Our History

Bob Burnside establishes Burnside at the kitchen table of his Orangeville home on January 1. A branch office at 30 Mill Street opens shortly thereafter.

Our very first project is complete, providing support to an infrastructure upgrade for Bell Canada.

Our work begins at Walpole Island First Nation, starting with the design of a major pump drainage system for the community. This marks the beginning of several years of work to ensure that the island has proper drainage, water service, road access, and sanitation for the safety and wellbeing of its residents.

We grow to include municipal planning services.

We grow to include municipal drainage services, following the acquisition of E.H. Uderstadt, O.L.S.

We open a new branch in Stratford, Ontario.

We grow to include groundwater and environmental services.

Our Orangeville branch relocates to its current address at 15 Townline.

We expand to include hydrogeological and building science services.

We establish R.J. Burnside International Limited to better serve our international clients and projects.

We grow to offer services to the Golf industry.

We open a new branch in Newmarket, Ontario.

We open a new branch in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

We acquire Heartland Engineering and open a new branch in Stayner, Ontario.

Our Stayner branch relocates to Collingwood, Ontario.

We acquire Maitland Engineering and open a new branch in Wingham, Ontario.

We formally establish Neegan Burnside Engineering & Environmental Limited as a majority Indigenous-owned engineering and environmental consulting firm solely committed to serving Indigenous communities across Canada.

Rui de Carvalho is named Burnside’s second President.

We acquire Argue & Associates and open a new branch in Guelph, Ontario.

We begin work with the Government of Barbados on the implementation of a comprehensive waste management plan for the country, known as the National Integrated Solid Waste Program. This project included the development of new landfill cells and disposal techniques, renewable energy generation systems, and ancillary services, including an administration building and maintenance workshop.

Neegan Burnside Engineering & Environmental Limited is renamed as Neegan Burnside Ltd.

We establish Well Initiatives Limited to provide specialty well contracting services based in Guelph, Ontario.

John Burnside is named Burnside’s third President.

We open a new branch in Pickering, Ontario.

We open a new branch in Barrie, Ontario.

We receive the Technical Innovation Award from the Ontario Public Works Association (OPWA) for our work on the Pioneer Park stormwater management facility rehabilitation in Richmond Hill, Ontario.

Our Brampton branch relocates to Mississauga, Ontario.

Neegan Burnside Ltd. receives the Northern Ontario Excellence Award at the Wood Design Awards for work on the Sioux Lookout Hospital.

We receive the Architectural Hardscape Award at the Ontario Concrete Awards for our work on the Lake Wilcox Park waterfront promenade in Richmond Hill.

We receive the Project of the Year Award from the OPWA for our work on the Rumble Pond adaptive stormwater infrastructure project in Richmond Hill.

Our Feasibility and Detail Design for Water Supply in Eight Northern Cities in Mozambique is complete, concluding five years of work to double the treated water supply to the City of Nampula. The project received an Award of Excellence from the ACEC in 2015.

Ian Drever is named Burnside’s fourth President.

We receive the Great Places Award – Placemaking Category from the City of Kitchener for our work on the Walter Bean trail bridge.

We celebrate 50 years in business!

We receive the Project of the Year Award (Environment Category, $10 – $50 Million Project Division) from the OPWA for our work on the Alloa Reservoir and Pumping Station project for the Region of Peel.

Our Stratford branch relocates to Woodstock, Ontario.

We receive the Project of the Year Award (Transportation Category, $2 – $10 Million Project Division) from the OPWA for our work on the Niska Road and Bridge reconstruction project for the City of Guelph.

We receive the Project of the Year Award (Structures Category, $2 – $10 Million Project Division) for our work on the Major Mackenzie Drive West watermain replacement project for the City of Richmond Hill.

Bob Burnside receives an honorary doctorate from the University of Guelph.

Our Hamilton office opens, located at 1266 South Service Road in the Community of Stoney Creek.  We look forward to better servicing our Hamilton area clients from, and growing our team in, this new location.