from garage shop to national leader: lopes limited earns top award
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deloitte canada has named lopes limited as one of canada's best-managed companies in 2026. supplied photo
from a garage workshop to one of canada’s top-managed companies, lopes limited is marking 50 years in business with a major national award.
the company has been named as one of canada’s best managed companies in 2026 by deloitte. deloitte canada is the largest canadian-owned and operated professional services firm. as part of the global “big four” network, the firm provides extensive audit, consulting, financial advisory, risk management, and tax services to public and private clients.
a full-service industrial contractor offering solutions for mining, energy, agriculture and various other industrial sectors, lopes comes from very humble beginnings. started by portuguese immigrant felix lopes sr., who opened a small sheet metal shop in his garage in 1976, the company would later expand its services and move to what is now known as the coniston industrial park, where it remains today, headed by second generation felix lopes jr., employing about 285 people and tackling everything from large-scale construction projects and custom fabrication to piping, coatings and electrical service.
every year, hundreds of private canadian-owned companies submit applications to be considered for the national awards program, undergoing a rigorous process. companies are evaluated against four so-called ‘pillars’ to determine whether they qualify. those four categories are strategy, culture and commitment, capabilities and innovation, and governance and financials.
felix lopes jr., middle, president of lopes limited, chats with st. charles college students gracie girard, left, and jacob dorion, while going on a tour of the auto shop with adam lachapelle, vice-president of the coniston industrial park limited, and ryan forigo, right, construction manager of the coniston industrial park limited, at st. charles college in sudbury, ont. on wednesday april 30, 2025. a tour of cutting-edge resources and state-of-the-art equipment located in the skilled trades areas of the high school was held. lopes limited and coniston industrial park limited donated three multiprocessor welders, two fume extractors, two pallets of welding consumables, safety gear, personal protective equipment (ppe), and four smart tv monitors. in addition, the school also received six new garage bay doors for both automotive and construction shop areas in 2024. john lappa/sudbury star/postmedia network
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john lappa/sudbury star
the awards program recognizes canadian-headquartered companies with more than 50 per cent private equity ownership located in the country and with revenues of $50 million or greater. however, the program evaluates more than financial performance; it recognizes overall business performance and sustained growth, with attention to the efforts of the entire organization.
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“i think what really shone through for us was our workplace culture and how we treat our staff,” said danielle hrechka, marketing specialist at lopes limited.
the company offers comprehensive health benefits and an on-site health clinic staffed by a nurse practitioner and registered nurse with a specialty in mental health, accessible to all staff monday to friday.
if further mental health support is needed, staff have five free therapy sessions with a partner clinic in the community.
“mental health is important to felix, so he does his best to ensure staff are cared for in that aspect,” hrechka said in describing the company’s philosophy under its current leadership.
felix jr, who is the son of company founder felix sr., is consistently looking for ways to make his staff’s lives “easier and better,” added hrechka. she said the on-site health clinic was inspired after her boss observed staff having difficulty finding a family doctor.
its wellness program includes an annual golf tournament, encourages staff to explore nearby trails and culminates in a holiday season celebration that’s earned a reputation for being legendary.
“we really try to go above and beyond to make sure our staff know they are appreciated,” said hrechka.
when it comes to operational strategy, which the award program recognizes, hrechka said the company has diversified over the years.
“sudbury is a mining town, (so) how do you diversify through that?” she said. “you can look at alternative commodities, other industrial sectors, whether that is energy, civil, oil and gas, etc. because we offer end-to-end solutions, it gives us flexibility to cater to different areas of the industrial sector, whether it is fabrication or electrical needs, sheet metal, hvac, etc.”
the company also stresses innovation, having developed a safety reporting system designed to identify and address potential hazards before they occur, as well as ongoing research to determine how automation can help staff do their work more efficiently and safely while helping clients stay competitive.
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looking ahead, as the global race for critical minerals intensifies, hrechka said the company is aligning its capabilities to meet demand and respond to industry needs.
“we are looking at the ever-evolving mining sector and where that will take us, and where we can expand in northern ontario,” she said.
about lopes limited
lopes limited is a full-service industrial contractor based in greater sudbury, specializing in custom steel fabrication, electrical services, and industrial construction. founded in 1976, it operates from a 400-acre industrial park in coniston, serving as a vital partner for northern ontario’s mining and energy sectors.
– lopes is deeply embedded in the sudbury community. the company has made headlines for major investments, such as a multi-year, $100,000-per-year commitment to local trades-related education, alongside sponsoring municipal projects like the adélie splash pad and twin forks greenhouse.
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