The Queen’s Civil Engineering Industry Open House is a one-day event hosted by the Department of Civil Engineering that brings together industry professionals from across Canada and civil engineering undergraduate and graduate students. Held last month on January 29, 2026, this annual event is sponsored by Norman Loveland (Sc’65, Civil Engineering) and his wife Gay, and provides an exceptional experience to students, while exposing them to career opportunities which might not have otherwise come to light.
In over 20 years of hosting this event, Civil Engineering has built a community of companies which attend year after year. These companies specialize in the development of all types of infrastructure, as well as the assessment and mitigation of the environmental impact of human activities. Participating companies address also global challenges by evaluating the effects of climate change on both the built and natural environments and developing and implementing clean forms of energy. Roughly 45 companies attend the Open House, each bringing 2-3 representatives, totalling over 100 industry professionals.
“Many of these industries provide experiential learning to our Civil Engineering students by hiring them for internships and summer jobs, and permanent positions after graduation,” says Ana Maria da Silva, Professor, Department Head for Civil Engineering. “In fact, many of these relationships develop into lifelong mentorships.”
Students attending the open houses acquire a deeper understanding of the wide range of issues that fall under the umbrella of Civil Engineering and get first-hand exposure to Civil and Environmental Engineering industries and their ongoing projects.
