Easily recognized on Prince Edward Island by its white and green equipment, the story of Curran & Briggs dates back over a century. What started as a small construction company in Ontario later moved its operations further east and became a major development and roadworks business headquartered on P.E.I. Now managing a diverse mix of business interests, Curran & Briggs continues to pave the way in its industry.

Breaking ground

The beginning of Curran & Briggs dates back to 1920, when it was founded as Curran & Clement by two business partners in Orillia, Ontario. After about a decade of operations, Fred T. Briggs acquired Clement’s shares in the early 1930s and the construction company was renamed Curran & Briggs.

In 1937, Curran & Briggs expanded east and established a division in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, to fulfil contracts throughout the province and Springhill, Nova Scotia. The company’s headquarters eventually moved to P.E.I., where it remains today.

Scaling up

Throughout the late 1930s and early 1940s, Curran & Briggs expanded nationally to complete construction projects across Canada. In 1942, it was the only Canadian company to receive a contract to work on building the Alaska Highway. Out east, Curran & Briggs was involved in heavy infrastructure construction projects, like the development of airport runways in Summerside and Mount Pleasant on P.E.I.

Over time, Curran & Briggs built a solid reputation in construction and roadworks operations. To manage an expanding portfolio of services, it created subsidiaries, including Tri-Mix Limited, likely for industrial concrete flooring services, and Advanced Rentals, which offers tool and equipment rentals for construction and landscaping projects.

Once headquarters were established in P.E.I., Curran & Briggs became a significant employer in the province, now with up to 200 full-time employees during its peak season. The company has had many long-time employees, including some families who have worked for the business for three generations.

In 2008, Walter Riehl decided to retired after working for Curran & Briggs for over 65 years and sold the business to five employees: Rick Kennedy, Brian Profitt, Greg Bowles, Steve Campbell and Kerry Doucette. Profitt and Bowles retired in 2018.

Well underway

Today, Curran & Briggs continues to operate from its headquarters in Summerside, P.E.I. The company is known across the province as a leader in the heavy construction industry and its diverse service offerings include road and highway construction, paving and maintenance, commercial and residential projects, underground pipe and utilities work, landfill and environmental remediation, heavy equipment rental, landscaping and concrete work. In the winter months, the company also does commercial snow removal.

After 106 years, Curran & Briggs continues to construct a legacy that appears to be built to last.

Note: A representative of Curran & Briggs was unavailable for an interview; the above article is based on third-party research.

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