PEOPLE & CULTURE
ELLISDON’S EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE
The ethos and business practices at EllisDon mirror our foundational beliefs and values: Freedom, Trust, Complete Openness, Mutual Accountability, Entrepreneurial Enthusiasm, Integrity, and Mutual Respect. Our mission is to create avenues for individuals who share these values to realize their utmost potential, to foster an environment offering enriching careers to our peers, and to make significant contributions to the community we are a part of. We are committed to cultivating a work environment where every person can thrive professionally while supporting one another in reaching their aspirations. The following five elements are what EllisDon employees experience and how our culture influences each:
We attract great people with similar values and hire only the best.
1. INTRODUCTION
EllisDon strives to provide an open, inclusive, and accommodating experience throughout the candidate journey from application to final interview stage. We have continued to implement flexible interview options for candidates from telephonic, video, written exchange, and optional sensory-sensitive in-person interviews. We believe in offering a variety of options to acknowledge candidates' communication preferences.
We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace through targeted recruitment efforts. We actively seek partnerships with organizations that support diversity in the workforce. Our recruitment strategies include attending job fairs and engaging with universities focusing on utilizing platforms connecting us with diverse talent. We also continue to enhance bias-free hiring practices and provide training for our recruitment teams to ensure a fair and equitable selection process. By enhancing our recruitment efforts, we not only strengthen our organizational culture but also contribute to a more sustainable and equitable society.
EllisDon is committed to recruiting the right talent and strives to make everyone feel like they belong.
STUDENTS HIRED IN 2024
Our job postings say, “Go ahead and be yourself, we will pay you for it.” – and we mean it
2. WELCOME
The onboarding experience at EllisDon focuses on facilitating connections between new employees and the essential contacts and knowledge they require to thrive in their roles. This includes the launch of our Onboarding Roadmaps for Project Managers, Superintendents and Project Coordinators. The aim of these Roadmaps is to prepare employees in these key operational roles by providing them with immediate access to the technical training and resources they need to succeed in their job and grow their career.
We extend a friendly, warm, and professional welcome to EllisDon.
3. WORKING TOGETHER
Our people are at the heart of what makes EllisDon successful, and our intent is to provide a fulfilling and meaningful career to each of our employees. We believe a great career is about more than just a job; it's about creating an engaging environment where everyone can reach their full potential and where our people have the freedom to lead and make decisions about how they accomplish their work.
We create an engaging environment and give our people the freedom to decide how they accomplish their work.
4. GROWING
At EllisDon, we believe leadership exists in every employee. The job title does not define a leader; it’s the experiences, shared expertise, and vested interest in developing others that encourages individuals to stretch their boundaries and grow. To us, growth means offering opportunities for development that empower team members to fully realize their potential, both in their careers and in their personal lives.
In today’s dynamic work environment, understanding the pathways to growth and development is essential for both employees and leaders. Development Profiles provide a comprehensive list of experiences employees can have in their role. This allows employees and people leaders to have more informed discussions around growth within a role, and where opportunities for learning exist. Currently we have 30 active Development Profiles across multiple business units, with seven in development and more to come.
The People and Culture team is nearing completion of a training program specifically designed for People Leaders, emphasizing their roles and responsibilities in shaping the Employee Experience. Covering everything from interview guides, onboarding resources, performance reviews, to guiding departing employees, this program equips People Leaders with the essential tools, resources and knowledge to support and develop the careers of those on their team.
We provide development opportunities enabling our people to achieve the full extent of their personal and professional career potential.
5. THANK YOU
Whether they are a co-op student returning to school, an employee pursuing another career opportunity, or a valued employee retiring after years of service, at EllisDon, we extend our heartfelt thanks to all departing employees for their role in shaping our culture. We look forward to maintaining a lasting connection as they continue on their professional journey.
We want to acknowledge the amazing contributions of our retiring employees and ensure they feel recognized and supported in the next chapter of their life. To enhance this experience, a Retirement Portal Page has been launched providing employees with access to resources for retirement planning. The resources available to employees includes:
• Greenshield+ financial planning and career transition coaching.
• Manulife financial planning to assist understanding the options available and purchasing a retirement income plan.
• A fulsome frequently asked questions summary.
The portal page includes a video message from the Chair of our Executive Board of Directors, Geoff Smith, providing a thoughtful ‘thank you’ to all employees who are retiring from EllisDon, and welcoming them to return to provide meaningful mentorship.
