What Birnie Electric does

Birnie Electric Ltd. is a privately held, family-owned electrical contracting firm incorporated in June 1967 and headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario. The company employs 180 staff, of whom 150 are field electricians and 30 are office staff, and operates three coordinated departments — Construction, Commercial/Industrial/Small Projects, and Service/Maintenance — from a single GTA headquarters with 40 service vehicles. It is led by President and Owner Tim Birnie, who acquired the business from founder Peter Birnie in 2001, and is supported by an Executive Vice President, four additional VPs (Pre-Construction, Finance, Operations, and Engineering leadership), and a deep bench of P.Eng. project managers, master electricians, BIM/VDC specialists, and LEED AP staff. The firm has completed over 25,000 projects and currently manages roughly 90 active engagements, with individual contract values ranging from $1 million to over $144 million (the Canadian High Arctic Research Station via the True North Electrical Solutions joint venture with Ryfan Electric).

The company delivers design-build, design-assist, construction, and ongoing maintenance electrical services across commercial, industrial, institutional, healthcare, transit, government, sports/entertainment, and residential end markets. Specialized capabilities include the Certi-Fire fire alarm program (recognized by the Ontario Fire Marshal with 160 hours of training and five-year recertification), BIM/VDC coordination using Design Suite software, PLC and SCADA programming (Allen Bradley, SquareD, Modicon, Siemens), Tesla-certified EV charging installation (Level 1 through DC fast charging), structured cabling (Systimax, Corning, Panduit, Leviton, Siemens, Amp), and LEED-oriented green building services. The Birnie HomeSAFE division handles residential work, including EV charging and renovations.

Revenue is generated through three streams: project-based electrical construction contracts (lump-sum, design-build, and design-assist), recurring service and maintenance contracts (24/7 facility support, fire alarm testing, preventive maintenance), and licensed electrical design and engineering services. Pricing is quote-based and project-specific. Customers are concentrated among large institutional and infrastructure buyers — including University Health Network, Mount Sinai Hospital, Metrolinx, Suncor, Manulife, Maple Leaf Foods, York University, Durham College, and the Region of Waterloo — frequently accessed through general contractor partnerships with EllisDon, Bird Construction, Crosslinx Transit Solutions, and Aecon/GrandLinq. The company is a member of NECA and ECAO, with Tim Birnie serving as First Vice President of ECAO.

Name

Birnie Electric

Legal name

Birnie Electric Ltd.

Website

https://birnie.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Birnie Electric is a family-owned electrical contractor founded in 1967, serving commercial, institutional, healthcare, transit, and industrial clients across the Greater Toronto Area with design-build construction, service and maintenance, and specialized fire alarm and EV charging capabilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electrical Contracting Services

SIC

Electrical Work (1731)

akta.pro primary industry

Building Information Modeling (BIM) & Digital Design Services (BPAHAKAK)

Keywords

• Electrical contracting services
• Commercial electrical installation
• Industrial electrical services
• Electrical design engineering
• Fire alarm installation

Headquarters

HQ city

Mississauga

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel

Revenue model

1. Electrical Construction Services: Project-based revenue from electrical construction for commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings. Services include design-build, design-assist, and lump-sum contracts. Revenue derived from projects ranging from $1 million to over $144 million.
2. Service and Maintenance Contracts: Ongoing electrical maintenance and service contracts with facility managers and building owners. Includes day-to-day electrical maintenance, technology services, fire alarm maintenance, and preventive maintenance programs.
3. Design and Engineering Services: Electrical design and engineering services provided independently or in conjunction with electrical consultants. Includes stamped drawings, specifications, and complete electrical design for new buildings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Birnie Electric provides end-to-end electrical contracting services across commercial, industrial, institutional, healthcare, transit, government, and residential markets. The company operates three departments—Construction, Commercial/Industrial/Small Projects, and Service/Maintenance—delivering design-build, design-assist, lump-sum construction, ongoing maintenance, fire alarm (Certi-Fire), EV charging, data communications, and engineering design services, primarily in the Greater Toronto Area and Ontario.

