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. This time out, we’ve taken a look at a wide variety of industry players – we talked to leading-edge custom homebuilders, real estate development and management companies, architects, boring service providers, glass service providers, designers and implementers of building control systems, and a whole lot more specialty contractors and suppliers spanning the breadth of the construction spectrum. Camargue Properties, the company on our cover, is an example of a cutting-edge real estate investment and management company. They are one of the six family-owned companies that make up Groupe Denux, a business that oversees a portfolio of residential, office, and commercial buildings in “some of the most awesome places in the world,” according to Robin Kelley, managing director and partner of Carmargue Properties. We spoke with Robin about some of those buildings and awesome places. In particular, we highlighted their recent work on ‘Salish Sands’, a luxury apartment project in Parksville, British Columbia. In a challenging market, they had all the units there rented out before the first move-in. We talked to Robin about what powered that success. Alton Tangedal Architect, meanwhile, is a Regina-based architectural firm that takes on custom residential and commercial projects spanning across Saskatchewan. The firm was formed almost 30 years ago by veteran architect Alton Tangedal. Alton is still involved with the company, but in recent years taken a step back to let a new group of partners take the reins. We talked to Kyle Culbertson, one of those partners, about the vision of the new leaders and how they intend to honour the beliefs and values the firm was founded on. We also talked about some of the recent projects that demonstrate those founding values – a diverse list that includes a multi-family building, a commercial retail centre, and an interior development for a marketing agency. Then there’s Eco Architectural Glass – they are a company that specializes in residential, commercial and custom glass services, and which has been serving customers across Southwestern Ontario for over a decade. In the past few years, they have grown at a rapid pace. To learn their story, we caught up with Jeff Legge, the company’s vice president of business development. He talked about their recent growth and what has driven it. He also discussed their plans for future growth, including more offices across Ontario, and more involvement in large and complex projects along the lines of their recent work at Western University’s Entrepreneurship & Innovation Centre. For those stories – and a lot more like them, about more industry leaders across the construction spectrum – just keep reading.
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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
JUNE 2025 CAMARGUE PROPERTIES INC (GROUPE DENUX) Seizing opportunities JMJ ROCK FORMING A rock solid reputation ASHTON CONSTRUCTION SERVICES Foundations of trust ALTON TANGEDAL ARCHITECTS All about collaboration TRIPLE A DIRECTIONAL DRILLING The highest level of success ATLAS AUTOMATION Customer-centric values DON CULLEN MASONRY & TILE A legacy written in stone BRIAN GARDNER CUSTOM HOMES Building with purpose ONE URBAN DEVELOPMENTS Crafting Elevated Communities ECOARCHITECTURAL GLASS Experience meets initiative ADANAM CONSTRUCTION Partners in progress STANKEWICH DRYWALL, PAINTING & DESIGN A history of quality INDUSTRY INNOVATIONS INCINERATING TOILETS IN THIS ISSUEJUNE 2025 ADANAM CONSTRUCTION BRIAN GARDNER CUSTOM HOMES
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Seizing opportunities
Groupe Denux is a group of real estate investment and management companies overseeing a portfolio of residential, office, and commercial buildings in “some of the most awesome places in the world,” according to Robin Kelley, managing director and partner of on those of companies. Between the group’s various companies, they have developed or invested in and managed a diverse array of projects all over Canada, including Victoria, Nanaimo, Duncan, Parksville and New Westminster in British Columbia, Montréal in Québec, and Calgary in Alberta. They have even ventured abroad into Montpellier and Nîmes, France. Robin’s part of Groupe Denux is called Camargue Properties Inc. He owns and runs that company with his wife, Sophie Denux. Sophie is the daughter of Jean-Louis and Diane Denux, the founders of Groupe Denux, while Robin also has had family involved in development, as well as a personal background in urban planning. Originally, Groupe Denux started with JeanLouis and Diane purchasing a triplex in 1974 in Quebec City and subsequently a couple of older rooming houses. Prior to that, Jean-Louis – who immigrated to Canada from France in 1970 – was a computer programmer for the University of Quebec, while Diane worked in nursing. After realizing that rental income could support their family, they resigned their previous positions and dedicated themselves to real estate full time. In 1984, they moved to Vancouver Island and started purchasing multi-residential properties. In 1996, they purchased office buildings in France, and subsequently around 2001 invested again in Quebec, this time purchasing larger apartment buildings in Montreal. In the intervening years, and in the years since, their five children all got JUNE 2025