We thank departing employees for being part of our culture and fostering a continued relationship through their career growth.
INCLUSIVE DIVERSITY
ELLISDON'S COMMITMENT
EllisDon is dedicated to making a significant and authentic difference through our Inclusive Diversity initiatives. We have identified five key pillars where we believe our efforts will be most impactful:
• Enhancing the experience of our EllisDon employees.
• Empowering our leadership.
• Elevating our brand.
• Engaging with our communities.
• Evolving our industry.
We are committed to regularly assessing our progress across various elements of our strategy, including the strength of our partnerships, effectiveness of our communication, our commitment to transparency, inclusivity of our culture, comprehensiveness of our education, and depth of systemic change we are fostering.
Inclusion is the key that unlocks the power of diversity. Without inclusion, the benefits of diversity, such as increased creativity, innovation, retention, and a sense of belonging, can’t blossom into results.
ELLISDON’S DIVERSITY PROFILE
Guided by the demographic data from the Canadian Census, EllisDon is actively striving to mirror the country's diverse population within our company and leadership ranks. To gauge and monitor our progress in this area, we have launched a confidential Self-Identification Study. This initiative invites our employees to voluntarily disclose information regarding their gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability status, and military background.
As of Janurary 2025, we've achieved an 83% response rate from all our full-time salaried staff across Canada, which exceeds our initial target of 75% participation.
OUR 2024 DIVERSITY PROFILE
EMPLOYEE LEADERSHIP GROUPS
At EllisDon, the driving force behind our Inclusive Diversity initiatives are our very own team members. Various employee-led groups take charge, establishing their unique governance frameworks and setting tailored goals to ensure they make the most meaningful difference for the communities they represent and support.
You can discover more about the remarkable work of EllisDon’s Employee Leadership Groups and their achievements by visiting the EllisDon website. There, you will find a wealth of information on the strides we are making together.
ALLiED: ALL INCLUSIVE AT ELLISDON
ALLiED is focused on promoting awareness, fostering education, nurturing inclusion, and celebrating the rich tapestry of diversity encompassing aspects like cultural heritage, ethnicity, disability, neurodiversity, economic background, religious beliefs, and more. The group is dedicated to challenging "isms" and mindsets perpetuating intolerance. These efforts not only enrich our immediate workplace but also extend to make a positive ripple effect throughout the entire industry.
PEACE: PROUD EMPLOYEES FOR ALLYSHIP, COMMUNITY, AND EDUCATION
PEACE is a vibrant group with fervor and significant influence, steadfastly advocating against prejudice. This group's mission is to provide a sanctuary for LGBTQ2S+ employees and industry peers, fostering a culture where everyone feels safe and supported. The acronym PEACE represents Proud Employees for Allyship, Community, and Education, reflecting the group's commitment to these core values.
TOGETHER: GENDER EQUALITY & HUMAN EMPOWERMENT
The essence of Together goes beyond merely increasing the number of women in our field. It’s about fostering a workplace where every employee, irrespective of gender, can freely express themselves, voice concerns, and innovate without the dread of failure or feeling left out. This initiative is centered on emboldening individuals to confidently address inappropriate conduct and to feel secure in being their true selves, especially for those whose gender identity or expression may be less represented.
ELLISDON VIBE: ANTI-BLACK RACISM
VIBE is EllisDon's employee-led leadership group that is focused on initiating concrete actions to combat anti-Black racism with actions that challenge the status quo and push us towards how we want the world to be, not just how it is. These actions help us all to feel like we belong, and actions that allow us to continue having productive conversations.
INDIGENOUS RELATIONS
ELLISDON’S COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING INDIGENOUS RELATIONS
EllisDon is humbled to build great relationships with Indigenous communities, clients, and employees to ensure mutual success. Our commitment to respecting all distinct Indigenous cultures across Canada is rooted in cultural awareness and recognition for all traditional and contemporary cultures across Canada. EllisDon’s Indigenous Inclusion Principles affirm our corporate commitment to Truth and Reconciliation throughout Canada.
We recognize that mutual respect requires Indigenous rights and culture to be uniquely honoured to ensure inclusive diversity and reconciliation. We know that our projects can deliver positive benefits to local communities and our philosophy has always been to provide the greatest opportunities possible to those who live and work within Indigenous communities. We have initiated a coordinated company-wide effort to increase Indigenous business procurement, build relationships with Indigenous nations, communities, and organizations across Canada, and to increase Indigenous participation on projects. We will continue to enhance our Socio-Economic Framework where we embrace Indigenous inclusion towards greater reconciliation and follow the principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's Call to Action 92.
SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INDIGENOUS RELATIONS DEPARTMENT (SEDIR)
As part of EllisDon’s commitment to Indigenous Inclusion Principles, our Department of Socio-Economic Development and Indigenous Relations leads, enhances, and monitors our national Indigenous Socio-Economic Framework, and provides guidance within the organization on best Indigenous inclusion practices.
The department continues to expand relationships with Indigenous communities, businesses, and nations to support the creation of Indigenous economic opportunities across the country. In a collaborative effort with our Inclusive Diversity group, the department is focused on developing an Indigenous Vendor Database, to be rolled out across Canada over the coming year. The planned database will provide estimating groups across all regions with an accurate and up-to-date directory, with the information necessary to engage with Indigenous businesses by project.
This is a key area of focus to proactively engage with and enhance the capacity of Indigenous businesses. In 2025, these two departments will also roll out updated employee training across our Canadian operations.
2024 MILESTONES:
PARTNERSHIP ACCREDITATION IN INDIGENOUS RELATIONS (PAIR)
EllisDon has been actively working together in pursuit of accreditation from the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business (CCIB) through the Partnership Accreditation in Indigenous Relations (PAIR) Program. PAIR certification is designed to recognize organizations that not only have corporate initiatives aimed at Indigenous Inclusion but also deliver tangible, measurable outcomes.
We initiated this journey in 2022 and are proud to announce the completion of the third phase. This phase involved setting corporate goals for Indigenous employment, retention, procurement, and corporate contributions, both financial and in-kind. Looking ahead, we are aiming to fulfill the requirements for the Bronze level certification by Spring 2025. Upon achieving this milestone, we will evaluate any gaps to achieving future Silver and Gold levels of certification.
INDIGENOUS EMPLOYEE CIRCLE
The Indigenous Employee Circle (IEC) is a community within EllisDon centered around the lived experiences of Indigenous People, and is dedicated to fostering Indigenous inclusion, support, and connection. Launched in 2024, it provides a platform where Indigenous voices are heard and valued, enabling members to share their experiences, insights, and cultural heritage. It is a space for mutual support, professional development, and the promotion of greater understanding throughout EllisDon.
EDUCATIONAL EVENTS
Throughout the year, EllisDon and its regional offices participated in numerous events designed to educate employees and bring awareness to Indigenous history. These included:
Indigenous Days of 2024 - Recognition of Culture and Resilience Webinar This webinar provided an opportunity to delve into the traditions, resilience, and interconnectedness that define Indigenous cultures worldwide. It provided the history and context behind days of importance and empowered employees with information on how to show up for each day with confidence.
Understanding Two-Spirit Identity and Pride Session. This session focused on the intersectionality of Two-Spirit (2S) and Pride and explored the rich history, challenges, and resilience of Indigenous 2SLGBTQ+ individuals and how Two-Spirit Pride intersects with cultural traditions and advocacy for social justice in modern times.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation events were held at each area office across Canada and included flag raising and tobacco ceremonies, educational sessions with guest speakers on the intergenerational impact of residential schools, and drum round dance and song performances.
Educational events associated with Red Dress Day organized by the Vancouver area office. Events focused on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people (MMIWG2S), systemic racism, and the origins of Red Dress Day.
EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATION PARTICIPATION
EllisDon is committed to participating in initiatives and partnering with employment and educational organizations and communities to advance training and employment opportunities for Indigenous Peoples. Initiatives undertaken include:
- Participation in the launch event for Indigiconnect.com, focused on Indigenous entrepreneurship and economic empowerment in the Traditional Territory of Treaty 6.
- Regular engagement with First Nations to discuss local Indigenous business capacity and capabilities for ongoing and future projects.
- Participation in the Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) for high schools in the Cold Lake region, resulting in the selection of two Indigenous students becoming EllisDon’s first Carpenter Apprentice RAP students hired onto the local project. This program remains part of our ongoing commitment to support Indigenous education and provide opportunities for Indigenous youth to develop skills and gain valuable work experience.
- Participating in Indigenous-led conferences such as CCIB's 40th Anniversary Conference & Business Forum and the Forward Summit in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario.
