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KITCHENER, Tuesday, April 18, 2023 - WalterFedy is pleased to announce we are one of Canada’s Greenest Employers of 2023, selected by Mediacorp Canada Inc. This annual awards program recognizes employers nationwide in multiple categories, and we are honoured to be in the company of some of the best organizations in Canada. Employers are evaluated on their unique environmental initiatives, programs to reduce the organization’s environmental footprint, employee involvement in these programs, and the extent that these initiatives are linked to the employer’s public identity.
The editors at Mediacorp Canada Inc. cited our internal Sustainability Advisory Committee’s employee-led programs, our incorporation of sustainable design into building projects, our partnership and work with Sustainable Waterloo Region, and our commitment to a Beyond Zero Carbon future, as reasons for selection.
“This award is a testament to our unwavering commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship,” says Garth Cressman, CEO. “We believe that as a business, we have a responsibility to protect the planet and create a better future for generations. I am proud of our team for their dedication, and I firmly believe that our commitment to sustainability sets us apart as an employer of choice. Moving forward, we will continue to prioritize the well-being of our environment as we grow and evolve as a firm.”
You can visit the WalterFedy profile on the Top Employers website for more information on this award and why we are also one of Waterloo Region’s Top Employers for 2023.
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ABOUT WALTERFEDY WalterFedy is an integrated design collaborative delivering creative solutions and practical built environments. Since our inception in 1951, we have continued to learn, adapt, and evolve to best serve our clients. In 1970, we became one of Canada’s first integrated design firms to deliver a level of coordination and team commitment not served by the traditional project model. Today we serve clients across the country, helping bring their projects to life through innovative, sustainable, and intersectional design approaches.
Today, our expertise includes energy and carbon solutions; architecture; mechanical, electrical, structural, and civil engineering; asset and facilities management; and project management. The value of our integrated nature shines through our modern team structure, which allows us to share lessons learned and discuss project challenges organically.
WalterFedy Media Contact Katie McQuaid Manager, Marketing and Communications 519-576-2150 x229 |
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From left to right: Benjamin Gregory, James Johnson, Jon Neuert
KITCHENER, Monday, December 5, 2022 – The WalterFedy Board of Directors is pleased to welcome three new shareholders to our ownership team: Benjamin Gregory, James Johnson, and Jon Neuert. Ben, James, and Jon are leaders in the architecture, engineering, and construction space, and have made exceptional contributions to the communities we serve. We wish them continued success as they grow in their practice and as partners in the firm.
“The addition of these three people to our shareholders’ table is great news for WalterFedy,” says Garth Cressman, CEO. “I’ve had the pleasure of working closely with each of them. Their unique viewpoints and experience will be instrumental as we continue to grow WalterFedy into a future-focused organization.”
In addition to their personal experience, our new shareholders bring with them the perspective of the talented teams they represent, including architecture, engineering, and the newly acquired boutique firm Baird Sampson Neuert.
Benjamin Gregory, OAA, MRAIC, M.Arch, LEED AP, is a problem-solver, passionate about design and particularly interested in architecture’s ability to promote social and environmental sustainability. He is certified as a LEED® Accredited Professional and is working towards becoming a Passive House Certified consultant. Ben’s expertise is focused on the residential and commercial sectors working with private developers, owner-operators, and non-profit groups such as the House of Friendship, YW Kitchener-Waterloo, and Beyond Housing. Ben has provided his design expertise and project management on many high-profile commercial and residential projects (including mass timber) and is currently designing a 9-storey Passive House project which, when constructed, will be the first in The Waterloo Region. Ben is also a mentor and team leader who brings a passion for his work, strong client focus, and creativity to every project in which he is involved.
James Johnson, P. Eng, is a seasoned mechanical engineer. His design experience is vast and varied, from institutional research laboratories and pharmaceuticals to office buildings and district energy. Backed by a solid technical foundation, James excels at finding creative solutions to complex design challenges and has a natural ability to navigate adversity. His vast experience make him a knowledgeable and supportive leader and mentor who willingly shares his expertise to help grow the next generation of engineering professionals. Outside of work, James supports his community as a Cub Scouter and as chair of the property committee at the Church of the Holy Trinity, Toronto.
