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. In this edition, we’ve highlighted a variety of builders, developers, and other key contributors to the building industry across the country. On our cover, for example, is Dynamic Builders, an industry-leading construction management and general contracting company based in Etobicoke, Ontario. Since forming in 2017, they have worked with a broad range of public and private sector clients across the province, delivering a diverse array of commercial and residential projects including hotels, student housing, and retirement homes. We spoke with the company’s vice president, Ashwin Patel, about some of those projects, including some of their ongoing projects with some of the most notable brands in the hotel industry. We also discussed their future as developers of their own projects – they see a lot of opportunity in the hospitality market, where they are already known to be industry experts, as well as the multi-unit rental market, where they are building a reputation now. Meanwhile, this edition also features a look at Tectonica – another industry leader in construction and project management, but based in Nanaimo, British Colombia. They take on projects of all sizes and typologies, and in all sectors they are known for their “client-first approach,” according to Darren Moss, director and project manager. We talked to Darren about what that approach entails. We also talked about the company’s culture, which is centred on the growth of their team members as individuals. In order to maintain that culture, they are currently working with Patricia Galaczy, a leading thinker in the field of leadership development and mindfulness training – Darren told us all about the work they are doing together and the positive impact it has been having on their team. Then there’s Bredin Brothers, an acclaimed Muskoka-based builder of custom homes, cottages, and boathouses. They started only a few years ago, but they have already developed a portfolio of stunning and large-scale homes and renovations, with some even bigger projects on the way. Emerson Bredin, the company’s founder and owner, talked to us about his company’s quick success and the factors that have motivated it. To read those stories – and more like them, about other industry leaders across the country, including leaders in real estate, earthworks, elevator design and construction, and municipal infrastructure – just keep flipping the pages.
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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 Business Development Managers Douglas Thomson Cheryl Ezinicki Mehdi El Oudghiri Production Manager Brennan Midghall Digital Strategist Pranim Thapa
NOVEMBER 2025 DYNAMIC BUILDERS Superior value TECTONICA MANAGEMENT Who they are and where they came from BREDIN BROTHERS Building with a passion TRI-DYS CONSTRUCTION Built on trust PROGRESSIVE REAL ESTATE GROUP Energetic and innovative development ACALLA DESIGN AND BUILD Trust, craft, and connection IRONCALD EARTHWORKS Tackling the tough jobs CEE ELEVATOR SERVICE Lifting the standard KILLARNEY TURTLE MOUNTAIN A worthy investment ECGI DEVELOPMENT GROUP Trust, Accountability, Teamwork FROUDE MANAGEMENT INC (FMI) Efficient, innovative, and client-focused PARADISE VACATION PROPERTIES Building paradise DENOBLE HOMES Custom fit and finish INDUSTRY INNOVATIONS INCINERATING TOILETS IN THIS ISSUENOVEMBER 2025 DENOBLE HOMES PARADISE VACATION PROPERTIES
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Superior value
Dynamic Builders is an industry-leading construction management and general contracting company based in Etobicoke, Ontario. Since forming in 2017, they have worked with a broad range of public and private sector clients across the province, delivering a diverse array of commercial and residential projects including hotels, student housing, and retirement homes. From the start, their high-performing team has distinguished themselves with their strong work ethic, their emphasis on customer service, and their wise and careful management of their clients’ resources. According to Ashwin Patel, vice president, Dynamic Builders has an ethos centred on “grasping the requirements of our clients and collaboratively addressing them.” That means they take the time to truly comprehend each of theirs clients’ unique needs and circumstances, and they work closely and collaboratively with them to deliver a tailored construction solution that achieves their specific objectives. Along the way, they take a “value engineering approach,” which involves analyzing every aspect of design and construction to maximize the project’s performance while minimizing expenditure. “What sets our team apart is our unparalleled ability to assist clients in seizing opportunities, navigating challenges, managing and mitigating risks and pinpointing areas of cost optimization,” Ashwin says. “By meticulously scrutinizing every aspect of design and construction, we identify opportunities to optimize costs without compromising quality or functionality,” he adds. “Our seasoned team of experts leverages innovative solutions to streamline processes, enhance efficiency, and NOVEMBER 2025
