Tetra Tech

Helping Engineer Better Communities

Driving progress and shaping Alberta’s future.

Tetra Tech is a leading integrated engineering and consulting service provider, with operations throughout Canada. With expertise spanning civil, geotechnical, and environmental engineering, the company’s Alberta operations are well-equipped to handle a broad spectrum of infrastructure projects. From survey and material testing to regulatory compliance, environmental remediation, and waste management, Tetra Tech’s capabilities offer comprehensive solutions for both public and private sector clients.

Shane Duval, Alberta Regional Manager for Tetra Tech’s Canadian Transportation Practice, highlights the company’s expansive range of services. “We’re involved in civil engineering, geotechnical work, environmental engineering, and municipal infrastructure. Beyond that, we also provide survey, material testing, compliance monitoring, and regulatory services,” he says, emphasizing the diversity of the firm’s offerings. “It’s not just about engineering, either. We also manage construction contracts, remediation projects, and solid waste management. Our goal is to provide a holistic solution for our clients.”

Duval also speaks to the company’s ongoing strategic growth, pointing out a pivotal shift that started just before the pandemic. “In 2019, we put a plan in place to work more closely with the smaller counties and municipal districts across Alberta,” he shares. This initiative was intended to broaden Tetra Tech’s presence in underserved regions, but like many businesses, they hit an unexpected obstacle. “Then Covid hit,” Duval adds, with a pragmatic nod to the global disruptions that followed.

Despite the initial setback, Tetra Tech maintained its focus and emerged stronger on the other side. “Our growth plans really started gaining momentum in 2023, after the worst of the pandemic was behind us,” Duval explains. Since then, the company has seen significant expansion, particularly in rural areas, where the need for modern infrastructure and engineering support has grown exponentially.

Adapting to a Tight Labor Market

As Canada’s infrastructure sector rebounds, the need for skilled labor in engineering and construction intensifies. Across Alberta, this is especially true, with government projects and provincial spending ramping up. For Tetra Tech, like many companies in the industry, the challenge isn’t the availability of work but finding the right people to execute it.

“Hiring has been a problem of late,” Duval admits. “With activity picking up and several large projects coming down the pipeline, it’s been tough to find qualified candidates, especially for intermediate and senior positions.” Tetra Tech’s recruitment process has run into an industry-wide issue: a mismatch between the available talent and the company’s specific needs. “We’re either getting applicants fresh out of school, or we have people with 20 or 30 years of experience who are nearing retirement,” he explains. The gap leaves the company searching for mid-career professionals who can step into roles with five to ten years of experience under their belts and hit the ground running.

However, Duval notes that Tetra Tech isn’t simply waiting for the perfect candidate to walk through the door. Instead, the company has taken a proactive approach by investing in internal training and development. “We’ve developed areas where we can train people in-house to fill specific roles,” he says. This strategy leverages the breadth of Tetra Tech’s projects, creating opportunities for employees to learn on the job while still delivering for clients. “There’s enough scope and diversity in our work that we can train at the same time as we deliver,” Duval adds.

Hiring from within, he points out, also brings an added benefit: employees who are trained internally are more likely to align with the company’s culture. “It’s fair to say that recruiting from within gives us more of that skilled know-how,” Duval remarks. He highlights that while bringing in people from other firms is possible, those individuals often come with their own way of doing things, which doesn’t always fit seamlessly with Tetra Tech’s collaborative environment. “We’re very fluid. We want everyone involved. We don’t dictate; we’re open to input from all sides.”

New Territories and Major Projects

As Tetra Tech continues to ride the wave of post-pandemic recovery, growth has become more than just a goal—it’s a tangible reality. “Since 2019, we’ve seen a definite uptick in growth,” Duval explains. “We’ve been developing more into rural-based markets and moving further north.” The result has been significant, with rural communities now becoming the company’s core area of focus.

Among the various projects Tetra Tech has been involved in, the West Calgary Ring Road project is a significant milestone. While the company was a sub-consultant to Associated Engineering on the Owner’s Engineer team, it had a substantial role in this billion-dollar initiative. “That project was a very significant win,” Duval remarks. “We weren’t the lead engineer, but we handled about 50% of the engineering effort.” The project’s scope was massive, with 29 bridge structures, six full interchange upgrades, and approximately 20 kilometers of upgraded road, much of which widened to eight lanes.

