Aecon’s John M. Beck appointed to the Order of Ontario

Aecon Group Inc. announced that founder and chairman, John M. Beck, has been appointed to the Order of Ontario, the province’s highest civilian honour bestowed by the Lieutenant Governor. The Order of Ontario recognizes exceptional leaders whose impact and lasting legacy have played an important role in building a stronger province, country and world.

“I am incredibly proud and honoured to be appointed to the Order of Ontario,” said Beck. “Thank you to my family, the thousands of dedicated Aecon employees, our valued clients and the many business and community partners across the province whom I’ve had the privilege of working with to create sustainable communities and a stronger Ontario.”

An accomplished businessman and community builder, Beck has been at the forefront of building Aecon into a national construction and infrastructure development company with global experience over his career spanning six decades. Beck transitioned to the role of chairman in 2020 and has previously served as CEO and executive chairman, steering Aecon’s strategic growth from the company’s inception as a precast concrete business through its evolution into the fully integrated and diverse publicly traded infrastructure company it is today.

Under his leadership, Aecon has helped to shape Ontario through the development of some of its greatest infrastructure landmarks and Beck has played a pivotal role in pioneering innovative financing models, forming successful corporate and community partnerships, championing sustainability and Indigenous partnerships, and supporting a green economy.

Beck is an active community builder, supporting a number of organizations and initiatives both personally and through Aecon’s community engagement efforts. Beck is a founding member of the Corporate Leadership Table for the Inclusive Local Economic Opportunity (ILEO) initiative – a successful partnership with the United Way Greater Toronto that has catalyzed local economic development and helped residents in Scarborough’s Golden Mile area overcome employment barriers through the community-led Aecon-Golden Mile joint venture. Beck is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario. Previously, he served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Royal Conservatory of Music and as co-chair of the Infrastructure & Urban Development Industries at the World Economic Forum. He also previously served as Director of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, President of the Club Canadien de Toronto, Director and Chair of the Building Committee for the Canadian Opera Company, and as a Board Member of the Ontario Financing Authority and Chairman of the Board of the Ontario Power Authority.

Beck received the EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2019 Award in the Manufacturing and Construction category for Ontario and the LiUNA Builder’s Award at the 2018 Ontario Business Achievement Awards. In 2013, Mr. Beck was inducted as a Fellow into the Canadian Academy of Engineering and was honoured as P3 Champion of the Year by the Canadian Council of Public Private Partnerships.

Featured image: John M. Beck. (Aecon)