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involved and the group continued to diversify. For many years, Robin says the plan was to do a butterfly transaction and divide Groupe Denux up amongst the second generation. That happened in 2009. Since then, the group has been comprised of six technically separate companies – though they share information, as well as lawyers, a reception service, and property management services. The group also has a shared office in France that each member of the family rotates supervising. Robin and Sophie are based on Vancouver Island. Since taking over their portion of the company, they have mainly focused on the Mid-Island region of British Columbia, as well as Calgary, Alberta. Recently, they have also identified an opportunity in France. Historically they have invested primarily into multi-residential, however over the past decade they’ve expanded into industrial investments. They were the first member of Groupe Denux to get into the industrial sector – they have built three industrial buildings so far, and they plan to start the process to build another one next year. They also have invested in offices – but only in France. According to Robin, the willingness to do such a diverse and varied array of work is a big part of what sets their company apart. “In real estate, you never really know what opportunities are going to arise,” he explains. “You can plan and be very rigid in where you’re going to invest, but then you’re stuck with what you can find in that area. We like to keep our options open, and when we identify an opportunity we like, we like to move fast.” They have the ability to move fast, Robin says, JUNE 2025
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because they are using their own capital from their existing portfolio, “so we don’t really have to ask other people for permission to do something – we can be pretty nimble and pretty quick.” Often, he says the opportunities are “random” and hard to predict. He cites the project they are looking at doing in France as an example. That came about because they retained the office buildings that Jean-Louis purchased in Montpellier back in the 1990s. They have wanted to a mixed-use light industrial project there for a while, but the land was really hard to get and is mostly controlled by the regional district. It just so happened that one of their buildings was next to a 30-hectare IBM tech park, which is currently being repositioned into a mixed use residential district. To change the zoning to residential, however, they needed permission from the owners of the nearby office buildings, as there are mutual co-restrictions and covenants on the land titles prohibiting residential development in the sector “So the district came to us and said, ‘Hey, look, if you remove that charge off your title, we’ll give you first priority on a parcel of land to develop,” Robin says. “So all of a sudden next year, we might be building something in the south of France – which was completely unpredictable a year ago.” “The truth is you really don’t know what’s going to happen,” he adds. “You just have to be open to the markets you’re in.” JUNE 2025
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA Building continuity Recently, Robin and Sophie finished building an apartment project in Parksville, British Columbia, called ‘Salish Sands.’ Robin cites that project as a strong example of Groupe Denux is capable of. Located at 115 McMillan Street, Salish Sands was designed and built to be more than “just an apartment compex” – the goal there was to provide “a lifestyle choice for those who value accessibility to nature without compromising on modern amenities and luxury comforts,” Robin says. Built to step code 4 those comforts include modern appliances, quartz countertops, vinyl plank flooring, and energy-efficient heat pump heating and cooling. The modern amenities include an open rooftop terrace with a BBQ and lounge area overlooking the Salish Sea and Coastal Mountains, as well as a bicycle room, electric vehicle charging station, and an on-site fitness amenities room (with plans to add an outdoor sauna).
The builder on that project was Saywell Contracting, an award-winning construction company based in Nanaimo. According to Robin, they are a company “we’ve known for years,” and he highly values that familiarity. As much as possible, he says they strive to use the same consultant teams from project-to-project. In general, when it comes to contractors, Robin says they have very specific criterions they look for. They have to be the right size – “large enough to have economies of scale, but not a huge corporation” – they have to have the right reputation, and they have to still be controlled by the original founders. That last part is important, because the goal of Groupe Denux is to build longstanding relationships, and that’s only possible if there’s continuity in the people they’re working with. “If you can’t get the ownership on the phone, it becomes extremely problematic because you’re just relying on the site supers and project managers who often can be hired guns,” he explains. “They don’t have a stake in the business and they might not even be there down the line.” “In the past, we’ve worked with some companies that are much larger, and they can be machines. They can work really, really well. But four or five years later, we’ll find that we have no real relationships with anyone there. Every person we actually really liked working with is gone. That can be a bit of a challenge. We really want to develop relationships, but sometimes, with certain companies, the relationships are only as JUNE 2025
good as the personnel that they have, and those personnel often move on.” On Salish Sands, Robin reports the relationship with Saywell Contracting was very strong throughout, and construction went really well. “We didn’t have many problems on that building,” he says. “In building, there are normally a lot of problems. A lot of things tend to come up. It’s just the nature of the business. On that project, we had our challenges, but we were able to resolve them very quickly.” The subcontractors and trades on that project also performed very well, Robin adds. In general, he reiterates they strive to work with the same people over and over again. On that project, he says they were fortunate to assemble a strong ream, the majority of whom either they knew very well, or Saywell knew very well. For example, one key contributor to that project was Monashee Racks Canada – a Kelowna-based company that designs and supplies premium bike parking, storage, and site furnishings for businesses, municipalities, and developers across North America. They employ a team of in-house architects, who work directly with clients to ensure their projects stay to code while optimizing space for bike parking and mobility solutions. Another important partner was Waywest Mechanical Ltd., a leading supplier of heating, plumbing, HVAC, and mechanical services to the construction industry on Vancouver Island. THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA
