EllisDon

History

Founding

In 1951, EllisDon was launched by brothers Don and David Ellis Smith as a local contractor in London, Ontario.

1951–1989

Between 1956 and 1968, EllisDon computerized its accounting and cost control systems, and operated a purchased tower crane – the first construction company in Canada to do both. In 1971, EllisDon launched a Corporate Safety Strategy to improve job site safety.

Between 1974 and 1976, the company expanded, establishing operations in Edmonton, Alberta and in Saudi Arabia. Since then EllisDon has expanded its current operations to its offices around the world.

Once EllisDon was awarded the Construction Management Contract for the Metro Toronto Convention Centre project in 1982, it moved on to build the SkyDome (renamed Rogers Centre in 2005). This project was completed in 1989, and was the world's first retractable rooftop stadium.

1990–2003

In 1990, EllisDon established the construction industry's first freestanding Research and Development Department. 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. In 1997, EllisDon completed its first project in Malaysia.

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.

2004–present

In 2004, EllisDon participated in a new hospital funding model, a public-private partnership (PPP) with the $450 million William Osler Health Centre in Brampton, Ontario.

EllisDon delivered Toronto's MaRS (Medical and Related Services) Convergence Centre (Building B) in 2005.

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

In 2010, EllisDon completed Winnipeg International Airport Terminal Building, Canada's first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified airport terminal.

In June 2016, EllisDon launched The Carbon Impact Initiative Action Plan in support of Canada's international climate change commitments. Industry executives, in collaboration with government leaders, established the initiative outlining strategies to transform the market toward a low-carbon economy. Mohawk College's Joyce Centre for Partnership and Innovation Building is Ontario's first net-zero institutional building as well as the first pilot project under the Carbon Impact Initiative.

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.

In June 2023, Geoff Smith was succeeded as President and CEO by Kieran Hawe, previously COO. Geoff Smith remains Executive Chair of the Board of Directors.

EllisDon began the demolition and revitalization of Ontario Place in 2024.

Selected projects

Alternative energy

• Alberta Children's Hospital – Calgary, Alberta
• Toronto South Detention Centre – Toronto, Ontario

Civil and transportation

• Highway 7 East Rapidway (H3) – Vivanext – York Region, Ontario
• Ottawa Light Rail Transit (LRT) Confederation Line – Ottawa, Ontario
• Union Station improvements – Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) – Toronto, Ontario

Commercial office/retail

• Brentwood Town Centre redevelopment – Burnaby, British Columbia
• Yorkdale Shopping Centre – Toronto, Ontario

Culture and recreation

• Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport – Toronto, Ontario
• Halifax Central Library – Halifax, Nova Scotia
• Rogers Centre (formerly Skydome) – Toronto, Ontario
• Remai Art Gallery of Saskatchewan – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Education

• Nova Scotia Community College, Centre for the Built Environment – Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
• Western University, Richard Ivey School of Business – London, Ontario

Healthcare and research

• Alberta Children's Hospital – Calgary, Alberta
• Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital: a contract won by Ellis-Don for building and refurbishment work in 1991-1992 raised issues regarding their failure to appoint Naylor Group Inc. as electrical subcontractor, in breach of Naylor's "Contract A rights" arising from their submission of work prices being incorporated into Ellis-Don's successful bid.
• Surrey Memorial Hospital – Surrey, British Columbia

Industrial and automotive

• American Motors Brampton Assembly Plant – Brampton, Ontario (1987)

Public and government

• Hamilton City Hall renovations – Hamilton, Ontario
• Parliament Hill, West Block demolition and abatement – Ottawa, Ontario

Residential and hospitality

• Hyatt Regency Toronto

Recognition

• 2018 Renew Canada's Top 100 Infrastructure Projects. Achieved Platinum Status.
• 2018 Mediacorp's Top 100 Employers (8th consecutive year).
• 2017 Mediacorp Canada's Greenest Employers
• 2017 Deloitte 50 Best Managed Companies
• 2016 Canada's Safest Employer
• 2016 Financial Posts Ten Best Companies To Work For

