PAGE OCR A6 – January 2009 – The Ontario Construction Report
Stantec positioned to acquire Jacques Whitford pending vote results
MATTHEW DESROSIERS – The OCR Construction Report Editor
tion just made sense for his “Their services really goes through, don’t expect “Some of that growth is
company. plug in very well to our op- them to stop growing any- through acquisitions, and
North American design can officially take place, the
“If you look at Jacques erations there, as well as time soon. Averill said there some of that is through or-
firm Stantec has acquired shareholders must approve
Whitford, they are a leading doubling our presence,” said are no guarantees on what ganic growth,” Averill said.
Canadian environmental the transaction. While the
provider of environmental Averill. “This makes us a Stantec will do next, how- “You can expect Stantec to
consulting firm Jacques vote took place in Decem-
management, remediation top tier player in Atlantic ever, the company does have continue to look to execute
Whitford, pending approval ber, the results aren’t ex-
and geotechnical services,” Canada in the engineering a stated goal of 15 per cent that plan.”
from the company’s share- pected until later this month.
he said. “They really and design industry.” annual growth.
holders. According to a conference
strengthen our core capabil- According to Averill, the
The acquisition was an- call transcript, which in-
ities in our overall environ- benefits of the acquisition
nounced in late November cluded Stantec president and
mental practice.” run both ways. Stantec re-
2008, with complete support CEO Tony Franeschini and
Although Stantec has cently acquired mining engi-
Report on OBOA
from the Jacques Whitford Jacques Whitford CEO Bob
grown significantly over the neering company Macintosh
board of directors and senior Youden, the acquisition
past year, with four similar Engineering, allowing the AMTS - Kingston,
management, said Jay Aver- price is approximately $143
acquisitions in 2008 alone, team at Jacques Whitford to
ill, spokesperson for Stan- million, paid over three
most of the growth has been get their feet into the mining
tec. years. However, because the
in the United States. With industry as well.
October 2008
“That’s a really good transaction has yet to be fi-
the acquisition of Jacques “We’re hoping we can
vote of confidence for the nalized, and due to the On-
Whitford, Stantec is now open the door for them to
two firms joining together,” tario Construction Report
able to provide service to a get into that mining sector
In October, Ontario Wood-
,
he said. publication schedule, this
wider market in Canada. and basically, we can then
WORKS! and the OWTFA
Jacques Whitford is 100 number may vary from the
The company’s presence in offer our mining clients a
teamed up for a presentation
per cent employee owned. final sales price.
Atlantic Canada will double wider range of services.”
entitled “Light frame roof
Before sale of the company Averill said the acquisi-
after the transaction. Averill said the company
trusses - the design process
is currently working through
and their use in building”.
various planning phases,
The technical session formed
however, until the acquisi-
part of the ongoing training
tion is complete, no concrete
for OBOA (Ontario Building
decisions will be made. Mike Phillips
Officials Association) mem-
“Once the acquisition is
bers, presented at this year’s
completed, then we’ll really
Annual Meeting in Kingston,
look at how we can best in-
Ontario.
tegrate Jacques Whitford
The topic, though broad in its scope, was focused in
into Stantec.”
its approach. It covered the design process - from con-
Stantec’s policy is one of
ception, through to preliminary design, submission of
full integration, meaning
drawings at permit stage, manufacturing processes, de-
among other things, the
livery to site, handling procedures, final installation and
name Jacques Whitford will
erection, site inspection and sign off.
be no more. Averill said the
Joining Steven Street, technical director for Ontario
ability to offer a single brand
Wood-WORKS! in the presentation was Robert Baynit,
identity with such a wide
director of engineering for MiTek Canada and local
range of services is one of
truss supplier Mark Fox, president, Terra Nova Truss,
Stantec’s competitive edges.
Kingston, Ontario.
Regardless, the people who
The interactive session encouraged questions from
www.Order
work for Jacques Whitford
OBOA members, and gave the participating audience a
should feel comfortable in
better understanding of roles and responsibilities, read-
their new home, as the two
ing and understanding truss layouts and drawings, the
Construction
company’s have a lot of sim-
flow of information between site, truss supplier and
ilarities, he said.
truss plate manufacturer, issues of quality control and
“We look at culture, and
tolerances in manufacturing and how truss repair de-
Documents
how well the two organiza
tails are handled.
-
tions fit,” said Averill. “It
The OBOA have been proactive in encouraging col-
sounds a little cliché, but in
laboration between the various industry associations
our industry, that is what’s
and the regulatory organisations. Ontario Wood-
Here.ca
important because we’re
WORKS! has been active in providing technical infor-
selling the ideas and knowl-
mation and training to many building departments
edge of our people. We’re
province wide. A more local approach to this type of
truly a people business. In
training allows building departments to form a better
looking at Jacques Whitford,
understanding of truss supply in their area.
Our new online store can be your
their operations and their
Wood-WORKS! is an industry led initiative of the
one stop shop: values, I think that’s one
Canadian Wood Council. It promotes the use of wood
Order the CCA/CCDC documents
place where both of us are
and wood products in construction - providing free
similar, and we have similar
technical assistance. Contact Wood-WORKS! for more
you need and pay on line.
cultures and value systems.”
information. Toll Free: 1-866-886-3574 or www.wood-
Another common ground
works.org
Order today at: between the two companies
The OWTFA is a member of Wood-WORKS! The
www.OrderConstructionDocumentsHere.ca
is their approach to sustain-
OWTFA represents the common interests of the truss
ability. Both firms consider
industry in Ontario, including promoting the use of
green design and sustain-
wood trusses in residential, commercial and agricul-
A Service Provided By ability a primary driver in
tural structures. If you or your group are interested in
their business.
the type of presentation discussed above please contact
While it may take some
Mike Phillips, Executive Director of the Ontario Wood
time for Stantec to get or
Truss Fabricators Association (OWTFA) at 416-235-
NOTICE: Any previous problems connecting to the domain name have been corrected.
-
ganized after the acquisition
0194 or www.owtfa.com
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