Our company has strong roots. In 1966, three Saskatchewan Land Surveyors, who were working for the major engineering firm Underwood McLellan & Associates, had the vision and initiative to branch out on their own and launch a new surveying firm. Formed in partnership with Underwood McLellan, the new Saskatoon and North Battleford firm was named Underwood McLellan Surveys (1966) Ltd.
Land Surveyors with a great past and a bright future.
Over the years, the resource-rich prairie provinces of Canada have grown and prospered. Meridian Surveys has grown with them, becoming a leader in the surveying industry by remaining at the forefront of surveying and mapping technology, and translating that technology into client solutions.
Our genesis goes back to clients with projects that are modest in size. We continue to do surveys for clients large and small – from private individuals requiring a boundary survey to commercial/industrial clients with larger scale projects.
Our History and Expanding our Reputation
1960s
1970s
In 1972, the company expanded into Melfort and was renamed to Tri-City Surveys Ltd. Our company, which had always conducted surveys in Saskatchewan’s north, found itself in the 1980s a dominant player, as northern resource development reached a new high. By that time, Tri-City had already established a solid reputation in the north, having completed in the ’70s Surface Lease surveys for the uranium mining industry’s Cluff Lake mine. We conducted the Cigar Lake Surface Lease survey in the early 1980s, followed by numerous projects at Key Lake, McArthur River, McLean Lake and Rabbit Lake.
1980s
As the mining industry grew in the ’80s, service industries and infrastructure flourished alongside. Tri-City was the company with the track record to get the job done, surveying routes for miles of power lines to facilitate electrical infrastructure into the mines. We took the project from preliminary route surveys, to staking for clearing of the route through a vast wooded area, to stakeout for the hydro structures.
Tri-City opened a branch office in Kindersley in 1983 to service the fast-developing oil and gas industry. By the mid ’80s, Tri-City was leading the mapping industry with groundbreaking technology. We were working with the Saskatchewan government, creating the backbone for the mapping of the Province. By the ’90s our mapping department had gained a national reputation, successfully undertaking contracts, including mapping for Ontario Hydro and TransCanada Pipelines. We earned several national awards in that endeavor.
Expansion of Services in a Fertile Marketplace
1990s
In 1991, we established Tri-City’s sister company, Trigon Mapping Resources Ltd., to give our rapidly expanding mapping department, with its leading-edge geomatics technology, a name and profile of its own.
In the 1990s we were becoming involved in major pipeline construction projects, doing large scale survey and mapping for various pipeline clients. From projects in Quebec, throughout Ontario and in Western Canada. We also saw an opportunity to serve the rapidly growing Prince Albert area and expanded by bringing Reimer Surveys into our group of companies.
2000s
Alberta’s burgeoning oil and gas industry provided a fertile marketplace for Tri-City’s expertise and experience. In 2001, we took an equity position with the reputable Lloydminster firm, Interprovincial Surveys, and have since merged the company with Meridian.
Building expertise and experience in both upstream and downstream business, we have carved out a niche market that services two different clients in one industry. By diversifying, we have increased our capacity to serve the oil and gas industry in general, providing a smooth-flowing service from source to market.
In 2008, we opened a branch office in Calgary to better serve Alberta, where a large part of our present work is tied to the oil coming out of Fort McMurray. The Calgary office is presently a modest one, with great potential for growth and, of course, all the strength of Meridian behind it.
As Saskatchewan grows, Saskatoon has enjoyed the most vibrant growth in recent history. Alongside our projects in the resource sector, demand for our municipal surveying and mapping services continues at record pace.
Over the last decade, the tools and techniques of earth mapping have proliferated, and advanced geomatics technology is, alongside traditional surveys, a natural part of every major project we undertake. In 2009 we felt the time had come to bring our mapping and survey divisions back under one roof, one name and one strong identity. Tri-City Surveys Ltd., Trigon Mapping Resources and InterProvincial Surveys Ltd. have chosen the name Meridian Surveys to carry us into the future with continuation of growth and an ongoing commitment to superior service.
2010s
In 2010, Meridian’s Regina office opened, providing a more thorough geographic reach throughout the province and into Manitoba. As Meridian Surveys, we offer a comprehensive and complementary group of services to deliver advanced survey and geomatics solutions to a broad range of clients, creating a one-stop shop where we can offer a single point of responsibility, controlled costs and on-time delivery.
In 2013 Meridian expanded its Saskatoon operation with the acquisition of Webster Surveys. Meridian has added Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) to our list of services.
In 2015 Meridian expanded its Saskatoon operation further with the acquisition of George, Nicholson, Franko & Associates Ltd.
In 2017 Meridian added a 9th office and expanded our Alberta operation with a new office in Sherwood Park Alberta. This new office will help service the growing demand in the Alberta North West and into British Columbia.
In 2019 Meridian added a 10th office as we expanded into Manitoba with a new office in Oak Bluff, just outside of Winnipeg. With this location, Meridian will continue to service existing clients in Manitoba and Ontario, as well as have a local presence for work in and around the Winnipeg area.
2022 started off with Meridian opening up an office in Grande Prairie to serve the ever expanding market in north west Alberta. Unfortunately, the decision was made to close our Calgary office and stay at our current 10 offices located throughout Western Canada.
In 2024 Meridian had the opportunity to open a consultation office in Humboldt, Saskatchewan giving us the opportunity to better serve the people of the city and surrounding areas.
Leadership Team
Lee Andersen – President
lee.andersen@meridiansurveys.ca
Chester Ehnisz
chester.ehnisz@meridiansurveys.ca
Dan Cook
Murray Radoux
murray.radoux@meridiansurveys.ca
Stephen Conway
Ash Bryks
Dagen Deslauriers
dagen.deslauriers@meridiansurveys.ca
Darren Patkau
darren.patkau@meridiansurveys.ca
Dan Codling
Ian Isackson
ian.isackson@meridiansurveys.ca
Matthew Rustad
matthew.rustad@meridiansurveys.ca
Jarrett Hollman
jarret.hollman@meridiansurveys.ca
