Canada's Top Small & Medium Employers (2026) Magazine - Magazine - Page 56
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CANADA’S TOP SMALL & MEDIUM EMPLOYERS (2026)
Employees feel heard at Smith Bros. & Wilson
W
hen Tanner
Smith started
his career in
construction,
he worked for
big companies that treated him
more like a number than a person.
But when he joined Smith Bros. &
Wilson, he found a home.
“There’s a lot of companies that
say they treat you like family, but
in Smith Bros. & Wilson’s case, it’s
the truth,” says Smith.
“If you want to work with a
small, high-performing team
where you’re actually going to be
treated like real family as opposed
to just lip service, then we’re definitely the place you want to be.”
Headquartered in Surrey, B.C.,
Smith Bros. & Wilson has been
in business for over 125 years,
growing from a company that
used horse-drawn wagons to haul
lumber to build houses in mining
boomtowns to a high-tech construction firm that takes on projects like the Peace Arch Hospital
expansion in White Rock, B.C.,
and the Marpole Transit Centre in
Vancouver. Its 127 employees build
infrastructure people depend
upon, providing the nuts and bolts
that keep Metro Vancouver and
elsewhere moving.
As a project manager-program
lead, Smith works with clients to
ensure the company delivers for
its customers, conducting construction reviews and providing
guidance for younger employees
so they can grow their skills.
Smith says he too has benefited
from the training and development programs that Smith Bros. &
Wilson offers.
“The company puts a lot of
support into mentorship and employee development. There’s a lot
of people like myself who started
out in one role and have moved
into more senior positions,” says
Smith.
“The company always looks
internally to fill those vacancies.
That’s really helped with our
continuity, maintaining a strong
culture and contributing to our
success.”
Jeff Musialek, president and
co-CEO, says one of Smith Bros.
& Wilson’s strengths as an
employer is having an open and
accessible corporate culture
where executives are approachable and employees are heard.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re the
president or a new engineer
coming in, we treat everybody the
same. We have an environment
where there’s not a big hierarchy
— everybody’s treated equally.
That’s a big part of our culture,”
he says.
Communication is a key component in making sure employees
feel listened to and valued. The
company has multiple channels
for dialogue with town hall
meetings, internal newsletters and
an open-door policy at the offices
— something Smith appreciates.
“I can walk down the hall and
talk to our board members if
there’s something I need or just if
you want to chat and catch up and
see how people’s weekends were,”
says Smith.
“It’s nice to go to work when you
like all of your co-workers and
you’re happy to see everybody
show up to the office. That’s being
part of the team environment that
we’ve fostered here.”
We’re committed to our people because they make
our company great.
— Jeff Musialek
President and Co-CEO
Employees at Smith Bros. & Wilson appreciate the collegial and warm environment fostered at the office.