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reduce expenses; ensuring clients receive superior value for their investment.” “With a proven track record of successful projects, our value engineering methodology not only reduces costs but also accelerates project timelines, promoting a seamless and costeffective execution. Clients trust us to elevate their projects to new heights of efficiency and value.” Dynamic Builders is part of a group of companies, all run by David Kaaraslan, an industry veteran with over 20 years of experience. One of those other companies is DMD Building Systems, which provides revolutionary structural steel building solutions and high-end prefinished exterior wall systems. Other companies in the group offer formwork, dry-walling, foundations, and other various other construction services. With all those capabilities in-house, they realized they were in a strong position to offer clients a complete project management service. When one of DMD’s clients was building a new hotel, they submitted a quote to manage it, they were selected on the strength of their relationship, and Dynamic Builders was officially opened. Ashwin is personally a seasoned construction estimator with a history of working for numerous well-known companies in the steel industry. He met David when he joined DMD, and he played a key role in the formation of Dynamic Builders. Together, they saw the opportunity to branch out into full project management. One of their clients was building a new hotel, they submitted a quote, they were selected, and Dynamic Builders NOVEMBER 2025
officially opened in 2017. In the years since, Dynamic Builders has worked on a wide variety of projects of all shapes and sizes, with values ranging from $3 million to $50 million. Geographically, their work has mainly taken place throughout Ontario, in locations ranging from Thunder Bay, to Ottawa, to Niagara Falls. Currently, they are in the process of opening a new office in Calgary, so they will soon be doing more work out west – they also hope to be doing larger-scale work, as they plan to enter the highrise market within the next couple years. No matter the size of the project, however, and no matter the locale, what sets Dynamic Builders apart is the control they can exercise of their projects. Because they have such a broad range of capabilities in-house, they can keep a tighter rein on costs and schedules then other companies. For example, during COVID, when steel prices were rising and other builders’ were project costs were rising accordingly, Dynamic Builders was able to keep their prices consistent – that was because they had a structural steel company, they saw prices rising ahead of time, and they made sure they had enough inventory to weather the storm. “So our clients weren’t suffering from inflation or market crunch pricing,” Ashwin recalls. “We didn’t have to raise the prices. That worked out really well for them.” Additionally, Dynamic Builders and their sister companies directly employ a lot of labour and tradespeople. Throughout the group, Ashwin estimates their team includes over 200 people. That means they can mobilize quickly and get jobs done faster – especially compared to other builders BUILDING A CONCRETE FUTURE. CORESLAB.COM 905-689-3993 THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA
that rely almost entirely on subcontractors. “We can push jobs when needed,” Ashwin says. “We can get our people to work weekends. That helps us always get the job done on time.” Many of Dynamic Builders’ employees are experienced and longstanding, and the same goes for their sister companies. Ashwin credits that loyalty the company’s fairness, and to the opportunities they provide for professional development. “There’s equal opportunity here for everyone,” he says. “When we started, we brought one person on as a project coordinator. He’s now a project manager in our company. We always try to find the right talent and give them the proper opportunity to grow.” Dynamic Builders’ subcontractors and suppliers also tend to be longstanding. For each sub-trade, the company’s strategy is to retain a roster of two or three different companies, and to keep coming back to those two or three companies on every project. They also try to make the jobsite as welcoming as possible for those subtrades, which helps ensure their work goes as smoothly as possible. “We like to keep our subtrades happy,” Ashwin says. “We pay them on time. We don’t give them any headaches. We give them clear guidelines, clear timelines, clear drawings, and clear contracts. We know what the subtrades want is to get in, get out, and make money – that’s what we want too. We make things as easy as possible for them so they can come in and do a good job without any issues.” NOVEMBER 2025
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NOVEMBER 2025 Exploring opportunities Currently, Dynamic Builders is working on several large hotel projects for some notable brands. Moving forward, they want to keep pursuing work in the hospitality sector – “that’s our specialty,” Ashwin says, “it’s what we do best” – but they also want to get more into the rental market. With the government fervently pushing for more affordable housing, they see a lot of opportunity in that rental space, and they intend to seize that opportunity. The company also sees opportunity in the condo market, and they recently acquired their Tarion license in order to explore that. Though the condo market is slow right now, Ashwin says there are “lots of people who have the land and have a project ready to go, but they don’t know how to build” – or at least, they don’t know how to build cost-effectively and make the project profitable.
