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| John D. Gamble, CET, P.Eng. President & CEO, ACEC-Canada |
As ACEC-Canada marks its 100th anniversary, the 2024-2025 fiscal year has been one of extraordinary momentum, strategic delivery, and forward-looking purpose. It has also been a time of celebration and reflection – not just for our association, but for the entire consulting engineering profession in Canada.
The achievements highlighted throughout this Annual Report and the Year in Review underscore our commitment to the four strategic priorities that continue to guide our work: championing the industry, strengthening firms, supporting members, and building a resilient and high-performing association.
In anticipation of a potential federal election, ACEC launched Invest in Growth – a bold, bilingual, non-partisan campaign that framed consulting engineering as essential to Canada’s prosperity, climate resilience, and infrastructure leadership. Developed in partnership with First Lake Solutions, this strategic campaign provided members with tools to engage candidates, stakeholders, and the public – while amplifying our voice with decision-makers in Ottawa. It was gratifying to see that the platforms of the major parties reflected the theme of infrastructure investment being critical to Canada’s economic independence and quality of life. The Invest in Growth campaign was recognized with a 2025 FIDIC Member Association Excellence Award, affirming its national and global impact.
ACEC also contributed significantly to the development of Canada’s long-term infrastructure policy, offering formal input into the federal government’s National Infrastructure Assessment and becoming an early and frequent participant in the consultations for a new Canadian Infrastructure Council (CIC). These efforts ensured our industry’s role in shaping national priorities.
We continued to respond to other federal policy developments, including the proposed capital gains tax changes and the requirement for firms to translate contract documents, keeping members informed while advocating for regulatory approaches that respect our industry’s realities.
Our ongoing relationship and collaboration with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) resulted in ACEC hosting a standing-room-only expert panel on the future of infrastructure delivery. During the panel, ACEC leadership and member firms engaged national thought leaders and municipal officials in forward-looking dialogue.
On the international stage, ACEC maintained strong relationships with FIDIC and ACEC-US, addressing global market access, procurement challenges, and U.S. trade policy developments that affect Canadian firms.
This year, ACEC delivered new and expanded programs that added measurable value to firms of all sizes and profiles.
The launch of a new ACEC National Awards program showcased the innovation, societal benefit, and impact of our member firms, with 68 submissions received across multiple categories. These awards elevate the public and political profile of our sector, reinforcing its essential role in shaping Canada and its communities.
Our National Leadership Conference remained a cornerstone of industry leadership and insight. It also served as the anchor for two major federation initiatives: Association Day, which brought Member Organization leadership together for strategic collaboration, and Parliament Hill Day, which gave ACEC members direct access to Parliamentarians to advocate for infrastructure investment and professional leadership.
The Executive Forum continued to attract senior leaders for high-level exchange and discussion on issues shaping the industry. This year also saw the launch of a new and highly successful initiative: the Small Firm Forum. Tailored specifically to the needs and realities of small and medium-sized firms, this event created space for peer learning, practical insight, and focused dialogue.
We also continued to invest in the next generation of leadership through the Future Leaders Management Forum, providing early-career professionals with skills, connections, and mentorship to grow within their firms and shape the sector’s future.
ACEC’s federation model remains one of its greatest strengths, and this year, we reinforced our commitment to collaboration, communication, and shared progress.
The launch of Association Day, held in conjunction with the National Leadership Conference, provided Member Organizations with a unique platform to exchange best practices, align priorities, and shape the future of the federation together.
Throughout the year, we provided ongoing support to Member Organizations on advocacy, communications, and governance – reinforcing our commitment to being a responsive and valuable partner.
We also strengthened our cultural leadership. The launch of the ACEC DEI Resource Centre provided firms and Member Organizations with accessible tools, templates, and resources to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion. We officially endorsed 30 by 30, the national initiative led by Engineers Canada to raise female representation in engineering licensure to 30 percent by 2030.
Our student and early-career outreach efforts also expanded significantly. In partnership with the Canadian Federation of Engineering Students (CFES), we promoted consulting engineering as a career path through campus engagement, student conferences, and digital initiatives – helping attract future talent to our profession.
Behind these external successes were deliberate, strategic internal improvements. ACEC conducted a comprehensive technology audit, leading to upgraded communications systems, modernized data infrastructure, and improved cybersecurity – all to better serve members and adapt to an evolving landscape.
We updated our risk registry, refined our internal policies, and aligned our budgeting and governance practices with best-in-class standards to protect the members’ investment in the association. These operational investments ensure that ACEC remains agile, transparent, and member-driven.
We also deepened our engagement with Maple Leaf Partners, sponsors, and allied associations, reinforcing ACEC’s influence within Canada’s broader infrastructure and professional services ecosystem.
The 2024-2025 fiscal year marked the beginning of ACEC-Canada’s centennial year – a once-in-a-generation opportunity to celebrate our legacy and project our leadership into the future.
Centennial programming is already under way. Highlights include a national webinar on the evolution of consulting engineering, the launch of our centennial branding, and the development of public- and member-facing storytelling initiatives that will unfold in the months ahead.
To support and elevate these efforts, ACEC established the Centennial Sponsorship Fund – a dedicated platform inviting member firms and partners to help us celebrate 100 years of engineering excellence while investing in our legacy. The fund will support public education, stakeholder outreach, centennial events, and initiatives that extend our impact beyond the milestone year.
Our centennial is not just a celebration of the past – it is a springboard for our next century. Through storytelling, engagement, and national visibility, we will reaffirm the role of consulting engineers in shaping Canada’s prosperity, sustainability, and quality of life.
The past year has been one of remarkable progress – not only for ACEC, but for the entire profession. We have strengthened our foundation, delivered on our strategic priorities, and laid the groundwork for a bold future.
To our members, thank you for your trust and leadership. To our Board, Member Organizations, partners, volunteers, and staff – your dedication made this extraordinary year possible.
Together, we are not just reflecting on our past. We are shaping the next 100 years of consulting engineering in Canada.
Sincerely,
John D. Gamble, CET, P.Eng.
President and Chief Executive Officer
A message from Jérôme Pelletier, P.Eng., Chair of ACEC-Canada Board 2024-2025.
Some selected highlights of the association's activities and accomplishments over the last fiscal year and how it has responded to the challenges faced by the industry.
Overview and summaries of the association's financial statements and reports.