They are highly regarded as one of the top-tier mechanical contracting companies on the area, and their clients include a preeminent roster of custom home builders, commercial contractors, and prestigious developers such as Groupe Denux. As a result of the hard work and collaboration of everyone involved, Salish Sands was not only successfully delivered, but commercially successful. “We actually had all the units rented before our target date for the first move-ins,” Robin says. “I think a lot of that is on the location – it’s only 200 metres from the nicest beaches in the country, arguably – but we also really paid a lot of attention to the units and their designs. They are all decent sizes. A lot of them have amazing views of the ocean. They’re special places to be.” Moving forward, Robin says his and Sophie’s goal is to continue delivering projects of that calibre, in all the sectors they work in – including multifamily, industrial, and office. Currently, they are developing a rental building in Bridgeland, Calgary, they are planning another industrial project in Calgary, and they are working on getting that mixed-use industrial office project going in France. Once again, however, Robin says they can only do so much planning and thinking ahead. The future, he reiterates, “really depends on the opportunities that arise.” JUNE 2025
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“An opportunity that’s unforeseen can really change our direction,” he says. “That project in France, if it ends up going through, is a complete right turn that we didn’t expect a year ago.” With that unpredictably in mind, Robin concludes that they want to grow, but they don’t yet know for sure what form that growth will take. Because of the way they operate, that uncertainty does not faze them. “We want to be consistent with growth,” he says. “We like to be continuously active, but we don’t need to take on projects just for the sake of taking them on. We can be selective. On the multi-family side we’ve had a really, really good run, but that run is probably petering off. That market might be flat for a while – and that’s okay. There are always going to be other opportunities, other directions we can go. It can be really hard to predict what those opportunities will be, but when one comes along, we can move super-fast.” “But we do always intend to be actively doing something,” he concludes. “We don’t intend to stop any time soon.” JUNE 2025
For more on Groupe Denux, their past projects, the places they work, and everything they have to offer – and to get in touch with Robin and Sophie – visit www.groupedenux.com/ For more on Salish Sands specifically, including more on the amenities and the neighborhood, visit https://www.salishsands.com/ THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA
All about collaboration
Alton Tangedal Architect Ltd. (ATAL) is a Reginabased architectural firm that takes on custom residential and commercial projects spanning across Saskatchewan. Since forming in 1996, their team has strived to deliver innovative and effective design solutions while building honest and reliable relationships with clients. Alton Tangedal, the firm’s founder and partner emeritus, has always believed that those goals feed into each other, and that belief has powered his success. ATAL’s current partners all share in that belief, and they aim to build on the foundation of collaboration that Alton has laid. “At ATAL, we strive to provide paramount integrity and enthusiasm to achieve the goals that the client envisions,” says Kyle Culbertson, partner and intern architect. “To us, the design process is a collaborative effort, where our role is to work relentlessly to provide the utmost level of customer service.” “Our firm believes in our clients and their dreams,” he adds. “We strive to make sustainable and meaningful connections with our clients, so that our success, as a collaborative team, is as efficient and effective as possible. We believe it is our responsibility, beyond a project’s success, to improve the communities that surround these dreams with significant and positive impacts.” Kyle was personally born in a farm in the southeast of Saskatchewan, though he went to school for architecture in the United States, at Montana State University, where Alton Tangedal happened to be an alumni. There, Kyle met one of Alton’s former colleagues, who first connected him with Alton when he was doing one of his final projects at school. Later, Kyle moved back to Saskatchewan, where he worked for another JUNE 2025
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local firm that ended up doing a joint venture with ATAL. Kyle got to know Alton and ATAL even better during that process. Later, Kyle ended up leaving that firm and doing some work in the public sector. A couple years back, Alton reached out to him and offered him an opportunity. “He was doing some succession planning and looking for someone to be a part of the team that would help lead the company into the future,” Kyle recalls. “He felt like I had the aptitude he was looking for.” Kyle jumped on the opportunity. About a year later, he and his three partners – including Trevor Munroe, Julie MacGowan, and Rodolfo Omolida Jr. – officially purchased the firm. Alton remains on the team as a mentor and advisor, but the new partners have taken over the day-to-day operations and have started executing their vision for growth. As part of that vision, Kyle says the firm is looking to take on some larger projects. Historically, the firm has done a lot of multi-family, commercial, industrial, and retail projects, but their goal is to take on more work in the public sector, on education and health projects. They also intend to expand their reach geographically – Kyle says they have done a “little bit” of work in Alberta and Manitoba to date, but they want to do more. The firm also intends to grow in terms of size and staff – but not by too much and not too quickly. Kyle says “we have the ambition in to grow, but we want to do it sustainably.” The firm currently JUNE 2025
