s among the oldest in Western Canada, too.

The firm has more than 30 locations in Western Canada and one in Tampa, Florida.

Fast Facts:

Employees: 550

Headquarters: Vancouver, British Columbia

#12. Morrison Hershfield

The largest engineering firms in Canada boast strong, cohesive teams; one of Morrison Hershfield’s ways of achieving this is through company Dragon Boat competitions; Source: Morrison Hershfield

Morrison Hershfield is among the top civil engineering firms in Canada with a base in Toronto. The firm was founded in 1946 and provides engineering and management services in several sectors, including critical facilities, energy, transit, and transportation.

Fast Facts:

Employees: 700

Headquarters: Toronto, Ontario

#13. PCL Construction

Rendering of True North Square in Winnipeg by PCL, one of the largest engineering firms in Canada; Source: PCL

PCL Construction is another example of the engineering consulting firms in Canada that have a strong, well-rounded list of service offerings.

For clients seeking compex industrial projects, PCL offers the “Engineer-Procure-Construct” package, through which they coordinate all of the above.

Fast Facts:

Employees: 4,400

Headquarters: Edmonton, Alberta

#14. SNC-Lavalin

SNC-Lavalin is not only among the largest engineering firms in Canada; it is an icon in all aspects of the Canadian construction industry; Sources: Wikimedia Commons

In addition to being one of the biggest engineering companies in Canada, SNC-Lavalin is recognized in several other areas. For example, ENR Magazine hails it as the largest international design firm based in Canada.

Its engineering expertise serves several sectors, including energy, geoscience, manufacturing, and aerospace.

Fast Facts:

Employees: 52,435

Headquarters: Montreal, Quebec

#15. Stantec

As with its fellow largest engineering firms in Canada, Stantec has international projects such as the George W. Bush Presidential Center, pictured above; Source: Stantec

As with many of the other entries on this top engineering companies in Canada list, Stantec has an international footprint. Specifically, it has more than 400 locations across North America and six continents.

Its engineering services have contributed to projects ranging from airports to corporate headquarters and the George W. Bush Presidential Center.

Fast Facts:

Employees: 22,000

Headquarters: Edmonton, Alberta