Jon Neuert, OAA, AIA, LEED, CAHP, FRAIC, has extensive experience in the programming, planning and design of a wide array of community facilities that extends over 30 years of professional practice — the last 20 as Principal of Baird Sampson Neuert. His professional experience has been focused in the area of public building and post-secondary facility planning, programming, and design, and includes projects completed for over a dozen University campuses. Inducted as a ‘Fellow’ of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, Jon has served as project architect, designer, and principal-in-charge of many of the firm’s award-winning projects, including three projects recognized by Governor Generals Medal - Canada’s highest architectural design award. Jon is a keen collaborator and has decades of experience leading and working with stakeholder teams in the realization of impactful, public-minded projects and sustainable community development.
Congratulations Ben, James and Jon. The WalterFedy community looks forward to your leadership as we strive to enhance the world around us.
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ABOUT WALTERFEDYWalterFedy’s ambition is to enhance the world around us. As one of Canada's first integrated design firms, we play a crucial role in shaping the way our communities feel and function. We understand the art of multi-disciplinary collaboration and leveraging our collective talents to elevate design solutions. It’s an incredible responsibility backed by 70 years of experience and a simple principle – everything matters.
In 2022, WalterFedy acquired Toronto architecture firm Baird Sampson Neuert, a partnership that has extended both teams’ capacity to offer intelligent design solutions across Canada delivered by passionate architecture and engineering professionals.
WalterFedy Media ContactKatie McQuaid Manager, Marketing and Communications 519-576-2150 x229 |
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For the fifth consecutive year, the WalterFedy team has made the coveted Waterloo Area’s Top Employers list.
The annual selection is curated by the team at Mediacorp Canada Inc., best known for administering the Canada’s Top 100 Employers contest. Employers are judged on their ability to offer exceptional workplaces with a focus on physical workplace; atmosphere and social culture; health, financial, and family benefits; vacation/time away; employee communications; performance management; training and skills development; and community involvement.
The selection team pointed to WalterFedy’s retirement planning assistance services; retirement savings matching contributions; and vacation, volunteer, and time away policies as reasons for selection. The flexible nature of WalterFedy’s health benefits was also commended.
“As people start to return to the workplace, this year’s winners have made it clear that their employees deserve both the time and space to focus on their families, their health, and their education,” says Kristina Leung, Managing Editor at Mediacorp. “Organizations are doubling down on their commitment to flexibility, such as flexible working hours or a health plan that allows employees to tailor coverage to suit their needs.”
"Receiving this award for the fifth year in a row is a great achievement for WalterFedy and our team,” says Victoria Campbell, Director, Human Resources. “Our employees play an important role in shaping WalterFedy as we continue to grow. Their suggestions for continuous improvements have been essential to our overall employee experience.”
The announcement rounds out an exciting year for the WalterFedy team, which has seen a 22% increase in staff since January. This large jump in staff has also coincided with new initiatives like the roll-out of a people-first culture strategy and the launch of a comprehensive Learning Management System.
“As we continue to grow within the Waterloo Region and beyond, we strive to create meaningful work opportunities for our team,” says Garth Cressman, CEO. “We want our employees to love the work they do and love working for us. When our employees are thriving, so is our business.”
View WalterFedy’s award profile on Canada’s Top 100 Employers website along with the full list of Waterloo Area’s Top Employers. |
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KITCHENER, Thursday, September 15, 2022 WalterFedy and Baird Sampson Neuert (BSN) Architects are pleased to announce the joining of our firms to advance our common goal of enhancing the world around us through collaborative design excellence.
“We are pleased to announce that BSN, a renowned Canadian architecture firm, will be joining our complement,” said Jamie Van Dyk, Board Chair and Principal Architect, WalterFedy. “This partnership will elevate both studios’ ability to deliver enhanced collaborative design, focused on innovation and sustainability. We are looking forward to the new opportunities this partnership will afford both firms.”
BSN is a Toronto-based architecture firm with a 50-year history of award-winning projects that advance sustainable design and technical achievements in Canadian architecture. Founded in 1972, BSN rapidly gained a national profile for its innovative approaches to urban design. BSN’s portfolio is distinguished by a wide array of award-winning designs and technical achievements including three prestigious Governor General’s Awards and an American Institute of Architects Honor Award. Beyond architectural projects, their work includes ground-breaking urban design and planning projects for a broad cross-section of public and private sector clients.
