PROJECT MANAGEMENT EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
St. Catharines, June 15, 2011
'Come Join Our Team' An ever expanding volume of projects has created a career opportunity for a project manager at Merit Contractors Niagara.>>>Read More

WHERE WE ARE
St. Catharines, July 1st, 2009
As the midway point of 2009 is upon us, Merit continues to stay busy with projects around Southern Ontario.>>>Read More

MERIT PARTICIPATES IN SAFETY GROUP
St. Catharines, June 1st, 2009
Merit is pleased to announce their participation once again in the Ontario General Contractors Safety Association (OGCA) Veterans Safety Group in 2009. >>>Read More

MERIT CELEBRATES 25th ANNIVERSARY
St. Catharines, April 30th/May 1st, 2009Merit Contractors Niagara is pleased to announce their 25th anniversary. >>>Read More

MERIT SET TO BEGIN TWO NEW PROJECTS
St. Catharines, April 1st, 2009
Merit Contractors Niagara receives a big boost after receiving official award for two major projects last week.>>>Read More

BOWL TO STRIKE OUT VIOLENCE
St. Catharines, March 2nd, 2009
Twelve employees from Merit Contractors Niagara participated in the annual Bowl to Strike Out Violence fundraiser.>>>Read More

THE AWARDS KEEP COMING
St. Catharines, February 2nd, 2009
Merit Contractors Niagara received two Awards of Distinction from the Niagara Region and Niagara Economic Development
Corporation for their work on the Centre for Conservation at Ball's Falls and for Southbrook Winery.>>>Read More

MERIT BEGINS 4th LEED® PROJECT
St. Catharines, December 10th, 2008Merit Contractors Niagara recently received award of a $3.4 million Canada Post project. >>>Read More

MERIT RECEIVES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE NOMINATIONS
St. Catharines, October 31st, 2008 - Merit was nominated this past week for the St. Catharines - Thorold Chamber of Commerce 2008 Business Achievement Awards. >>> Read More

MERIT RECEIVES TWO STEEL INSTITUTE AWARDS
St. Catharines, May 21st, 2008
Merit Contractors Niagara received an Award of Excellence for Architectural Design and an Award of Merit for Green Buildings for their work at Southbrook Vineyards.>>>Read More

PROJECT MANAGEMENT EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

St. Catharines, June 15^th, 2011 - ‘Come Join Our Team’

An ever expanding volume of projects has created a career opportunity for a Project Manager at Merit Contractors Niagara.

Qualified candidates should have at least 5 years proven Canadian experience in the ICI sector of the construction industry preferably with a General Contractor. They should be self motivated, organized and team players. Gold Seal Certification is preferred.

Check us out at www.meritcontractors.com

Submit your resumé  in confidence to:

Human Resources
Merit Contractors Niagara
235 Martindale Road, Suite 3
St. Catharines, ON  L2W 1A5
Fax: (905) 641-2988
e-mail: employment@meritcontractors.com

MERIT LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE

St. Catharines, December 20^th, 2010 - Merit is excited to announce the launch of their new website.

The redesigned website features a slash page upon entrance, displaying many of their successfully completed projects.

As well, there are new links at the top of the header page directing visitors to the CaBGC’s website, Merit’s new Twitter account (MeritNiagara) and an ftp site for file sharing and downloads.

In addition, the site features a blog style Newsroom to keep clients, friends and visitors updated on the world of Merit

MERIT NOW ON TWITTER

St. Catharines, December 20^th, 2010 - To coincide with Merit’s new website launch, the company has joined the social networking site Twitter.

A direct link is on the website navigation bar or you can follow at www.twitter.com/meritniagara.

Stay tuned for updates on tender closings, project announcements and everything Merit.

MERIT WELCOMES TODD RITTENHOUSE

St. Catharines, November 29^th, 2010 - Merit would like to formally acknowledge the addition of Todd Rittenhouse to the company.

Todd will be working in estimating alongside, Arie, Brandi, Cosmo and Ken.

Should you have any questions or well wishes for Todd, he can be reached at trittenhouse@meritcontractors.com

Stayed tuned to the Tenders section of our website to see which jobs Todd will be looking after.

MERIT JOINS CANADA GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL

St. Catharines, November 18^th, 2010 - Merit Contractors Niagara is pleased to announce their membership into the Canadian Green Building Council (CaGBC).

With five LEED® projects substantially complete, Merit is furthering their claim as the Greenest General Contractor in the Niagara Region.

Moving forward, it is Merit’s intention to gain individual accreditation with a number of employees completing the exam to become LEED® Associate Professionals.

A link to the CaGBC’s website has been added to Merit’s website.

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The Canadian Green Building Council was created in 2003 to oversee the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™. A points-based certification system which benchmarks and evaluates the environment impact of a buildings performance.

CaGBC’s mission is to “lead and accelerate the transformation to high-performing, healthy green buildings, homes and communities throughout Canada.”

