Egis is a global architecture, engineering, and mobility consulting firm working in more than 70 countries. Its footprint in the Greater Toronto Area is already woven into some of the region's most visible infrastructure. Passionate about supporting how Torontonians move, Egis serves as a technical advisor to Metrolinx on the electrification of the GO Transit network, delivering the overhead electrification design for the Ontario Line, and is a design partner on the modernization of Toronto Pearson Airport.
Toronto's growth story is one of ambition and complexity. As the region continues to expand, pressure on transit, housing, energy, and climate resilience is accelerating. But meeting that challenge isn't just about building more infrastructure, it's about building smarter, with a focus on improving quality of life for generations to come.
For Egis, that responsibility is central to its work. And increasingly, Toronto is central to how the firm thinks about growth in Canada.
"Canada is a strategic priority for us," says Alaa Abusiam. "When we look at the needs of cities like Toronto and the global experience we bring in mobility, sustainable communities, and complex infrastructure, there's a natural alignment. It's where we know we can make a meaningful impact."
Egis establishing a footprint in Canada started with major transit infrastructure projects, and the firm has continued to build a strong foundation supporting current and future rail projects across the GTHA, including most recently the Hamilton LRT as part of a design joint venture.
Toronto isn't just an active market for Egis; it's a key hub for the firm's Canadian operations, bringing together multidisciplinary teams that support projects across the country.
"Toronto is one of the most dynamic and complex infrastructure environments in Canada," Abusiam explains. "You're balancing rapid population growth, evolving mobility needs, and a wide range of stakeholders. That's exactly where global experience can add value by helping navigate complexity and deliver better outcomes."
That global experience is already active across the city. Egis serves as a technical advisor to Metrolinx on the On-Corridor electrification of GO Transit, a project that will make GO Canada's first electrified rail system, a network moving toward 200 million annual riders by 2040. Egis was also awarded the overhead electrification design for the Ontario Line and is a design partner on the multi-year modernization of Toronto Pearson, Canada's busiest airport.
Over time, Egis's presence in Canada has evolved. What began as bringing specialized expertise to individual projects has grown into a fully integrated operation supported by strategic acquisitions, accelerated by the 2023 acquisition of Toronto-based McIntosh Perry (800 professionals in North America) and the 2025 acquisition of Ecometrix (60 professionals in Canada), which have brought Egis Canada to over 1,000 engineers, project managers, scientists, and technicians today.
"We're moving beyond a project-by-project mindset," says Abusiam. "More and more, we're working alongside our partners to shape long-term outcomes, helping solve the bigger, more complex challenges cities are facing."
For Abusiam, delivering complex infrastructure doesn't start with design or construction it starts with people.
"Our people are at the heart of everything we do," he says. "Creating an environment where they feel safe, supported, and empowered is what ultimately drives the quality of what we deliver."
That commitment begins with safety. "The expectation is simple: everyone goes home safe at the end of the day," he notes. Teams are empowered to speak up and stop work when needed, a culture reinforced through leadership at every level.
In a competitive talent market like Toronto's, that people-first approach also plays an important role in attracting and developing talent. Egis continues to invest in mentorship, leadership development, and early-career programs, while strengthening partnerships with universities and technical institutions.
At the core of Egis's work is what Abusiam describes as one of the defining challenges of our time: enabling communities to grow and thrive while reducing carbon emissions and supporting the transition to net zero.
"That balance is central to the future of cities like Toronto," he says.
In mobility, Egis brings global expertise across all major transit modes, from bus rapid transit and light rail to metro systems and high-speed rail, helping cities rethink how people move in more efficient and sustainable ways.
In planning and design, the focus is on livability, land-use optimization, and community integration, all critical as Toronto works to address density and affordability.
And as Ontario advances its nuclear strategy to support clean, reliable energy, Egis contributes decades of international experience across the full lifecycle, from refurbishment to new builds, complemented by environmental and water resources capabilities that support a fully integrated approach to sustainable development.
As infrastructure challenges grow in scale and complexity, Abusiam is clear on one thing: collaboration is no longer optional.
"Progress today depends on strong partnerships across governments, industry, and communities," he says. "The more aligned we are, the better the outcomes we can deliver."
He also sees technology as a critical enabler. "We have to embrace tools like artificial intelligence to improve how we plan, design, and deliver," he adds. "It's about enhancing decision-making and productivity, especially as our industry faces increasing demand and a constrained talent pipeline."
With experience drawn from major metropolitan regions around the world, Egis brings a global perspective to local challenges, one that Abusiam believes is particularly relevant to Toronto's next phase of growth.
"Toronto is a remarkable city, with incredible opportunity ahead," he says. "We're here for the long term, working alongside our partners to build the infrastructure the city needs, both today and into the future."
