Whissell Contracting Calgary Ltd

What Whissell Contracting Calgary Ltd does

Whissell Contracting Ltd. is a family-owned civil infrastructure contractor headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, founded in 1970 by Brian Whissell as a water and sewer contractor. The company has grown into one of Western Canada's larger deep-utility and earthworks operators, delivering four service divisions: Underground Infrastructure (deep utilities, trunk mains, lift stations, diversions, tie-ins), Earthworks & Grading (mass excavation, pad construction, ponds, slopes, large-scale grading), Heavy Haul & Transportation (8–76 wheel combinations, up to 100-ton capacity), and Industrial & Environmental (landfill construction, remediation, pipeline decommissioning, environmental containment). Operations are run from three regional offices in Calgary, Lethbridge, and Leduc, supported by a fleet of 325+ pieces of heavy equipment with GPS-integrated machine control, proximity warning systems, and a digital inspection platform for safety oversight.

The business operates on a project-based, bid-driven revenue model under multiple delivery structures (Design-Bid-Build, Design-Assist, Design-Build, collaborative). Customers are split across five primary segments — municipal governments (City of Calgary, City of Lethbridge, Calgary Airport Authority), land developers (Trilogy Real Estate, Panattoni), industrial/energy clients, renewable energy developers (Forty Mile Wind Farm, RES Americas, BHE Canada), and general contractors (Ledcor) — with each project typically scoped to multi-year contractual engagements. Pricing is bespoke per project, with no standardized tiers.

The company is privately held and Alberta-based throughout its 55+ year history, with no external investment or listing. Stated annual capacity exceeds $100M (not equivalent to recognized revenue). The workforce is described as 425+ employees across dedicated local teams, supplemented by a Whissell Integrated Training (WIT) program, a Green/Orange/Gold Hand Mentorship ladder, and a safety stack anchored by PIR COR certification maintained continuously since 1991. Leadership is currently a founder-to-second-generation transition: Brian Whissell as Chairman, Jarrad Whissell as CEO & President, Gary Yamada as CFO & EVP, and Greg Hooper as COO (2025).

Name

Whissell Contracting Calgary Ltd

Legal name

Whissell Contracting Ltd.

Website

https://whissell.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Whissell Contracting Ltd. is a family-owned civil infrastructure contractor founded in 1970 in Calgary, Alberta, delivering underground utilities, earthworks, heavy haul, and industrial/environmental services to municipal governments, land developers, and energy clients across Western Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Heavy Civil Construction Services

NAICS

Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction (237), Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction (237990), Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction (237110), Site Preparation Contractors (23891)

SIC

Heavy Construction Other Than Bldg Const - Contractors (1600), Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623), Construction - Special Trade Contractors (1700)

akta.pro primary industry

Road & Tunnel Operations/Construction Interfaces (Tolling Infrastructure, Ventilation/Fire-Life-Safety Civil Works) (IMAFAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Construction Site Vehicles (Dumpers, Site Carriers, Telehandlers) (IMAHAIAB), Shutdown Labor, Rigging & Heavy Lift Support Services (IMAIACAN)

Keywords

• Civil construction services
• Underground utilities installation
• Earthworks and grading
• Heavy haul transportation
• Industrial environmental services

Headquarters

HQ city

Calgary

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Civil Construction Services: Project-based construction services including underground utilities, earthworks, industrial construction, environmental services, and heavy haul. Revenue generated through competitive bidding on municipal, industrial, and private sector projects with delivery models including Design-Bid-Build, Design-Assist, Design-Build, and collaborative approaches.
2. Equipment Rentals: Equipment rental services as part of service offerings to complement construction operations
3. Trucking and Hauling Services: Heavy and oversized hauling services including transportation of equipment, modules, compressors, and materials across Western Canada

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Whissell Contracting delivers civil construction services across four core divisions: Underground Infrastructure (deep utilities, trunk mains, lift stations, diversions, and complex tie-ins), Earthworks & Grading (mass excavation, site development, pad construction, ponds, and large-scale grading), Heavy Haul & Transportation (oversized load transport with 8 to 76 wheel combinations up to 100 ton capacity), and Industrial & Environmental (landfill construction, remediation, pipeline decommissioning, slope protection, and wet works). Services are executed through dedicated teams across Calgary, Lethbridge, and Leduc, serving municipal, industrial, energy, and renewable energy sectors throughout Alberta and Western Canada.

