Sault Ste. Marie's Wm. R. Walker Engineering has been acquired by Genivar Income Fund.
“We weren't looking to be sold,” said Walker Engineering president Doug Leask, who said the “merger” quickly evolved over the last three months. “Genivar approached us and we talked long and hard with them.”
The Montreal-based consulting engineers have been hot on the acquisition trail to increase its national presence with nine acquisitions of private engineering firms this year. In 2007, Genivar acquired Timmins engineers, B.H. Martin Consultants.
“We're going to move forward and operate the business generally as we've operated up to now,” said Leask.
There will be no changes among the 15-employee staff and they will likely be hiring in civil, structural and mechanical positions on the professional and technical side.
“We're going to grow and how fast is dependent on the projects that come about and the available of people,” said Leask.
The Walker Engineering logo will remain for now but eventually will be changed over to Genivar. Both co-owners Leask and Larry Jackson will remain.
Established by founder Bill Walker in 1981, their specialty is in municipal road, water and sewer treatment plants. They are involved in the construction of the new Sault Area Hospital and had jointly collaborated with PBK Architects, a Genivar company, on the Sault's new Essar Centre arena.
Leask said the merger will offer them a wider spectrum of engineering and they will expand their workload.
”We're excited about proceeding with new engineering projects on a wider envelope of service,” said Leask. “We'll drum up our own business but we're going to have a big resource to draw from so we can go after a great many more interesting projects.”
The firm recently from Queen Street to new digs on East Street in the city's downtown.
.jpeg;w=120;h=80;mode=crop)
