VEI Contracting: Expanding Coast-to-Coast and Growing Our Services

2025 has been a year of growth and exciting milestones for VEI Contracting! We continue to build on our reputation as one of Canada’s leading environmental and remediation contractors, and now we are proud to share several significant developments that strengthen our ability to serve clients nationwide and expand the range of services we can provide.

From new team members in New Brunswick and British Columbia, to expanded service offerings in general contracting, to a new partnership supporting Indigenous collaboration, VEI is truly moving forward – coast to coast and beyond!

Coast-to-Coast Presence

Until recently, VEI’s headquarters in Kitchener, Ontario anchored all of our operations nation-wide. While we have successfully delivered projects across the Canada since our earliest days, our ability to maintain a consistent, local presence outside of Ontario was admittedly limited. That changed this year with two major hires who give VEI a true coast-to-coast footprint.

New Brunswick

Earlier this summer we were proud to announce that Ben Sweet, based in Saint John, joined VEI. Ben brings extensive experience in water treatment systems, remediation and environmental contracting, and his addition to the team ensures that VEI can now provide consistent support for projects across Atlantic Canada. You can read more about Ben here.

British Columbia

On the other side of the country, we are equally excited to now welcome Steven (Steve) Reichheld as VEI’s first team member based in BC. Steven brings significant experience managing remediation, soil management, and contaminated sites projects across Western Canada. With Steven on board, VEI is now better positioned than ever to support our clients in British Columbia and across Western Canada. You can read more about Steven here.

Between Ben in NB, Steven in BC, and our head office in Kitchener, ON, VEI now has boots on the ground from coast to coast. This is a major milestone that allows us to deliver projects more efficiently, provide local expertise, and deepen relationships with our clients wherever they are located in Canada.

Meet VEI Contracting’s Latest Team Members

Nick Doucette (ON), Ben Sweet (NB) and Steve Reichheld (BC) of VEI Contracting

Kevin French, VP of VEI, said:

“We’re thrilled to welcome such amazing talent to the VEI team! Having strong leaders based in New Brunswick and British Columbia not only strengthens our presence in these regions, but also allows us to better support the many clients we already work with there.”

Expanding Our Services: General Contracting and Prime Contractor Roles

While geographic growth has been an important focus this year, VEI has also made a major step forward in terms of expanding the range of services we offer.

With the addition of Nicholas (Nick) Doucette over the summer we have also expanded our experience and capabilities in planning and executing multi-disciplinary remediation projects. Nick has worked on some of the country’s largest and most complex projects, including the $400M Sydney Tar Ponds Remediation in Nova Scotia and the $1.3B Toronto Port Lands Flood Protection and Enabling Infrastructure project in Ontario.

The Toronto Port Lands Flood Protection and Enabling Infrastructure Project (Waterfront Toronto)

Nick’s expertise includes:

• Large-scale multi-disciplinary projects
• General contracting and design-build delivery
• Complex sequencing and project controls
• Management of hazardous waste and contaminated sediments

With Nick on the team, VEI has expanded into offering General Contractor services. This means we can now serve as Prime Contractor on multi-disciplinary projects, taking responsibility for managing larger, more complex scopes that go beyond the traditional specialized in-situ environmental remediation services we have always offered. You can read more about Nick here.

For our clients, this translates into streamlined project delivery, better integration between disciplines, and the ability to take on bigger and more ambitious projects – including large soil management programs, mine reclamation projects, and major infrastructure support work.

Supporting Mining and Infrastructure Projects

Mining and infrastructure are widely seen to be major growth sectors in Canada in the coming years. VEI has long supported these initiatives, but now, with the combined expertise of Nick, Ben and Steven, VEI’s capacity has been significantly strengthened to support mining and infrastructure projects across Canada.

• Nick’s background in large-scale, multi-disciplinary projects adds the depth and leadership needed to serve as Prime Contractor on complex undertakings.
• Ben’s presence in Atlantic Canada ensures strong regional support for remediation and infrastructure clients.
• Steven’s experience in mine closure and soil management operations brings valuable skills to projects in Western Canada.

Together, they position VEI to take on larger roles in Canada’s important mining and infrastructure sectors, while continuing to deliver the innovative, practical solutions that clients expect from VEI.

Partnering with Indigenous Communities

Another important milestone for VEI this year has been our new partnership with Porttris Consulting Group Ltd. (https://porttrisgroup.com/).

Porttris specializes in Indigenous consultation, project development, and partnership building. By working together, VEI and Porttris will be able to foster stronger, more meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities and their businesses. This partnership ensures that our projects create value not only for our clients, but also for the communities and territories in which we work.

This collaboration aligns with VEI’s commitment to supporting reconciliation and building long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships with Indigenous groups across Canada.

Looking Ahead

Taken together, these milestones mark an impressive, new chapter for VEI Contracting.

• With Nick’s leadership, we can now deliver projects as a Prime Contractor, expanding our role on complex, multi-disciplinary projects.
• With Ben in New Brunswick and Steven in British Columbia, we now have a truly national presence.
• With Porttris, we are strengthening our partnerships with Indigenous communities, ensuring our growth creates shared value across Canada.

VEI is now better positioned than ever to support our clients across this great country of ours. We’re proud of the growth we’ve achieved, and even more excited about the opportunities ahead!

Looking for coast-to-coast support from a 100% Canadian-owned company on your next project? With new team members, expanded services, and stronger partnerships, VEI is ready to deliver practical, innovative solutions anywhere in Canada. Let’s take on your project together. Reach out to us at (519) 653-8444 or info@vei.ca today.