The History of CCIL

Former members of the Canadian Testing Association founded CCIL in 1993. Their goal is to provide an active association with broader interests across the country.

Prior to the formation of CCIL, the geotechnical and construction laboratories were part of the Canadian Testing Association (CTA) and the environmental laboratories were members of the International Association of Environmental testing laboratories.  In 1993, the CTA was disbanded and the construction and geotechnical laboratory firms in Ontario founded CCIL.

In 1992 the Ontario Ministry of Transport (MTO) introduced end-result specifications for hot mix road paving (with accompanying bonuses and penalties). As a result, the new CCIL was asked to re-design and then administer a comprehensive asphalt certification program.  In 1997, CCIL was asked to also administer a similar certification program for the testing of aggregates. With over 200 laboratories now participating, these certification programs have greatly increased CCIL’s profile in the marketplace.

In 1999, CCIL was strengthened further when it merged with the Canadian chapter of IAETL. This merger then formed a new major division within CCIL – the Environmental Analytical Division (now the Environmental/Life Sciences Division).

CCIL is now a national, non-profit association that speaks as the voice of independent Canadian laboratories, administers specific certification programs for both laboratories and lab technicians and which assists the industry and government in the establishment of testing standards and policies for the protection of the general public.