- Donating 200+ youth books to the library at Frog Lake First Nation. This donation is part of our ongoing commitment to support Indigenous communities and promote education and literacy.
PROJECT PROFILE
PME and Enoch Cree Nation
PME, a division of EllisDon, completed work on a two-season Civil project for, and with, Enoch Cree Nation. Moreover, this project is a definitive display of how our team prioritizes building meaningful relationships with every client but even more so within Indigenous communities.
Examples of how we emphasized strengthening our relationship with Enoch Cree Nation on this project include:
- Hiring an Enoch Cree Nation member as the Project Director, to ensure membership had representation on our project management team.
- Achieving an 85% Indigenous employment rate on the earthworks scope.
- Retention of all staff/craft through the duration of the project.
- Prioritizing Enoch Cree Nation owned companies, Nation member owned companies and Nation Partner companies to perform work on the project.
This is the latest of several projects where through genuine partnership, growth and development opportunities, are co-created with First Nations communities.
HEALTH & SAFETY
Health and safety play a prominent role in the EllisDon culture and are intertwined with every aspect of our business. We truly believe safety is non-negotiable and are committed to providing a safe, healthy, respectful, and inclusive work environment for everyone on site, in office, and everywhere in between. This is driven by three goals:
1.
To eliminate injuries and ensure everyone goes home safely at the end of the day.
2.
To develop a strong safety culture.
3.
To protect and maintain the health and safety (including physical, psychological, and social well-being) of our people, clients, partners, subcontractors, and communities.
We continuously strive to not only improve our own safety program but also enhance safety performance and standards across the industries in which we work. It is of utmost importance to provide an environment to support and empower employees to be health and safety leaders.
SAFETY VALUES AND BELIEFS
EllisDon’s organizational leaders are actively guiding our safety journey by creating personal safety values and beliefs statements with clear written safety expectations for their business areas. We are seeing our safety culture further cemented, with operational staff at all levels increasing their involvement and demonstrating commitment to safety. This can be seen through more proactive involvement in safety site walks, leading by example, and taking action when safety concerns are recognized. Through dedicated action, we have seen tremendous growth to reduce complacency and acceptance culture. We continue to see initiatives spearheaded by area leadership, showing their recognition of the importance of continuing to advance safety at EllisDon.
2024 PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHT
11 areas with zero recordable incidents or that exceeded their targets.
MEASURING PERFORMANCE
EllisDon continues to capture leading indicator data to provide us with proactive, preventative, and predictive measures allowing us to make more informed decisions about improving our safety program and standards. Some leading indicators include:
• Reporting and investigation of incidents with the potential for serious injury and fatality.
• Safety inspections and audits conducted as per requirements.
• Senior leaders completing safety-focused management site visits.
• Senior management team holding incident review meetings for SIF/SIFp incidents.
• Safety training compliance.
The momentum behind our safety practices has continued to build over the years and we are seeing significant advancements and improvements in our performance and culture. Company-wide, we have reduced the Total Recordable Injury Rate (TRIR) by 40% since 2023. Additionally, we celebrate the successes of many of our business areas with exceptional performance in 2024, including 11 areas with zero recordable incidents or that exceeded their targets.
While recordable injuries continue to be important metrics, we are shifting our focus to Serious Injury and Fatality (SIF) and Serious Injury and Fatality Potential (SIFp) incidents. These are the types of events that have had or could have had life-ending, life-threatening, or life-altering results. Statistics indicate across North America; non-fatal injury rates have been declining over the past decade. However, fatality rates have remained relatively steady. We need to focus on finding ways to prevent incidents that have the potential for the most serious consequences. Focusing our efforts on SIF/SIFp events ensures these incidents receive the level of scrutiny warranted by the potential severity that exists.
THE FUTURE OF HEALTH AND SAFETY AT ELLISDON
EllisDon continually looks for ways to be at the forefront of advancements in health and safety to make improvements to our own programs and influence the industry at large. The future of health and safety is bright, and we are proud to be a company leading the way.
ENERGY WHEEL
In 2024, we adopted the Energy Wheel concept as part of our safety messaging. This is designed to help improve hazard recognition by triggering the brain to consider the hazards associated with sources of energy that otherwise have not been noticed. Pilot testing by researchers at the University of Colorado and Virgina Tech showed the energy method consistently improves hazard recognition by 20-30%. We strive to ensure everyone recognizes energy source hazards and empower our teams to put the proper controls in place to prevent Serious Injury and Fatality (SIF) incidents.
