All the best, The Editorial Team We will keep adding business units that enhance our offering and separate us from our competition. “ ” Editor From The Dear Reader, Welcome to the latest issue of Construction Source Canada, the magazine that highlights the best in building and building products across the country. On our cover this edition is JOMAA, one of Calgary’s premier real estate, property management, land development, heavy equipment and earthworks companies. They are a company with over 50 years of history, and over those years they have expanded and diversified considerably. Today, under the leadership of second-generation CEO Sid Jomaa, they are continuing to expand and diversify, and they are delivering some of their most ambitious and impactful projects to date – projects such as the West Springs Landing Shopping Center. We talked to Sid about that project. We discussed the drivers behind the company’s continuous evolution, and their plans to keep evolving. Also in this issue is Road to Rail Construction, a fast-growing company based in Camrose, Alberta. In just five years of operations, they have become known as one of Western Canada’s most trusted providers of construction and hauling services. To tell their story, we caught up with Tarren Pidherney, vice president. He joined Road to Rail about three years, when they had about 30 employees. These days, the company has about 70 employees, and they plan to grow to about 90 by the end of the year. Tarren talked to us about that rapid growth and what continues to power it. This edition also features some industry leaders in the custom homebuilding sector. Wooler Homes is a prime example – they are a company that works in the Quinte region of Ontario, designing and building custom homes for clients as well as developing and building their own projects. Currently, they are working on a series of townhomes in Trenton, which are about to go up for sale, all featuring a basement apartment that owners can rent or share with family. We spoke to Mark Short, one of the company’s founders and owners, about that development, and about the great need its meeting in the community. For those stories – and many more like them – just keep reading.
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA Laying the Ground Work to Make Life Easier VANBREE.CA 1310 CREDITSTONE RD. CONCORD, ON L4K 5T7 • TEL: 905-738-8311 CONNECT WITH US AND DISCOVER WHAT IS POSSIBLE. VISIT: WINDSPEC.COM ARCHITECTURAL ALUMINUM SOLUTIONS DESIGNED, ENGINEERED, AND MANUFACTURED IN CANADA
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THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA With a readership exceeding 145,000 senior executives, The Construction Source takes immense pride in providing an enticing platform to amplify your message to the most pivotal audience – your valued customers. Whether your aim is to promote an exciting new condo development, attract crucial financial investments for upcoming projects, or establish a commanding brand presence, we’re here to assist you every step of the way. To explore opportunities for featuring your company or showcasing your latest project in The Construction Source, please reach out to our Group Publisher. Jermaine Poulsen e: info@theconstructionsource.ca The Costruction Source Canada 202 - 1200 Bay Street Toronto, Ontario M5R 2A5 E: info@theconstructionsource.ca Executive Publisher Jermaine Poulsen COO Alexandra Box Editor in Chief Zach Janes Director of Operations Jacqueline Van Belois Derrick Pelley Business Development Managers Mary Ann Taylor Douglas Thomson Production Manager Brennan Midghall Digital Strategist Pranim Thapa Administration Manager Belyn Quijance-Dorero
AUGUST 2025 JOMAA Quality and value ROAD TO RAIL CONSTRUCTION One point of contact WOOLER HOMES Building with confidence ELYSIUM INVESTMENTS Elevated outcomes ARCCADD ARCHITECTURE INC What the client wants BELTON DIRECT Technical excellence in motion SPLINE Relentless communication KEYSTONE CENTRE Where Westman comes together TD2 GROUP Championing digital transformation in the built environment DESTINY HOMES Custom means custom LEVEL CONSULTING ENGINEERS Maintaining a balance CO-ELEVATE A human-centred culture INDUSTRY INNOVATIONS INCINERATING TOILETS IN THIS ISSUEAUGUST 2025 TOWN OF MATTAWA CO-ELEVATE
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA HESCO Timing is everything TOWN OF MATTAWA All about growth LEDUC REGIONAL HOUSING More than housing WOOLER HOMES ARCCARDD ARCHITECTURE INC KEYSTONE CENTRE
AUGUST 2025 Industry INNOVATIONS MODERN & ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY TOILET SOLUTIONS
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA Water connection not required Requires little space No odour Easy installation No frost protection needed Secure for children ash to be emptied No waste handling, only and more Bunkies, For Home, Cottages, Shops, 3 - 4 visits per hour High capacity Propane&Electric models ABOUT CINDERELLA ECO GROUP Cinderella Eco Group is a family-owned company located in the north-western coastal community of Midsund in Romsdal, with deep roots in the beautiful Norwegian fjord-landscape. We have more than 20 years’ experience with the Cinderella Incineration Toilet, a water-free, ecological solution for the management of toilet waste. Cinderella, the natural first choice for those who place high demands on quality and functionality. HIGHLIGHTS OF INCINERATION TOILETS:
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Quality and value
