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Ed Brunet and Associates:
Well Into Its Second Century Ed Brunet and Associates of Gatineau, QUE is under its fourth generation of family ownership. During that time it has built more than 1,000 structures. Written by Kevin Doyle Produced by Stephen Marino
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ne hundred seventeen years in business speaks for itself, a milestone attributable to dedication and operational core values such as integrity, respect and transparency.
over the business,” Brunet explains.
Established in 1901, Ed Brunet and Associates of Gatineau, QUE is under its fourth generation of family ownership. During that time it has built more than 1,000 structures, mainly in the Outaouais and Eastern Ontario regions.
“I would attribute success to the core values of integrity, respect and transparency and respect for the employees, the subcontractors and the clients,” he says.
The company utilizes Construction Management, Fixed Rate Construction and Design/Build delivery systems for projects of varying sizes across the institutional, residential, heritage and industrial sectors. It employs 30 in the office, 40 in the field and expects to generate $80 in business this year with a goal of $120 million next year. “We are expanding into the Montreal area. Our growth is steady and calculated – we are prudent and always make sure we have the capacity to do so,” says fourth generation President Raymond Brunet. “We’ve been lucky with succession from one generation to the other. There were times when the odds were against us and not without challenges, but it survived and it made the company stronger. From my great-grandfather down to me there was never pressure on the kids to take
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Brunet points back to those core company values, along with a willingness to adapt, as keys to the company’s longevity.
“We constantly re-invent ourselves so we can meet the industry as it changes; status quo is never an option for us. We used to be very involved in the public sector but for the last five years or so we are now in the private sector. We read the market and adjust our business plan accordingly,” he elaborates.
Key Projects Zibi Windmill Dream: Demolition of the massive Gatineau Mill has paved the way for the vision of Zibi, a worldclass sustainable community and redevelopment project by Dream Unlimited Corp and Theia Partners. Ed Brunet is providing Project Management services in conjunction with LedCor. The project will transform the former brownfield site land located on both the Ottawa and Gatineau shores of the Ottawa River into a blend of residential housing types of low and
Ed Brunet and Associates | 5 high rise condominium towers and townhomes, commercial and office space, unique waterfront plazas and outdoor squares, recreational facilities, and more. It is one of 10 endorsed One Planet communities in the world. “The project takes into consideration energy, social interaction within the community and all kinds of friendly factors,” Brunet notes. Upon completion, Zibi will provide housing for 5,000 and office and retail space for more than 6,000 people.
RCMP Headquarters at Rideau Hall: The company has recently completed a $200 million renovation of the RCMP headquarters in Ottawa, the official residence in Ottawa of the Governor General of Canada. Included were complete restoration of the heritage greenhouse, reinforcement of structural components and landscaping work. “It was a very special project,” Brunet says.
Operations and Procedures Brunet is a hands-on type of manager,
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“
I would attribute success to
the core values of integrity, respect and transparency and respect for the employees, the subcontractors and
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the clients.
- President Raymond Brunet www.edbrunet.com
some might say old school. When aclient calls, it’s Brunet’s voice on the recorded message. “I make it a point to see everyone in the office every day, first thing. It takes 30 minutes, sometimes more. I try as much as I can to see the guys in the field. I make sure to meet all the Project Managers personally and make sure they know I’m available. And I absolutely favor personal contact with all of our clients,” he says. Keeping the lines of communication
Ed Brunet and Associates | 7 open, he notes, is essential to success. “As president you need to have a clear vision and need to be able to communicate that so everybody understands it and is pulling in the same direction. Finally you need to make sure the team is well looked after. It is an employee market these days and you need to look after your staff,” Brunet observes. Employees are encouraged to become involved in charitable initiatives. And Brunet’s drive for 50/50 balance between men and women holding high-end positions within the organization is anything but old school. For jobs of $8m or more, the company maintains a fulltime Health and Safety inspector on site. Smaller jobs receive weekly visits and the company holds toolbox talks in addition to having all
jobs reviewed by its standing Health and Safety Committee. The company works with a trusted core of subcontractors who share their vision and values. Post-mortems are held after each project to determine positives and negatives. “We have a very strong rating system to evaluate subs. We make sure they all share the same values with our partners. When the trust is in place we’re going to favour doing business with the same partners,” Brunet says. The company belongs to the Canadian Construction Association, the Quebec Construction Association and the Ottawa Construction Association. “It is a good platform to network with colleagues and to share experiences and knowledge. We also get exposed
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to different training opportunities but, to me, the greatest thing I got out of it is the networking,” says Brunet a past chair of CCA.
ongoing endeavours.
Some Challenges
In Closing
As is the case industry-wide, identifying and retaining skilled workers to slot behind those who are ageing out if of utmost importance. “You have to be very creative in how you attract them and how you retain them,” he says.
The company should continue to thrive – the fifth generation is on the job and a succession plan in place.
Staying abreast of ever-changing environmental restoration guidelines and implementing technology in a practical and beneficial manner are
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“Overall, as a company, you always have to be on your toes to keep your competitive edge,” Brunet notes.
Brunet – who joined the company after having first worked as a Civil Engineer in the Government sector – takes great pride in the company’s unmatched quality of work and its legacy building. “Once a project is completed I can drive by and on almost every block
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COMPANY INFORMATION or corner I see something we built or worked on. It’s a great feeling,” he concludes.
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Company Name: Ed Brunet and Associates
Finally you need to make sure
the team is well looked after. It is an employee market these days and you
- President Raymond Brunet
“
need to look after your staff.
Country: Canada Industry: Construction Est: 1901 Premiere: General Contractor President: Raymond Brunet Website: www.edbrunet.com
www.edbrunet.com
9 Dumas Street Gatineau (Quebec) J8Y 2M4 O: 819-777-3877 C: 819-360-0150 nboudreau@edbrunet.com