For nearly six decades, the name C. Duncan Construction Ltd. has become synonymous with road building, earthmoving and infrastructure development across southeast Saskatchewan.
What began in 1967 with a single dozer and one man’s determination evolved into one of the region’s most respected family-owned construction companies, leaving a lasting imprint on the province and the people who helped build it. As the company closed its doors following the Oct. 7 equipment dispersal sale, it did so with a legacy measured not only in kilometres of roads and thousands of cubic meters of earth moved, but in generations of family, employees and communities whose lives were shaped by the company.
A family tradition begins
Cameron Duncan founded the business while working at the local potash mine, taking on land clearing and farm work during his days off. As demand grew, so did the company, eventually becoming Duncan Brothers before evolving into C. Duncan Construction Ltd. From the very beginning, the business was a family operation.
Cameron and Peggy Duncan raised their three sons – Carmen, Lyle and Troy – within the construction industry. They spent summers learning equipment, solving problems and developing the work ethic that would become synonymous with the Duncan name. Eventually Troy pursued a career elsewhere, Lyle sadly passed away and Carmen continued working alongside his parents before assuming ownership in 2016.
More than a business
For Carmen and Sherry-Lee Duncan, the company became much more than a livelihood. Their three daughters all grew up around construction sites, learning responsibility and contributing to the family business throughout their youth.
Marissa began as a heavy equipment operator before moving into occupational health and safety. Today, she serves as management systems lead, potash, for Mosaic, carrying forward the safety principles learned through the family business. Kaylee operated rock trucks for the company before marrying into DJ Miller and Sons and recently establishing her own consulting business, Insightful Growth Pathways, supporting individuals and families navigating ADHD and autism.
Their youngest daughter, Zoë, assisted with administration, safety records and employee orientations while still in high school, before heading to the University of Calgary. After returning to Saskatchewan, she began her career with the Government of Saskatchewan as a junior administrative assistant to Minister Warren Kaeding and now serves as senior administrative assistant to Minister of Education Everett Hindley. Even their son, who tragically passed away in 1997, spent time on job sites with his father as an infant, a reminder that family life and construction were never separate – they were one and the same.
Sherry-Lee herself transitioned from a distinguished 28-year nursing career into the company when Carmen prepared to take over ownership. Rather than assisting in the office, she transformed the company’s approach to safety, human resources, training, policy development, recruitment and organizational systems, helping modernize the business while preserving its family-centred culture.
A training ground for generations
Over sixty years, C. Duncan Construction became a launching point for countless careers. The company employed Cameron’s brothers, nephews, grandchildren, children of employees, apprentices, local graduates and seasonal workers who later advanced throughout Saskatchewan’s heavy construction, mining and transportation industries. Many eventually established successful businesses of their own.
Family life and construction were never separate – they were one and the same.
Employees often return year after year, spending decades with the company. The loyalty shared between the Duncan family and its employees became one of the organization’s defining characteristics.
Life on the road
In its early years, the company operated a travelling construction camp complete with kitchen facilities and accommodation. Family members all played a role. Peggy Duncan eventually took over the camp cooking herself and became well-known for her hospitality. Many suppliers, mechanics and sales representatives looked forward to sharing a meal around her table.
As the industry evolved and staffing camp operations became increasingly difficult, the company transitioned to hotels and employee-owned campers. Despite those changes, one principle remained unchanged. Fuel, groceries, repairs, accommodations and business supplies were purchased wherever possible from local communities. Supporting local was simply part of doing business.
Building Saskatchewan
Over six decades, C. Duncan Construction completed many projects across Saskatchewan. Its work included municipal road construction, highway twinning earthworks, rail grade expansions, mine site development, water retention ponds, lagoon construction and expansion, culvert installations, land clearing, site maintenance, emergency response work, snow removal, heavy equipment operator training and municipal equipment maintenance.
Supporting local was simply part of doing business.
Among the company’s many notable accomplishments were work at Nutrien’s original pond development, K2 mine expansions and K3 site development, residential development in Saskatoon and four consecutive winters of embankment rehabilitation for the Souris River Conservation Authority.
The company also became known for providing operator training, safety instruction and policy review for rural municipalities throughout the region, helping improve competency and workplace safety well beyond its own workforce.
Growing with the industry
Few people have witnessed the evolution of heavy construction more closely than Carmen Duncan. “One of the biggest things that has changed is the people. It was always typically a man’s world in this industry, and then over the last 20 years, it’s changed, where we have lots of excellent female operators in the industry working and running heavy equipment,” said Carmen.
He also says the industry has seen many technological advancements. “We’ve come from using hand levels and eye levels to measure chainage and stakes on our road to doing everything on a GPS screen now that shows you the whole road,” Carmen said.
Leadership beyond the job site
The Duncan family’s influence extended well beyond construction projects. Membership with the Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association (SHCA) became another important chapter in the company’s history. Cameron Duncan served as president of the association, inspiring Carmen to become an active member, director, chairman and ultimately chair of the Western Canadian Roadbuilders Association.
Today, Carmen continues serving as an SHCA director, advocating alongside industry partners and provincial ministries for improvements to Saskatchewan’s infrastructure and for more transparent, accountable and consistent public procurement practices.
A company built around people
Perhaps the greatest achievement of C. Duncan Construction was never measured in kilometres of roads. It was measured in relationships. Sherry-Lee described employees as members of the family rather than simply staff. Many returned season after season because they valued the atmosphere as much as the work itself. That loyalty remains one of the accomplishments both Carmen and Sherry-Lee are most proud of.
A life’s work
For Carmen, construction has never been just a career. “It’s a livelihood. I’ve done it all my life. I started when I was 15 years old … I raised three lovely daughters and a family all because of this business,” said Carmen. He reflects on his father’s legacy: “It paved the way for the success that my father had starting the company and building the company, and turning it over to me after 40 years and stepping in and running it.”
“It’s a tough life, but at the end of the day, it’s a good life that has provided for generations.”
– Carmen Duncan, C. Duncan Construction Ltd.
While acknowledging the demands of the industry, he remains proud of what it provided. “It’s a good living. It’s a very hard living, you’re working 16 hours a day, and in the heat. You’re in the elements all day, every day. It’s a tough life, but at the end of the day, it’s a good life that has provided for generations.”
Looking toward tomorrow
Closing the business has not been an easy decision. Changing economic realities, rising operating costs and fewer available projects ultimately led the Duncan family to begin a new chapter. Both Carmen and Sherry-Lee intend to remain connected to the construction industry through education, mentoring and training while also enjoying more time with their daughters and five grandchildren.
Carmen hopes to help shape the next generation of operators. “I’d like to try to stay in this industry as long as I can. I’ve had lots of people approach me and offer me jobs with teaching and being an operator trainer. I might look at doing something like that and trying to shape the young minds of today into something that we could be proud of 20 years from now,” he said.
A legacy that will remain
The roads, lagoons, mine developments and infrastructure built by C. Duncan Construction will continue serving Saskatchewan for generations. Yet the company’s greatest legacy is something less visible. It is the people who learned, worked, laughed and built together.
It is the communities strengthened by local investment.
It is the employees who became family.
It is the generations who can travel the highways of Saskatchewan and proudly say, “We built that.”
This article was originally published by The World Spectator and is reprinted here with permission.
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