The President of Keystone Environmental Ltd. fosters sustainability by finding solutions to environmental challenges and building diversity at the workplace and in the community.
By Surbhi Gogia
Raminder Grewal is an environmental engineer. He graduated from the University of British Columbia (UBC) in his twenties, and his spirit as a professional engineer has been evident throughout his life, professionally and personally.
Now, at 50, Raminder, the President of Keystone Environmental Ltd., has many accomplishments. He received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, was selected Top 40 Under 40 by Business in Vancouver, was Business-Person of the Year by Burnaby Board of Trade, and was rewarded Canada’s Environmental Engineering CEO of the Year by CEO Monthly.
Born in Vancouver to a South Asian immigrant family from Punjab, with English being a second language, Raminder says he struggled in elementary school. “I was barely getting by, and one of my teachers in grade 4 said I would not make it very far,” he recalls. The words of Raminder’s elementary school teacher ignited a fire to prove otherwise.
“My parents always said the sky is the limit if you study and work hard.” His grades improved over time, and by high school, he became interested in sciences and math.
Despite limited exposure to the engineering world—his only reference being a friend’s father, a civil engineer— Raminder set his sights on the field. He applied to Engineering at UBC and was planning to take civil engineering, but a guest lecture on environmental engineering during his first year piqued his interest, and he decided to pursue the field. He received a Bachelor of Applied Science in Geological Engineering with a specialization in Environmental and Geotechnical Engineering and began his career at Levelton Consultants Ltd.
Environmental engineers are the vanguards of sustainable development, designing solutions that protect the environment and public health. They manage waste, treat water and air pollution, and remediate contaminated sites. He began his career by providing practical solutions to clients’ environmental challenges.
Since 1998, he has held various progressively senior positions, gaining specialization in contaminated site investigations and remediation plans. After passing a regulatory and technical exam, Raminder was appointed to the BC Ministry of Environment’s Roster of Approved Professionals (2009), providing advice and guidance regarding assessing and managing contaminated sites.
He joined Burnaby-based Keystone Environmental Ltd. in 2000. In his technical role, he has helped clients manage environmental liabilities, such as remediate old gas stations or assesses the impact of development projects on sensitive ecosystems. He has also assisted clients in negotiations with local, provincial, and federal regulators and approving agencies, conducted public information meetings, and provided expert and second-opinion advice.
Raminder’s essence as an engineer goes beyond technical expertise. He excels in retrofitting new systems and business models into the company’s structure. The firm was relatively small when he joined, with approximately 30 employees. His dedication and skills saw him rise through the ranks, becoming a shareholder in 2006 and, by 2017, the majority shareholder. Under his leadership, Keystone Environmental has transformed into a strong team of more than 150 employees, with offices expanding beyond Burnaby to Ontario and Victoria, British Columbia, an awe-inspiring growth.
One of Raminder’s early contributions to Keystone Environmental was his keen eye for growth opportunities. Having been exposed to emergency response in a previous job, he noticed that Keystone Environmental was not exploring this area regularly. He saw the growth potential and suggested the company pursue opportunities in this field, a move that was encouraged.
In Keystone Environmental’s history, he became the youngest Department Head and was responsible for half the firm’s revenue. Under his leadership of the largest department, Contaminated Sites, the company’s revenue grew by 30 percent.
Today, the company offers expertise in four areas: Biological Services, Contaminated Sites, Environmental Engineering, and Hazardous Materials Surveys and Indoor Air Quality Management.
The company’s Biological Services allow clients to maximize the potential of their projects through appropriate environmental planning (e.g., stream-side protection and endangered species regulations, among others).
Their Contaminated Sites Assessment services support business operations and decisions, as many sites in the province have become contaminated through past industrial or commercial activities that introduced contaminants like metals, petroleum, etc., to the environment. The company evaluates potential environmental risks and assists clients in making the business decisions most appropriate to their circumstances.
Keystone Environmental’s Engineering Department offers a wide range of services, from in-situ remediation systems for contaminated sites to assisting with landfill design and management, treatment plant design and operation, and stormwater systems design. This comprehensive suite of services underscores the company’s commitment to providing holistic environmental solutions.
His pursuit of forging strategic partnerships has culminated in successfully acquiring Sterling IAQ Consultants Ltd., a leader in indoor air quality, hazardous building materials, and occupational hygiene. Raminder’s leadership and vision have earned him high praise from clients.
Jordan Carlson, President of Anthem Holdings Canada, says, “Keystone has been a critical partner to Anthem throughout the years. Through acquisitions, development, construction, and ongoing operations, Keystone brings rigorous diligence and depth of knowledge, a strong work ethic, an understanding of our business objectives, and practical solutions. Raminder’s unrelenting focus on results, professionalism, and ensuring his team has the support to perform at its best is highly evident whenever we deal with Keystone.”
When asked about his proudest contribution throughout his career, Raminder emphasizes investing in the team. He helped reorganize the company to stem the employee turnover rate the company had been experiencing by creating career paths for the firm’s staff. Turnover has since dropped significantly, with most staff having been with the company for nearly half a decade.
Raminder has also been instrumental in promoting diversity in the company. When he joined this industry, it was dominated by Caucasian males. Still, he gave a voice to the South Asian community, proving that a diverse and ethnic person can be a strong and dominant player in environmental consulting. He then became the guest speaker at one of Canada’s most notable environmental seminars, the Canadian Environmental & Engineering Executives Conference.
“I was one of the few South Asian attendees at that conference,” he reminisces. “I brought up the topic of underrepresentation with other partners in the industry. They were supportive. We organized guest lecturers to spread awareness on diversity and inclusion, encourage the use of pronouns, and make sure that the company remains inclusive and diverse with representation from people of color, ethnicities, and gender.”
As a result, 38 percent of Keystone Environmental’s staff are now women. As the Director of the Association of South Asian Professionals of British Columbia (ASAP), he provides leadership and mentorship to other professionals, works to elevate the image of South Asians, and supports community initiatives such as providing food for people experiencing homelessness in Vancouver downtown’s east side. As part of the Society of Punjabi Engineers and Technologists (SPEATBC), he has promoted the engineering profession in the Punjabi community.
Raminder enhances and creates a sustainable environment in which to live and give back to the community through his work, sharing Keystone Environmental’s success with those around him. The company committed to social responsibility through charitable donations of almost $400,000 to charities and causes (over $100,000 in the last year), Hospital Foundations (BC Children’s, Royal Columbian, and Surrey Memorial), Union Gospel Mission, Cassie & Friends, Backpack Buddies, and others. They provide donations to the Canadian Red Cross for causes such as the 2021 BC floods, 2022 Hurricane Fiona crisis in Atlantic Canada and Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal, 2023 wildfires in Kelowna and Northwest Territories, 2023 Middle East Humanitarian crisis, and the 2024 wildfires in Alberta and Jasper.
A father of two daughters, Raminder credits his wife for being instrumental in his success and offering unwavering support. His journey from an average student to the helm of a successful engineering firm is a testament to the power of hard work and dedication—values he hopes to pass on to his daughters.
Learn more about Keystone Environmental at KeystoneEnvironmental.ca.
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