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has a team of 10, and in the short-term Kyle sees that number growing to a “solid 15,” after which they will re-evaluate and “see how it feels.” According to Kyle, the opportunity to grow even bigger is definitely available, and that’s a credit to the firm’s reputation. He calls ATAL a “mainstay firm here in Regina,” and he says they have earned that recognition by being “very client-focused.” “We go out of our way to service the client and meet their needs,” Kyle explains. “We make sure that their vision is executed. We stand by them throughout the whole process. And when things go sideways – as happens sometimes in construction – we’re adaptable and we help them work towards the best solution for everyone.” “We’re also very transparent,” he adds. “We don’t shy away from the tough conversations. When we get something wrong, we’re the first to admit it. A lot of our clients have repeatedly come back to us, and I think that’s a big reason why – they really appreciate our transparency and honesty.” Many of ATAL’s clients go back over 10 years. Many of the firm’s other relationships are even longer-standing. Some of their contracting and engineering partners, for example, started working with Alton early on in his career and are still working with the firm today. One example of a frequent collaborator would be Mechanical Design Group, a Regina-based company with a longstanding history in the region. They offer building mechanical systems design and associated services, and their staff has industry experience extending over five decades. Today, they offer a number of services related to the building sciences, including traditional engineering, project management, energy management and conservation, development of preventative and predictive maintenance programmes, and owner’s representation services. Much like ATAL, they take pride in their ability to work collaboratively with all project stakeholders in order to provide clients with solutions that are both effective and cost efficient. JUNE 2025
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA Dedicated to improvement As examples of what Alton Tangedal Architect Ltd., Kyle points to three of the most recent projects the firm has been involved in. He says those projects are also good examples of the kind of work they want to do more of. For instance, ATAL worked with developer and builder Argyle Development Group on a multi-family building called ‘Argyle Terrace’. Kyle says that was their first project with Argyle, but they are already talking about future jobs together. He says the relationship has been “really great.” “We’ve really created a good relationship with them,” he says. “We’ve worked through a lot of challenges together. We’ve done a lot of learning. We’ve really gotten to know them, we’ve really come to understand their needs and requirements, and I think we’ve
JUNE 2025 delivered a solution that meets all those needs.” ATAL also recently partnered with Ledcor Construction and Pinnacle Developments on a commercial retail centre in Regent Park. Both of those companies are longstanding partners of the firm – Kyle says they are actually currently working together on another site at Lewvan Crossing, which is a testament to the strength of their relationships. Additionally, a little over a year ago, ATAL worked on an interior development for a marketing agency called Bravo Tango, whose office is just across the parking lot from ATAL’s. That’s another project that stands out in Kyle’s mind, as their collaboration with the team at Bravo Tango was so productive, and the building itself was “so beautiful, with so many nice details.” “We really came together in concert on that project to create a really great space,” Kyle says. “Our team really collaborated well with theirs. We worked hard to bring their vision together and create a space that represents their brand and appeals to their clients.” “And they loved it,” he adds. “They actually hosted a huge party for their opening. They brought in a bunch of people. They were so excited to show it off.” That relationship is ongoing – ATAL is currently working with Bravo Tango on their branding, which they are seeking to change to reflect the transition in their ownership. Kyle says whenever
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JUNE 2025 they visit them, the team at Bravo Tango “gets really excited talking about their building and the spaces they work in now.” Moving forward, Kyle says those are the kind of relationships they aim to continue fostering. As previously mentioned, the firm also has plans to grow and forge stronger relationships with developers and contractors – but more importantly, they have plans to improve. “We’re really dedicated to getting better,” Kyle says. “We want to get better at scheduling, we want to make sure the deliverables we put out are high quality, and we want to make sure we’re meeting the demands from our clients in terms of timing and budgeting. Those things are really important to our clients – and that means they are really important to us, too.” “I think if we can keep improving, the Sky is the limit,” he concludes. “As long as we’re meeting all of the needs and expectations of our clients, we can scale up as much as we want to.
