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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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MERIT SET TO BEGIN 4th LEED® PROJECT