JOMAA Limited is one of Calgary’s premier real estate, property management, land development, and earthworks companies. Since forming nearly 50 years ago under the name Jomaa & Sons Construction, the company has steadily expanded their services and delivered a diverse portfolio of projects – from single-family homes and multifamily buildings to shopping centres, golf courses, and full master-planned communities. Today, under the leadership of second-generation CEO Sid Jomaa, the company continues to diversify and scale, completing some of its most ambitious projects to date – including the 94,000-squarefoot West Springs Landing Shopping Center, which features 33 tenants and was fully leased before construction even began. The Jomaa story began with Sid’s father, Nemer, who immigrated to Canada from Lebanon in 1966. Arriving without the ability to read or write English, but with the skilled hands of a carpenter, his first job was roofing a 30-storey building. His talent was quickly recognized, and though language was a barrier, his determination was not. “It was difficult for him, but he kept working at it,” Sid recalls. Nemer soon began buying, renovating, and developing properties into higher-density uses. By 1977, he officially registered Jomaa & Sons Construction Ltd. in Alberta. Sid’s own involvement began early. As his parents couldn’t read or write English, he naturally stepped into a support role. “Someone had to be there writing the checks and opening the mail and going to the bank with them, and that was AUGUST 2025
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THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA me,” he says. Though paid full-time much later, he estimates he has been active in the business since he was “probably seven or eight years old.” After earning his real estate license and completing university, Sid officially took over the family business. Under his leadership, JOMAA has grown in both size and scope. To date, the company has completed over $30 million in custom residential builds, while also expanding into larger commercial and land development projects. In 2024, the company’s evolution was marked by a rebrand from Jomaa & Sons to simply JOMAA – a name that reflects its role as a full-service land developer, covering all aspects of real estate, construction, and management. According to Sid, that depth of capabilities is a big part of what sets JOMAA apart as a developer. “We can do so much in-house,” he says. “We don’t just buy the land, we execute the projects. We build the infrastructure. We do the underground, the road, the streetlights, the sidewalks – the list goes on.” Another big part of what sets JOMAA apart, Sid says, is their ability to deliver “quality and value.” “We can build and sell for a lot cheaper than most other developers, because other developers often have such crazy overhead. “We’re able to do a lot more with less. We run a really, good, tight ship.” At the same, Sid adds, they don’t compromise quality for the sake of cost-efficiency. “We’re also really good designers. When someone sees a project that we’ve built, the first thing that they notice is the quality. We like to build nice stuff.
AUGUST 2025 Everything we do is of a higher quality standard. Basically, what we’re known for is delivering good quality products.” JOMAA is able to achieve that superior quality, Sid explains, by keeping a close eye on construction at all times, and by working very closely with their contracting and trade partners. “It’s just being on top of things,” he says. “That’s the key. I do walk-throughs. If I see something I don’t like, I bring it up right away. And it’s not just me – my brother Hady manages our heavy equipment division, and he’s the same way. As a management team, we’re really attentive to the details. We look at everything and we care about everything. We make sure things are done right. We refuse to cut any corners.” “I like to tell everybody, ‘Do it right the first time, because if it’s not right, you’re going to end up redoing it,” Sid continues. “And the people we work with have figured that out. They don’t want to do things twice. So they figure they might as well just spend a little more time and do it right the first time. They know what to expect from us and we know what to expect from them.” A lot of JOMAA’s relationships with subcontractors and trades go back many years, especially on the homebuilding side, where JOMAA’s history is deeper. Sid says their residential trades tend to be smaller companies, and they have been working with those companies for decades. On the commercial side, meanwhile, they tend to work with bigger companies – “because when we build, we have a very tight schedule and we need
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA manpower to do what we do.” Those relationships are newer, but Sid says they have already found companies who share their values, and he hopes to keep working with them for a long time. “I like working with guys that are like me, who have the same philosophy,” Sid says. “They pay attention to details. They like things done right. They keep their paper work in order. They care about safety. They keep a clean site – because a clean site is a safe site. Those are the kind of people and the kind of companies we like to have around us.” One example of a partner that ticks all those boxes would be Independent Glass & Contracting, a Calgary-based glazing company with a lot of history and experience in the city. They have built a reputation among clients like JOMAA for their professionalism, their speedy service, and their reasonable prices. Another example would be MJB Mechanical, a mechanical contracting company also based out of Calgary, and also with a deep background in the city. Like JOMAA, they are a versatile company with experience in the commercial, industrial, and residential sectors, and they offer superior quality no matter the application. They also put safety at the forefront of all their projects, which Sid believes is critical. A lot of the same also applies to IKA BUILDERS – a comprehensive Calgary-based building company that specializes in providing top-tier construction and renovation services for both residential and commercial projects. They are a company that takes pride in crafting detailed project timelines, closely monitoring every phase, and proactively tackling any potential setbacks. Sid and his team highly appreciate their diligence, their communication and coordination, and their track record for completing projects on time and to high quality standards.