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NOVEMBER 2025 “A lot of times investors come to us through different channels, and they tell us they have the land, they have the pre-approval, everything’s ready, but when they go to market and get a construction price, the price comes in much higher than they expected,” Ashwin explains. “When they come to us, because of our in-house capabilities and expert, we can value-engineer and find efficiencies and we can bring down the construction costs at least 10 to 15 per cent.” “Those clients often end up wanting to partner with us, because we can control the price and we can ensure timely delivery,” he adds. “We’re definitely interested in exploring those kinds of partnerships.” Furthermore, in addition to building for others, Dynamic Builders is also interested in developing and building some of their own projects – again, they see a lot of opportunity in the hospitality market, which they are experts in, as well as the multi-unit rental market, where they expect there’s going to be a lot of activity. Lastly, Dynamic Builders is interested in growing, though it’s not their biggest priority. According to Ashwin, the company definitely has room to grow, but they only want to grow if they can recruit and retain the right people. “To be successful, you need a good team,” he concludes. “We’ve always been good at finding the right people and keeping them with the company for a long time, and I think that’s why our company works so well. As long as we can keep doing that, we’ll keep growing.” Ace Solutions Provider Inc. offers complete tech and electrical services for commercial buildings in the GTA — from EV chargers and security systems to A/V and data upgrades — all handled professionally from start to finish. acesolutions.ca
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA For more on Dynamic Builders, their services, their expertise, and their past projects – and to get in touch with their expert team – visit https://www.dynamicbuilders.ca/
Who they are and where they came from
Tectonica Management’s story began 20 years ago, when co-founders Darren Moss, Bil Derby, Bob Moss, and Barry Fairbank set out to build a construction management firm grounded in transparency, respect, and long-term relationships. Drawing on Darren’s structural engineering background and the team’s collective experience in design, construction, and project delivery, they focused early on work that demanded creative problem-solving, adaptability, and strong technical insight. Two decades later, that identity remains intact. The company is now led by Directors Darren Moss, Michelle Hall, and Florian Schulz and is supported by eight partners whose backgrounds span engineering, construction, and business. Additionally, as a key part of the team there is a strong administrative team led by CPA Marisa Paitson, whose financial expertise strengthens Tectonica’s operational oversight and supports the company’s commitment to thoughtful, wellmanaged growth. From the beginning, the team gravitated toward complex, challenging projects that required adaptability, creativity, and an engineeringforward mindset. Two decades later, that appetite for complexity remains central to the firm’s identity – and many of Tectonica’s earliest clients are still with them today. “We still work with our very first client,” Darren says. “We’ve grown alongside several clients for almost 20 years. We’ve taken the time to understand their needs, evolve with them, and build strong, long-standing relationships.” From day one to today, the company has approached challenges directly and transparently. NOVEMBER 2025 Company Shareholders (Top to bottom, left to right): Darren Moss, Michelle Hall, Tori Wickheim, Florian Schulz, Bob Moss, Barry Fairbank, Buddy Roozenburg, Al Staight
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA Inside Discover Montessori School
www.mharchitects.ca admin@mharchitects.ca LSPMedia LSPMedia Unit E -1822 Comox Avenue Comox BC V9M 3M7 250.941.0223. admin@mharchitects.ca www.mharchitects.ca is a full-service architectural firm specializing in multi-family, commercial, First Nation and educational projects throughout Vancouver Island and the BC Coast. MacDonald Hagarty Architects Ltd. “Not every project goes perfectly smoothly,” Darren says. “But when challenges arise, we face them head-on and talk honestly about how to work through them. Those conversations – especially the difficult ones – build trust. If you navigate challenges together, you come out stronger.” Darren credits the firm’s continued success to the calibre, engagement, and character of their team. “We strive to hire the right people and support them in becoming the best version of themselves,” he explains. “When people care and move in the same direction, quality happens naturally.” “We also feel incredibly fortunate to collaborate with a talented network of consultants and tradespeople,” Michelle says. “As construction managers, having a strong construction team is also key to project success. We have several trades and consultants that we have worked with for 20 years and the trust and shared knowledge developed over that time helps projects move forward more efficiently” NOVEMBER 2025