Product overview

Birnie Electric offers a comprehensive portfolio of electrical contracting services organized around three main departments: Construction, Commercial/Industrial/Small Projects, and Service/Maintenance. The company provides end-to-end electrical solutions ranging from new construction design-build to ongoing facility maintenance. Key service offerings include EV charging station installation, data communications infrastructure, Certi-Fire fire alarm services, healthcare facility electrical services, industrial/manufacturing maintenance, green building/energy efficiency solutions, and engineering design services. The company serves diverse sectors including commercial, industrial, institutional, healthcare, transit, and residential markets across the Greater Toronto Area.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Construction Services (Design-Build / Design-Assist) End-to-end electrical construction for commercial, industrial, institutional, healthcare, and rail projects using design-build and design-assist delivery models. Includes BIM/VDC-based coordination and serves clients such as hospitals, universities, transit authorities, and general contractors across Ontario.
• Commercial / Industrial / Small Projects Services Electrical installations ranging from large-scale to small-scale industrial and commercial projects, providing cutting-edge electrical designs, products, and installations for various building types and customers.
• Service / Maintenance Ongoing electrical maintenance and creative repair solutions delivered by experienced, technology-backed electricians to enhance building operations and performance for facility owners and managers.
• Certi-Fire Fire Alarm Services Fire alarm installation, testing, verification, and maintenance performed by Ontario Fire Marshal-certified electricians meeting Ontario Electrical Code, Ontario Building Code, Ontario Fire Code, and ULC standards. Targeted at commercial, institutional, and healthcare facilities across Ontario.
• Data Communications Infrastructure Services Turnkey data communications services including planning, installation, and ongoing maintenance of fibre and copper network infrastructure, audio-visual and security systems. Birnie is a certified installer for Systimax, Corning (NPI), Panduit, Leviton, Siemens, and Amp systems.
• EV Charging Station Installation Electric vehicle charging station installation for commercial, office, industrial, institutional, multi-residential, and condominium properties, including Tesla-certified Level 2 and high-voltage Super Charging Station deployment.
• Healthcare Electrical Services Day-to-day electrical and maintenance services for healthcare facilities delivered by specially trained electricians using PPE equipment, contamination cubes with HEPA filters, and infectious control procedures. Includes nurse call systems, security, audio-visual, and lighting retrofits for hospitals.
• Facility and Preventive Maintenance Services Facility and preventive maintenance for electrical distribution, lighting, and technology assets including 24/7 customer response, plant equipment installations, and complete yearly preventative maintenance for all systems.
• Tenant Electrical Services Tenant electrical services for facility management companies including tenant relocations, HVAC upgrades, ballast replacements, lighting installation, tenant improvements, and base building maintenance.
• Industrial / Manufacturing Service and Maintenance 24/7 industrial service and maintenance including emergency response, control panel installation, overhead crane work, electrical panel installation, ESA inspections, and energy efficient high bay lighting for manufacturing and industrial facilities.
• Green Building and Energy Efficiency Services Energy-saving green technologies including daylight harvesting, lighting management, HVAC controls, and LEED AP planning services to help building owners meet LEED requirements and reduce energy consumption.
• Engineering and Electrical Design Services Licensed electrical design and engineering team providing stamped drawings and specifications for lighting, equipment, power systems, power distribution, emergency power, fire and life safety systems, electronic components, and voice and data communications infrastructure.