Product overview

Whissell Contracting Ltd. is a civil construction company offering four core service divisions: Underground Infrastructure (deep utilities, trunk mains, lift stations, and complex tie-ins), Earthworks & Grading (mass excavation, site development, pad construction, and large-scale grading), Heavy Haul & Transportation (oversized load transport with 8-76 wheel combinations up to 100 ton capacity), and Industrial & Environmental (landfill construction, remediation, and environmental services). The company operates with over 325 pieces of equipment and serves clients across municipal, industrial, energy, and renewable energy sectors in Alberta and Western Canada. The four service lines are delivered through dedicated local teams in Calgary, Lethbridge, and Leduc.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Underground Infrastructure Underground construction services including deep utilities, trunk mains, lift stations, utility diversions, trenchless installations, and complex tie-ins for subdivision servicing and large-scale municipal infrastructure projects. Delivered with precision at depth and performance under pressure for municipal clients and developers across Alberta.
• Earthworks & Grading Large-scale earthmoving and site development services including mass excavation, pad construction, ponds, slopes, and comprehensive grading for industrial, commercial, residential, and renewable energy sites. Powered by 325+ pieces of major construction equipment, including GPS-integrated machine control systems.
• Heavy Haul & Transportation Heavy haul and transportation services for oversized loads, specialized equipment, modules, compressors, and materials with capabilities of 8 to 76 wheel combinations up to 100 ton capacity. Serves oil and gas, industrial, mining, renewable energy, and civil infrastructure sectors across Western Canada.
• Industrial & Environmental Industrial civil construction and environmental services including landfill construction, remediation and reclamation, pipeline decommissioning, slope protection, in-stream and wet works, contaminated soil handling, and environmental containment systems for industrial, energy, and municipal clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over the last decade, generated millions in documented client savings through practical, field-driven constructibility solutions and alternative installation methods
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Canadian Council for Indigenous Business (CCIB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Whissell is a proud member of CCIB, committed to meaningful collaboration with Indigenous communities and businesses across Alberta. The partnership includes joint ventures, subcontracting relationships, workforce development initiatives, and procurement partnerships creating lasting economic benefit.
• AvettasupportingTechnology or IntegrationSupply chain risk management and contractor prequalification platform used for safety and compliance verification of suppliers and subcontractors.
• ComplyWorkssupportingTechnology or IntegrationContractor management system used for prequalification, safety documentation, and compliance tracking.
• eCompliancesupportingTechnology or IntegrationDigital compliance and safety management platform used for tracking employee training, certifications, and safety documentation.
• ISNsupportingTechnology or IntegrationHealth and safety prequalification service used for contractor safety verification and risk management.
• Worker's Compensation Board - AlbertacoreOthersRegulatory partner for workplace injury insurance and safety compliance in Alberta construction operations.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• North American Construction Group (NACG): Publicly listed Alberta-based heavy civil and industrial contractor providing earthworks, heavy haul, site development, and reclamation across oil sands, mining, and infrastructure. Highly comparable to Whissell on earthworks, equipment intensity, and Western Canadian operating geography, though NACG is significantly larger and oil-sands focused.
• Sureway Construction Management: Alberta-headquartered civil contractor providing underground utilities, earthworks, site development, and concrete services to municipal and land-development clients. Most direct comparable on municipal underground utilities and subdivision development work in Alberta.

Direct peers

• Volker Stevin Highways: Western Canadian civil contractor specializing in earthworks, underground utilities, roadbuilding, and highway infrastructure across Alberta, BC, and Saskatchewan. Closest direct peer to Whissell on service mix (earthworks + underground utilities) and geography.
• Carmacks Enterprises: Alberta-based heavy civil contractor offering earthworks, underground utilities, road construction, and aggregate supply. Closely comparable to Whissell on service mix, fleet ownership, and Alberta-focused municipal and industrial work.

Broad incumbents

• Graham Construction: Western Canada-rooted infrastructure and building contractor delivering earthworks, deep utilities, roads, and bridges. Comparable in earthworks/underground utilities scope but a much larger firm operating across multiple provinces and segments.
• Ledcor Group: Diversified Canadian contractor with substantial civil, building, and infrastructure operations in Western Canada. Competes with Whissell on major civil packages and is itself a Whissell customer on projects such as the Maverick YYC Amazon Warehouse and Balzac Business Park.
• PCL Construction: Major Canadian general contractor with significant civil infrastructure and earthworks operations across Western Canada, including large site preparation and underground utility scopes on commercial, industrial, and institutional projects.
• EllisDon Civil: Canadian general contractor with a growing civil infrastructure division performing earthworks, underground utilities, and heavy civil construction across provinces. Comparable to Whissell on earthworks/underground utility scope, though broader geographic and sector footprint.
• Bird Construction: Canadian construction firm with a substantial civil infrastructure and industrial division performing earthworks, underground utilities, and environmental remediation. Comparable on civil scope but operates at significantly larger scale and broader geography.

Others

• AtkinsRéalis (formerly SNC-Lavalin): Major engineering, procurement, and construction firm active in Alberta infrastructure programs. Comparable in civil infrastructure delivery, though typically acts as a design-build/EPC partner rather than a pure civil subcontractor; relevant comparator for integrated delivery models.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@whissellcontracting2087
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/whissell-contracting

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Whissell Contracting Calgary Ltd