“The second portion of the project opened last October, and we’ve been involved in the construction for just over four years,” Duval continues. This project has already made a profound impact. “Everyone who has used it for the first time has commented on how much it’s improved commuting times and distribution routes. The difference is noticeable,” he says, reflecting the community’s immediate feedback.

The West Calgary Ring Road isn’t the only high-profile project Tetra Tech has tackled. The firm’s efforts have expanded into northern Alberta, including meaningful work in Fort McMurray and High Level. Duval speaks passionately about Tetra Tech’s involvement with Indigenous communities. “Last year, a couple of nations were decimated by fires, and we’re helping them rebuild from the ground up,” he shares.

The scope of this rebuilding effort is extensive, encompassing everything from road assessments to restoring essential infrastructure like power, sanitary systems, water, and sewer. For Duval, this work is especially fulfilling, as he acknowledges the deep sense of satisfaction that comes with helping communities restore their livelihoods.

Collaborative Partnerships and Industry Trends

In the complex world of engineering and infrastructure, partnerships often drive success, and Tetra Tech has embraced collaboration as a key to its growth. Working alongside other industry leaders has allowed the company to tackle large-scale projects more efficiently while expanding its expertise through shared knowledge and resources.

“Associated Engineering is one of our primary partners,” Duval explains. “We’ve done a lot of work with them, as well as COWI Engineering. And we’re now building relationships with Parsons Engineering, which is exciting.” These partnerships, he points out, are pivotal as they allow Tetra Tech to pool resources and tackle larger, more intricate projects across Alberta.

As the conversation shifts to broader industry trends, Duval identifies several significant developments that could reshape the province’s transportation infrastructure in the coming years. “There are ongoing discussions about rail connections—especially high-speed rail between Edmonton, Calgary, and even Calgary to Banff,” he shares. The prospect of reducing reliance on traditional road traffic and bus systems is being explored with growing interest, especially as Alberta seeks to modernize its transportation networks.

The potential for high-speed rail isn’t just about easing commuter congestion; it’s about connectivity on a grander scale. Duval points to the Calgary Green Line as a prime example of enhancing public transit options within urban centers. “These are projects that are still five years away from realization, but the planning and feasibility studies are already in motion,” he explains.

The high-speed rail concept is particularly intriguing because of its connection to a larger vision for Alberta. Duval notes that some discussions surrounding these rail projects are linked to the possibility of a future Olympic bid. “There’s talk about using Calgary as the central hub and connecting to Edmonton and the mountain towns of Canmore and Banff. The rail would allow all three centers to be utilized during a potential Olympic event,” he says. This infrastructure could revolutionize Alberta’s connectivity, enabling the province to showcase its cities and natural attractions internationally.

Future Focus on Communities and Connectivity

As Tetra Tech looks ahead, its priorities for the next 18 months reflect its deepening focus on community impact and infrastructure development. The firm has its sights set on expanding its reach, particularly in rural and Indigenous communities, while also playing a key role in enhancing Alberta’s transportation networks, especially for major trucking routes.

“Assisting with growth and development within rural communities and Indigenous communities is a top priority for us,” Duval states firmly. These areas, often underserved or struggling to recover from natural disasters, present challenges and opportunities for Tetra Tech. Duval emphasizes that the company’s work isn’t just about building infrastructure—it’s about rebuilding lives and providing communities with the foundational services they need to thrive. Tetra Tech’s work in these regions is as vital as fulfilling, from assessing roads and infrastructure to reestablishing critical services like power and water.

In addition to this community-focused work, the company remains dedicated to improving Alberta’s transportation network, particularly for the trucking industry, which is a critical component of the province’s economy. “Improving the transportation network for major trucking industries is another key focus for us,” Duval explains. As trade and commerce continue to grow, ensuring efficient and well-maintained routes is essential for keeping goods moving across the province and beyond.

With a clear direction set for the future, Tetra Tech continues to build on its strengths while expanding its impact across Alberta. By investing in the communities that need it most and enhancing the infrastructure that supports the province’s economy, the company is positioning itself for sustained growth and continued success.

AT A GLANCE

Tetra Tech

What: Leading provider of integrated engineering and consulting services

Where: Alberta, Canada

Website: https://www.tetratech.com/