INDUSTRY COLLABORATION
EllisDon is a proud member of the Canadian Construction Safety Council (CCSC) of General Contractors. Composed of CEOs, COOs, and Senior HSE leaders. The Council’s mission is to be a force for positive change in the construction industry by leveraging the collective safety knowledge and capacity of the member companies and to work together to improve safety performance. We are an active participant in the CCSC’s current initiatives, which includes being a member of the mental health subcommittee and working towards consistencies in safety standards and approaches, such as:
• The adoption of Type II hard hats with integrated chin straps.
• Gloves-on-hand policy.
• Updating the fall height requirement at which the use of protection systems is mandated to 1.8 meters (6 feet).
NEW FALL PROTECTION HEIGHT REQUIREMENTS
Falls from height continue to be the leading cause of critical injury and fatality in construction. Despite a significant effort from the Canadian government and industry over the past 5 years, we have not been able to change this trend. EllisDon recognizes that as an industry leader in safety, we must do what we can to drive positive change for our workers in hopes of affecting industry. In collaboration with the CCSC, we have updated our fall protection height requirement to 1.8 meters (6 feet) as of January 2025. Research and studies have shown this will reduce the potential of a worker sustaining a serious injury or fatality should a fall occur, and we are driving the standardization of fall protection requirements across our industry.
ELEVATING SUBCONTRACTORS
After a few years of heavily focusing on EllisDon’s safety performance and culture, we are now expanding this to our subcontractors; the companies that help make EllisDon successful. We are finetuning our subcontractor management safety prequalification process and help subcontractors with sub-standard programs or performance to implement improvement plans. In addition, we have launched hosting subcontractor safety events. Initiated by our Ottawa Buildings division, these events invite leaders from subcontractor companies to come together with EllisDon to collaborate to find ways to improve the overall health and safety of all workers at our work locations.
SPOTTER REQUIREMENTS
While the use of Spotters is not new in the industry, the potential for critical injury is high when operating around equipment and vehicles, or in areas around members of the public. In 2024, we reviewed and updated our current Spotter requirements to ensure the highest level of person/machine interface safety and to provide consistency across all our projects and work locations. Given the high potential of struck-by and crush point injuries with equipment and vehicles, we believe focusing on how and when we use and require Spotters, will create safer working environments for our workers and the communities we operate in.
MENTAL HEALTH
EllisDon is focused on creating an environment in which the mental health and well-being of our employees is a priority. In 2024, we continued the process of building an organizational mental health framework that not only protects the well-being of our own workforce, but also supports our industry. This included: Direct support through a dedicated Mental Health Team: EllisDon’s Mental Health Team provides support to employees, including critical crisis support when needed. Additionally, the team is focused on evaluating our organizational needs to identify ways in which we can continue to bring awareness to mental health, reduce stigma, and enhance employee access to meaningful mental health resources.
Improved access to resources: EllisDon developed a mental health microsite available to anyone inside and outside the business. This was created to provide direct access to community resources, build ongoing awareness around mental health, and reduce barriers for non-EllisDon employees by providing equal access to this resource. In addition, our Employee Assistance Program has seen ongoing utilization. In the first year since updating the program, approximately 26% of our workforce registered for the program.
Expanding industry partnerships: In 2024, EllisDon collaborated with various external groups, including the Construction Safety Research Alliance and the Canadian Construction Safety Council’s mental health subcommittee. These groups have collected important data on mental health in construction, supporting the development of several resources and industry-leading mental health solutions.
In 2025, we will continue to provide immediate and critical support to those who need it, and further develop our mental health resources and training to support our leaders and employees. The ultimate goal with these priorities mentioned is to help de-stigmatize mental health in our industry and bring everyone home safely, every day.
COMMUNITY
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Canada is facing an affordable housing crisis, with people struggling to find reasonable accommodations in their communities. To assist in the alleviation of this critical problem, EllisDon’s Community Builders division is working directly with non-profit organizations, Indigenous groups, and local governments to help deliver affordable and supportive housing to underserved communities. By providing development management services and leveraging EllisDon’s turn-key project capabilities, extensive experience in public assets, and operational expertise, we are supporting the advancement of an inclusive and thriving Canada.
