John W. Lindsay is the founder of one of Atlantic Canada’s largest general contracting firms, J.W. Lindsay Enterprises Limited.

He was born in Brooklyn, New York on June 2, 1926. He spent his childhood in Woodstock, New Brunswick, served in the Canadian Army during WWII and in1949, earned his Diploma in Engineering from Dalhousie University. In 1951, he graduated from the Nova Scotia Technical College (Tech) with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering. In 1991, he received an honourary Doctorate of Engineering from TUNS.

Lindsay has maintained the success, longevity and reputation of J.W. Lindsay Enterprises since its inception in 1959. Since that time, the company has expanded its work force, to employ over 150 full-time employees, and its client roster has grown to include local, national and international firms.

John W. Lindsay is responsible for some of Nova Scotia’s most notable developments. His first major development was the creation of the North End Halifax’s commercial node on Strawberry Hill Street. In 1968, he developed the first multiple occupancy warehouse building in the Burnside Industrial Park, becoming the largest developer in the area responsible for multiple millions of square footage of industrial and commercial space. Breaking ground in 1983, Mr. Lindsay also developed Purdy’s Wharf, Atlantic Canada’s largest office project, on Halifax’s waterfront. Mr. Lindsay was also instrumental in the development of Nova Scotia’s two casinos located in Halifax and Sydney.

Today, he remains actively involved in Halifax’s business community. He is currently the chairman of the board of J.W. Lindsay Enterprises, President and CEO of Halifax Commercial Park Leaseholders Limited, chairman of the board of East Port Properties, chairman and CEO of E.C.M. Holdings Limited, chairman of the board for MathResources Inc., and director of Corporate Communications Limited. He was co-founder and remains chairman of Atlantic Industries Limited.

Lindsay’s talent, passion and business savvy have never been limited to the construction and development industry. He has been a source of advice, counsel and expertise for some of Canada’s most prominent corporations and Atlantic Canada’s small business start-ups.

John W. Lindsay has been a director of a number of Canadian companies, including Canada Trust, Maritime Tel & Tel, and was the chairman of Maritime Life. He was a major investor in Halifax Shipyards Limited and served as chairman before it was sold to Irving Shipbuilding Inc. Lindsay was also an original investor in Nova Scotia Armature Works and a partner of Major Foods, which was sold and is now part of one of North America’s largest catering businesses.

John W. Lindsay has selflessly volunteered his time to community activities and organizations. He is a Trustee of the YMCA and the first recipient of the Red Triangle, the YMCA’s highest recognition for outstanding commitment and service. He served as a board member of the IWK Children’s Hospital for more than 10 years, leading major capital campaigns, and was the co-leader of the amalgamation between the IWK and the Grace Hospital. Lindsay was also the founding chair of the IWK Foundation. He has performed significant fundraising for his alma mater, Dalhousie University and for a number of years served on its Board of Directors.

His dedication to the construction industry and the engineering profession has earned him the privilege of being an honourary life member of the Construction Association of Nova Scotia and a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering.

Lindsay successfully balances his personal and professional life to fulfill his business, family and community responsibilities. Although he continues to invest a great deal of time and interest in Halifax’s business community, he has always made time for his wife Marjorie of fifty-six years, his children and his grandchildren. Lindsay is also a committed member of the Halifax YMCA and has attended its advanced fitness classes for more than 30 years, even leading the class on his Birthday from the age of 60 to 72!

In all of his business and community endeavors, John W. Lindsay has demonstrated exemplary leadership. Not only has Lindsay left his mark on the Halifax waterfront, he has left his mark on Nova Scotia’s business community. His commitment to his fellow entrepreneurs and their companies has created a lasting legacy and a network of successful Maritime enterprises.

John W. Lindsay, along with Charles Keating and F. Thomas Stanfield, was inducted into the Nova Scotia Business Hall of Fame on June 1^st, 2004 at the World Trade and Convention Centre.