Quantifiable outcome

• Completed over 25,000 projects since incorporation
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Ampere LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture partnership between Birnie Electric and Ampere Limited for the York University Markham Campus project ($14 million, 380,000 sq.ft.). Both companies are leading electrical contractors in the GTA pooling their strengths and resources for this major education project.
• Ryfan Electric LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrue North Electrical Solutions Limited - joint partnership between Birnie Electric and Ryfan Electric for the Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS) project ($144 million). Created specifically to meet unique challenges of electrical work in the Canadian Arctic.
• EllisDoncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRecurring project partner on major infrastructure and ICI projects including Kipling Bus Terminal ($10M), Cooksville GO Station ($10M), New Toronto Courthouse, and Confederation GO Station. Works as electrical contractor of choice on EllisDon projects.
• Aecon/GrandLinqcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner in Waterloo LRT P3 project - Birnie Electric awarded $6.5 million contract under Public-Private Partnership with AECOM as part of GrandLinq consortium for ION light rail system connecting Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo.
• Bird ConstructioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProject partner for York University Markham Campus and Bruce Power MCR U6 Centralized Storage Facility ($1.23M). Birnie Electric works as electrical contractor of choice for Bird projects.
• Crosslinx Transit SolutionscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerElectrical contractor for Crosslinx LRT projects including Eglinton Maintenance & Service Facility ($10.3M) and Eglinton LRT Stops. One-stop shop providing multiple electrical disciplines for transit stations.
• Chandos ConstructionmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProject partner for Thermea Spa Whitby ($5M, 2021, 52,000 sq.ft.). Integrated Project Delivery model for this mass timber spa project.
• TLloyd ElectriccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture partnership for Confederation GO Station project - Birnie Electric and TLloyd Electric teamed up as JV partners to connect Hamilton and the Greater Toronto Area via GO Transit ($5.5M).
• National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry association membership providing access to resources, training, and industry networking. Birnie Electric is a collaborative member of NECA.
• Electrical Contractors Association of Ontario (ECAO)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry association membership. Tim Birnie serves on the ECAO board as First Vice President. ECAO supports Certi-Fire program through JEPP.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Black & McDonald: Canadian multi-trade contractor with a substantial electrical division serving commercial, industrial, healthcare, and transit customers nationally. Comparable in service breadth, recurring maintenance, and large-project execution capability.
• OZZ Electric: Direct GTA competitor focused on commercial, industrial, and institutional electrical contracting. Multiple Birnie hires came from OZZ's BIM/estimating team, indicating overlap in service lines, customer base, and competitive bid environment across the Toronto market.
• Ainsworth: Canadian electrical and mechanical services provider with strong data communications, fire alarm, and integrated facility services capabilities — directly comparable in service mix including Certi-Fire-style life safety, BIM/VDC, and recurring service contracts.
• TLloyd Electric: GTA electrical contractor and Birnie's JV partner on the Confederation GO Station project; competes in the same ICI and transit bid pool with overlapping developer and GC relationships.
• Ampere Limited: GTA electrical contractor and Birnie's joint venture partner on the York University Markham Campus project; comparable in scale and segment focus, operating as a direct peer in the ICI electrical bid market.
• Plan Group: One of Canada's largest independent electrical and technology contractors, headquartered in Toronto. Directly comparable in ICI, transit, healthcare, and data communications scopes, competing for many of the same GTA projects and enterprise customers.
• Ryfan Electric Limited: GTA electrical contractor that partnered with Birnie via True North Electrical Solutions for the $144M CHARS Arctic Research Station. Directly comparable as a peer ICI electrical firm with overlapping GC relationships.

Broad incumbents

• EllisDon: Major Canadian construction services firm with in-house electrical capabilities. Functions both as Birnie's largest GC channel partner and as a broad incumbent that can self-perform electrical scope on P3 and transit projects, competing indirectly for end-customer relationships.
• Ledcor Group: Diversified Canadian construction company with electrical and communications services across commercial, transit, and infrastructure. Operates as a broader incumbent serving many of the same enterprise and government clients as Birnie.

Emerging players

• Crestview Electric: GTA-area electrical contractor that has produced estimating talent now working at Birnie. Comparable in market segment and customer overlap though likely smaller in scale, representing an emerging competitor in ICI estimating and project delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/100090405138930
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/birnie-electric-limited

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Birnie Electric