A principlesdriven approach to project delivery Tectonica’s guiding principles have earned them the trust of local governments, First Nations, educational institutions, health authorities, private developers, and commercial property owners. These principles centre on bringing meaningful value to planning, design, and construction – through rigorous, creative, and thoughtful application of their experience. A key component of their model is early engagement. “In our model, the owner typically hires us at the same time as the architect,” explains Director Darren Moss. “We act as an integral part of the design team – providing clear insight on constructability, cost, and schedule, and managing many aspects of permitting and approvals. It leads to better decisions and a more cohesive project.” They are also commitment to environmental responsibility, reflected in standout projects such as Discover Montessori School, which achieved Zero Carbon Building Certification through the Canada Green Building Council, and Duo Townhomes, recognized by the Regional District of Nanaimo for leadership in construction waste reduction, recycling, and material reuse. Directors Florian Schulz, Michelle Hall and Darren Moss (left to right) with partner Al Staight being recognized as Medium Sized Business of the Year at the Vancouver Island Business Excellence awards in 2024 THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA
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A culture designed to grow people Hall, now a Director, has grown through several roles with the company. She first joined in 2007 as an office manager, later moved into construction management on Tectonica’s early single family residential projects, and after taking some time off to raise her daughter, returned to the company – where she has since worn many hats and gained significant experience. “This is a place where people are encouraged to grow,” Michelle says. “Our team is supported in developing as individuals and professionals. initiative is recognized and we work to support our team in their personal journeys.” With a team of roughly 26 people, Tectonica has also invested intentionally in strengthening internal culture. Working with leadership and mindfulness expert Patricia Galaczy, the team participates in ongoing training focused on communication, resiliency, emotional intelligence, and healthy conflict. “The goal is a consistent voice and a consistent experience – for clients, trades, consultants, and each other,” Michelle explains. Darren adds, “It’s changing how we talk, how we solve problems, and how we support each other. Everyone’s on their own journey, but the goal is a healthier, more connected workplace.” Darren Moss, Site Superintendent Chris Ackerman, Construction Manager Florian Schlz, Partner Bob Moss at the Home Away from Home groundbreaking ceremony THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA
What they’ve done and what’s next Tectonica continues to deliver a wide range of projects across Vancouver Island. Some of year’s completed projects include the All Access Storage Facility – a 38,000-square-foot development featuring five prefabricated storage buildings and a two-storey office and residential building with 267 climate-controlled units – along with the Ucluelet Medical Centre and the Cowichan Urgent and Primary Care Centre. One of the company’s most meaningful long-term collaborations is with the Uchucklesaht Tribe Government, supporting the multi-year revitalization of the Historic Ehthlateese Village on the Kildonan Inlet. This ongoing work includes new housing, infrastructure upgrades, a Wellness Centre, and renovations to culturally significant spaces. Current projects in planning or construction include: “Jessie’s House” Home Away from Home Renderings NOVEMBER 2025
• Toquaht Nation Government Building and Tyee House at Toquaht Bay • A multifamily rental development for the Uchucklesaht First Nation • A 93-unit apartment building in central Nanaimo • A new Primary Care Clinic in Courtenay • Design work for an Island Health Voluntary Detox Centre • Long-term planning for the Uchucklesaht First Nation in their traditional village near Henderson Lake and Kildonan “We are also very fortunate to be working on ‘Jessie’s House,’ the new Home Away from Home Residence to be built on the NRGH property which broke ground in October of this year. This is an important project for our community and are happy to be able to support both the construction and cost saving efforts with a great group of local consultants and trades,” says Michelle. “The project honours the legacy of Jesse Shanahan and will support families from across central and northern Vancouver Island, expanding community-based healthcare in a deeply impactful way. This range of work reflects intentional client alignment, not portfolio chasing. “We don’t chase project types; we chase client types,” Darren says. “We follow our clients where they ask us to go.” Looking ahead, Tectonica is focusing on thoughtful, internal growth. “We had to scale quickly to support our clients over the last few years,” Michelle explains. “Now we’re focusing on deepening capability at every level so that, when it’s time to grow again, we do it in a healthy, sustainable way.” “We’re happy with our size,” Darren adds. “Growth will come naturally as our people grow. Our people are always the priority – our clients benefit when our team is strong.” Supporting the Women in Construction Summer Social Fundraiser for Home Away from Home (Left to right) Michelle Hall, Finance Administrator Holly Boxrud, Construction Manager Jackie Wong, Contract Administrator Lacy Ebert, Site Superintendent Kate Webber THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA
A broader commitment: facilities management In response to requests from long-standing clients, Tectonica launched its Facilities Management Division in 2021. Led by Jeff Seneviratne, with support from Michelle, the division draws on Tectonica’s construction expertise to provide high-quality operating and maintenance services across a growing portfolio of commercial, educational, and municipal leased sites – expanding steadily as construction projects transition into long-term operations. The division supports building owners by meeting lease-related operational requirements, optimizing building resources, reducing long-term costs, and enhancing the day-to-day experience of occupants. It represents a natural extension of Tectonica’s relationship-driven approach and the trust clients continue to place in them. All Access Storage facility completed in August, 2025 Toquaht government building construction progress in February 2025 NOVEMBER 2025