“We are inspired by the potential to leverage a new relationship with WalterFedy and expand BSN’s capacity to innovate and deliver holistic design through a collaborative, multidisciplinary practice environment," said Jon Neuert, Principal Architect, BSN.
This partnership will amplify WalterFedy and BSN’s presence in Canada and enable both firms to enhance their services while elevating client experience. “The joining of BSN and WalterFedy is an exciting time for everyone involved,” said Garth Cressman, CEO, WalterFedy. “Through reciprocal growth, knowledge sharing, and mentorship, the firms are well positioned to provide innovative and exploratory design solutions. Our partnership will expand our capacity to realize exemplary project outcomes through intentional values-driven design.”
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About WalterFedyWalterFedy’s ambition is to enhance the world around us. As one of Canada's first integrated design firms, we play a crucial role in shaping the way our communities feel and function. We understand the art of multi-disciplinary collaboration and leveraging our collective talents to elevate design solutions. It’s an incredible responsibility backed by 70 years of experience and a simple principle – everything matters.
Media ContactKatie McQuaid Manager, Marketing and Communications, WalterFedy kmcquaid@walterfedy.com 519-576-2150 x229 |
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House of Friendship, supported by WalterFedy’s consulting services, is taking a big and exciting step forward on its ShelterCare approach to supporting homeless men in Waterloo Region.
The Government of Ontario recently announced capital investments of $8.5M for House of Friendship to advance its innovative ShelterCare program. ShelterCare wraps medical and community services around a housing-first approach to ending cycles of homelessness.
“WalterFedy’s partnership has been absolutely pivotal to ShelterCare’s ongoing success,” said Jessica Bondy, director of housing services at House of Friendship. “WalterFedy has blown us away with their willingness to partner, their eagerness to truly understand the needs of the homeless population and the housing sector, and their hustle – without them, this project would be years rather than months in the making.”
This funding is part of the province’s Social Services Relief Fund (SSRF), which is an effort to help municipalities and Indigenous program partners support vulnerable groups, including those who are homeless and/or at risk of homelessness in Ontario. With an anticipated Fall 2022 opening, WalterFedy has created the renovation plans for the former Comfort Inn, adapting it to become a new emergency shelter that will operate 24/7. When renovated, this location will enable House of Friendship to continue to provide the highly successful ShelterCare program, which brings healthcare onsite to help individuals experiencing homelessness become healthier and housed. This new facility is conveniently situated near public transportation, recreational spaces, and job opportunities, and will serve 100 men. In addition to bedrooms, it will include treatment rooms, a primary care medical clinic, common areas for people to engage in intentional programming and spaces for staff to strategize and work together. Participants of ShelterCare will also have access to housing support, meals, and community-based wrap-around healthcare services, including mental health and addiction support.
In the supportive housing, affordable housing, and shelter world, there are oftentimes nuanced aspects of design that can significantly impact those the facility serves and employs. As such, WalterFedy has been working closely with House of Friendship staff since March 2021 to employ a trauma-informed design building to meet the unique needs of the program participants.
“It has been apparent from the outset that House of Friendship team is bringing decades of experience and passion to the design table,” said Ben Gregory, Project Architect. “They truly care about creating spaces that are inclusive, accessible, restore dignity, mitigate trauma triggers, and respect a broad range of identities and lived-experiences. House of Friendship is a pillar of supporting marginalized peoples in the Waterloo Region community and WalterFedy is proud to support such a respected and impactful organization.”
“It’s been a pleasure to work with the design team at WalterFedy,” said Jessica Bondy, Housing Services Director at House of Friendship. “They have taken our ideas and insights to create an innovative design that allows us to implement ShelterCare. We’re delighted to see this dream come to fruition alongside our the WalterFedy team.”
Homelessness continues to be a critical issue affecting more than 1,000 people in Waterloo Region. Thanks to the support of the community and generous investments from our municipal and provincial leaders, House of Friendship is well-positioned to provide life-changing resources for those in need of emergency food, housing, addiction treatment, and community support –a vital steppingstone on the path to empowerment and self-sufficiency.