A little bit of everything As previously mentioned, JOMAA is currently working on West Springs Landing (WSL) Shopping Center – a prime retail shopping center in the commercial core of Calgary’s West Springs neighbourhood. The goal of that project is to offer a “curated shopping experience with modern architecture, diverse dining options and commitment to sustainability and our community.” Sid is particularly excited about that project for a number of reasons. One of the reasons is the location. He calls it “one of prime pieces of land for a retail shopping centre not just in our city, but in Canada.” Sid was also really happy with the outcome of the design. The planning and concept design was by the world renowned architectural firm, Zeidler Architects. The architectural design was by Rick Balbi Architects in coordination with the design team at HAFIZA HOMES – a custom building company also owned by JOMAA and run by Sid. AUGUST 2025
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Perhaps most notably, the project was 100 per cent preleased, even before shovels went into the ground late last year. “That’s huge,” Sid says. He believes that’s a credit to the location, to the design, and also to the reputation that JOMAA has as a commercial developer and property manager. “People know that when they open their business in our center – whether it’s retail store or a dental practice or a daycare – they know the facility is going to managed well.” Moving forward, the vision for JOMAA is to maintain that industry reputation as the company gets larger and their projects get bigger. Their vision is also to stay diverse. As part of the same subdivision where WSL is located, for example, they still have some excess land that they intend to develop multi-family product on. “We want to keep developing and doing what we do, which is a little bit of everything,” Sid says. “We want to continue buying land and developing master-planned communities. We want to continue building lots of homes, whether that’s tract building in other people’s communities or in our own.” Under the umbrella of HAFIZA HOMES, the company has also some one-off custom homes for clients – Sid is open to doing some more of that as well. “If a client calls me and says, ‘Hey, I want to build a 6,000 square foot house with marble ceilings and waterfall showers and secret passageways,’ that’s something we could do for them,” he says. Because they rely mostly on subcontractors and consultants, Sid says that JOMAA has the ability to do a lot more work without necessarily growing as a company. He does see some growth happening, however. In a year or two, he expects to have five key employees, including a property manager, a construction manager, and a dedicated salesperson. A few years after that, he expects that number to be closer to 10, and he predicts that will be plenty. “You don’t need hundreds of employees to do what we do,” he concludes. “You just need the right team of subtrades and consultants, and I think we have that team in place. We’re working with some of the very best people in Calgary and beyond. I think we have what we need to be an industry leader for a long time to come.” AUGUST 2025
For more on JOMAA, their capabilities, leasing opportunities, and their past and present projects – and to get in touch with Sid and his team – visit https://jomaa.ca/ And for more on West Springs Landing Shopping Center, in particular – including renderings, leasing information, and the latest news and promos - visit https://westspringslanding.com/ THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA
One point of contact
Road to Rail Construction, based in Camrose, Alberta, is among Western Canada’s most trusted providers of construction and hauling services. Backed by years of experience in civil, oilfield, and railroad construction, they bring expert solutions to every project. Additionally, they specialize in heavy hauling, aggregate supply, and truck repair services. Their capabilities are vast and they take a lot of pride in that – no matter the size and scale of the job, their goal is to take care of their client throughout the entire life of their project, and to save them time, money, and stress every step of the way. “We take pride in being one of the most versatile construction companies you’ll come across,” says Tarren Pidherney, vice president. “We understand the headaches that arise from managing multiple subcontractors, and that’s why we put a heavy emphasis on being a one stop shop. This allows us to oversee projects from start to finish while effectively managing problems as they arise. We firmly believe in providing a ‘one point of contact’ experience for our clients.” Road to Rail Construction was originally formed in late 2020 with just a couple trucks, a backhoe, a small excavator, and some scrapers. They started off working for local clients that the founders already had relationships with from growing up in the Camrose area. In the summer of 2021, they took on their first major road project, utilizing a fair bit of rental equipment, and their success on that project propelled them to further growth. They began adding more equipment and expanding their service offering – and their growth hasn’t slowed in the years since. Over the past four years, the company has grown at a steady and sustainable pace. When they AUGUST 2025
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started off, they employed approximately 20-to30 employees seasonally. Today, they maintain roughly 60-to-70 employees, and they plan to grow to about 80-to-90 by the end of the year. Tarren credits that growth to the company’s diversification and their commitment to keeping their employees busy – over the past couple years, they have started taking on a wider variety of projects and staying active 12 months out of the year. These days, the company’s workload is extremely diverse. According to Tarren, they still do lots of mass excavation, gravel pit stripping, gravel pit reclamation, and landfill cells. At the same time, they are also diversifying into the renewable energy sector, which means doing excavation for solar farms and wind farms. They are also looking to step further into the new development space, which is particularly active – the City of Edmonton is continually expanding, and Camrose is pretty close, so there are a lot of industrial and residential developments coming up that Road to Rail hopes to be involved in. Historically, Road to Rail has generated a lot of their work from cold calling and public tenders. In the past couple years, however, they have seen more and more organic growth from word of mouth and repeat clients. Tarren believes that growing loyalty is a credit to the value they provide: “Our goal is to work with a client once and just have them keep calling again and again because we’re offering a superior product for a lot of value,” he says. “We’re not necessary the cheapest contractor out there, but our goal is to give the client the best bang for their buck. I think that’s a big part of why clients enjoy working with us.” THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA
Road to Rail also seeks to foster loyalty inhouse among their employees, especially their employees in the field. Tarren believes that makes a huge difference: “The construction industry is usually very transient with operators, especially field staff,” he explains. “We’re trying to do something different. We put a lot into employee retention. That way, when we send those people to a site, we have a good idea of how they are going to perform.” “When you have high turnover and you don’t have the same employees going out every time, they don’t know your expectations, they don’t know your goals, and that leads to a substandard product at the end of the day,” he adds. “But if you have people who’ve been there a long time, the opposite is true. They understand your expectations. They understand your goals. That leads to a better product.” When it comes to retaining employees, Tarren says a lot goes into it. The most obvious thing is paying a good wage: “Everybody goes to work to make money,” he says. “Every position has a market value, and we try to be at the top end for pretty much all of them.” “But with that comes high expectations,” he adds. “We make sure our people are taken care of, they also have to take care of us. That means delivering good quality and really buying in to our mission and our core values.” “At the end of the day, our team members in the field are probably our most effective salespeople, and our best form of marketing is doing good quality work,” Tarren continues. “If our people are winning at the field level, the company will succeed at the end of the day. We recognize that and we treat our people accordingly.” In addition to clients and employees, Road to Rail Construction has also formed close-knit and longstanding relationships with suppliers and vendors. According to Tarren, some of those relationships go all the way back to the company’s inception. Essex Lease – a Calgary-based equipment financing company – is one example of a closeknit partner. They are a business that offers companies in Alberta flexible leasing, asset-based lending, and truck financing solutions, with each solution tailored to the client’s specific needs. Being an independent lender, as opposed to a traditional bank, enables them to think creatively to remove obstacles for clients and come up with custom solutions. The team at Road to Rail highly appreciates the personal service that Essex Lease provides, as well as the genuine pride they take in helping clients like them succeed. AUGUST 2025
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Healthy growth As previously mentioned, a growing percentage of Road to Rail Construction’s work is now coming from existing clients. Moving forward, the company’s vision is to keep upping that percentage. They intend to keep growing – but they want to grow sustainably, Tarren emphasises. “At the end of the day, we want to grow sustainably,” he says. “We don’t just want to grow seasonably. We could grow to 200 employees this summer if we want, then that means you’re laying off 150 employees come wintertime. That’s not what we want to do. We want to grow in a way where we’re bringing people on and keeping them busy year round, and keeping them here for years to come.” Ultimately, Tarren doesn’t believe there’s a ceiling on Road to Rail’s growth, so long as they grow the right way. “This summer, we’re expecting to grow to somewhere between 80to-90 employees,” he reiterates. “We’re able to do that because we already have a core group of 60-to-70. That makes the training a lot easier. It makes it easy to integrate them into our systems and our way of doing things. If we were going from a team of 40 to a team of 80, doing that would be a lot more difficult.” “We want to keep growing in a healthy way,” he concludes. “As long as we can keep doing that, I don’t think there’s any cap.” AUGUST 2025
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA For more on Road to Rail Construction, their services, their capabilities, and their past projects – and to get in touch with Tarren and the rest of their expert team – visit https://rtrc.ca/
Building with confidence
Wooler Homes is a Tarion warranty registered builder that specializes in building high quality homes in the Quinte region of Ontario. They are a company with deep roots in their community, equipped with vast knowledge of the building industry, and they take pride in working with home owners every step of the way, from the initial consultation right until they turn over the keys. They also take pride in developing and building their own projects – projects that meet the needs of the community while also meeting the highest standards of quality. The founders and leaders of Wooler Homes, Mark Phillips and Mark Short, both bring many years of industry experience to their roles. Mark Short has multiple decades of experience in residential, commercial, and industrial construction, while Mark Phillips has an even deeper background in commercial and residential development. About 10 years ago, they realized they shared a passion for home building, and they both cared equally about quality, so they decided to team up and form their own company. In the years since, Wooler Homes has successfully delivered a long list of custom home projects for a long list of satisfied clients. Over the years, those projects have varied in terms of size and value in accordance with the needs of the market. In past years, for example, they did a lot of luxury homes with values exceeding $2 million. These days, however, that luxury home market has slowed, and Wooler Homes is instead doing a lot of townhomes and homes with basement apartments for buyers to rent or share with family. Regardless of the size or scale of the project, Mark Short believes clients choose Wooler Homes for AUGUST 2025
