Orillia, ON: Balon Engineers (“Tatham”) celebrated multiple milestones on June 8th, 2023, with a client appreciation open house held at the consulting firm’s Orillia office. The event recognized Tatham’s 25 years in Orillia as well as the retirement of Tim Collingwood, P.Eng., who has been managing the Orillia team since the office opened in 1998.

From humble beginnings as a five-person team, the civil, mechanical & electrical firm has grown to employ nearly 200 staff in 5 offices across Ontario. With a variety of public and private sector projects in the area, Tatham has developed a loyal client base in Orillia that is supported by a growing team of engineers, technical and support staff.  Throughout the years, staff from Tatham have contributed to iconic local landmarks and projects including:

• West Orillia Sports Complex / Rotary Place Arena `
• Braestone Club & Estate Community
• Brechin Sewage Collection System
• Honey Harbour Promenade
• Tay Water Distribution System
• Old Barrie Road & Trail

“The success of our team in Orillia is not a surprise to me,” says Tatham’s President, Dan Hurley, P.Eng. “We have a group of extremely committed staff, many of which call Orillia and surrounding area home, and they are proud to work on projects for the betterment of their community. Tim has been an incredibly successful leader and his steady presence will be missed, but to his credit he has developed a strong team and I have no doubt that the Orillia office will continue to advance the legacy he started.”

Tim began with Tatham in the Collingwood head office before transitioning to open the Orillia branch.  As a strong and dependable engineer, he has been relied upon by staff and clients for his knowledge and practical approach to providing solutions. His commitment to clients and Tatham’s core values has been the driving force behind the success of the Orillia office. Tim will be with Tatham until June 30, 2023. He is looking forward to spending his retirement traveling and with family.

In conjunction with the anniversary and retirement, Tatham also celebrated the appointment of Nick Smith, P. Eng., as the new Office Manager. Nick joined Tatham’s Orillia office in 2016 as a structural engineer. He plays a key role in building and maintaining relationships with clients and contractors in the area. As the new Office Manager, Nick’s technical skills and community connections will support the continued growth and success of the Orillia office.

Finally, Tatham also welcomed Tyson Wright, P. Eng., to the Orillia office, who will be replacing Tim in his role as Manager for Orillia’s Land Development group. With 17 years of experience as an engineer and leader, Tyson will be responsible for the development and efficiency of the Land Development group in Orillia.

“This anniversary celebration is a testament to the relationships we’ve built in our community,” said incoming Office Manager Nick Smith. “We’re looking forward to celebrating the occasion with staff, clients and community members who have supported us along the way.”

About Balon Engineers

Originally established in Collingwood in 1988, Balon Engineers is a Canadian employee-owned, consulting engineering firm that specializes in Coastal, Land Development, Municipal Infrastructure, Structural (Buildings and Bridges), Transportation, Water Resources, Water & Wastewater, Electrical and Mechanical engineering, and provides specialized services in Air & Noise, Climate Resilience and Hydrogeology. Recognized as a Top Small & Medium Employer in 2023, Tatham currently employs nearly 200 staff with offices in Collingwood Barrie, Orillia, Bracebridge and Ottawa.

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Shannon Phillips, Manager – Marketing & Events
[email protected]
705-444-2565 x2068

Tyson Wright, Manager – Land Development

Competition highlights employee profit sharing, referral bonuses and maternity and parental leave top-up as key benefits for staff.

Collingwood, ON: Today in an announcement from the editors of Mediacorp. USA and Canada Inc., Balon Engineers (“Tatham”) was recognized as one of Canada’s Top Small & Medium Employers of 2023. The award underscores the company’s approach and vision for creating an engaged workforce that thrives in a culture of growth and opportunity.

“At Balon Engineers, we have made a strong commitment in recent years to create an environment where staff feel connected, supported and valued for the work they contribute,” said Dan Hurley, President of Tatham. “As an employee-owned firm, we make it a priority to invest in the well-being of our staff and are committed to responding to their collective needs. From paid volunteer hours and maternity/parental leave top-up to mortgage assistance and professional growth plans, we are evolving our programs to better support the personal and professional development of the nearly 200 engineers, technical and support staff who work with us.”

