This year marks a meaningful milestone for us at McCue Engineering Contractors: 25 years of delivering practical, made-in-Canada water and wastewater treatment solutions.
Since opening our doors in July 2000 as McCue Environmental Contracting Inc., our purpose has remained steadfast: Clean Water. Clean water for people. Clean water for communities. Clean water for the environment.
What inspired our founder, Chris McCue, to take the leap back in 2000? “Through my work in environmental consulting, I developed a specialised skillset and felt I was in a good position to go out on my own,” he recalls. “It was something I wanted to try.” Like many entrepreneurs, he took it one year at a time, staying adaptable and open to change.
Today, a quarter-century later, we’re proud of the path we’ve travelled—from managing contaminated sites and treating mine-impacted water to providing drinking water and sewage solutions in remote communities. We’ve grown with our industry, met evolving environmental standards head-on, and continued to engineer systems with both care and innovation.
From Vision to Innovation: The Launch of PANAQUA™
Three years ago, we reached a defining moment. After decades of responding to industry challenges, we launched PANAQUA™ Water & Wastewater Systems—a line of modular, containerized solutions built for the real-world challenges of Canadian industries.
Chris puts it simply: “Industry sends a challenge and we meet the challenge. PANAQUA is the culmination of all of those challenges. It’s the stuff that worked every time.”
PANAQUA™ was born from experience in the field, where Chris saw firsthand how equipment success depended on proper operation and adaptability. “In the end, the cost will be the same—you’ll either spend it up front on quality equipment or you’ll spend it on personnel hours and repairs,” he explains. That thinking is built into every PANAQUA™ system: rugged, flexible, and designed to work in the hands of real people, in real places.
Rooted in Canada, Built for Canada
Remaining 100% Canadian-owned and operated has always been a conscious decision—and a point of pride. “Manufacturing in Canada’s regulatory environment presents challenges,” Chris notes, “but it’s those very regulations that make ‘Made-in-Canada’ mean something. Values are important, and being Canadian-owned and operated shows our values.”
Our deep understanding of Canada’s unique geography, climate, and permitting landscape allows us to tailor our solutions for industries that operate in tough and remote environments—from oil and gas to mining and municipal infrastructure.
Equity at the Core
We’re especially proud of the culture we’ve built. McCue is a 50/50 woman-owned company, and over 60% of our staff are women, working across engineering, operations, and leadership.
“It wasn’t something we tried to do,” Chris shares. “We just hired the people with the best experience and fit. That’s what means the most to me personally.”
This culture of inclusion and growth has helped us support women in STEM and ensure every team member has the chance to thrive—not just check boxes.
Partnering with Indigenous Communities: The TIPs Program
Our Training Indigenous People (TIPs) program was born from a critical need: the shortage of certified water treatment operators in Indigenous communities. TIPs offers paid, hands-on training and mentorship in water treatment, building local expertise and long-term environmental stewardship.
“People want to live in a place with clean air and water,” Chris says. “TIPs teaches people how to be stewards of their own environment so they have a direct impact on keeping their water clean.”
We’re deeply grateful for the opportunity to partner with Indigenous communities in delivering a program that not only teaches—but empowers.
Still Motivated After 25 Years
What keeps McCue going after 25 years? “Clean Water Anywhere.” That vision—clean water for everyone, no matter the location or challenge—continues to guide us. From our first (confidential!) gas station site in Metro Vancouver to deploying containerized systems to remote northern camps, we’ve always let clean water steer our course.
Looking Ahead: The Next 25 Years
So what’s next?
Our goals are ambitious but grounded in the same principles that got us here: practical innovation and meaningful partnerships. “PANAQUA is designed to be shipped,” says Chris, “and I’d like to see it shipped all over the world. We all share the same water. It would be great to help keep it clean everywhere.”
If he could go back to 2000, Chris has just one piece of advice for his younger self: “Trust your instincts.” And when asked to share a personal reflection on what clean water means to him after all these years, he answers simply: “Water is a commodity, not a cost.”
To Our Partners, Clients, and Team: Thank You
Reaching 25 years in business is a milestone we don’t take lightly. We’ve evolved, but our mission has never changed. We remain committed to clean water, to doing the work with integrity, and to continuing to serve communities with Canadian-built, real-world solutions.
To everyone who has been part of this journey—thank you.
Here’s to the next 25 years.