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the same few key reasons. One of the big reasons is the quality of their work. According to Mark, the company maintains this quality by performing as much as they can in-house, utilizing their own heavy equipment and their own direct employees: “We do everything from the digging to the footings all the way up,” he says. “We have in-house employees that do the trimming and other fine details. Because of that, we have a lot of control.” “And we have a really good team of people who care about what they do,” he adds. “Basically, everybody that works here is really proud to be here. That’s why our quality is so good. That’s why we get so many compliments on our homes.” In addition to receiving compliments, Wooler Homes secures a significant amount of work from repeat clients. They also generate many leads through referrals and word of mouth. For instance, they are currently wrapping up work on their own subdivision in Price Edward County, where many of the clients are local business owners they have previously worked with. “We’re pretty proud that they came to us,” Mark says. “That’s a great feeling. That says a lot about the relationships we’ve built in this region, and the reputation we’ve established.” Wooler Homes has also formed some strong and lasting relationships with subcontractors and suppliers. Though they do as much as possible inhouse, they do rely on external electricians and plumbers and HVAC guys, and Mark says some of those relationships actually predate the founding of Wooler Homes. At the same time, Wooler Homes is in the process of growing, so they are also looking to forge some new relationships with subcontractors in order to accommodate that growth. As part of that process, Mark says that they are looking for the kinds of qualities and values that their existing trades exemplify: “We’re big on having the right attitude. Trades have to be friendly with our staff and with the other trades around them. We don’t tolerate anything else because that just creates a bad atmosphere. I’m really happy with the trades we have because they work well with our guys and well with the other trades, and we’re looking for more trades who can fit into that culture.” THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA
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Making an impact Currently, Wooler Homes is working on a series of townhomes in Trenton, which they developed themselves and are about to put up for sale. Each of those homes includes a basement apartment that the owners can either rent or share with family members. Each basement unit is a legal rental unit with the proper fireproofing, with each featuring a separate hot water tank and heating and cooling system. The team at Wooler Homes is particularly proud of that development because of the need it is meeting within the community: “Those are really nice homes, but they’re a smaller size, which is what this area actually needs,” says Kimberley Walker, office manager. “As much as possible, we like to do projects that are going to have a positive impact on the community – and these homes definitely qualify.” THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA
Mark is also proud of how efficient and effective the designs were, and how much they were able to accomplish with limited space. For example, the main townhomes all comprise two storeys with three bedrooms, and all the primary bedrooms feature double closets. The master bedroom has a walk in closet in addition to the double closet plus an ensuite. “We utilized every bit of space in those homes, even the dead space under the stairs,” Mark explains. “We put a hidden door there to store people’s luggage or whatever they want to store. And we used the other part of under the stairs as a pantry for the kitchen. We used the space really well.” In the coming months, Wooler Homes will commence the construction of a new subdivision called Batawa Landing, situated in the community of Batawa, a short walk from the ski hill. This exclusive development will feature 32 well designed two-storey townhomes, each boasting three spacious bedrooms, modern finishes, and thoughtfully crafted layouts ideal for families, professionals, and first-time homebuyers. Moving forward, Wooler Homes expects to build a lot more developments similar to that one, because that’s what the local market demands. They expect to do more of those developments on their own, but they also expect to work more in partnership with other developers. According to Mark, those developers have already started reaching out, and Wooler Homes has been very receptive to those overtures. CONCORD 905.761.9144 TRENTON 613.955.7755 ENCOREDRYWALLMATERIALSUPPLIES.COM YOUR TRUSTED PARTNER IN BUILDING MATERIALS AUGUST 2025
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“Multiple developers have reached out to talk about partnering with us and building on their properties,” he says. “That’s exciting for us. That’s going to help us grow and work in different locations. It’s going to keep us hopping and really busy, but that’s what we do. We enjoy it. We’re excited when we’re really busy.” In the near future, Wooler Homes definitely intends to get bigger. As previously mentioned, that means adding to their roster of subcontractors. It also means bringing on new employees. As long as they can find the right subcontractors and employees, Mark believes they could be the biggest player in their region. “We want to see how big we can get,” he concludes. “Right now, I don’t think there’s a limit. We’re going to try to keep putting the right people in place, and as long as we can do that we’re going to keep growing and expanding. I wouldn’t mind if we ended up the biggest home builder in the area. That would be my end goal.” AUGUST 2025
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA For more on Wooler Homes, their services, their past projects, and their expert team – and to get in touch with that expert team – visit their website at http://woolerhomes.com/
Elevated outcomes