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It is with great pleasure that WalterFedy announces the company has achieved Canada’s Top Small and Medium Employer (SME) status for the fourth consecutive year. Administered by Mediacorp Canada Inc., the annual awards program recognizes employers across Canada for their exceptional workplace practices and policies, including workplace, atmosphere, social opportunities, benefits, vacation, and training, among other criteria.
“Early in the pandemic, smaller employers were able to respond to employees’ needs quickly and with agility,” says Anthony Meehan, Publisher at Mediacorp. “Once again, small and medium employers are responding with agility by adopting many of the benefits previously seen only at larger, more established organizations.”
In Mediacorp Canada Inc.’s official release, WalterFedy was commended for adapting to better support employees in the pandemic:
“Along with moving all employees to work-from-home arrangements early in the pandemic, Kitchener, Ont.-based WalterFedy let employees take home needed tech and furniture along with introducing a special program to provide interest-free loans (up to $1,000) for home office improvements.”
“We’ve learned we can work differently and want to ensure our employees have the resources and tools to do so,” said Victoria Campbell, Director, Human Resources. “Flexibility and communication continue to be essential elements in our strategy as we navigate through the future of our workplace.”
WalterFedy was also recognized by Mediacorp Canada Inc in January 2022 as a Waterloo Region Top Employer.
--- Read the official MediaCorp Release. Learn more about WalterFedy’s 2022 award recognition here. We are always on the lookout for great candidates. If you are interested in joining our team, you can find a full list of open positions here. |
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WalterFedy was among 25 local businesses recognized as one of Waterloo Area’s Top Employers today. This marks the fourth consecutive year that the firm has made the list, carefully curated by the team at Mediacorp Canada Inc, and the fifth win since 2016.
The Waterloo Area’s Top Employers competition is part of the larger Canada’s Top 100 Employers contest, now in its 15th year. Employers are judged on eight criteria – physical workplace, atmosphere and social culture, benefits, vacation/time away policies, employee communications, performance management, professional development opportunities, and community involvement.
The staff editors at Mediacorp Canada Inc. cited WalterFedy’s pandemic response and vacation policy in their reasoning for selection. The full employer profile is available here.
"Hearing from our employees through regular pulse surveys and open forums helped us understand their changing needs as we moved through different stages of the pandemic," said Victoria Campbell, Director of Human Resources. "We continue to adjust our approaches based on the challenges our employees face. Our hope is to maintain this invaluable open dialogue so we can continue to pivot to the needs of our business and our people."
“The past few years have been challenging for businesses across Waterloo Region,” said Garth Cressman, CEO. “That we were able to maintain our culture amid a pandemic without compromising on the programs and supports we could offer really speaks to our people. Despite the adversity and uncertainty presented by the pandemic, they continued to drive us forward and challenge us to rethink the workplace.” |
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December 20, 2021Effective Monday, December 20, 2021, WalterFedy/AEC has shifted to Working from Home following guidance from the Province of Ontario and local health authorities. We will continue to be available via email Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. to serve our clients. August 2, 2021With restrictions beginning to lift, we have opened our office to visitors by appointment only. Guests will be required to wear a mask and complete a pre-screening form prior to entering the building. April 7, 2021Following the Province’s state of emergency announcement on April 7, WalterFedy and AEC Developments is closing our office and employees will be working remotely until the end of the lockdown order. Our staff will continue to be available via email Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. to serve our clients.
October 13, 2020WalterFedy continues to follow the guidelines of the Province and has kept most of our workforce at home. Our Reception is closed to visitors until further notice and all client meetings are being held virtually. We will continue to be available via email Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. to serve our clients.
March 31, 2020With the announcement from Premier Ford extending the state of emergency in Ontario for at least another two weeks, and Minister Lecce announcing schools will remain closed until the end of April, WalterFedy has decided to keep our workforce at home until at least May 4, 2020, as well. All employees who are able will continue to work from home as they have been for the last few weeks. We will continue to be available via email Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. to serve our clients.
