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Cansult Limited

A Brief History 1960 to 2006

1960 Trade mission to South America

1961 Cansult Limited formed, Ray Frigon is appointed President. At the beginning there are 12 shareholder firms.

1962-64 Marketing and development of opportunities in various parts of the globe and then focus on the Gulf Region in the Middle East.

1965 Contracts awarded in Abu Dhabi for the new International airport and Maqta’a bridge and in KSA in Riyadh and Madinah for storm and sewerage works. Offices were opened in all three cities. George Barber, Manager KSA and Bob Wentzel, Manager, Abu Dhabi.

( Copy of the original Contract)

1966 By this time the number of member firms was reduced to four due to attrition. The four were Beauchemin Beaton Lapointe, Fodor Engineering, Marshall Macklin Monaghan Limited and SNC. The key member firm leaders at that time were Harry Beaton ( BBL), Carl Stockman ( Fodor), Harold Macklin (MMM) and Camille Dagenais (SNC).

1967 SNC a 25% owner withdraws from the consortium leaving MMM, BBL and Fodor each as 1/3 partners.

1968 Cansult is awarded various dredging and land reclamation projects around the island of Abu Dhabi. Cansult’s role in land reclamation works continued right up to 2006 and beyond.

1969 Completion of the Abu Dhabi Airport and Maqta’a bridge in Abu Dhabi. The bridge is opened by the ruler Sheikh Zaid Al Nayhan.

(Photos of the Abu Dhabi airport and Maqta’a Bridge)

1970 With the opening up of Oman by the new ruler, Sultan Qaboos after many years of operating as a completely closed country Cansult begins marketing in Muscat, the capital.

1971 The first contract in Oman was for planning services for the city of Salalah, in the south led by Jim Collishaw. We are told that Jim was always accompanied by armed body guards since at that time the country was not yet completely stabilized under the rule of Sultan Qaboos.

1972 Tourism opportunity study Lebanon. Lorne Atkinson of MMM makes his first trip to the ME to study the sewage plant and sewerage needs for Riyadh..

1973 Cansult is awarded a 465 KM highway design from Riyadh to the Kuwait border. Metin Borahan a Turkish born Canadian is appointed Project manager. Lou Earp is manager of KSA based in Riyadh. Jim Metcalfe makes his first trip to the ME. Construction of Riyadh and Medinah Sewerage works has begun with Cansult as supervising consultant.

1974 Cansult HO is moved from Ottawa to Toronto and co-located with MMM in Don Mills. Awarded the design and supervision of 180 bed Khoula Hospital in Muscat, the first modern hospital in the capital and the the design and supervision of the highway from al Ain to Sohar. David Field, Resident in Oman. Sewerage works continue in Riyadh and Medinah

1975 David and Mary Jo’s son Michael is the first Canadian to be born in the Sultanate of Oman.

1976 Awarded an Industrial Economic Study in Kelantan Malaysia. Jim Metcalfe appointed Project Director with David Beasley and Lee Parson as resident planners. Project continued until completion in 1978.

1977 MMM acquires Fodor Engineering which had been reduced to a 10% share and becomes the controlling shareholder of Cansult.

1978 Educansult is formed. Jim Metcalfe relocates from MMM to Cansult as VP Operations. Awarded $ 44 million Bida and Illaro colleges as a design-build contract under Cansult Foundation Limited a 50/50 JV with the Foundation Company of Canada.

1979 Trow ME is formed, a 50/50 JV with the Trow Group of Toronto. It is set up to undertake geotechnical and soils consulting assignments in the ME. Trow eventually grows to 300 staff with offices in KSA, UAE and Oman and is then sold to local partners in the late 1980’s.

1980 Sewerage and storm drainage projects in Riyadh and Medinah continue until the clients decide to invite others to put in bids. Cansult loses its exclusive arrangement due to price competition.

1981 Design and supervision of housing and infrastructure works including a 30 Km seawater pipeline for Oman Mining Company for a new copper mine at Magan near Sohar, Oman. The client Jack Wally is a Canadian.

1982 Cansult’s founding President Ray Frigon retires and is succeeded as President and CEO by Jim Metcalfe.

1983 Ken Flockhart is named regional manager based in the newly formed Cyprus company, located in Nicosia. Lorne Atkinson joins Cansult transferring from MMM as Vice President Operations.

1984 Design, equipping and supervision of the Jeddah Science Center the first for the Middle East.

Formation of Hanscomb Middle East in Muscat Oman, a 50/50 JV with Hanscomb Canada.

1985 Design and supervision of 500 villa community in Qatif Saudi Arabia. Jim Metcalfe relocates to Muscat Oman. Hanscomb formed for QS services with first office in Oman and Bob Myles as managing partner. (date ???)

1986 In October 1986 Cansult employees purchase Cansult from MMM and Beauchemin Beaton Lapointe. ( see separate story later).

1987 Cansult Engineering limited is formed for work in Canada with George Horning as President. Dubai office is opened on urging of Ray Guy first Canadian diplomat in the UAE. Millstead Developments Inc is formed for real estate development in Ontario. Dan Danesh is appointed President of Millstead. (date ??)

1988 LeisurePlan is established as a specialty company for planning and landscape architecture in partnership with Kees Verburg and John Stevenson.

1989 Retained Dr. Mana al Oteiba former UAE Oil Minister for the design and supervision of three 5 star hotels in Morocco.

1990 Awarded the Ardiya STP Kuwait, only to have the contract frustrated by the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. The project was never built, although we did get an assignment to study various modifications to the existing STP to increase its capacity and then supply a resident engineer to overview construction.

1991 Design and construction supervision of Etisalat (telephone company) HQ buildings in all 7 emirates of the UAE.

1992 Cansult acquires Bobaljik architects to form Cansult Bobaljik. Cansult head office is moved to Markham, Ontario.

1993 In association with Eastcan ( ???) undertakes a 5 year contract for roads in Kenya.

1994 In association with EDM Consultants of Deer Lake Newfoundland undertakes feasibility study design and construction supervision of Norman Manley Airport runways and site works Jamaica. Leon Seyranian is appointed Project Director and Hank Eimers and site manager.

1995 awarded comprehensive transportation master plan study for the city of Dubai, UAE. Lorne Atkinson is appointed Managing Director Gulf region and relocates to Abu Dhabi.

1996 Appointed project manager for the Abu Dhabi trade center including two office towers, shopping mall and hotel. Client Sh Suroor bin Mohammed. David Stephen appointed project manager.

1997 Opens office in Sharjah to oversee projects including Science museum, library, colleges and policy academy. Builds a strong relationship with the ruler HH sh. Sultan Al Qasimi.

1998 In association with Gartner Lee Limited undertakes a number of Hydrogeological studies in Oman.

1999 Cansult Hanscomb Projects Inc. formed for PM projects in Canada. David field is appointed President.

2000 New millenium

2001 Cansult opens office in Doha Qatar, Peter Ventin, Manager

2002 Awarded project management of convention center in Sanaa Yemen, Hank Eimers, Resident manager.

2003 Lorne Atkinson returns to Toronto, Jim Metcalfe relocates to Abu Dhabi.

2004 Al Waab City in Doha Qatar, City Center Doha,

2005 Cansult awarded east west corridor study and highway design, Trinidad and Tobago.

2006 Lorne Proudlock relocates to Dubai. Cansult merges with AECOM on September 29, 2006. (see separate story.