Entrance to the Ehthlateese Village wellness centre part of the long term work for the Uchuclesaht First Nation THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA For more on Tectonica, their range of services, their past projects, and to hear from their past clients –and to get in touch with Darren, Michelle, and the rest of their expert team – visit https://tectonica.ca/
Building with a passion
Bredin Brothers is an acclaimed Muskokabased builder of custom homes, cottages, and boathouses. Since forming in 2020, they have built up a team of the region’s most skilled craftspeople, they have developed a portfolio of stunning and large-scale homes and renovations, and they have quickly become recognized as a company for their overall commitment to excellence. According to founder and owner Emerson Bredin, their success has come as a result of their team’s experience, their talent, and – most importantly – their commitment to bring their clients dreams to life. “Realizing the vision of a client requires a builder that takes the client’s goals seriously,” Emerson says. “That’s us. Building is not just our job – it’s our passion. We’re passionate about creating custom homes that reflect each client’s unique vision, and we approach every project as an opportunity to build relationships.” Emerson personally started his career in building as a carpenter working for other builders. About seven years ago, he moved to Muskoka and started working with one of the larger custom home builders in the area, where he worked on some premier projects, such as a 10,000-squarefoot cottage. Soon after working on those projects, he decided to strike out on his own. He initially formed Bredin Brothers as a carpentry company and he subcontracted for other builders, but about three years ago the company transitioned to building their own homes – and has grown by leaps and bounds ever since. These days, Bredin Brothers employs a team of 20 full-time staff members and completes an average of six to eight builds per year. Their projects are located throughout Muskoka and the NOVEMBER 2025
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surrounding areas, typically ranging in value from $2 million to $6 million. Emerson credits the company’s rapid growth and evolution to several important factors. One such factor is the calibre of their team: “We have such a great team of project managers, coordinators, site supervisors, carpenters, and subtrades,” he says. “We’ve built relationships with some of the most talented people in our local industry. Our team is one of the main reasons why we’ve been successful.” Another main reason is the systems and processes they have set-up. Despite being a younger guy and new to running a business, Emerson has learned fast, and he says “we’re now at a point where we run our projects like commercial projects.” “That’s legitimately the feedback we get from clients,” he explains. “They say that the way we manage a project from our initial consult all the way through to handover is absolutely on par with some of the biggest contractors in Ontario.” That feedback, Emerson believes, is largely a result of the mass amount of work they put in during the pre-construction phase of a project. The company collaborates with their clients architect and interior designer for “countless hours” going through those drawings to come up with what they call their “preliminary estimate.” They present that preliminary estimate in the same format they present their final estimate – there are usually over 300 different line items, each line comes with a material allowance, and there’s also a construction schedule is attached. “Right off the hop, we’re saying to our clients ‘If we start at this date, this is where we’ll end up, NOVEMBER 2025
and this is how we’ll get there,’” Emerson explains. “And within that schedule, we break down what selections we need from the client and the interior designer, and by what date we need those by. We match those dates with the lead times of the materials they’re selecting, so we can make sure we have what we need in time to hit that end goal.” Again, this is all information they provide right at the very beginning of the process. Once a client reaches out to them, they will ask a couple questions, including questions about when they hope to start building, and then they go off and put that first estimate together. Unlike a lot of builders, they don’t charge for that first estimate – they recognize that there’s a cost to winning projects. Additionally, they put it together in a timely manner, which Emerson says it critical. “Timeliness is very important,” he emphasises. “You can’t get back to the kind of people we work with three months later. We’re working with people whose biggest asset is their time – which is a cliché thing to say, everybody always says it, but in this case it’s true. We’re usually working with very wealthy, very busy people who are building their third or fourth home – they’re not going to wait around for us.” Bredin Brothers also utilizes construction software to keep their clients up-to-date and informed, which is another big reason they get such positive feedback. During the construction phase of the project, their site supervisor uploads daily logs of their project including photos, and clients can log in to the portal any time to review those photos and see what’s happening. Clients can also see who was on site, when they were on site, and what they were doing. THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA
