Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/807489
A PR IL 2017 | 7 Williams Engineering Canada PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY WILLIAMS ENGINEERING CANADA The trickle-down effect of this positive leadership has resulted in an engaged and highly-skilled team that spans over 10 regional offices, all of whom Bashir com- mends for getting WEC where it is today. You just need to visit the WEC website to realize that this isn't hot air either. Click on the "our team" tab and you could be a little overwhelmed by the number of team members featured. "To talk about specific key members is tough as the value of the company is down to the entire team. When we employ people we look for diversity. That means we end up with very different people at the table, from HR and finance to building envelope and structural engineers. For us it's about connecting our people to our projects. These are the folks that make it happen," says Bashir. In terms of size and offerings, WEC has come a long way since it began almost 40 years ago. When Allen Williams started his mechanical and forensic engineering firm in Edmonton, Alberta, under the name A. D. Williams Engineering, Ltd., he understood that the future of the industry required a multi-disciplinary approach. He assembled a team of highly skilled, successful individuals who had strong ethics and integrity, and gave them ownership of their roles. It would be fair to say that Williams was well ahead of his time. He was a firm believer in both employee ownership and a healthy work-life balance – core values that remain at the very heart of the company today. Over the next 20 years WEC expanded, both in its services to include civil, struc- tural, building science, electrical and project management services, and in geo- graphical locations. WEC's second office opened in Yellowknife; a location that has played a large role in the company's evolution. "I grew up in Calgary and Edmonton, but my first job was in Yellowknife where I spent seven years. When you live in the Arctic, where winters can be defined as being dry and extremely cold, if you don't approach things sustainably you won't be able to survive long-term and your experience may be less than pleasant. You have to push the envelope of design. It makes you view things dif- ferently and those practices have helped us in business," says Bashir. Jasper Place Library, Edmonton, AB Jasper Place Library, Edmonton, AB Repsol Sport Centre, Calgary, AB