References

References

1. "Donald J. ("Bus") Smith O.C.".
2. "Our History".
3. "EllisDon".
4. "Our Locations".
5. "Making a Permanent Home in the Middle East".
6. "EllisDon - Offices".
7. "Donald J. ("Bus") Smith Obituary".
8. "Rogers Center History".
9. "EllisDon Industrial Services Inc.".
10. "Building on solid foundations".
11. (16 July 2013). "Ellis-Don founder Don Smith dead at 89".
12. "The MaRS Discovery District".
13. "Sr. Planning Engineer, EllisDon Construction Inc., Dubai, U.A.E., Badrah Development, Dubai Waterfront".
14. "Winnipeg Airport Authority".
15. [https://www.ontario.ca/page/climate-change-action-plan The Carbon Impact Initiative Action Plan]
16. (2016-05-21). "The Carbon Impact Initiative: an industry-led action plan in response to Canada's International climate change commitments.".
17. [https://www.mohawkcollege.ca/donors-and-supporters/mohawk-momentum-our-causes/joyce-centre-for-partnership-innovation Mohawk College’s Joyce Centre for Partnership and Innovation Building]
18. "The Joyce Centre for Partnership & Innovation".
19. (1 March 2018). "EllisDon announces purchase of Carillion health care assets". Daily Commercial News.
20. (7 June 2023). "Hawe assumes CEO role with EllisDon".
21. (17 January 2024). "Ontario Place Update: EllisDon performs site servicing work; WZMH to carry out preliminary plans for new science centre".
22. "Ontario Place Site Servicing Renewal Project - Trailer Complex - 70706 | MERX".
23. "Alberta Children's Hospital sets a new standard in family-centered care".
24. Petersen, Chris. "EllisDon - Toronto South Detention Centre".
25. "Highway 7 East Rapidway (H3)".
26. "Confederation Line LRT Named Top PPP Deal of the Year by Project Finance Magazine".
27. "Union Subway Station: Second Platform and Concourse Improvements".
28. (25 September 2005). "Brentwood Town Centre".
29. Petersen, Chris. "EllisDon - Yorkdale Shopping Centre".
30. "Ontario Wind Turbine Noise ReportOne Bloor East goldring-centre-sport-centre noise-control vibration control toronto ontario Goldring Centre for High Performance".
31. Harris, Jim. "EllisDon".
32. Misener, Kevin. (3 June 2014). "Rogers Centre opened as 'Skydome' 25 years ago today".
33. Davidson, Staci. "EllisDon – Remai Art Gallery of Saskatchewan".
34. "NSCC's Centre for the Built Environment".
35. "EllisDon chosen as construction manager for $100-million Ivey building".
36. "Alberta Children's Hospital sets a new standard in family-centered care".
37. Supreme Court of Canada, [https://decisions.scc-csc.ca/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/1897/1/document.do Ellis-Don Construction Ltd. v Naylor Group Inc], 2001 2 R.C.S., delivered on 27 September 2001, accessed on 8 August 2025. Note that the company is referred to as "Ellis-Don" in the judgment.
38. Toyoda, Lina. "Surrey Memorial Hospital launches campaign to build new tower".
39. "Chrysler Corporation Assembly Plant AMC". EllisDon.
40. "Hamilton City Hall".
41. "Rehabilitation of the Sir John A. Macdonald Building".
42. "ACO Toronto - Hyatt on King West".
43. "Project List 2018 {{!}} Top100 Projects".
44. "Project List {{!}} Top100 Projects".
45. Employers, Canada's Top 100. "Canada's Top 100 Employers (2018)".
46. "Top Employer: EllisDon Corporation".
47. "Top Employer: EllisDon Corporation".
48. "Meet our winners {{!}} Canada's Best Managed Companies {{!}} Deloitte Canada".
49. "Announcing the 2016 Canada's Safest Employers {{!}} Canadian Occupational Safety".
50. "EllisDon Selected as One of Ten Best Companies to Work For".