The five LEED projects that have been completed by Merit are: Balls’ Falls Visitor Center (Gold), Southbrook Vinyards (Gold), Brock University Plaza (Silver), Canada Post Rangeview Road Distribution Center (Awaiting Certification), Brock University International Student Services Building (Awaiting Certification).

WHERE WE ARE

St. Catharines, July 1^st, 2009 - As the midway point of 2009 is upon us, Merit continues to stay busy with projects around Southern Ontario.

Construction is in the final completion stages at Canada Post in Mississauga, with owner occupancy scheduled for July 17^th, 2009.

Our two projects at Brock University are continuing to go well. Welch Hall is currently undergoing façade installations of the curtain wall and is working towards completion toward the end of the year. The International Services Building across the street at Norman Road is undergoing steel erection and is progressing well.

The Longer Term Care addition/renovation at Grand River Hospital in Kitchener is beginning to take shape. Mechanical and Electrical rough-ins are progressing inside the building and excavation and forming continues for the addition that will be added. Completion of this project extends into the middle of 2010.

Projects winding down for Merit include, 13^th Street Winery, Women's Place of South Niagara and a small classroom renovation at Brock University.

Next month should see the completion of a renovation at Chedoke Hospital in Hamilton, a Niagara Region Storage shed in Thorold and an exterior renovation at Ecolé LaMarsh Elementary School.

MERIT PARTICIPATES IN SAFETY GROUP

St. Catharines, June 1st, 2009 - Merit is pleased to announce their participation once again in the Ontario General Contractors Safety Association (OGCA) Veterans Safety Group in 2009.

Merit was an original member of these groups beginning in 2000. After graduating from the 5-year program, Merit has participated in the Veterans Program the past 4 years.

The Safety Groups, designed and implemented by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) and sponsored by the OGCA are a way for companies to network and assist each other in developing their Health and Safety programs. The incentive based program rewards firms with exceptional Health and Safety programs by helping to reduce their WSIB premiums through financial rebates.

As the rebates are always a testament to the responsibility and professional ability of a company's work force, Merit has always used these incentives to give back to their employees that have helped achieve their excellent Health and Safety record.

Along with Merit's annual update to their Health and Safety Policy, their participation in the Safety Group this year will also focus on Hazard Recognition and Assessment, Task Analysis and Return to Work (Physical Demands).

For a copy of Merit's Health and Safety Policy, click here.

MERIT CELEBRATES 25^th ANNIVERSARY

St. Catharines, April 30^th/May 1st, 2009 - Merit Contractors Niagara is pleased to announce their 25^th anniversary. Since its inception in 1984, Merit has experienced exceptional growth to become one of the premier contractors in the Golden Horseshoe area and currently employs 35 people in the Niagara region.

As previous recipients of Profit Magazine's 50 Fastest Growing Companies in 1990, the Heavy Construction News' 20 Fastest Growing Construction Companies in 2001 and Canada's top 100 Construction Companies in 2004, Merit continues to exemplify leadership in their industry.

2008 proved to be an exciting year for Merit which saw the grand openings of two award winning facilities in the Balls Falls Visitor Centre and Southbrook Estate Winery. Since their openings, the two LEED® Gold projects have received an award of distinction from the Niagara Region and Niagara Economic Development Corporation. As well, Southbrook has garnered a "Green Project of the Year" and "All Around Construction project of the Year" from the Ontario Construction Report after previously being chosen for an "Award of Excellence for Architectural Design" and an "Award of Merit for Green Buildings" by the Canadian Institute for Steel Construction.

Merit's award winning trend has continued into 2009 and the year is shaping up to be another banner year. After completion of the renovated Performance Mercedes dealership, Merit has commenced a number of exciting projects. In addition to an expansion of Welch Hall and construction of a new International Services Building at Brock University, Merit is currently completing projects for Canada Post in Mississauga, Grand River Hospital in Kitchener and Rich Products in Fort Erie.

2009 will continue to place Merit at the forefront of environmental leadership. The Canada Post and Brock's International Services Building will mark the 4^th and 5^th LEED® designated buildings Merit has completed. LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a certification system adopted by the Canada Green Building Council which promotes sustainable building practices focusing on achieving energy and water conservation through design, material selection and indoor environmental qualities.

The partners of Merit are excited to be celebrating this anniversary after 25 years in business and look forward to continually establishing themselves as the preferred choice of clients throughout the Niagara Region and South Central Ontario.

For a copy of the complete press release, click here.

MERIT SET TO BEGIN TWO NEW PROJECTS

Brock Norman Road Building

St. Catharines, April 1st, 2009 - The office at Merit Contractors Niagara received a big boost after receiving official award of two major projects last week.

Brock University's new four-storey Norman Road building continues a long-standing relationship between Brock University and Merit Contractors. The $10 million project joins a list of other academic buildings Merit has completed on campus including, Brock Plaza, the Alan Earp residential building and Welch Hall, currently slated for completion in September 2009.

Construction is expected to commence shortly and will be the first project Merit has completed with Robbie Young + Wright / IBI Group Architects.