Though Elysium Investments officially launched in 2022, the company builds on decades of combined real estate experience from its founding partners, creating a strong foundation for their operations across Canada. The executive team includes Harley Mintz – the former managing partner of Mintz & Partners and former vice chairman of Deloitte Canada – Steven Mintz – who has more than 30 years’ experience as a financial consultant – Jamie Torpey – who has been involved in commercial retail development for more than 35 years in Canada and Europe – and CEO Sayf Hassan, who has 20-plus years of Canadian real estate experience encompassing every aspect of the development cycle. Armed with this unique blend of international and local knowledge, Elysium has the ability to customize real estate opportunities and create “elevated outcomes” for all stakeholders. Initially focused on green field land development – acquiring sites, managing entitlements, and preparing for sales – the partners evolved their strategy toward direct development and construction, deciding to build and hold quality rental assets themselves. Currently, Elysium operates six active projects exclusively within Toronto, steps from key transit nodes such as TTC stops, bus and streetcar lines, GO and new LRT lines. Jake Mintz, acquisitions manager, explains, “Our transit-oriented approach is fundamental to creating accessible and connected communities. We want residents to have easy access to public transportation and city amenities, reducing car dependency and supporting sustainability.” Along with their traditional rental portfolio, Elysium has softly launched a complementary AUGUST 2025
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platform dedicated to purpose-built student accommodations. This emerging arm expands their reach into other southern Ontario cities including Guelph, Hamilton, London, and North York. Together, the combined rental and student housing portfolios encompass roughly 11 sites with an estimated unrealized value of about $4.25 billion. Alexander Suppa, who is part of the investment team, notes that the student housing sector holds “unique opportunities,” especially with the anticipated return of international students. “We want to provide dignified, quality living solutions tailored to their needs,” Alex says. Most projects in Elysium’s PBR pipeline remain in the entitlement phase, with the company navigating rezoning and municipal approvals. Their first project, at Weston and Finch, received final approval last month, allowing the construction program to begin within months. “Construction for this inaugural project will take about two and a half to three years,” Jake shares, “and we aim for completion around 2028.” Other projects follow streamlined schedules that optimize resources and risk, with the full portfolio expected to be completed by 2035. Still, Alex says, “We stay flexible. Some projects could potentially be sold to reinvest capital as opportunities evolve.” Investor relations rely heavily on strong partnerships and transparency. Jake explains, “We raise most capital through our personal and professional networks. Transparency is key – we promise clear, consistent reporting and delivery on commitments. That builds trust and longterm satisfaction.” This honest approach enables Elysium to secure investments efficiently and supports their ambitious growth. Consultant relationships benefit from deep THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA
industry ties. Alex says, “The Toronto real estate community is tightly knit. We work with many planners, engineers, and consultants we’ve known for years. We always approach negotiations fairly – paying invoices promptly and ensuring everyone feels valued. That fosters goodwill and long-term partnerships essential to our success.” Elysium’s corporate culture reflects the close-knit nature of a family office. The team of about 15 employees, including several family members, works in a supportive and collaborative environment. Jake notes, “Even though we’re driven to complete projects efficiently, everyone genuinely enjoys their work and has strong connections. Sayf leads intentionally, empowering the team to find satisfaction and purpose without excessive pressure.” What truly sets Elysium apart is their mission to “democratize housing.” Sayf emphasizes, “We focus on what people actually want to see in their homes, not just what developers think they should build.” This human-first approach extends to municipal and community relations. “Cities appreciate our balance of financial investment with social responsibility and urban improvement.” This reputation often eases approvals and builds community support. While Elysium has not yet won formal awards, their leaders bring decades of decorated experience to their roles. Harley Mintz has received honors within the Jewish community, and Jamie Torpey earned numerous accolades through his work in Europe, where he developed over two million square meters worth of property. Together with AUGUST 2025 PAMA Peel Art Gallery and Museum, Ontario. Photo credit: GBCA GBCA is a full-service architecture firm founded in 2001, specializing in heritage architecture with award-winning rehabilitation and adaptive reuse projects. GBCA provides advisory services to design teams through heritage impact assessments, conservation plans, and building assessments, advising on technical issues. Follow us on LinkedIn or send us a message on our website. 416-929-6556 www.gbca.ca
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Sayf, their expertise lends credibility to Elysium’s emerging brand. Community involvement also matters to the company. For example, Jake says they are proud to participate in the 1UP Design Jam – an annual event by the non-profit Urban Minds, which introduces high school students to real estate development concepts. “It’s part of our commitment to foster industry knowledge and encourage future generations to engage thoughtfully.” Looking forward, Elysium aims to complete, stabilize and grow their PBR and PBSA portfolios over the next decade, creating cash-flowing assets. Their PBSA platform is a major growth focus, with a goal to become one of Canada’s top contributors to supply. Sayf says, “Our mission is the democracy of living. We want to give people their dignity back, whether through rental or student housing products. It’s about building spaces that respect residents and contribute positively to communities.” Elysium Investments represents a modern, conscientious approach to real estate development – where experienced leadership, strategic locations, and sincere social impact intersect. As they build ambitious projects across Canada, they aim to set a new standard for quality, transparency, and humanity in housing. AUGUST 2025
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA For more on Elysium Investments, and to contact Jake Mintz and his team, visit their website at https://elysiuminvestments.ca
What the client wants