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA For more on Alton Tangedal Architect Ltd., their methodology, their past projects, and their new leadership team – and to get in touch with that team, including Kyle – visit https://altontangedalarchitect.com
Experience meets initiative
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Eco Architectural Glass Inc. is a company specializing in residential, commercial and custom glass services, which has been serving customers across Southwestern Ontario for over a decade. In that time, they have worked with a variety of clients on a variety of project typologies, and they have built some very close-knit and long-term relationships along the way. They have also built key relationships with the very best millwork, stainless steel, and aluminum suppliers in the industry. Powered by those relationships, their company has grown at a rapid pace, particularly over the past few years. In addition to their headquarters in London, Eco Architectural Glass now has an office in Barrie, and they have plans to launch more offices in the years to come. In both locations, they are as busy as they have ever been – they are now booking jobs well into 2027, which is a testament to the trust their clients have in them. According to Jeff Legge, vice president of business development, that activity and trust is a credit to the exceptional results that Eco Architectural Glass produces. Those results, in turn, he credits to the company’s emphasis on collaboration and their willingness to think outside the box. “At Eco Architectural Glass, we strive to build relationships and facilitate innovation in a teambased environment. We have a reputation for innovative designs, seeking projects that challenge both our design and installation team to produce signature results. We achieve this through extensive research and education and are committed to breaking traditional trends of the industry with competitive pricing and the highest level of customer service.” JUNE 2025
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Eco Architectural Glass was first formed in October 2013 by Clynton Wilson, who started working out of his garage. Prior to that, Clynton had spent many years in the glazing industry working for his father’s company, but he decided he wanted to do things a different way. “He wanted to start a glass shop that prioritised company culture – a company that empowers its team to reach their full potential,” Jeff recalls. “Places that I had worked in the past weren’t like that. There was a rough atmosphere at typical old school glazing shop, but Clynton believed it didn’t have to be that way. So, he started with just himself, an eight-foot trailer, a pick-up truck, and an idea.” Within just a year, Eco Architectural Glass was billing close to a million dollars, and the company expanded to keep up with that growth. In 2015, they moved to a 3,000-square-foot shop in Ilderton, just outside of London. Revenue continued doubling year to year and in 2019 they moved again to their current headquarters on Mallard Road, where they have over 14,500 square feet of manufacturing and office space. Jeff – who has been in the glazing industry for over 30 years now – personally joined the team in 2022. Since then, Eco Architectural Glass has continued to grow at a rapid pace. Jeff partly credits that growth to their willingness to travel further afield than before. They used to service a small area of Southwestern Ontario, but over the last few years they have expanded into the GTA and Barrie, making connections with general contractors and architects in those areas. As part of that effort, they launched an office in Barrie, which they like to call ‘Eco North.’ For now, that office is staffed by just a few project managers, but the goal is to JUNE 2025
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keep growing that team and keep expanding the company’s sphere of influence. In terms of projects, Eco Architectural Glass’ capabilities are vast, though their work mainly divides into three different types – schools, long term care facilities, and ‘specialty jobs.’ Specialty jobs can include community centres, libraries, and higher-end residential homes, with features such as oversized sliding glass doors – some as large as 11-feet-tall and 30-feet-long – and glass walls with switchable glass, so the homeowners can toggle the transparency on and off. Many of their jobs are complicated, Jeff explains, and he says that’s where Eco Architectural Glass shines. “Builders like working with us because we’re innovative and we work with them to come up with the best solution. If they have a specific problem, they know that we’re always happy to help them solve it. They know we’re not scared of a challenge. They know they can throw anything at us and we’re going to figure it out.” According to Jeff, that ability to overcome challenges and solve problems is a credit to the experience and the expertise that Eco Architectural Glass has in-house. Again, he’s someone who has personally been in the industry for decades. Project Director Dan Spoelstra has been in the industry for around 20 years. Clynton, the owner, has been working in the industry his whole life, ever since he was a kid. “So, we’ve got the experience,” Jeff says. “And we also have the initiative. We want to solve problems. We’re not looking for the easy way out. So, we take great pride in being able to come up THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA 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
