The Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) has announced that a Toronto-based company, 11951076 Canada Inc., operating as Studio Four, has been fined $5,000 by the Ontario Court of Justice for the unauthorized use of a professional engineer’s seal on an engineering report submitted for a residential construction project in Hamilton.

According to PEO, the incident occurred in June 2023 when Studio Four affixed a facsimile of a professional engineer’s seal to an engineering report without the engineer’s knowledge or consent. The report was then submitted to the City of Hamilton in connection with a residential building development application.

Following a complaint, PEO launched an investigation under Ontario’s Professional Engineers Act (PEA). The regulator subsequently laid charges against the company and its directors for violations related to the unauthorized use of an engineer’s seal.

On April 24, 2026, Studio Four pleaded guilty to one count of breaching section 40(3)(b) of the Professional Engineers Act. The company’s directors, Salim Afroz and Ashweek Chhabra, also pleaded guilty to breaching section 40(5) of the Act for their involvement in the matter. In addition to the $5,000 corporate fine, both directors received suspended sentences.

PEO emphasized that the unauthorized use, reproduction, or forgery of a professional engineer’s seal on engineering documents, construction drawings, or design reports is considered a quasi-criminal offence under Ontario law. The organization also noted that such actions may result in additional charges under the Criminal Code of Canada.

As Ontario’s engineering regulator, PEO oversees the licensing and regulation of more than 98,000 professional engineers and engineering firms across the province. The organization’s mandate is to protect public safety and maintain professional standards within the engineering and construction industries.

Professional engineers licensed in Ontario are identified by the “P.Eng.” designation following their names. PEO continues to remind construction firms, consultants, and developers that engineering seals must only be used with the explicit authorization of the licensed professional engineer responsible for the work.

The case serves as an important reminder to the Canadian construction and engineering sectors about the legal and ethical responsibilities surrounding professional certification, engineering documentation, and regulatory compliance.

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