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Additionally, the client portal contains all the client’s selections. If they want to make a change, they can request one in there, the company can respond with a revised price, and the client can approve it or not. The portal maintains a full record of those interactions, so there is no cause for disputes later. Furthermore, Bredin Brothers bills in a cost-plus format, and they include all vendor invoices in the portal. So if the client wanted, they could doublecheck and confirm for themselves that their markup is the same as they agreed in the contract. “There is literally not one thing that we could do to be more transparent and open to our clients,” Emerson says. “I think that’s a big reason for our growth. It takes a lot of overhead money on our end to provide that service, but it’s worth it, because we have clients all over the world. We have clients based in Florida, we have clients based in Sweden – they can’t physically be on site to monitor our progress. That portal gives them confidence from afar that we’re doing what we say we’re doing, and their money is going where it’s supposed to.” Recently, Emerson personally met with a new client and explicitly asked why he chose their company. The client admitted they had reached out to eight different builders, including all the top builders in the area. Of all the options, he claimed to have chosen Bredin Brothers because of all the upfront work they put into his project, prior to even asking for a signed contract, and because of their reputation – “he asked around and we had great references.” “He said we weren’t the cheapest guys out there, but we weren’t the most expensive, and he wanted someone who was going to care about his project,” Emerson says. “We demonstrated that we cared.” “Plus, he said, ‘I’m very busy with work, I’m travelling all the time, but I’m a guy who wants to know what’s going on in the project.’ Our client portal made that possible for him.” THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA
Building a legacy As previously mentioned, Bredin Brothers has developed a high calibre team of project coordinators, project managers, site supervisors, and carpenters. To a person, Emerson says they are all “extremely hard working people,” and “extremely passionate about what they do.” He says he often hears from peers in the industry that they are having trouble finding workers who are motivated to show up to work every day, but that’s not a challenge he shares. “I think we have a very strong culture of hard work,” he says. “It starts at the top and it circles down. Even our carpenter helpers, who are fresh out of high school, they’re there every single day, they’re asking to work weekends, they’re busting their tail, and nobody complains.” Emerson believes one of the key ways they foster that culture is through a strong online presence and active engagement on social NOVEMBER 2025
media. The team regularly produces professional videos during projects that highlight both their craftsmanship and the people behind the work. They’ve found that this recognition resonates across the company, even with long-time team members who aren’t active on social media themselves. “I think that plays a big part in our culture,” Emerson says. “We’re always looking to showcase our employees, showcase their passion for their work, showcase that we’re very much a team. I think our people really respond to that and it goes a long way.” In a short time, Bredin Brothers has also formed some very close partnerships with subcontractors and suppliers. Emerson says they are “very selective” when it comes to choosing those partners, and they “have to have the exact same mentality as we do.” One example of a close partner with that same mentality is Muskoka Timbermills, a local mill known for providing the highest quality exterior and interior wood materials. Their team delivers exceptional customer service and takes great pride in every order; ensuring builders receive consistent, top-grade products that meet the standards of luxury construction. Bredin Brothers values their reliability, craftsmanship, and genuine approach to partnership – the kind of qualities they look for in all of their suppliers and collaborators. Another close partner with those qualities would THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA
NOVEMBER 2025
be Tiltco, based in nearby Bradford. They are a company that designs, manufactures and installs custom windows, doors and curtain wall facades for residential and commercial construction projects. For over 30 years, they have been dedicated to fabricating exceptional European glazing systems, and their products have become known for exceeding industry standards and ensuring brilliant performance, waterproofing, and security. Moving forward, in collaboration with those kinds of partners, Bredin Brothers aims to keep growing and keep taking on larger projects. Currently, they are doing a particularly large project for a neighbour of a previous client – they are knocking down the existing building and building a new cottage, a new guest house, a new garage, and massive three-slip boat house. Emerson calls that kind of project a “legacy project,” and he hopes to be involved in a lot more of them. As for the size of Bredin Brothers, Emerson aims to eventually double in terms of personnel, but then probably stop there. He says the company “will always be a luxury custom home builder in Muskoka and the surrounding areas,” and he never wants to lose sight of that mission, so there’s not unlimited room for growth. However, Emerson is personally interested in exploring the multifamily development industry under a new company Bredin Developments. With that new brand, he hopes to develop some more affordable housing options for people like a lot of his employees, who are starting families THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA
