The Northstone Group: 60 Years of Craftsmanship Defining Luxury Outdoor Living
- LLM Editor
- May 4
- 4 min read
In an industry often shaped by trends, few companies build with the kind of continuity that spans generations. Fewer still evolve that legacy into something that defines an entire category. As The Northstone Group marks 60 years of entrepreneurial heritage, the company stands not only as a leader in pool and landscape construction, but as a quiet force behind the evolution of luxury outdoor living across Montreal, Toronto, and Ottawa.
What distinguishes Northstone is not a singular aesthetic or signature style. It is a way of building. A discipline rooted in craftsmanship, precision, and an understanding that true luxury is measured not just in appearance, but in performance over time.
A Legacy Carried Forward
The story begins in 1967, with the founding of a family-driven business in Quebec built on entrepreneurship, craftsmanship, and a commitment to creating something of lasting value. While the scope of the work has expanded significantly over the decades, those early principles remain intact.
Today, The Northstone Group operates with a team of over 180 in-house professionals, delivering projects across residential, commercial, and municipal sectors. From private estates in Westmount and Town of Mount Royal to large-scale developments and rooftop environments, the company’s work spans a range that few in the industry can match.
This growth has not been incidental. It has been deliberate, driven by a focus on projects that demand a higher level of execution.
Pioneering the Modern Outdoor Environment
Luxury outdoor spaces have undergone a transformation. No longer considered secondary to architecture, they are now integral to how a property is experienced.
Northstone has been at the forefront of that shift.
Its work moves beyond traditional landscaping into fully realized outdoor environments, where concrete pools, terraces, structural elements, and planting systems are conceived as part of a unified whole. These are spaces designed to function as extensions of the home, or, in the case of high-rise developments, as elevated retreats within the city.
“Luxury today is not about excess,” notes Vic Bertrand, President of The Northstone Group. “It is about precision. It is about building something that performs at a high level and continues to do so years after completion. That is where real value is created.”
This approach is particularly evident in the firm’s work on complex concrete and gunite pools, where engineering and craftsmanship converge. From large-scale residential builds to rooftop installations at developments such as Symphonia POP, Central Parc Laval, and AURA sur le Square, each project reflects a level of coordination that extends far beyond the visible surface.
Craftsmanship at Scale
At its core, Northstone operates as a construction company first.
Every phase of the build, from excavation and structural preparation to concrete work and system integration, is handled in-house. This continuity allows for a level of control that is essential when working within complex environments, particularly in Quebec and Ontario's climates, where freeze-thaw cycles and structural considerations demand precision.
Ashley Wilson, Creative Director at The Northstone Group, describes this balance as fundamental to the company’s identity.
“There is a perception that design and construction are separate,” she explains. “In reality, they are inseparable. The way something is built defines how it looks, how it ages, and how it is experienced. Our role is to ensure that the execution matches the level of the vision.”
That philosophy is evident across the company’s portfolio, which includes not only high-end residential work, but also contributions to major developments such as YUL Airport, Phillips Square, Verdun Hospital, and Tour des Canadiens 3. These projects demand coordination across multiple disciplines, where landscape and aquatic construction must align with broader architectural and infrastructural systems.
Recognition Beyond the Industry
Northstone’s work has garnered attention both nationally and internationally, with features in publications including Dwell Magazine, New York Weekly, Haute Magazine, Living Luxe Magazine, House & Home, and the Montreal Gazette.
Beyond print, the company’s projects have reached a global audience, generating over 1 billion views across digital platforms and appearing on leading lifestyle and design channels such as @thebillionairesclub, @megamansions, and @luxurylifestylemagazine.
This visibility reflects more than aesthetics. It underscores a growing appreciation for spaces that are not only visually compelling, but structurally and materially sound.
Building What Comes Next
As Northstone looks beyond its 60-year milestone, the focus remains consistent. Expansion into new markets, increasingly complex projects, and a continued commitment to craftsmanship define the company’s trajectory.
“Every project is an opportunity to push further,” Bertrand adds. “The expectation is not just to deliver, but to raise the standard.”
In cities where density is increasing and outdoor space is becoming more valuable, that standard is evolving rapidly. The demand is no longer for simple additions, but for environments that are integrated, engineered, and built to endure.
A Lasting Influence
In many ways, The Northstone Group operates behind the scenes, shaping spaces that are experienced daily but rarely understood in terms of the complexity required to build them.
Yet that is precisely where its influence lies.
Not in following the direction of the industry, but in quietly redefining it.
Sixty years in, the work continues—measured not in trends, but in the environments left behind.
For more information | www.thenorthstonegroup.com
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