ASET Technology Alberta Spring 2021 - 19

spotlight

Graham Construction has been a leader in construction projects across North America for almost a century. Images courtesy
of Graham Construction & Engineering Inc.

According to the company's website, over the past nine
decades and change, its operations have stretched into a
sizeable array of building and infrastructure projects. These
range " from schools, hospitals, and roadways to power
plants, oil refineries and public transit, " helping Graham carve
out a spot as one of the leaders in fully integrated construction projects in North America.
Although almost a century has passed since founder Philip Graham began projects building railway stations for the
Canadian Pacific Railway, much of what helped the company achieve its early success has filtered through to its
present state.
Shane Nickolson is Graham's preconstruction director. He
says that throughout its growth from a family business to a
powerhouse construction solutions provider, the company's
progress has reflected that of Canada's over that period.
" The maturity that Canada has gone through over that
time is very much reflected in the maturity of Graham, our
systems, [and] our processes, " Nickolson says. What that
translates to is a similar set of values to those which many
associate with Canada: integrity, commitment and a smalltown politeness with international impact.
Although Nickolson jokes that every business has its slogans, he says at Graham, those values are " really the hallmark of what we do. We still believe in people doing what
they say they're going to do when they say they're going to
do it, and that credibility is expected in all our employees.

" You know the old idea, the old barn raising where people
got together and helped each other? That's definitely the
culture of Graham, " he says.
Nickolson goes on that this cultural of communal spirit
stretches past the inner workings of the company, and into
the communities with which Graham works. He explains
that Graham's encouragement of its employees to help their
communities is not just lip service; it pops up as a part of
performance evaluations as well.

" They [Graham] provide time during work
hours for volunteer opportunities. like
Habitat for Humanity is one we really
engage with, given our construction
expertise, " he says. The company also
takes part in environmental initiatives,
and has worked closely for over forty years
with Indigenous groups to accomplish joint
projects and provide training and education.
Longevity doesn't just have to do with how long Graham
has stood, and its weathering of economic catastrophes
like the great depression and the 2008 recession. Sticking
around is also fairly standard amongst the Graham team.
Cecil Dawe, executive vice-president at Graham, is a prime
example of this.
Joining the company in 1996, the year he graduated from the
University of Saskatchewan, Dawe describes himself as a career Graham employee.

TECHNOLOGY ALBERTA | SPRING 2021 | 19

https://www.grahambuilds.com/about-graham/history/

ASET Technology Alberta Spring 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ASET Technology Alberta Spring 2021