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Clark Builders continues to work on its current project at St. Joseph's school. - photo courtesy of Clark Builders

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Northern-founded Clark Builders recently became one of less than 10 per cent of new applicants to snag the prestigious Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies award.

Launched in 1993, and sponsored by such big names as Deloitte and CIBC, the national award honours innovative, world-class Canadian companies.

"We're very pleased and honoured to make that list," said Paul Verhesen, Clark Builders president.

Clark Builders was founded in Yellowknife in 1974 by Andy Clark. In the early days, the company pulled in an annual volume of $200,000.

The company is now headquartered in Edmonton, with offices in Yellowknife and in Calgary, and pulls in more than $400 million annually.

Verhesen, who grew up in Fort Smith, said making the list as a first-time applicant is a little like running a race.

"You never know if you're going to win or lose the race, but the moment you apply, of course you want to win," he said.

And that win, he said, is due at least in part to Clark's business in Yellowknife.

"The North has been and still is a big part of who we are, what we do and how we do it," said Verhesen.

"It's very unique as a contractor to have as much diversity as we have," he added. "We're able to build projects in the high arctic, the diamond mines, gold mines, copper mines and in Yellowknife and down in downtown Edmonton and downtown Calgary."

This diversity was something the panel of judges recognized in declaring Clark a winner, said Verhesen. Another key factor, he said, was Clark Builders University.

The university, which is not actually a building, is actually used to describe the company's ongoing learning philosophy, offering workers everything from additional hard construction skills to financial planning as they advance their career in the company.

"We believe the day you start with us your education doesn't stop, it actually starts," he said.

"I worked with a bunch of great people, built a lot of great buildings, but most importantly I've been part of a learning organization."

That organization, he added, plans to stick to the North.

"There's been a lot of talk - and there are other companies that have left the North - but we're committed to it. We're there for all the right reasons," he said.

"We're a believer in the community and a believer in the North. We have people that want to be there and want to stay there."