Two engineering companies are building a solid foundation in the mining industry with their new office in Timmins.
Villeneuve Engineering and CSL Environmental and Geotechnical Group (CSL) celebrated their new offices with a barbeque on Third Avenue on Wednesday, July 3. The owners said the move grew out of a good working relationship.
“Everything just kind of fell into place, to be honest,” said Eric Villeneuve, owner and structural engineer at Villeneuve Engineering Services. “We’re just trying to show the public that we’re here.”
Villeneuve Engineering Services provides inspections and commercial, industrial and underground engineering services based out of Timmins.
Based in Thunder Bay, CSL provides environmental, geotechnical and civil engineering services such as water and land assessments, remediation design and slope stability assessments.
“For the better part of a year, we’ve been sharing each other’s projects and building each other’s business,” said Chris Perusse, owner of CSL.
The businesses provide complimentary services and have worked together on multiple projects prior to the opening of their new Timmins office.
“We’re both small businesses, so it just makes sense,” said Perusse.
The event was attended by Mayor Michelle Boileau, Coun. Cory Robin, Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus and Matthieu Quirion from Timmins MPP George Pirie’s office. Each presented Villeneuve and Perusse with a certificate to celebrate the opening.
“I think there’s definitely some synergies there, and I’m so glad to see a new company coming to town as well,” said Boileau.
“Our focus at the City of Timmins is that we’re filling every gap in the mining supply service sectors so we can support the mining industries so the big companies have everything they need here in Timmins.”
Angus said it’s important to see companies committed to working in the north.
“We have enormous potential and we’re still needing to realize the great potential of the North,” he said.
Both companies said they are looking forward to the future in Timmins and the growth they plan on seeing.
“Mark my words, in a couple of years, we’ll be moving into a bigger office,” said Perusse.
