The largest construction companies in Canada serve as testaments to the growth of the domestic market, which was valued at $325.1 billion in 2021, exceeding estimates of growth to $304.6 billion by 2023.
If you’re a construction contractor in Canada, then you know that the industry is fiercely competitive. With so many companies vying for business, it can be tough to stay ahead of the pack. So how do you know which companies are worth working with?
Check out our list of the 40 largest construction companies in Canada, based on revenue in 2021, as determined by annual research from On-Site. We’ll also take a closer look at the top 10 construction companies in Canada to understand what makes them so prominent in the industry.
Top 40 largest construction companies in Canada
Position | Company | Revenue |
1 | PCL Construction | $7.6 billion |
2 | EllisDon Corporation | $4.9 billion |
3 | Aecon Group Incorporated | $3.9 billion |
4 | Graham Construction | $3.8 billion |
5 | Kiewit Canada Group Incorporated | $3 billion |
6 | Ledcor Group of Companies | $3 billion |
7 | Pomerleau Incorporated | $2.9 billion |
8 | Bird Construction Incorporated | $2.2 billion |
9 | Broccolini | $1.2 billion |
10 | Flynn Group of Companies | $1.1 billion |
11 | Green Infrastructure Partners | $1.1 billion |
12 | EBC Incorporated | $850 million |
13 | Clark Builders | $763 million |
14 | North American Construction Group | $654 million |
15 | Magil Construction | $650 million |
16 | Taggart Group of Companies | $593 million |
17 | Reliance Construction Group | $582 million |
18 | Chandos Construction | $490 million |
19 | Maple Reinders Constructors Limited | $450 million |
20 | Strike Group | $330 million |
21 | FWS Group of Companies | $310 million |
22 | Dawson Wallace Construction Limited | $300 million |
23 | Govan Brown & Associates Limited | $300 million |
24 | Urban One Builders | $285 million |
25 | Leeswood Construction | $252 million |
26 | Buttcon Limited | $250 million |
27 | Delnor Construction Limited | $248 million |
28 | Turner Construction Company | $198 million |
29 | Marco Group of Companies | $193 million |
30 | Keller Foundation Limited | $184 million |
31 | Gillam Group | $181 million |
32 | Matheson Constructors | $181 million |
33 | Trotter and Morton | $175 million |
34 | M Builds Construction | $170 million |
35 | Fortis Construction Group Incorporated | $167 million |
36 | Avondale Construction Limited | $158 million |
37 | Kinetic Construction | $140 million |
38 | Priestly Demolition | $131 million |
39 | Grascan Construction | $125 million |
40 | Wales McLelland Construction | $118 million |
A closer look at the top 10 construction companies in Canada
Now that you’ve seen the full list, let’s take a closer look at the 10 largest Canadian construction companies based on revenue.
#1. PCL Construction
PCL Construction takes the top spot by quite a large margin, bringing in $7.6 billion compared to the second-largest company’s roughly $4.9 billion.
The company was founded in Saskatchewan by James Martin and Ernest Edward Poole in 1906. Today, it employs more than 4,000 workers and has offices in Canada, the United States, the Caribbean, and Australia.
PCL’s noteworthy projects are almost too many to count, including the rehabilitation of Canada’s historic West Block building on Parliament Hill and restoration of the nearby Senate of Canada Building.
Beyond building restoration, PCL’s services include procurement, design, and construction management in just about every sector imaginable.
#2. EllisDon Corporation
EllisDon is a Mississauga-based, employee-owned construction company with offices around the world (including 15 in Canada alone).
The company’s roots stretch back to 1951 when brothers Don and David Ellis Smith began performing small renovations.
Today, EllisDon’s projects are anything but small, however. The giant’s notable work includes major upgrades to the famous Art Gallery of Ontario and the construction of Brampton Civic Hospital in partnership with a consortium of other firms.
EllisDon pulled in an estimated $4,974,492,000 in 2021, making it undoubtedly one of the most successful Canadian construction companies.
Looking to be more strategic with your people?
We partnered with Construction Dive to outline the steps any contractor can take to be more strategic with their workforce management.
#3. Aecon Group Incorporated
Aecon Group Incorporated boasts more than 12,000 employees and estimated revenues of $3,977,000,000 in 2021.
Just as staggering is the company’s historical provenance, with noteworthy projects including the CN Tower, Gardiner Expressway, and Montreal-Trudeau International Airport.
Aecon operates in several sectors, including civil, transportation, utilities, industrial, and nuclear. It has completed projects in not just North America but South America, Asia, and the Middle East as well.
