EllisDon

EllisDon is an employee-owned global construction services and technology company dedicated to redefining the construction industry. With a focus on innovation, sustainability, and fostering inclusive growth, EllisDon is delivering the future of construction by empowering people to push beyond traditional construction boundaries. With thousands of salaried and hourly employees across seventeen national and international offices, EllisDon has become a leader in every sector and nearly every facet of the construction industry.

EllisDon doesn’t have a vision or mission statement, just values that steer the company forward. EllisDon is guided by their core values and principles: Complete Openness, Integrity and Mutual Respect, Trust and Freedom, Mutual Accountability, and Entrepreneurial Enthusiasm. These values are the foundation of their corporate culture and approach to business.

EllisDon was founded and incorporated in 1951 in London, Ontario, Canada, by brothers Don and David Ellis Smith.^[1] Northdale Public Elementary School in London was a noteable first hometown project.

In 1956 EllisDon was the first Canadian construction company to purchase and operate a tower crane in Canada.^[2]

In 1971, EllisDon launched their Corporate Safety Strategy, one of the first construction companies to do so. The strategy was developed to improve job site safety, eliminate injuries and to protect and maintain the well-being of all employees and people working within an EllisDon site. ^[3]

Between 1974 and 1976, the company expanded, establishing operations in Edmonton, Alberta and in Saudi Arabia.^{[2] [4] [5]} Since then EllisDon has expanded its current operations to its offices across Canada, the United States, the Middle East and North Africa.^[6]

In 1982 EllisDon was awarded the construction management contract for the Metro Toronto Convention Centre project. Later in 1989, EllisDon completed the world's first retractable roof stadium also known as the SkyDome (renamed Rogers Centre in 2005), and home to the Toronto Blue Jays.^[7] The roof is made up of three moveable panels and one stationary and was the first of its kind upon completion.^{[8] [1]}

In 1990, EllisDon established the construction industry's first freestanding Research and Development Department.^[2] Following that, EllisDon in 1993 became the first Canadian company to build in Latvia and Lithuania following the removal of the Iron Curtain in the USSR.^{[9] [10]} In 1997, EllisDon completed its first project in Malaysia.^[2]

In 1996, Don Smith's son, Geoff Smith – who joined the company as a full-time employee in 1982 – became EllisDon's president and CEO.^[11]

In 2004, EllisDon participated in a new hospital funding model, a public-private partnership (PPP) with the 450ドル million William Osler Health Centre in Brampton, Ontario.^[9] Public-Private Partnerships are large and complex projects that involve if not all, most of the construction services EllisDon offers, in order to execute seamlessly. EllisDon is one of the largest construction companies to take on public infrastructure projects with a robust portfolio to back them up. From design, to building, financing and maintenance these builds demand a lot of attention. A notable public-private partnership includes the Ontario Court of Justice, Toronto Courthouse.

Wanting to expand it's international borders in 2004, EllisDon opens offices in the Middle East, headquartered in Dubai.

In 2008, EllisDon completed construction and installation work in the Dubai Waterfront, the largest waterfront development of its kind in the world.^[12]

In 2015, EllisDon completed the International Facilities Project (IFP), Terminal Expansion at Calgary International Airport. The IFP also marked a significant milestone, making YYC Canada's first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified airport terminal.^[13]

Built by a consortium led by EllisDon and Infrastructure Ontario, the Pan Am Athlete’s Village was home to over 10,000 athletes and officials from 41 countries during the 2015 Pan/Para Pan Am Games. Since the games the village is now known as the Canary District in Toronto, featuring residential condominiums and health and wellness focused retail and George Brown College’s first student residence.

In 2016 EllisDon was responsible for constructing the BioSteele Centre (now known as the OVO Centre). A two-storey, 68,000 square foot state-of-the-art training facility located on the Exhibition Place grounds.

In 2016, EllisDon was named Canada’s Safest Employer. The Safest Employer Award is presented by Canadian Occupational Safety in partnership with Workplace Safety and Prevention Services and encompasses 10 industry-specific categories. EllisDon was the Gold recipient in the Building and Construction category.  

In partnership with the Toronto Transit Commission, EllisDon completed the TTC- York University Subway Station project in 2017, including the construction of six new stations along an 8.6km alignment that would serve over 40,000 commuters.

In March 2018, EllisDon acquired the interests of joint venture partner Carillion (in liquidation in the UK) in four Ontario hospital projects, becoming the sole service provider at Royal Ottawa Hospital, Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital, Brampton Civic Hospital and Sault Area Hospital.^[14] This transaction secured EllisDon the position as the second  largest facilities services provider for healthcare in Canada.

In 2019, EllisDon completed the Talbot Dams Rehabilitation Project to replace and rehabilitate the locks and dams located on the Talbot River.  

In March of 2020 EllisDon made the shift to become entirely employee owned. The Smith family who previously held 50% ownership, signed-off on an agreement that ensures over time, EllisDon will be entirely employ owned.

The Keeyask Hydroelectric Generating Station was completed in 2021 on the Nelson River in Northern Manitoba. Once completed the powerhouse’s seven units were said to be capable of producing enough electricity to supply about 400,000 homes.

In 2021, EllisDon Community Builders was launched to provide innovative, sustainable and affordable housing developments.

In an effort to address vital environmental, social and governance matters in 2022, EllisDon published its inaugural Impact Report. The report includes detailed information about health and safety commitments, Indigenous relations, updates about EllisDon’s people and culture and overall company wins for that year. This report will be published annually. See the 2024 report here.

In June 2023, Geoff Smith was succeeded as President and CEO by Kieran Hawe, previously COO. ^[15] Geoff Smith remains Executive Chair of the Board of Directors, which is currently comprised of 11 members.

In 2023, EllisDon completed The Well (buildings F & G), a notable Toronto development located at Front Street and Spadina, housing a variety of retail, restaurants, high-rise condominiums, residential rental buildings, and a commercial office tower.

In late 2024, EllisDon – alongside the City of North Bay - broke ground in 2024 on new North Bay Recreation and Community Centre slated to be completed in summer of 2026.

• 2025 Geoff Smith Honoured with Toronto Region Builder Award^[23]
• 2024 Renew Canada's Top 100 Infrastructure Projects. Achieved Platinum Status^[24]
• 2024 On-Site Magazine’s Top 40 Under 40 List, EllisDon secures three spots^[25]
• EllisDon Wins Two CCPPP 2024 National Awards for Innovation and Excellence in P3s^[26]
• 2023 5-Star Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employers Award- Canadian HR Reporter^[27]
• 2022 Building Transformation Innovation Spotlight Global Envoy Award Winner^[28]
• 2022 CCA Environmental achievement^[29]
• 2021 CEO Kieran Hawe is named Best Executive by The Globe and Mail’s Report on Business^[30]
• 2018 Renew Canada's Top 100 Infrastructure Projects.^[31] Achieved Platinum Status.^[32]
• 2018 Mediacorp's Top 100 Employers^[33] (8th consecutive year).^[34]
• 2017 Mediacorp Canada's Greenest Employers^[35]
• 2017 Deloitte 50 Best Managed Companies^[36]
• 2016 Canada's Safest Employer^[37]
• 2016 Financial Post's Ten Best Companies To Work For^[38]

• Official website
• Building on a foundation of entrepreneurship at the Toronto Star

• Companies based in Mississauga
• Construction and civil engineering companies of Canada
• Privately held companies of Canada
• Employee-owned companies of Canada
• 1951 establishments in Ontario
• Construction and civil engineering companies established in 1951
• Canadian companies established in 1951

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• Articles with short description
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• Wikipedia articles with possible conflicts of interest from August 2019