Our History
Since 1986, OpenCircle Contractors Association has proudly represented the construction industry. Check our history below.
The story began when 15 Alberta contractors came together with a shared mission. They wanted a construction industry where competition was fair, where workers were treated with dignity and where projects were awarded on merit. With that goal in mind, Merit Contractors Association opened its doors in 1986.
Over the next few years, the open shop movement grew across Canada. Other open shop associations began to form and adopted the ‘Merit’ name. Each association formed organically to serve each respective province and operated with a high degree of independence.
The element that tied each Merit to the original Merit in Alberta was a commitment to represent open shop contractors.
From 1988 to 2009, OpenCircle Contractors Association (Merit Contractors Association at the time) moved across Canada, bringing nine provincial associations in to a national organization. Playing key rolls in shaping federal public policy and developing a national voice for open shop.
In the mid - 2000s, we reached our peak through Merit Canada by fostering relationships with other open shop organizations, including the Associated Builders and Contractors in the United States. Through the Joint Resolution in 2014, we committed to promoting the open shop philosophy and strengthening cross-border cooperation.
We officially launched Merit National in May 2020. Originally intended to serve as a federal advocacy arm for Merit Alberta, we quickly evolved Merit National into both a national advocacy body and a national brand to represent Merit Alberta across Canada.
In 2022, we evolved. The association rebranded to OpenCircle as a way to symbolize our unwavering support for open shop construction and the 'circle of strength' we built as Merit. Our refreshed look and vibrant new colors marked a bold step forward. The intention was to open our services to new industries and build on our circle of strength.
OpenCircle opened a proprietary brick-and-mortar pharmacy located at their head office. Well and Truly RX Pharmacy became the first plan-sponsored pharmacy in Alberta. Well and Truly RX Pharmacy is open to the public while providing value-added programming and options for OpenCircle members, such as 100% coverage on eligible prescription drugs.
In 2026, four years after establishing the OpenCircle identity, we added Contractors Association back to our name in conjunction with a new visual identity designed to ground us firmly in the industry we serve. We recognized that our previous shift had distanced us from our roots; this evolution brings us back home. As the construction industry is our lifeblood.
Our History
Since 1986, OpenCircle Contractors Association has proudly represented the construction industry. Check our history below.
The story began when 15 Alberta contractors came together with a shared mission. They wanted a construction industry where competition was fair, where workers were treated with dignity and where projects were awarded on merit. With that goal in mind, Merit Contractors Association opened its doors in 1986.
Over the next few years, the open shop movement grew across Canada. Other open shop associations began to form and adopted the ‘Merit’ name. Each association formed organically to serve each respective province and operated with a high degree of independence.
The element that tied each Merit to the original Merit in Alberta was a commitment to represent open shop contractors.
From 1988 to 2009, OpenCircle Contractors Association (Merit Contractors Association at the time) moved across Canada, bringing nine provincial associations in to a national organization. Playing key rolls in shaping federal public policy and developing a national voice for open shop.
In the mid - 2000s, we reached our peak through Merit Canada by fostering relationships with other open shop organizations, including the Associated Builders and Contractors in the United States. Through the Joint Resolution in 2014, we committed to promoting the open shop philosophy and strengthening cross-border cooperation.
We officially launched Merit National in May 2020. Originally intended to serve as a federal advocacy arm for Merit Alberta, we quickly evolved Merit National into both a national advocacy body and a national brand to represent Merit Alberta across Canada.
In 2022, we evolved. The association rebranded to OpenCircle as a way to symbolize our unwavering support for open shop construction and the 'circle of strength' we built as Merit. Our refreshed look and vibrant new colors marked a bold step forward. The intention was to open our services to new industries and build on our circle of strength.
OpenCircle opened a proprietary brick-and-mortar pharmacy located at their head office. Well and Truly RX Pharmacy became the first plan-sponsored pharmacy in Alberta. Well and Truly RX Pharmacy is open to the public while providing value-added programming and options for OpenCircle members, such as 100% coverage on eligible prescription drugs.
In 2026, four years after establishing the OpenCircle identity, we added Contractors Association back to our name in conjunction with a new visual identity designed to ground us firmly in the industry we serve. We recognized that our previous shift had distanced us from our roots; this evolution brings us back home. As the construction industry is our lifeblood.