but can’t afford to purchase homes. He believes as an experienced builder, they can achieve margins that developers without internal building capabilities cannot. “Here in Ontario, construction is so expensive,” he explains. “If you’re a developer and you’re going out and hiring a planning company and a general contractor to do all your builds, you’re spending a lot of money. By the time you bake in what you need to make a profit – and if you don’t make a profit, you can’t keep doing it – the sales price has gotten really high. But if you can do as much as you possibly can in-house, you can sell the houses at a much better price point and still get the return that you need to keep doing it.” “In the near future, I can see us getting to a point where we’re doing three developers per year on the side, with each development being about 30 units and selling for $350,000 to $400,000 per door,” he says. “If we can do that, I’ll be very happy, because that means we’re supporting our community and we’re giving some of the people who work very hard for us the opportunity to own a home. I think everybody deserves that opportunity and I want to do my part to help provide it.” NOVEMBER 2025
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA For more on Bredin Brothers, their range of services, their past projects, and the values that drive them – and to contact Emerson and his expert team – visit https://bredinbrothers.ca/
Built on trust
TRI-DYS Construction is a family owned and operated full service renovation contractor dedicated to building both lasting homes and lasting relationships. Since forming over 18 years ago in London, Ontario, they have evolved from a small renovation outfit into a full service contracting firm recognized for their reliable execution and client-first approach. “From the start, our team has been dedicated to providing 100 per cent satisfaction for every customer,” says Randy Wilcox, founder and president. “We want our relationship to go beyond client-contractor. We want to become a partner in helping them achieve their renovation objectives. Our goal is to deliver value in everything we do through our commitment to quality and innovation.” Randy’s family has been in building for a long time – “my grandfather was pretty much a life-time employee at EllisDon,” he recalls – and Randy and his two brothers grew up working for their father’s company in the industry. Funny enough, however, Randy grew up not enjoying it. He tried doing something else with his life – he initially went to university to study criminology, and after university he got into accounting and became a CPA – but after working corporate jobs with a few different companies, he decided he wanted to build something of his own and turned back to construction. Along with his brother Shaun, Randy officially formed TRI-DYS Construction Inc. in 2007 – though the company really started taking off about 10 years later, when Randy retired from his last corporate job and devoted himself to the business full-time. The name came from Randy’s nephews – TRI stands for Tristan and DYS for NOVEMBER 2025
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA
Dyson – which is a reflection of the values upon which the company was founded, and which continue to shape the way the company does business today. Today, TRI-DYS Construction specializes in home renovations and office projects. They provide an integrated design-and-building service for both residential families and commercial businesses, and their projects range from kitchen, bathroom, and basement renovations to large-scale additions, commercial interiors, and – more and more these days – custom new builds. Each project – whether a compact bathroom remodel or a full-home transformation – receives the same structured process and hands-on attention that has become the company’s hallmark. Geographically, TRI-DYS serves London and surrounding communities. In terms of size and scope, their projects range greatly. In recent years, they have done a lot of multi-room renovations that modernize older homes without compromising their original character, as well as complex additions that blend seamlessly with existing structures. The company also has a growing interest in full new-home construction, which they believe is a natural evolution of their skillset. “The guys love building from the ground up,” Randy says. “There’s something satisfying about starting with an empty site and seeing the whole thing through.” Whether they are renovating or building new, RENOVATION, MEET INNOVATION 1DAY One-Day Installation‡ No Demolition Watertight Seamless Wall Lifetime Warranty ®Registered trademark of Bath Fitter Franchising Inc. †Lifetime Warranty on Bath Fitter® - manufactured acrylic products. See Warranty terms at Bathfitter.com/warranty. ‡Most Bath Fitter tub installations are completed in one day. Some exceptions apply. See location for full details. Bath Fitter PermaFit™ tubs, showers, and walls are custom-made to fit over your existing fixtures, installed in a day, and backed by a lifetime warranty†. 519-652-2222 1767 OXFORD ST E., LONDON ON N5V 2Z6 BATHFITTER.COM OUR INNOVATION, YOUR ADVANTAGE NOVEMBER 2025