60 Caledon Hamilton, Ontario
PROJECT PROFILE
BLUE DOOR
835 GORHAM STREET, NEWMARKET, ONTARIO Blue Door Support Services (Blue Door) and EllisDon Community Builders have been working together in the community housing redevelopment of 835 Gorham Street in Newmarket, Ontario. With over 40 years of experience, Blue Door provides life-saving services to the community as York Region’s largest emergency housing provider.
Comprised of both affordable and emergency housing, 835 Gorham will have 35% of their dwelling units meeting accessibility standards and provide ‘barrier-free’ common areas. The project is intended to accommodate more tenable, longer-term housing by offering deeply affordable housing to support households from York Region’s subsidized housing waitlist.
The project is also focused on energy efficiency and is designed to exceed the 2015 National Energy Code for Buildings (NECB) by at least 30%. Blue Door’s mechanical and electrical engineering team will leverage their experience to select highly efficient electrical HVAC equipment, with lower maintenance and increased life expectancy.
PROJECT PROFILE
VETERANS' HOUSE CANADA
13007-128 AVENUE NW, EDMONTON, ALBERTA
Veterans’ House Canada (VHC) is a registered national charitable organization helping homeless veterans build a better future by providing permanent, affordable, and supportive housing. Veterans are more than twice as likely to experience homelessness compared to the general population, and the total number of homeless veterans in Canada is estimated to be between 3,000 to 5,000. EllisDon Community Builders is working with VHC to deliver veteran-focused supportive housing at 13007-128 Avenue NW, Edmonton, Alberta.
In addition, the project is targeting a minimum 35% decrease in energy consumption and Greenhouse Gas emissions compared to the 2015 NECB and is targeting Passive House and LEED Gold certification. Passive House standards focus on airtightness, indoor air quality, and heat recovery performance. Key features of a Passive House building are superior insulation, advanced windows, and testing and configuration to reduce heat losses of thermal bridges.
CANADIAN PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE PARTNERSHIP
EllisDon is a proud supporter of the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) and the Paralympic Foundation of Canada. Our journey with the CPC began at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, where we provided key services to the Canadian spaces of the Athletes’ Village, including concierge support, space planning, as well as pre- and post-occupancy inspection services. In 2021, we agreed terms with the CPC to become their Official Supplier which led to our team’s service offering expanded at both the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Games and Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games. Most recently, at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, we sent seven subject matter experts to provide services in the Canadian spaces of the Athlete’s Village, including: • Space planning
• Inventory and inspection
• Signage
• Procurement
• Venue operations
• Sustainability practices advisement and carbon emissions tracking
BUILDING VIBRANT COMMUNITIES: PLAY FOREVER
EllisDon believes in creating long-lasting positive impacts extending beyond the projects we build. Our partnership with Play Forever is a testament to this commitment, helping us better assist those in need in our communities. We collaborate with youth and various community members in the areas we build, providing employment opportunities, recreational programming, and more.
Current programs spearheaded by EllisDon and Play Forever include S.T.E.A.R (Skilled Trades Exploration and Readiness Program), a comprehensive program offering support and resources to the community; the Thrive Youth Program in York Region, aimed at empowering young individuals through sports and personal development; and community projects in Keswick, Ontario, focused on enhancing local community engagement and opportunities.
These initiatives offer free sports activities and feature guest speakers who discuss career exploration in the trades, providing valuable insights and inspiration.
Together, we are continuing to build stronger, more vibrant communities, one project at a time.
CONTECH ACCELERATOR
In October 2024, EllisDon completed its second ConTech Accelerator, in joint venture with Impulse Partners. This year's application list grew from 110 in 2023 to over 170 entrants, and the top eight finalists were hosted at EllisDon's Toronto office, coming from around the world for a chance to present their technology to EllisDon judges representing project teams, management, and executive leadership.
Finalists were chosen based on their market fit, ability to scale, capacity to address environmental and safety issues, and their deployment of unique solutions such as AI, data, and robotics. The winning presenters then gained access to our Pilot Partnership program, which offers unique access marketing opportunities, project deployment, ongoing product insights, and case studies all in conjunction with EllisDon and our Digital and Data Engineering team.
Once again, feedback from the ConTech finalists reiterated the Accelerator as an entirely unique experience for them, setting itself apart from other accelerators thanks to its robust list of judges and focus on collaboration.
THIS YEARS WINNERS INCLUDE:
EHAB
Weather-focused software products that focus on providing accurate weather reports for construction planners as well as related contract and insurance documents.