#4. Graham Construction
Graham Construction is one of the largest construction companies in Canada focused on the industrial and infrastructure sectors. The company got its start in 1926 Canadian Pacific Railway stations in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.
Today, Graham Construction works on a variety of projects, with recent portfolio items including the Canadian Armed Forces Military Police Academy in Angus, Ontario, and a CFB Trenton Maintenance and Operations Hangar in Toronto.
Graham Construction is an employee-owned firm with several subsidiaries, including Graham Capital, Gracorp, Quinn, and Moltz Construction Incorporated.
#5. Kiewit Canada Group Incorporated
Kiewit is a truly historic company, having been founded in 1884. It has been one of the largest contenders in the Canadian construction market for more than 75 years, serving sectors such as mining, power, and transportation.
Kiewit has received a number of awards in Canada and is considered one of the nation’s best employers in recent years. Its estimated 2021 revenue of $3,005,000,000 also makes it one of the largest construction companies operating in Canada.
#6. Ledcor Group of Companies
Ledcor Group of Companies is an employee-owned construction company with primary operations in Canada and the United States. It was founded by a man named William Lede in 1947 and currently employs roughly 6,000 workers.
Notable recent projects include work on the Albian Sands Energy Incorporated expansion in Fort McMurray and 565 Great Northern Way digital media facility in Vancouver.
In 2021, Ledcor’s revenue topped an estimated $3 billion.
#7. Pomerleau Incorporated
Pomerleau Incorporated was founded in 1964 by Hervé Pomerleau. The company grew rapidly throughout the rest of the decade, with revenue jumping from just $18,000 in 1964 to $1.6 million by 1969.
Pomerleau Incorporated’s projects today include the redevelopment of Lansdowne Park in Ottawa and the construction of the Videotron Centre in Quebec City.
Pomerleau Incorporated pulled in an estimated $2,957,456,000 in 2021, firmly cementing its place among the largest Canadian construction companies.
#8. Bird Construction Incorporated
Bird Construction has been a leading force in the Canadian market for more than 100 years. The company’s humble beginnings trace back to Saskatchewan in 1920.
Bird’s current work is focused on sectors such as energy, mining, institutional, retail, residential, and civil construction. Notable recent projects include the construction of the Whitby Rail Maintenance Facility and Avenir Centre.
Bird Construction Incorporated employs more than 1,500 workers and saw an estimated $2,220,026,000 in revenue for 2021.
#9. Broccolini Construction
Broccolini Construction has been around since 1949 and was founded in Montreal, focusing on residential construction until the 1970s, when it branched out into the commercial and industrial sectors.
In 2021, the company pulled in a whopping $1,286,000,000.
Use your workforce data to create a competitive advantage
Download our white paper to see how effective workforce planning can help stay ahead of labor demands and create a strategic project pipeline.
#10. Flynn Group of Companies
The Flynn Group’s estimated 2021 haul of $1,184,502,525 is nothing to scoff at. The company has been in business for more than 40 years, offering commercial glazing, roofing, and cladding services throughout North America.
It employs more than 5,000 people and has a staggering number of locations from coast to coast, including in the United States.
Quick facts about Canada’s construction industry
To help you understand how the Canadian construction companies on this list are capable of achieving such tremendous success, let’s take a quick look at Canada’s construction industry as a whole.
Here are some quick facts about Canada’s construction industry:
- Construction is one of the nation’s most important sectors, accounting for 14% of the country’s GDP and employing more than one million people according to Canada’s Building Trades Unions (CBTU).
- The construction industry has grown rapidly since the post-war era, pushing through setbacks like the Great Recession and COVID-19. Despite the pandemic, Statistics Canada reported a jump in the value of nearly 20% in 2021.
- Spending on infrastructure assets rose by more than $7 billion in 2021.
- A shortage of skilled workers means greater efforts are being made to attract workers from all backgrounds, with 75% of companies in recent years looking to recruit youth, newcomers to Canada, Indigenous workers, and women.
- The Canadian construction industry in the last decade has seen significant innovation, making use of 3D models, AI, and drones to reduce waste and increase productivity.
- Despite inflation and foreseeable issues procuring materials due to the COVID-19 pandemic, participants in On-Site’s 2022 Top Contractors survey are optimistic due to the steady demand for building.
We hope this article has provided you with valuable insights into the sector’s key domestic players.
For more content about the construction industry, visit our blog. Lastly, learn more why you don’t need to be technical to be a tech founder and women-led business investments.
Michel Richer
Michel Richer is the Content Marketing Manager at Bridgit. He got his start in the construction industry at an early age with a local restoration company. Michel is driven to propel the construction industry forward by helping to eliminate outdated, ineffective processes.