March 17, 2020WalterFedy and AEC Developments are continuing to work hard to meet the needs of our clients during this extremely difficult time. Information around the COVID-19 situation is changing rapidly, and we continue to monitor the updates and developments as they are released. In a step to protect the health and safety of our staff and clients, WalterFedy and AEC Developments is closing our office and employees will be working remotely until at least April 6, 2020. Our staff will continue to be available via email Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. to serve our clients. |
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The year is 1951. Kitchener is nearly 45,000 people strong with a vibrant shopping district, a healthy textile industry, and a newly erected Memorial Auditorium Complex. The city is booming, and eager to support a metropolis on the rise, our founders Herman Walter and Bill Roberts open a mechanical and electrical engineering firm. Tucked in an understated office on Francis Street with only a handful of staff, the two would launch HK Walter & Associates — a firm that, in the years that followed, would grow to include architecture, full-service engineering, and construction management, undergo three name changes, employ hundreds of staff, expand to three offices, and help weave the remarkable tapestry that is Waterloo Region and beyond.
It’s now 2021. Kitchener’s population has soared to 571,000 people, and the textile manufacturing facilities that drove the economy in the 50s have since been transformed into start-ups, tech hubs, and trendy apartments. The office space where it all started has since been wiped from the map and is now a vacant parking lot and future site of a 44-storey glass monolith. In our 70 years of business, there isn’t much that hasn’t changed, but one important thing remains: we continue to have the privilege of shaping the communities we call home through our work.
As we reflect on our history, we can happily recount the projects that helped put us on the map. But anniversaries, at their core, are more than a list of accomplishments. They are a celebration of a beautiful relationship. And so, as we celebrate our 70th year in business, we turn our attention to the community that has trusted us to play a leading role in enhancing the world around them, and in so doing have provided meaningful employment for so many. Thank you.
“In the past 70 years, WalterFedy has had many incredible employees grace our hallways to help build us into the company we are today,” says Garth Cressman. CEO. “We wouldn’t be where we are without the people who helped us grow and the community that supported us in that growth for the past 70 years.”
In honour of our anniversary, we will be performing 70+ Acts of Good in our community from now until December. It is one small way we can demonstrate our gratitude for the communities that continue to inspire and support the work we do.
WalterFedy’s History 1951 – HK Walter and Associates is formed, offering mechanical and electrical engineering services 1969 – Structural and civil engineering services are added to our offerings while HK Walter and Associates becomes Walter Fedy McCargar Hachborn 1971 – Architects Horton & Ball Ltd join our team 1974 – Construction management services are added, allowing us to provide start to finish design and construction services to our clients 1991 - Walter Fedy McCargar Hachborn becomes the Walter Fedy Partnership 2011 – The team moves to a new LEED CI Certified office and becomes WalterFedy 2014- AEC Developments is created to independently manage the construction management arm of the business 2015 – WalterFedy opens a new office in Hamilton with mechanical, electrical, structural, and civil engineers. Energy and Carbon Solutions is added to our service offerings. 2018 – Architecture is added to the suite of services offered in Hamilton 2019 – The Hamilton Team gets a new consolidated home in the downtown core 2021 – WalterFedy commits to achieving Beyond Zero Carbon, offsetting all carbon emissions plus an additional 10%. We also open a new office in Toronto.
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The Morwick Groundwater Research Centre, designed by the architecture and engineering team at WalterFedy, has received Outstanding Project status for excellence in educational facility design in the Fall 2021 edition of LEARNING BY DESIGN.
The publication features eighty-one recently completed educational facilities across North America, vetted by a panel of six architects and facility professionals. The scoring criteria included several pillars crucial to learning environment excellence, including transparency, connectivity, safety, sustainability, great interiors, purposeful design, and sophistication.
About the Morwick Groundwater Research CentreThe Morwick Groundwater Research Centre was designed to generate global respect for groundwater. The expanded facility will allow the University of Guelph to increase and intensify their efforts to conduct leading-edge groundwater education, training, technology advancement, and research. The Centre will be an important multi-functional hub for groundwater-related activities, operating as a teaching and research facility for students and faculty, a venue
View the original press release here. |
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Sarah Fullerton 1 May 25, 2023 |
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Business Development 40 April 18, 2023 |
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Katie McQuaid 15 March 24, 2023 |
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Isabella Manasan 1 March 21, 2023 |
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Emily Wettlaufer 1 September 14, 2022 |
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Garth Cressman 2 August 6, 2021 |
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Aurrey Drake 13 April 7, 2021 |
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Patrick Campbell 1 April 6, 2021 |
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Krystin Scheels 4 October 13, 2020 |
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