however, TRI-DYS is selective about the work they take on. They focus on identifying the right projects and the right clients, and they are careful to never take on too much work at one time. That selectiveness allows their team to maintain close oversight and deliver consistent quality. Historically, Randy says the company’s growth has mainly come through repeat business or referrals, which is a testament to the satisfaction they achieve and the trust they build. Randy believes the key to earning that trust is delivering quality work and communicating along the way. He says the importance of communication, in particular, cannot be overstated – and he credits his background in accounting and corporate consulting for teaching him that. “I think it’s refreshing for clients to deal with a construction company of our size that has our background and skillset in communication,” he says. “We’re really good at proactively keeping the client up to speed on what’s going on. We have multiple touch points throughout the sales cycle and preconstruction cycle. We do a good job of answering their questions and making sure they feel comfortable and confident in our abilities.” Randy previously worked at BDO Canada, which had “dozens of multi-million projects on the go on multiple continents all at once.” He believes that experience sets TRI-DYS apart: “A lot of the people who own companies like ours are great guys, they’re really good at what they do, but they don’t have that same kind of background,” Randy says. “I think that’s something that THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA
immediately catches our client’s attention when they’re dealing with us – we’re very professional when it comes to communication.” Of course, TRI-DYS also delivers quality work – they wouldn’t earn repeat business or referrals otherwise. Randy says most of the credit there belongs to his brother Shaun, who co-founded the company, and who set the tone for quality and accountability early on. “He always wanted to make sure the job was done right and he treated every job site – whether it was residential or commercial – as if it was his own home,” Randy says. “He instilled that philosophy in the guys we have now. He taught them the quality that is expected.” That same standard is now embodied by the next generation of leadership, including crew leader Blake Holbrough, who recently marked five years with the company. “Blake’s one of those guys you can rely on completely. He leads by example, and that sets the pace for the rest of the team.” Much of TRI-DYS’s workforce has been built through personal referrals – friends, former hockey players Randy has coached, and people introduced by existing employees. This approach has created a close-knit environment where everyone understands the expectations and values of the company from the outset. “When someone already fits our team culture, that’s half the battle,” Randy explains. The result is a crew that enjoys working together, NOVEMBER 2025
communicates effectively, and represents the company’s standards in every interaction with clients and partners. That same trust extends to TRI-DYS’s subcontractors, many of whom have worked with the company for years. “We’ve got the same plumber, electrician, HVAC partners, and window installer we’ve used forever,” Randy says. “They’re people we know and trust.” This continuity has proven invaluable, particularly in an industry where scheduling conflicts and supply delays can derail even the best-laid plans. By maintaining reliable partnerships and a predictable workflow, TRI-DYS has avoided many of the disruptions that have challenged other contractors in recent years. One long-standing partner began as a client – TRIDYS re-did the entire showroom for Bath Fitter’s London franchise, and then subsequently did an entire home renovation for the owners. That franchise now hands out TRI-DYS brochures to every single person that walks through their showroom door. Another key relationship is with Copp’s Buildall, a family-owned London-based business specializing in building supplies, lumber, and home improvement products. TRI-DYS has been working with Copp’s for many years. Not only do they source products from them, they also frequently work closely with their design department, and that design department continues to introduce their clients to TRI-DYS in return. These partnerships helped sustain and even accelerate growth through the uncertainty of COVID-19, doubling TRI-DYS’s workload during THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA 1767 OXFORD ST E., LONDON ON N5V 2Z6 519-652-2222 Book your FREE design CONSULTATION today! BATHFITTER.COM ®Registered trademark of Bath Fitter Franchising Inc. †Lifetime Warranty on Bath Fitter® - manufactured acrylic products. See Warranty terms at Bathfitter.com/warranty. ‡Most Bath Fitter tub installations are completed in one day. Some exceptions apply. See location for full details. Bath Fitter offers a wide selection of beautiful and functional showers, in all shapes and sizes. We can even convert your bath into a shower! With our seamless one-piece walls and hundreds of design options, you’ll get a beautiful new shower to fit your needs, guaranteed for life. OUR INNOVATION, YOUR ADVANTAGE No Demolition Watertight Seamless Wall One-Day Installation‡ Lifetime Warranty
a period when much of the industry slowed down. Looking ahead, Randy envisions continued growth guided by the same principles that have sustained TRI-DYS for almost two decades. Within the next five years, he aims to expand the company’s project capacity into the “tens of millions” range, building larger-scale custom homes while maintaining the same discipline and care. Just as importantly, he wants to develop a leadership structure that allows the business to operate smoothly without his constant on-site presence. “The goal isn’t to become a developer,” he explains. “It’s to build custom homes with the same attention to detail we bring to our renovations – and to have a team that can carry that standard forward.” It’s a vision that balances ambition with authenticity – a reflection of how TRI-DYS has always operated. The company continues to grow, but the foundation remains the same: built on family, strengthened by trust, and driven by a simple commitment to do what they say they will. “I think what really sets us apart,” Randy concludes, “is that we don’t overpromise. We communicate, we follow through, and we take care of the details. That’s how we’ve built this company, and that’s how we’ll keep building it.” NOVEMBER 2025
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