with solutions.” As a result of their expertise and experience, Eco Architectural Glass has been able to build some very longstanding relationships with clients of all sizes. Some of their repeat clients are national industry leaders – EllisDon, for example, is a company “we do quite a bit of work for,” Jeff says. Other clients are locally based contractors, who Jeff says “are the foundations of what Eco was built on.” “If they have a problem, they know who they can go to for the answer, so they come straight to us,” he says. “Some of those companies have been with us for over 10 years.” Eco Architectural Glass also fosters similar loyalty among their other stakeholders, including their employees. These days, they employ just under 50 people overall, and Jeff describes himself as one of the “relative newcomers.” For example, the company’s CEO, Cathann Schell – who stepped into the role recently, when Clynton decided to take a step back – has been there since 2019. Jeff says most of the other members of the company’s “core group” have been there just as long. The company also has strong relationships with suppliers and vendors. Jeff says those relationships tend to be even longer standing, and he says they are built on communication and honest feedback. One key supplier, for example, would be Windspec Inc., an architectural aluminum manufacturer that provides high-quality architectural aluminum solutions to architects, specifiers, interior designers, and end users. Similar to Eco Architectural Glass, they are a company committed to delivering all their clients with exceptional service and support, and they are well known for their ability to innovate and solve problems. According to Jeff, Windspec is a “major part” of Eco Architectural Glass’s supply chain, and “they’ve been with us since the beginning.” “They were actually one of the first companies Clynton reached out to when he got started,” he says. “So, they’ve definitely played a big part in helping our company grow.” JUNE 2025
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA Never scared As mentioned previously, Eco Architectural Glass recently launched their new office in Barrie, which they are calling Eco North. Jeff says that expansion is a “big part of what’s going on right now,” and he says the plan is to “continue to grow that way.” Within the next three-tofour years, he expects to have at least a “couple more offices open,” and he expects the company to fully service the 705 area code. As for the kind of work they want to do, Jeff says they want to keep doing what they’ve always done, but they also want to keep getting into larger and more complex jobs as time goes on. Jeff calls those highly-complex projects as the “fun jobs – the portfolio-style jobs.” “That’s where we’re headed,” he says. “We’re getting into structural glass walls. We’re getting into art galleries and community center type buildings. We’re getting into the jobs that are really cool to look
at and that require a lot of problem-solving and expertise.” As an example, Jeff cites the company’s recent work on a curved glass curtain wall at Western University’s Entrepreneurship & Innovation Centre. He reiterates that Eco Architectural Glass is adept at those kinds of works, because “we’re never scared to take on a challenge and we’re always willing to work through any issues that arise.” “We have a great group here who are really willing to put their heads together and come up with solutions,” he says. “And we’re willing to bring our vendors into the process to help devise some of these solutions – we work with some of the best vendors on the market, and we’re happy to make use of their expertise.” “The goal is to be innovative and be on the leading edge,” Jeff concludes. “That’s where we’re all about. The jobs that demand that innovation – those are the jobs we want to do. That’s the direction we want to go.” JUNE 2025
For more on Eco Architectural glass, their products and services, their past projects, and to get in touch with their expert team, visit https://ecoarchitecturalglass.com/ THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA
A rock solid reputation
JMJ Rock Forming, based in Fergus, Ontario, is an industry leading provider of concreteforming work across Southwestern Ontario since founding in 2016. Over the past decade, they have grown and evolved significantly in terms of both capabilities and reputation. These days, they are well-known as the region’s go-to partner for topnotch concrete projects, and well-recognized for the values that power them, including integrity, accountability, quality, and safety. Jeremy Martin, the company’s founder and president, has been in the concrete industry since he was a teenager. Although he says he “didn’t grow up dreaming of concrete,” he spent his teenage summers washing trucks next door to a man who ran a concrete-forming business. By the age of 17, Jeremy was fully part of his crew – he was mixing, pouring, and stripping Duraform for agricultural buildings, and over the next decade he refined his skills on everything from pig barns to dairy operations. When Jeremy moved into the Kitchener-Waterloo region, he shifted into commercial forming, and in 2016 he and his wife turned that hard-earned expertise into JMJ Rock Forming. What began as side work beside his childhood home quickly grew into a full-service company grounded in the aforementioned values. Jeremy didn’t grow the company to this point on his own, however. He says the majority of the credit belongs to “the good people we have on our team.” That team includes his wife Judy Martin, the company’s secretary and treasurer, as well as the company’s four employee shareholders. That list includes: Kaleb McKnight, partner and supervisor; Austin Dinniwell, partner and supervisor; Terran Edwin, partner and lead hand; and Craig Bishop, JUNE 2025
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partner and senior crane operator. Today, the JMJ team works mainly within a roughly ninety-minute radius of Fergus, in a service area encompassing Southwestern Ontario towns from Brantford and Hamilton to Woodstock and Bradford. That boundary isn’t a limit so much as a commitment: within that range, the company’s leaders are close enough to monitor each site personally, ensure quality control, and nurture enduring client relationships. Over the years, JMJ’s capabilities have steadily expanded and now span a wide spectrum. Projects range in value from $20,000 to over $3 million. Jeremy describes company’s “sweet spot” as projects in the $800,000 to $1.5 million range. They can go a lot larger, however – their largest contract to date, a $3.3 million retirement home, showcased their crew’s ability to tackle complex schedules and hefty scopes without missing a beat. According to Jeremy, that retirement home project remains the company’s proudest accomplishment. “We handled all the foundation walls, elevator shafts, and stairwells, and the client was thrilled with how we met every deadline,” he says. Earlier, a 2021 renovation at a Cambridge college also tested the team’s mettle with interior underpinning, heavy reinforcing, and the construction of a six-meter retaining wall, and they passed the test. “It was a tight schedule,” Jeremy notes, “but our guys stayed focused, and JUNE 2025
