Higher Ground Group of Companies
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Founded in 2013, Higher Ground Consulting (HGC) is an engineering and environmental consulting firm that focuses on providing excellence in civil earthworks, geotechnical and water engineering, and environmental assessment. Our culture is based on a foundation of trust, a promise of excellence, and a commitment to do the right thing. At HGC, we help clients trust the integrity of their infrastructure through a suite of environmental and regulatory services that ensure responsible development.
Our firm is owned by managers active in the business, enabling us to truly focus on our clients’ needs. We have designed and developed successful projects for the mining, oil and gas, forestry, municipal, hydro storage, and renewable energy industries. Supporting projects from cradle to grave, we deliver innovative solutions within the constraints of scope, budget, quality, and schedule. From site planning to reclamation, and all points in between, HGC protects the reputational integrity of our clients.
Our Offices
Calgary, AB
Fort St. John, BC
Starbuck, MB
Burlington, ON
Major Projects
HGC has worked on projects spanning….
HGC’s culture is built on a strong foundation of morals and a steadfast commitment to excellence. We strive to lead the industry by fostering a collaborative and innovative team environment, free from the constraints of answering to a distant head office, and by making a positive impact on the world. Our distinctive business strategy allows us to focus entirely on your needs, forming lasting relationships in the process.
We offer comprehensive support and engineering services that help our clients build reliable infrastructure. Our safety and environmental protocols ensure a smooth and efficient site planning process. By maintaining a hands-on approach, we guide all developments in a responsible and effective direction, safeguarding the integrity of our clients’ projects.
HGC is proudly dedicated to a sustainable future, and we welcome you to join us in creating change.
At HGC, we utilize a fit-for-purpose project delivery model, designed to suit our clients’ needs. Dedicated to developing strategic partnerships with turnkey solutions, we have the ability to provide direct services, lead or sub, or to seamlessly integrate with your team. We understand that an optimal delivery model changes from client to client, and from project to project. Our systems, experience, and flexibility enable our ability to adopt an approach to meet your unique challenges and constraints. HGC has the expertise to present a solution that gives you confidence and peace of mind.
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Wes has significant experience working as a construction manager, engineer and project manager in the oil and gas industry. Mr. Ferris holds university degrees in Civil Engineering and Sociology and is a member of the Project Management Institute.
His diverse background and experience bring a greater understanding of all project components and the leadership and coordination required for success. Mr. Ferris is the founder of Higher Ground Consulting.
Gary has 28 years of experience in the environmental and energy services industry. Mr. Perras has a university degree in Regional Environmental Systems as well as a Masters of Business Administration.
His executive expertise includes operations, project planning and execution, corporate HS&E compliance and business development. Gary’s passion is to be a leader and mentor for dynamic and growth-oriented companies.
Lee is a Geotechnical Engineer with more than 15 years of experience in the design and construction of civil and marine works throughout North and South America.
He has been involved in the design and construction of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facilities, ports and marine terminals, highways, airports and rail facilities, dams and tailings facilities, oil and gas installations, plants and pipelines, as well as large commercial buildings, municipal facilities, and residential subdivisions.
Scott holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Civil Engineering from the University of New Brunswick. Mr. Wark has more than 12 years of professional experience with a strong background in project management and technical design for earthen and geosynthetic containment facilities (solid and liquid waste).
His expertise includes evaluation and development of solid waste management facilities during the full project life-cycle.
Shawn is a Civil Engineer trained at Lakehead University in Ontario with over ten years of experience in earthworks construction and inspection.
Shawn’s professional experience has focused on earthen and geosynthetic containment structures in the areas of earthworks construction, geotechnical and environmental analysis, surveying, Civil 3D modelling, construction QA/QC, and technical reporting.
Jake brings over 10 years of engineering, project management and strategic business development experience to Higher Ground Consulting. Blending years of field experience and corporate development, Jake has managed over $150 million in capital projects throughout that span.
He has spent the majority of his career focused on water infrastructure planning and construction throughout Western Canada and the US.
Sherry has over a decade of progressive experience in financial management. She started her career as a self-taught bookkeeper for home-based businesses and has worked towards managing financial systems of increasing complexity, culminating with the financial department at Higher Ground Consulting.
Sherry has mastered multiple accounting software platforms and is currently the resident expert for all aspects of our Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) platform.
Matt is a Geotechnical Engineer that has more than 12 years of experience in exploration geology and geotechnical investigation with extensive work done across Alberta and northern British Columbia.
His experience has included geotechnical and geological borehole logging, sampling and characterization of hard rock and soils, site supervision and field program settlement analysis, slope stability, thermal modelling and general site interpretation and recommendations.
Kevin has over 19 years of experience as a Civil Designer with a focus in earthworks design and survey including road and well pad design, petrochemical plant site design, site planning, layout and grading.
He is an experienced Lead Designer for deep underground utilities and has led a team of designers in large scale earthworks projects.
Cameron Johnston has been in consulting since 2008, concentrating on collaborative projects across various environmental disciplines, including water, wetlands, and vegetation. His approach involves connecting with clients and stakeholders to understand their goals and ensure those outcomes are achieved.
Cameron works closely with clients, companies, and communities to facilitate responsible development and environmental sustainability.
Grant is a seasoned railway engineer with 18 years of experience specializing in freight rail and civil engineering. Grounded in core values of trust and quality, Grant’s collaborations with industry leaders such as CN Rail and CPKC underscore his expertise and the valuable relationships he has built.
His focus on innovation and strategic thinking has consistently led to successful project outcomes for his clients.
Ron Kitagawa brings over 37 years of engineering experience in consulting and construction. Mr. Kitagawa’s experience encompasses river diversions; flood risk and debris-flood mitigation; riverbank erosion protection; dam rehabilitation; hydraulic structures; underground services for industrial and commercial facilities; treated water storage and wastewater retention facilities; and municipal and agricultural water supply systems.
Additionally, Ron has over 12 years of experience with dam safety reviews and annual performance reviews for provincial and municipal governments and industrial clients. Ron is the Lead Civil Engineer and a mentor for the civil group.