The second contract awarded is for a 15,000 sf addition and renovation of an existing wing at Freeport Hospital in Kitchener, ON. The project continues another long-standing relationship with Grand River Hospital and Parkin Architects.

The partnership, which has been instrumental in bringing Merit into the Kitchener/Waterloo area, will be for the construction of a new Longer Term Care Facility. The renovation/addition will add an additional 56 patient beds to the hospital.

BOWL TO STRIKE OUT VIOLENCE

St. Catharines, March 2nd, 2009 - Twelve employees from Merit Contractors Niagara participated in the annual Bowl to Strike Out Violence fundraiser, sponsored by Cares Foundation of Fallsview Casino Resort and hosted by Women's Place of South Niagara and Niagara Regional Police Service on February 27, 2009.

The annual event in its seventh year raised $27,000 in support of Nova House and Serenity Place. In total, there were over 350 participants. Merit's contribution also included the sponsorship of two bowling lanes during the event.

Thank you to the employees who took the time to participate in the event.

Merit will also be contributing to the Community Care's Christmas Drive and Sponsor a Child later in the year.

THE AWARDS KEEP COMING

St. Catharines, February 2^nd, 2009 - Merit Contractors Niagara recently received two Awards of Distinction from the Niagara Region and Niagara Economic Development Corporation for their work on the Centre for Conservation at Ball's Falls and for Southbrook Winery.

The annual awards, as outlined on the Niagara Region's website, "recognize and celebrate excellence in community design" and are "focused on projects that enhance the built environment, efficiently use land, and demonstrate creativity and vision."

Eight awards across a variety of categories were handed out during the event. The Award of Distinction category was awarded on the basis of projects that, "set a strong example for the potential of development and design here in Niagara and can be used as examples for others and benefit not only a specific area, but the larger Niagara community."

The Centre for Conservation which officially achieved the status of LEED® Gold has been designed to reflect the natural environment surrounding it. Working in conjunction with Macdonald Zuberec Ensslen Architects and the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, the 12,000 sf visitor centre provides a learning tool for many visitors visiting the conservation area annually.

Southbrook Winery, also officially designated as LEED® Gold, and recognizable to all by the 200 m wall extending across the property, is designed by world-renowned architect, Jack Diamond of Diamond & Schmitt Architects and owned by Marilyn and Bill Redelmier. This award joins a growing list of acclamation the winery has received since its opening in 2007.

MERIT SET TO BEGIN 4th LEED® PROJECT

St. Catharines, December 10, 2008 - Merit Contractors Niagara recently received award of a $3.4 million Canada Post project.

The 18,000 square foot warehouse to be built in Mississauga has been designed to achieve the LEED® - Certified certification by the Canada Green Building Council. LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) promotes sustainable building practices focusing on achieving energy and water conservation through design, material selection and indoor environmental qualities.

This will be Merit's 4th LEED® designated project following the past completions of Brock Plaza 2006, Southbrook Winery and Ball's Falls Visitor Center.

Mobilization will commence immediately with a tentative completion date set for June 2009.

MERIT RECEIVES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE NOMINATION

St. Catharines, October 31st, 2008 - Merit was nominated this past week for the St. Catharines - Thorold Chamber of Commerce 2008 Business Achievement Awards. Tabbed to receive the Eco Action Award, Merit has been nominated alongside Henry of Pelham Estate Winery and Huard Heating and Air Conditioning.

The Eco Action Award is new to the BAA's this year and was implemented to recognize individuals or groups who have demonstrated a personal commitment to the environment.

Merit Contractors Niagara's nomination comes after recently completing three LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) projects. LEED® championed by the Canada Green Building Council, is a ratings system that rewards projects that focus on achieving sustainable building practices and implement environmentally conscious design.

To view a copy of the nomination submission, click here.

MERIT RECEIVES TWO STEEL INSTITUTE AWARDS

St. Catharines, May 21st, 2008 - At a recent awards ceremony for the Canadian Institute for Steel Construction, Merit Contractors Niagara received an Award of Excellence for Architectural Design and an Award of Merit for Green Buildings for their work at Southbrook Vineyards.

Designed by Diamond & Schmitt Architects, Southbrook has received a lot of attention leading up to its Grand Opening in June. The winery, set to be the first in Canada to receive the LEED® Gold designation features a 200 meter blue wall extending from the property line to a glass encased 850 square meter retail facility overlooking the vineyard.

Southbrook features many green building technologies, including a reflecting pond to gather rainwater, a bioswale to assist with storm water management, dual-flush toilets, a white roof and energy efficient lighting and heating systems. It is expected Southbrook will achieve energy savings of up to 45 per cent annually.

The awards from the Steel Institute come in light of the unique "floating roof" feature of the retail area. The three-meter long roof overhangs supported by 4" metal columns create the illusion of an unsupported roof structure and allows for unobstructed views through the floor to ceiling curtain walls.

Merit would like to extend our appreciation to all our trades who worked diligently to complete this project, and to owners, Bill and Marilyn Redelmeier and Diamond & Schmitt architects for the opportunity to achieve these successes.