In 1921, World War I veterans William R. Black and William "W.J." McDonald formed Black & McDonald, an electrical contractor that initially provided wiring services to residences and small businesses. From the outset, the founders were committed to performing quality service at a fair price while treating people respectfully - a philosophy that would guide the company for generations to come. Following W.R. Black's death in 1946, W.J. McDonald took the modest enterprise forward on his own, eventually joined by his two sons John and Bill during the 1950s, transforming what began as a local electrical shop into a thriving family business.
Today, owned and led by the third generation of the McDonald family, Black & McDonald has grown into one of North America's most respected integrated, multi-trade service providers with more than 6,800 employees operating out of 40+ offices. The company safely delivers high-quality construction, facilities management, and technical solutions to government, institutional, and industrial clients. From humble beginnings as residential electrical wiring contractors, Black & McDonald now offers a comprehensive suite of services including multi-trade construction, facility services, utility services and renewables, energy and sustainability services, nuclear services, engineering and design, fabrication and modular construction, and EV charging infrastructure. With over a century of diverse market experience, the company remains driven by its founder's philosophy to "Do things right" and "Deliver lasting value" - a simple promise that remains at the core of everything they do.