SPECTER
A 3D model focusing on 6-week lookahead visualizations to better support planning on projects with additional digital accessories such as document control and communications.
SALUS
Safety Management software integrating enterprise safety programs, gathered data, and unique dashboards for teams.
THIS YEARS FINALISTS INCLUDED:
- Sensytec: Monitor specific performance data on a range of materials and interpret data such as resistivity, compressive strength, temperature, and long-term performance.
- Dig Robotics: Automative excavation machinery, focused on reduction of carbon footprint, operational costs, and improved efficiency.
- BoxLock: Security devices operated with intelligent access controls which can be deployed across the supply chain, from site safety to individual containers.
- Gantt AI: A project scheduling software that uses AI trained on past projects to automatically update project schedule based on new information.
- Siiv: An automated payment application aiming to be the "CFO Suite" that will save contractors time and money during the review process.
JASPER WILDFIRE RESPONSE
Inspired by the unbreakable spirit of Jasper, Alberta, our Project Advisory and Management and Western Civil teams joined forces with local partners to support the crucial task of rebuilding both Jasper and the lives of its residents.
Team members were mobilized to lead a white goods extraction program, assisting residents in the safe removal and disposal of over 2,300 contaminated refrigerators and appliances following the extended power outages after the evacuation. Using a streamlined scheduling system, EllisDon and partners assisted residents with the labour-intensive task of removing these items from more than 1,000 homes and basements. We managed all aspects of the program – pertinent to our scope, including extraction, transport, degassing, and disposal, in full compliance with Environment Alberta and local landfill requirements.
We are also actively involved in efforts with Parks Canada, Environment Alberta, and the Municipality of Jasper to facilitate the demolition and debris removal of over 300 total-loss properties. This process has been designed to prioritize the safety of nearby residents, minimize environmental impact, and includes strategies for recycling and addressing potential soil contamination.
Our hearts remain with all those affected as we continue to support the people of Jasper, and we honour the efforts of those who have worked to protect and restore the community.
EllisDon is deeply committed to helping Jasper, its residents, and business owners on their journey to recovery. We recognize the deep grief and loss the community has experienced as we mourn a town forever changed by the wildfire.
COMMUNITY GIVING AND DONATIONS
In 2024, EllisDon donated over $3.9 million to local charities and community organizations, amplifying the commitment to create conditions that ensure economic and social well-being for all.
EllisDon has been making significant strides in giving back to the community through various charitable initiatives. Here are some highlights of our recent fundraising and charity efforts:
$260K
Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute
Raised at their annual Subtrade Appreciation & Charity Tournament, the funds will fuel critical research into detecting congenital heart defects in unborn children. With a rise in babies born with heart defects over the past decade, we are humbled to support the Institute in their mission to continue their groundbreaking research.
STUDENTS
Trained and mentored through the Thrive Youth Program Partnered with Canadian Tire Jump Start and Play Forever, provides free sports and employment for youth 14-25. Alongside the regional municipality of York, this program provides resume and cover letter support, interview training, and 8-week employment contracts across the retail, food, and construction sectors.
HOURS
Greater Vancouver Food Bank In 2024, EllisDon Vancouver employees volunteered 372 hours, distributing healthy food to food bank clients in need of weekly food support. We have volunteered a total of 436 hours since 2023.
Diabetes Canada Research In the summer of 2024, EllisDon Toronto employees helped raised over $384.5k for Diabetes Canada, which will fuel groundbreaking research and advocacy work for those living with diabetes.
Canada Army Run Over 60 colleagues participated in the Canada Army Run with a 5km, 10 or 21km race. The teams raised funds for Support Our Troops and Soldier On, which aim to empower ill and injured members to start their road to recovery and rehabilitation.
London Health Sciences Foundation For the fourth consecutive year our London, Ontario office has raised $70,000 at a local golf tournament for the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit at the London Health Sciences Foundation.
Champion of the Crescent 2024
For its fifth year, EllisDon was the presenting sponsor of the Champion of the Crescent, with funds going towards youth mental health programs. In our five years of fundraising, we have donated a total of $1,010,628.
POUNDS
Electronic Recycling Program
This impressive haul included devices such as: laptops, monitors, and printers. Launched in 2019, there is a mission to prevent harmful chemicals from being released into our environment.These initiatives underscore EllisDon's commitment to making a positive impact in communities across Canada. Their efforts serve as an inspiring example of how corporations can leverage their resources to effect meaningful change.