Founded in 2013 and based in Winnipeg, ARCCADD Architecture has quietly built a strong reputation across the Canadian prairie provinces. Although their only physical office is located in Winnipeg, the firm’s work now extends throughout Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Canada’s far North, and more recently Alberta, showcasing their ability to serve a broad geographic area while maintaining a tight-knit, hands-on approach. Specializing in commercial and industrial architecture, ARCCADD is a firm that values both scale and detail, delivering projects that range from modest warehouse spaces to complex community hubs – all with a distinct commitment to truly hearing what clients want. The company’s story is deeply rooted in family legacy. Paige Lloyd, who now leads the firm, took over operations from her father in 2013, carrying forward the principles he established when he founded the predecessor business in 1987. “My father started ARCCADD after being hired by a client who had fired two previous architects,” Paige recalls. “He simply asked the client, ‘What would you like? What do you want?’ That was the first time anyone had really asked that client what they wanted, and it stuck with me. I want to carry on that legacy of listening – of truly delivering what our clients need, rather than telling them what we think they want.” That client-centered philosophy is at the heart of ARCCADD’s approach. Their projects span primarily the commercial and industrial sectors, with a particular focus on office and warehousetype facilities ranging from 25,000 to 40,000 square feet. Paige estimates that the value of these projects typically falls between $10 million and $20 million, though they have occasionally worked on projects approaching $50 million. “Even AUGUST 2025
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the biggest buildings we do in the industrial sector aren’t usually complicated programmatically,” Paige explains. “The scale grows, but the core remains straightforward – this frees us up to design quality, efficient spaces tailored to client needs.” Despite their growing geographic footprint, ARCCADD remains intentionally small. The firm has just five employees, which Paige believes strikes the right balance between nimbleness and capability. “I definitely push my team hard – they work hard, but we try to play hard too,” she says. “We schedule team-building activities semi-regularly because I believe that helps us work better together.” Paige emphasizes that the company’s size allows her to stay intimately involved with projects. “If the firm grew bigger and I had to bring on another architect, I’d likely have to hand over duties that I’m not ready to part with. I want to stay close to the work and to the clients.” Most of ARCCADD’s new business comes through client referrals, a testament to the firm’s consistent focus on meeting client expectations. Paige admits that marketing is not her strongest suit; instead, she channels her marketing efforts into a podcast called Made From What’s Left. The podcast cleverly riffs on Winnipeg’s city slogan “Made From What’s Real,” but with a cheeky twist. “I co-host it with a friend,” Paige says, “and it started as a show about architecture and food, which might seem like an odd pairing. But since we work on restaurants and other community projects, it fits nicely. The podcast has grown to THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA
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THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA cover everything around Winnipeg – the people, the food, the architecture, even local events and sometimes Canada-wide topics like elections. It’s a love letter to the city with a bit of humor.” When it comes to subcontractors and suppliers, ARCCADD takes a collaborative stance but does not directly hire subcontractors. Instead, they typically work alongside winning general contractors, accepting the subcontractor teams those contractors bring to the project. “By and large, in Winnipeg, it’s gone very well. We have good relationships with most of the companies we’ve teamed up with.” As an example, ARCCADD has a great relationship with SpecCraft – a Winnipeg-based company that writes accurate, detailed, and concise specifications for architectural design firms, design-builders, and manufacturers in Canada. Much like ARCCADD, they are a company with a long history in the city, they take pride in responding to clients quickly, and they have the knowledge and experience to keep up with the industry’s ever changing needs. Although ARCCADD has never pursued awards or accolades actively, the firm considers client satisfaction and repeat business its true markers of success. Paige explains, “We don’t usually spend a lot of energy applying for awards. Not that I think they’re unimportant – just that they’re not our focus. The response from our clients and the referrals we get are our biggest rewards.” She adds thoughtfully, “Construction is tough. It’s risky for everyone involved, and if a client
AUGUST 2025 Civil Engineering is more than our service and expertise; it’s how we express our talents to build vibrant communities - turning your ideas, projects, and development into a beautiful reality. Our projects span Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. chooses to come back to us, that means we’ve won something bigger than any trophy.” ARCCADD’s portfolio reflects a strong commitment to community and innovation. A standout project is the 549 Broadway development – branded as Place of Pride – a groundbreaking living space designed specifically for members of the LGBTQ+ community aged 55 and older designed for the Westminster Housing Society. This project is the first of its kind in Canada. Paige describes it as particularly meaningful for the social impact it will make: “It addresses an important gap – making sure that people don’t have to ‘go back into the closet’ when they move into seniors housing. We’re proud to have been a part of something that really makes a difference.” Other recent projects demonstrate ARCCADD’s versatility. These include Dave and Laverne’s, a mid-century modern diner in Winnipeg’s Southdale neighborhood – a favorite project that also reflects their experience with restaurant design. In the far north, ARCCADD is working on a community hub in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, for the Ilitaqsiniq literacy council, which supports Indigenous cultural education and traditions like hunting, beadwork, and sewing. Closer to home, the firm is designing a sobering center and transitional housing facility in Thompson, Manitoba, for the political advocacy organization Keewatinowi Okimakanak, which offers various community-based services and initiatives in northern Manitoba. These projects collectively showcase ARCCADD’s ability to tailor design to diverse contexts, from urban centers to remote communities.
