News Release

Ontario Engineering Excellence Recognized at 2026 Project Awards Gala

May 8, 2026

Published  May 8, 2026

Honouring the projects, the people, and the partnerships that engineer Ontario forward.

Mississauga, Ontario — The Association of Consulting Engineering Companies – Ontario (ACEC‑Ontario) proudly celebrated engineering excellence across the province at the 2026 Ontario Engineering Project Awards (OEPA) gala, held on May 7, 2026, at Carmen’s Event Centre in Hamilton.

The evening brought together more than 300 leaders from government, municipalities, industry, and the consulting engineering sector to recognize outstanding projects that are shaping communities, driving advancement, supporting sustainability, and strengthening Ontario’s infrastructure. Attendees included the Honourable Todd McCarthy, Ontario’s Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks and Acting Minister of Infrastructure, and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, MPP Andrew Dowie, as well as municipal leaders, industry partners, project owners, and the award‑winning project teams.

This year’s highest honour, the Willis Chipman Award, was presented to EnVision Consultants Ltd. for their FESTI Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting (ARFF) project. The FESTI ARFF Props Control System Replacement project, located at the Fire Emergency Services Training Institute in the Region of Peel, modernized Toronto Pearson’s world‑class aircraft fire training facility. This unique facility draws firefighters from around the world, offering modular, technology‑driven simulations that ensure safety, realism, and compliance with international standards. EnVision Consultants provided seamless contract administration, delivering the project under demanding timelines and raising the bar for fire training excellence.

“This year’s OEPA placed a strong emphasis on infrastructure projects and showcased just how impactful consulting engineers are—not only in delivering complex outcomes, but in building community, resilience, and opportunity across Ontario,” said Ryan Matthews, Chair of the ACEC‑Ontario 2025–2026 Board of Directors. “The projects that were recognized demonstrate technical excellence, collaboration, and a deep commitment to the people and places we serve, ensuring the communities our industry supports continue to thrive. We also want to recognize and thank both the Ontario and Federal Governments for their unprecedented support for infrastructure investment across the province—support that is making a tangible difference at both the provincial and municipal levels.”

The 2026 OEPA program marked a milestone, with the jury introducing three new award categories to reflect evolving priorities within the profession: the Municipal Impact Award, the Humanitarian Award, and the International Engineering Collaboration Award.

“These new awards reflect how engineering continues to evolve beyond traditional boundaries,” said Andrew Hurd, Executive Director of ACEC‑Ontario. “Whether it’s advanced design, measurable municipal outcomes, or direct humanitarian impact in the communities where we live and work, the projects and firms recognized this year demonstrate that engineering excellence today is defined as much by shared values, strong partnerships, and public benefit as it is by leadership, giving back, and the traditional consideration of innovation and technical design.”

View the 2026 Ontario Engineering Project Award Winner here.

View event photos here.

Award CategoryMember FirmProject
The Willis Chipman AwardEnVision Consultants Ltd.FESTI Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting Training Facility
Sustainable Development Impact AwardAtkinsRéalis Inc.Chinguacousy Beneficial Soil Reuse Site
International Engineering Collaboration AwardAECOM CanadaGordie Howe International Bridge Project
Municipal Impact AwardDillon Consulting LimitedOld North Infrastructure Renewal Program (City of London)
Municipal Impact AwardTatham Engineering LimitedMuskoka Area Municipalities: A Regional Approach to Decarbonizing Municipal Operations
Small Firm, Big Impact AwardChorley + Bisset Ltd.Ronald D. Schmeichel Building for Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Small Firm, Big Impact AwardRathco ENGZibi District Energy System
Internal Innovation AwardGHD Ltd.Ontario Young Professionals Conference
People First AwardTULLOCHTULLOCH Fights Cancer
Humanitarian AwardTatham Engineering LimitedTatham Engineering Corporate Giving Program
Awards of DistinctionAspire Consulting Group Ltd.City of Niagara Falls Asset Management Planning
Awards of DistinctionEntuitiveGardiner Expressway Section 2 Rehabilitation
Awards of DistinctionStantec Consulting Ltd.Glen Road Pedestrian Bridge and Tunnel
Awards of DistinctionParsons Inc.Reconstruction of Albert, Queen, Slater & Bronson Streets
Awards of DistinctionHH Angus and Associates LimitedOntario Power Generation Headquarters
Awards of DistinctionWSP Canada Inc.Union Station Enhancement Project
Awards of DistinctionGHD Ltd. & Dillon Consulting LimitedSanofi Wastewater Treatment and Recycling Plant
Awards of DistinctionStantec Consulting Ltd.Kenilworth Trunk Watermain Rehabilitation
Awards of DistinctionEXP Services Inc.Colgan Wastewater Treatment Plant
Awards of DistinctionParsons Inc.Downtown Toronto Congestion Study

For more information about the Ontario Engineering Project Awards, including past recipients, visit www.ACECOntario.ca.

About ACEC-Ontario

ACEC-Ontario represents the interests of 140 consulting engineering firms that collectively employ over 29,000 Ontarians. Accumulated gross revenues of consulting engineering firms across the country contribute more than $10 billion to the Ontario economy.

ACEC-Ontario is dedicated to fostering a business and regulatory climate that empowers its member companies to deliver unparalleled services and value to clients. The Association champions the vital role that consulting engineering plays in enhancing social, economic, and environmental well-being in Ontario and beyond.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Michelle West

Senior Director, Membership, Marketing and Communications
Association of Consulting Engineering Companies | Ontario
416.620.1400 ext 227
mwest@ACECOntario.ca