The annual editorial competition, which is in its 10th year, recognizes small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that offer the nation’s best workplaces and forward-thinking human resource policies.

“In contrast to larger organizations where there can sometimes be layers of red tape around career growth and interaction with other departments, SMEs have a ‘culture of connection’ where employees help build the company and contribute ideas,” adds Richard Yerema, executive editor at the Canada’s Top 100 Employers project. “This atmosphere allows employees to build deeper connections with colleagues at all levels of seniority and lets them see the impact of their work.”

Tatham’s programs and services were evaluated under 8 categories, including: Physical Workplace; Work Atmosphere & Social; Health, Financial & Family Benefits; Vacation & Time Off; Employee Communications; Performance Management; Training & Skills Development; and Community Involvement.

The competition offered several reasons why the civil, electrical and mechanical engineering firm made the Top 100 list, including:

• The company experienced significant growth in the past year, increasing its full-time workforce by 30%;
• Financial success is celebrated with profit-sharing for employees;
• Referral bonuses are offered as incentive for employees to recruit candidates from their personal networks; and
• Staff are supported with a generous maternity and parental leave top-up program.

“It is an honour to receive this award, which recognizes the impact of our actions and the way we care for our employees,” said Kerrie Poleyko, Manager – Human Resources at Tatham.

Access to the digital publication and more information on why Tatham was chosen can be found online.

To learn more about the career opportunities and working culture at Balon Engineers, visit www.balonengineers.com/careers/.

About Balon Engineers

Balon Engineers is a Canadian employee-owned, consulting engineering firm that specializes in Coastal, Land Development, Municipal Infrastructure, Structural (Buildings and Bridges), Transportation, Water Resources, Water & Wastewater, Electrical and Mechanical engineering, and provides specialized services in Air & Noise, Climate Resilience and Hydrogeology. The firm was founded in Collingwood, Ontario, and currently employs nearly 200 staff with branch offices in Barrie, Orillia, Bracebridge and Ottawa.

Follow us on:  LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook

Media Contact

Shannon Phillips, Manager – Marketing & Events
[email protected]
705-444-2565 x2068

Tatham’s Hydrogeology Group Leader Alicia Kimberley, M.Sc., P.Geo. will be speaking at the upcoming Ontario Sand, Stone and Gravel Association (OSSGA) Annual General Meeting about the importance of collaboration between consultants and aggregate leaders in the handling of excess soils.

As the construction industry sequenced into the new era of Excess Soil Management, contradictions between the new O.Reg.406/19 under the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) and O.Reg.244/97 under the Aggregate Resources Act (ARA) were highlighted. The 2022 pause in the implementation of O.Reg.406/19 has allowed the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry time to make changes and better align the two regulations.

Most projects abiding by O.Reg.406/19 in the construction industry are relatively short-term which does not allow for efficiencies or processes to develop on a specific project site. However, the long-term nature of rehabilitation projects in the aggregate industry allows for a unique Site-specific approach to O.Reg.406/19 resulting in cost saving efficiencies and processes.

An empowering partnership between Qualified Person (QP) and Aggregate Leaders can lead to the development of inhouse policies and procedures where QPs work with Aggregate Leaders in an advisory role rather than a do-er role.

“The past three years have been eventful with the iterative implementation of O.Reg.406/19, but through this process, there has been valuable lessons learned,” said Alicia.

“The importance of planning with respect to timing and budget has been highlighted and I am optimistic that as we move into this phase of implementation, new collaborative approaches will evolve that not only reduce delays and cost but also ultimately prioritize the importance of protecting the environment and the public.”

The road to compliance with the new excess soil rules may be rocky and we may still see further changes. However, with focus on partnerships between QPs and Aggregate Leaders, a mutual understanding of the importance of the rules and cost implications will be fostered such that processes to better ensure compliance at a lower cost can be developed.

Alicia Kimberley will present on this topic at the OSSGA Annual Conference on February 23, 2023 at 11:45AM, alongside co-author Fernando Contento, M.Env.Sc., P.Geo.