As featured in The Toronto Star
By Dave Wilkes – BILD President & CEO
October 08, 2021
Three new awards help our association look to the future as we celebrate excellence in design, construction, and marketing and sales, writes Dave Wilkes
The Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) turned 100 in April, and we have taken every opportunity over the last few months to celebrate the history and achievements of our association and our industry in the GTA.
The BILD Awards, which took place this past week, provided another occasion to mark our centenary, as well as to recognize excellence in the design, construction, marketing and sales of new homes in the GTA, and — with the introduction of three new awards — to look to our industry’s future.
This year for the first time we presented the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award, which recognizes a member company that demonstrates excellence in promoting and enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within its own operations and within the industry. Tridel received the inaugural award for its commitment to building a corporate culture that embraces diversity and proactively addresses racism, while driving change within our industry and promoting social inclusion and cohesion in the communities where it builds.
The second new award, the Ignat Kaneff Inspiration Award, was established in the memory of the late “Iggy” Kaneff, the Bulgarian-born founder of Kaneff Group. The award is presented to an individual or member company dedicated to supporting newcomers to Canada, by providing them with employment, training and mentorship opportunities. Jack Torossian, CEO of Golden Bee Homes, received the first Ignat Kaneff Inspiration Award, for his contributions to supporting Syrian newcomers.
Our third new award, the Angelo DelZotto Fearless Innovator Award, is named in honour of the late, legendary leader of Tridel. The award celebrates the pursuit of innovation in all forms, including processes, technologies and products, with a positive impact on people, communities and business. The inaugural Angelo DelZotto Fearless Innovator Award was presented to two winners: TACC Group of Companies for its innovations in engineering, construction infrastructure product design and urban planning; and Spotlight Development and Urban Capital Property Group, for Reina Condominiums, a project led by the first all-female development team in Canada.
In addition, we presented 46 awards in the categories of marketing, architecture, people and sales, and our prestigious Pinnacle category. I invite you to visit bildawards.com for a full list.
I would like to mention the recipients of two very special memorial awards that we present each year. Lifetime Developments received the Stephen Dupuis Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Award, established in the name of the late, esteemed BILD president and CEO. Johnson Cheng, of Cornerstone Marketing Realty, received the Riley Brethour Leadership Award, named after the late founder of PMA Brethour Realty, and presented to an individual who exemplifies outstanding professional achievement and leadership.
Finally, every year, we invite GTA residents to help choose the recipient of our People’s Choice Award from among our BILD Awards finalist projects. This year, the People’s Choice Award — chosen by GTA residents — went to CityPointe Commons in Brampton, by DECO Homes, OPUS Homes, Poetry Living, HBNG Holborn Group and TACC Developments.
