Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Association of Consulting Engineering Companies โ Ontario (ACEC-Ontario) hosted its annual Ontario Engineering Project Awards (OEPA) May 1 at the Eglinton Grand in Toronto. This yearโs gala celebrated engineering excellence across the province and commemorated ACEC-Ontarioโs 50th anniversary.
โOur members play a vital role in building a stronger Ontario,โ said Andrew Hurd, Executive Director of ACEC-Ontario. โThey deliver critical expert engineering advice and services to businesses and all levels of government, solving complex problems and enabling well-informed decisions that support a thriving, resilient society. The OEPA program exists to celebrate these accomplishments.โ
The following awards were presented:
Willis Chipman Award Winner
The eveningโs highest honour, the Willis Chipman Award, was presented to Parsons for their work on the Gordie Howe International Bridge design and construction. The project was recognized for its extraordinary complexity, including cross-border collaboration, rigorous technical standards, political coordination, and environmental stewardship.
โThis project exemplifies the pinnacle of consulting engineering excellence,โ said Mark Tulloch, Chair of the 2024-2025 ACEC-Ontario Board and CEO of TULLOCH. โIt connects our largest trading partners and meets the needs of generations to come.โ
Awards of Distinction
Ten projects were recognized with Awards of Distinction, highlighting technical brilliance, innovation, and meaningful community impact across Ontario:
AtkinsRรฉalis Canada Inc. was honoured for their Pilot Scale Remediation System addressing groundwater contaminated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
BBA received recognition for Phase 1 of the Napanee Battery Energy Storage System, a 250 MW facility supporting Ontarioโs energy transition.
CIMA+ was awarded for their work on the Interconnection of the Union and Windsor Water Systems, improving regional water reliability.
Egis Canada Ltd. was recognized for Revitalizing the Touchette Bridge, preserving 70 years of heritage infrastructure.
HH Angus and Associates Limited was celebrated for their engineering leadership in the Mount Sinai Phase 3A Redevelopment project.
LEA Consulting Ltd. earned distinction for developing a Flood Risk Assessment Model for Infrastructure in York Region.
R.J. Burnside & Associates Limited was awarded for delivering Lake-Based Drinking Water to Georgetown South through work on the Ashgrove Pumping Station and associated mains.
Stantec Consulting Ltd. was recognized for the QEW/Glendale Avenue Interchange Reconstruction Design-Build Project.
TULLOCH received an award for their Construction QA/QC Program at the Magino Gold Mine.
WSP Canada Inc. was acknowledged for responding to the Attawapiskat First Nation Water Shortage Emergency with innovative engineering solutions.
Small Firm, Big Impact Awards
To celebrate the contributions of smaller firmsโthose with fewer than 100 employeesโACEC-Ontario introduced the Small Firm, Big Impact Award. Three firms were honoured in this new category:
4Sight Utility Engineers for their Strategic Application of Multi-Channel Ground Penetrating Radar (MCGPR) in utility coordination.
John G. Cooke & Associates Ltd. for the successful Relocation of the City Registry Office.
D.M. Wills Associates Limited for their engineering support on the Peterborough Organics Facility.
Sustainable Development Impact Award
R.V. Anderson Associates Limited received the Sustainable Development Impact Award for their role in the Deep Lake Water Cooling Expansion Project, a key component of Torontoโs TransformTO climate strategy. The project exemplifies integration of social, environmental, and economic sustainability.
Internal Innovation Award
HH Angus and Associates Limited was recognized for their Building Careers, Driving Innovation initiative, reflecting a workplace culture that fosters staff development, career longevity, and talent retention.
Resilient Future Award
A new category introduced by the 2025 OEPA jury, the Resilient Future Award, was presented to Stantec for their Yukon Highways Climate Risk Assessment and Action Plan. The project was acknowledged for its forward-thinking approach to infrastructure resilience and climate adaptation.