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Looking toward the future, Paige is undertaking a doctorate focused on mitigating risk in the architecture and construction industry, particularly through enhanced communication. “Many of the projects we do are designbuild, a contract format which can lead to disconnects between architects and owners,” Paige explains. “My research is about developing new practice principles and strategies – like team-building alignment workshops and construction mock-ups – that reconnect the team better.” She draws a parallel to LEED certification, explaining, “You’re probably familiar with LEED as a certification for energyefficient design. I want to create a similar certification, but for communication – getting all the parties at the same table to collaborate and reduce risk. That ultimately saves the owner money and can reduce insurance costs.” Throughout it all, ARCCADD’s ethos remains centered on relationships and responsiveness. “Our clients aren’t just transactions,” Paige says. “We’re not here to tell people what they want but to listen carefully and build what they truly need. That mindset is what sets us apart. As my father showed years ago, that simple question – ‘What do you want?’ – can change everything.” AUGUST 2025
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA For more on ARCCADD Architecture, their services, their past projects, and to contact Paige and her team, visit their website at www.arccadd.com
Technical excellence in motion
In the specialized world of industrial moving and rigging, precision isn’t just a value – it’s a necessity. That principle has defined the growth and evolution of Belton Direct, a full-service rigging and industrial moving company based in Delta, British Columbia. Since founding in 2016, they are a company that has carved out a reputation for executing complex, high-stakes moves with a rare blend of technical acumen, dependability, and calm under pressure. Carson Hewlett has been with the company from the beginning. After joining at the company’s inception, he became a co-owner in 2021 and now serves as general manager. He’s seen firsthand how Belton Direct evolved from a startup with a handful of clients into a full-service operation trusted across Western Canada. “The original vision was to build something better – more responsive, more precise,” says Carson. “Ryan Belton came from the industry and wanted to start a company that focused first and foremost on quality. That vision still guides us.” Belton Direct began with only a few employees, working primarily on straightforward equipment relocations. But its commitment to doing excellent work quickly earned attention. The company grew organically – one successful project leading to the next, and word-of-mouth driving much of its early expansion. Today, Belton has a core staff of roughly 15 people, along with a deep bench of contractors, and it regularly tackles high-stakes projects across BC and beyond. Over the years, the company has refined and expanded its capabilities. Now, Belton Direct manages complex installations, full decommissions, multi-phase equipment moves, and plant relocations, often working around AUGUST 2025
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sensitive timelines and in active facilities. Its crews handle everything from technical rigging and structural lifts to millwrighting, electrical disconnections, crating, and transport logistics. “What makes us unique is our ability to handle the whole process,” Carson explains. “We offer turnkey solutions – from planning and permitting through to installation and commissioning. That’s what clients come back to us for.” That reputation for precision and problem-solving has opened the door to increasingly complex work. In one project, the team was tasked with relocating a totem pole, coordinating with technical vendors and museum curators to ensure its safe installation. In another, Belton oversaw a multi-week shutdown and complete machinery decommission for a large manufacturing facility – ensuring everything was removed, packed, and shipped to a new location on a tight deadline. “It’s that level of coordination and trust that we’ve built up,” Carson says. “We can come in and take care of the job start to finish. That’s what people remember.” Belton Direct also plays a critical role in helping clients navigate shifting operational needs. As manufacturing and production facilities adapt to new technologies and regulations, the demand for high-precision moving and installation services has only increased. Belton is frequently brought in early during planning stages, offering insights that shape how equipment is installed or decommissioned. As the company has grown, so has its investment in equipment and safety. Belton Direct maintains its own fleet of specialized rigging and lifting tools, ensuring crews are equipped for everything from small interior installations to heavy outdoor lifts. THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA
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