Don Smith, co-founder of construction giant EllisDon Corp., has passed away. The 89-year-old died July 16 in London, Ont.

Smith and his brother, David Ellis Smith, began the company on April Fool’s Day in 1951, with only four employees.

Today, EllisDon delivers more than $2.5 billion in new construction annually across North America. The company is nearly 50 per cent owned by its 1,600 employees.

Smith is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Joan (nee MacDonald), and their children Robert, Geoffrey, Michael, Donald and David Smith, Lynne Cram and Catherine Martin.