we’re all proud of how smoothly it went.” Again, Jeremy credits the success of those projects to the hard work and dedication of the company’s team. In general, he says that hard work and dedication is a big part of what sets JMJ apart and why clients choose them. Another main reason clients choose JMJ Rock Forming is their heavy commitment to safety. In honour of that commitment, they work closely with Trevor Harness of TOTAL Safety Management, an Ontario company that helps clients meet their workplace safety goals through clearly defined objectives, effective project management and measured performance results. “When it comes to running a successful construction business today, safety is paramount,” Trevor says. “Starting from day one, JMJ Rock Forming Inc. has been a leader in understanding and managing risk. From recognizing the need for a comprehensive health and safety program and workplace policies to bringing in a professional, qualified health and safety co-ordinator, JMJ’s number one goal has always been worker safety.” Trevor calls Jeremy “a passionate advocate for workplace safety,” and someone who “knows the importance and value of running a safe company.” He commends him for actively supporting the implementation of safety training and safe work procedures, and for encouraging all of his employees to take a personal role in their safety and the safety of their colleagues. This includes THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA
JUNE 2025 complying with legislation and regulations, identifying and reporting hazards, and helping develop effective safety controls to prevent incidents from happening. Trevor also praises JMJ as a whole for being “at the frontier of many workplace safety initiatives,” including and especially mental health. He says they were one of the first construction companies to implement mental health wellness check-ins for all workers. These check-ins are completely confidential and allow employees to openly talk about personal issues and concerns and get the support they need. The result, according to Trevor, is “a more united team and a more productive workplace, and one where workers feel like part of the family.” “This commitment to workplace health and safety has been key to JMJ’s success,” Trevor says. “They don’t just talk about safety, their actions demonstrate it on all of their projects. That makes them a company that general contractors know they can count on, and that puts them in high demand.” Indeed, JMJ’s emphasis on safety – combined with the quality of their work – has historically led to a lot of word of mouth and repeat business. Jeremy says that’s mainly how the company has grown and attracted clients. “We spend less than two thousand dollars a year on traditional marketing,” he admits. “It’s all about doing great work, meeting schedules, and owning our mistakes – then the next project finds us.” Satisfied clients return again and again, and referrals keep the pipeline full. That reputationbased model underscores every decision, from project selection to day-to-day communications. “We value clear communication,” Jeremy says, “and if we mess up, we fix it fast.”
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA Expect the best Suppliers and subcontractors play a crucial role in JMJ’s operations. The company balances relationships with established concreteforming vendors and local businesses eager to prove themselves. “I don’t mind paying a bit extra for top-quality materials and prompt service,” Jeremy explains. “Good communication is the basis of any good business relationship.” Whether it’s ordering high-strength rebar, specialty form ties, or bulk concrete, JMJ insists on sourcing from reliable suppliers – even if it means costs are a bit higher up front – because delays on materials can derail a schedule just as surely as weather or labor hiccups. Inside the company, the culture blends hard-charging professionalism with a family-first ethos. JMJ’s crew sets ambitious daily and weekly targets, driven by deadlines and budget considerations, but they’re also treated to summer family activities, Christmas parties, golf outings, and paintball matches. JMJ also invests in the professional
JUNE 2025 development of their people and strives to give them room to grow in their careers. “We expect the best, but we also take care of our guys,” Jeremy says. That approach tends to foster loyalty – one team member has been with JMJ for more than eight years, and several others for over five. Kaleb McKnight, for example, has been there ever since December of 2016 – he started as a general laborer with only a basic knowledge of construction, but soon after Jeremy sponsored him for a carpentry apprenticeship, and by 2020 he was building foundations for custom homes as a supervisor. He says he’s stuck around because of the company’s culture, and also because of the satisfaction he derives from the work they do. “Whether the project is big or small, it is satisfying to see the accomplishments of every day turn into a finished product,” he says. “Finding an efficient pathway to completion and solving the problems or challenges along the way are some of the enjoyments of the job.” Craig Bishop, meanwhile, is a more recent addition to the team – he first met Jeremy in 2022 while working as a tower crane operator servicing their portion of a project. After a few months working alongisde the team at JMJ, he says “I noticed four elements that encouraged me to transition into a full-time position.” “Firstly: integrity,” he says. “Integrity is present among the team. They practice what they preach throughout the ranks and have strong moral principles.”
