ASPHALTopics | Summer 2020 | VOL 33 | NO 2

by Steve Pecar
Opportunity doesn’t knock every day, but when it does, you
have to be ready to seize upon it. While this may be a simplistic
version of how a successful business begins, for the principals
of BCX Environmental Consulting, it was a jumping off point
for what has become an Ontario success story.
he Newmarket-based company is now enjoying its
tenth year of operation, one that has grown steadily
as it recognized the need for client-focused, expert
air quality services, especially assisting those in the
aggregate business. By specializing in areas of permit
applications, dust and odour mitigation, management
planning, and advanced air dispersion modeling to
support air quality impact assessments, as well as
land use compatibility studies and peer reviews, BCX
is now a recognized force in the industry with a future
that will grow alongside the needs of its clients.
“It has worked out well for us,” confesses Bridget Mills,
founding partner of BCX Environmental Consulting and
Senior Environmental Engineer. “We were confident
that the time was right when we created this company,
and here we are, ten years later and still growing.”
After starting her career at a large engineering
consulting firm, Mills then found herself working
at smaller, more focused air quality consulting firms
and on projects specifically in the aggregate sector.
“I started to do work for some of the big aggregate
companies and dealt with quarries, hot mix plants,
ready mix plants, and cement plants. That is where
I developed an in-depth knowledge of the business,
and I enjoyed that,” Mills says.
After years of establishing herself and her expertise
in the industry, she decided the next step was to branch
out on her own. But she knew she couldn’t do it alone.
That’s where Christina Wright and Xiaoxi (Winnie) Song
came in. Both with extensive backgrounds in consulting
and the environment, they too saw the opportunity
of creating their own company and quickly formed
a partnership with Mills which became BCX, a name
derived simply by using the initials of their first names.
Wright, Senior Environmental Scientist with
the company, has a unique background in both
environmental consulting and as an environmental
co-ordinator in industry. She is an expert in interpreting
legislation and can help BCX’s clients navigate complex
environmental regulations in a practical way. “As a
scientist, I sometimes have a different perspective
from the engineers in our office,” Wright says.
As a member of OAPC’s environmental committee,
Wright’s contributions to the industry were recently
recognized through the King Beamish Excellence
Award. She received the honour for her work in
interpreting and implementing environmental
regulations for council members and providing
leadership in the development of the Environmental
Practices Guide as well as being an advocate for OAPC
with the provincial government.
Song, a Senior Environmental Engineer, is currently
taking a step back in her role as a partner with the firm
to spend more time with family. She continues to lead
the advanced air dispersion modeling team and train
staff. This is a key role to ensure continued excellence
at BCX.
According to Wright, the three women understood
the risks of starting their own company, but envisioned
the potential that awaited them. “The opportunity was
there and we recognized it,” Wright says. She believes
that while the team has similar backgrounds and
experience, the specialized skills each bring to the
table have made it all work. “We all had a lot of
experience in air quality and we could see where
we would fit together. Combined we have a good team,
a lot of dedicated people, and we continue to grow.”
Mills believes that because the three partners were all
well established in their careers when they launched, ››
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