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JUNE 2025 “Secondly: safety,” he adds. “Anyone who is participating in large scale projects is aware of the risks and hazards associated with the job and this is a team that prioritizes the health and well-being of their teammates and those around them.” The third value Craig recognized when he first worked with JMJ is “quality.” He was impressed with the level of their workmanship from the beginning, and he remains impressed with it today. “The calibre of work, attention to detail and the ability to go above and beyond is a trait hard to find but can be found at JMJ Rock Forming.” Fourth and finally, Craig says the company values “accountability,” and that made him want to be a part of it. “We are a team who build one another up, encourage career growth, seek out new and improved methods and search out new ways to grow as a business.
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA Bringing value Two more values that JMJ Rock Forming has embraced over the years include innovation and sustainability. On the innovation front, JMJ has embraced technologies that amplify efficiency without losing the hands-on essence of concrete forming. For example, Jeremy points to the Trimble Robotic Total Station as a “game changer.” Where survey layout once required two people pacing corners with a prism and transit, a single operator now controls the station via tablet and prism, pinning grid lines and foundation points in hours instead of days. “It really saves manpower,” Jeremy says. “Two guys might do two or three hours of layout each day—now it’s one guy, and the time adds up.” Beyond layout, the company selectively uses advanced formwork systems and high-performance concrete mixes when project specifications demand it, but Jeremy resists fads that don’t deliver tangible improvements.
JUNE 2025 JMJ’s projects also inherently contribute to sustainability through concrete’s longevity and the firm’s commitment to waste reduction. While Jeremy hasn’t adopted formal green certifications, he notes that reinforced concrete structures often last decades with minimal maintenance, reducing the need for premature rebuilds. “If we can repurpose forms, segregate clean debris for recycling, or suggest energy-efficient finishes for walls and floors, we do,” he says. It’s a practical approach that aligns with client budgets and environmental responsibility. Looking ahead, JMJ Rock Forming plans to continue embracing technology and sustainability whenever possible. They also plan to grow – though the goal is steady growth rather than rapid expansion. The company envisions adding rebar and concrete supply to the company’s services, creating a onestop shop for clients seeking turnkey concrete solutions. “We want to bring more value by offering a full scope of work,” Jeremy says. Over the next five years, he aims to deepen client partnerships, refine in-house capabilities, and mentor the next generation of JMJ craftsmen – possibly even training his own children in the trade that changed his life so unexpectedly. Ultimately, no matter how big the company grows, Jeremy says JMJ will maintain the values that have powered them and set them apart.
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA For more on JMJ Rock Forming, and to contact Jeremy Martin and his team, visit www.jmjrockforming.com.
Foundations of trust
Ashton Construction Services (ACS) was born of family legacy and hometown commitment when Steve Ashton – the company’s founder, president, and CEO – launched the firm in October 2014 in Canmore, Alberta. Steve is a fourth-generation engineer who grew up in the area, and spent childhood summers shadowing his father, working on cottages, home renovations and joining his father on his routine construction site reviews. By age 10, he was already tinkering on his father’s engineering-design computer. “Construction is in my blood,” Steve says. After graduating from SAIT in Calgary in 2006 during a citywide boom, he found himself choosing among more than 40 job offers but ultimately wanted to return to the Bow Valley. Over the next eight years, Steve honed his craft on a $40 million multiplex – one complete with swimming pools, climbing walls and library spaces – before committing in 2014 to “strike out on my own back in Canmore.” Over 10 years later ACS stands as the Bow Valley’s largest commercial builder, serving a corridor that stretches from Kananaskis and Dead Man’s Flats through Canmore and Banff to Lake Louise. Within that region, they have an unrivalled reputation, which Steve says has powered their success. “Our community’s trust is our greatest asset,” he emphasizes. These days, the company is organized around two complementary service streams. The first delivers commercial interior renovations, such as retail, hospitality and office fit-outs, valued between $100,000 and $4 million. “We keep a dedicated crew for tenant improvements,” Steve explains. Whether it’s a boutique cafe in Banff, a high-end hotel lobby refresh, or the shell-andcore of a KFC in Canmore, each project benefits from a specialized team of superintendents, JUNE 2025
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