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 taken a look at a diverse array of contributors to the building industry, including companies that build homes, develop properties, design buildings, test materials, supply aggregate, and much more. Manga Hotel Group, for example, is a company that develops and manages hotels – since forming in the 1980s, they have steadily grown and evolved and expanded their portfolio to include 24 hotels comprising more than 6,000 rooms across Canada and the United States. We spoke to founder, president, and CEO Sukhdev Toor about his journey, which started with him purchasing a small Ontario motel shortly after immigrating to Canada. We also talked about the industry recognition the brand has achieved along the way, including their very recent Pinnacle Award for Company of the Year. Triple One Properties has a remarkably similar story – they are also an industry-leading and longstanding developer and manager of hospitality properties, in their case in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Their company was also founded by an immigrant who came to Canada with very little to his name and who rose the ranks of the hospitality industry, driven by a dedication to providing guests with the best experience possible. To tell their story, we spoke to the founder’s son, Sameer Mawji, the company’s executive vice president. He talked about how their success has always been powered by their relationships with all their key stakeholders – including their material suppliers, their contractors, their employees, and especially their guests. Then there’s Golpro Holdings and Zulu Aggregates – the former is an Ottawa-based commercial real estate company known for revitalizing heritage buildings, and the latter is a trusted provider of affordable, high-quality aggregate solutions based in Rocky View County, Alberta. We spoke to leaders from both companies and learned what’s powered their companies’ growth so far, their recent projects, and their ambitious visions for the future. For those stories – and more stories about other 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
SEPTEMBER 2025 MANGA HOTEL GROUP Building with vision TRIPLE ONE PROPERTIES A relationship company GOLPRO HOLDINGS Everybody wins ZULU AGGREGATES Quality without quit MARMOT BUILDERS A foundation of trust RAW DESIGN Everyone has a voice THE TOWNSHIP OF MAPLETON Overcoming barriers for growth LANEWAY PROS Providing a solution SEGUIN TOWNSHIP Innovative infrastructure solutions ASH + ACRE PROJECTS Clarity and care STRATFORD CONTRACTING LTD. A community builder KOOTENAY TESTING Tried and tested ZANETTI HOMES Fighting for excellence INDUSTRY INNOVATIONS INCINERATING TOILETS IN THIS ISSUESEPTEMBER 2025 ZULU AGGREGATES ZANETTI HOMES
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Building w
with vision
When Sukhdev Toor, a Sikh Canadian, first arrived in Canada in 1983, he carried the credentials of a civil engineer, but his path was not straightforward. His degree was not recognized in his new country, and work in his chosen field was difficult to find. Instead of letting those barriers define him, he turned to education and new opportunities. A leap of faith to acquire a small Ontario motel began what would become a lifelong career in hospitality. By the late 1980s, Sukhdev had already expanded the hotel business in British Columbia, operating four properties in towns including Nanaimo, Victoria, Courtenay, and Comox. In 1995, he returned to Ontario and began acquiring hotels in Kitchener, Scarborough, Toronto, and Niagara Falls. Just two years later, the foundation of what is now Manga Hotel Group had firmly taken shape. By 1997, the company owned nine hotels, six of them flagged under Comfort Inn and Travelodge brands. The pace of growth was steady, and by 1998 Manga was embarking on their first groundup development. That project, which opened in 1999, carried special significance: it was the first Hampton built in Canada. That pioneering spirit would come to define the company’s trajectory. Over the years, Manga Hotel Group has expanded their portfolio to include 34 hotels comprising more than 6,000 rooms across Canada and the United States, most of which are affiliated with flagship brands such as Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt, and InterContinental Hotel Group. Manga Hotel Group has more than 2,600 associates working in their properties, while the company’s Toronto head office runs lean with 30 to 40 employees overseeing functions such as finance, operations, accounting, sales and marketing, construction and development, and SEPTEMBER 2025
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SEPTEMBER 2025
INDUSTRIAL DOOR STOPPER SC DOO Do you work in an in an industry where you need to keep a industrial door open? Stop the damage to these doors by jamming something underneath the door to keep it open. The Scorpion Door Stopper saves time, prevents damage to doors and a potential back injury by not having to bend over. Check out Video why thousands have chosen the SCORPION DOOR STOPPER www.scorpiondoorstop.com PHONE: 780-838-8323 to place your order. Ask for your free sample (Shipping not included) Email; Sales@scorpiondoorstop.com Made right here in Canada revenue management. Manga’s reach is national and international. In Canada, the group’s hotels stretch from Newfoundland and Nova Scotia through New Brunswick, Ontario, and Manitoba, with three properties in Alberta as well. South of the border, the company operates four hotels in New York State, including one in Manhattan, one in Albany, and two at the Buffalo Airport. As of 2025, 16 hotels were built directly by Manga, reflecting the company’s longstanding integration of development and operations. Manga Hotel Group operates with a fully integrated business approach, overseeing every aspect from land acquisition and construction to hotel operations and property management. This comprehensive approach allows the company to maintain high standards and efficiency throughout the development and operational lifecycle of their projects. Over the decades, the group has handled projects of widely varying scale. “There’s no such thing as an ‘average’ project for us. Our recent developments have ranged from $100 million to $250 million, and our landmark project in downtown Toronto, which opened this year, is valued at $250 million,” says Sukhdev. That fouryear build resulted in a striking 33-story tower on Jarvis Street, combining a 234-room hotel with 180 rental units and three floors of below-grade parking. Recognized as the second-best design in the Greater Toronto Area’s annual rankings, the project became a point of pride for the company and a testament to what it could achieve on complex, urban sites. THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA
At present, Manga is actively building two hotels in Toronto: a 280-room Hyatt House in the downtown core and a 200-room Hyatt Place near the airport. In Halifax, three residential towers are underway, including a 33-story high-rise already in construction. Looking ahead, the company has plans for more than 3,000 new apartment units across Calgary, Toronto, Brampton, and Halifax, with towers ranging from 40 to 48 stories. In total, four new hotels are slated for development, three of which are already under construction. This level of consistent activity reflects not only ambition but also discipline. Manga frequently functions as their own general contractor. “We bring in construction managers for execution but retain control of the overall direction. This allows us to build and sustain long-term partnerships with key players.” Many construction companies and contractors have worked with Manga over the years, with some trusted partners going back dozens of years and being involved in multiple projects. ”Relationships with major suppliers are equally important, with companies such as Kohler – they became reliable collaborators across successive developments,” Sukhdev adds. Manga’s culture mirrors this sense of balance – professional yet personable, structured yet familylike. Employees are empowered to take ownership of their responsibilities, with leadership stepping in when guidance or experience is needed. Hotel operations are entrusted to general managers and on-site teams, supported by a Corporate Director of Operations, a Corporate Director of Sales, and a revenue management team SEPTEMBER 2025
soletexfabrics.com info@soletexfabrics.com 701 Millway Avenue unit 10, Concord, Ontario L4K 3S7 Canada 905-669-1969 Soletex Fabrics is a wholesaler selling to the trade only. We cater to our customers every need, from one meter to thousands. Our sample books are ready to be taken on shop at home visits to your customers’ homes. We also provide fabrics to contractors for hotels, banquet halls, convention centers, home staging, RV’s, bedding manufacturers & multi store retail chains. Fabrics Hardware Workroom Supplies at head office, while development leadership focuses on construction and strategic growth. This separation of responsibilities ensures clarity while maintaining trust and accountability at every level. The company’s success has not gone unnoticed. Most recently, in September 2025, Manga Hotels was named the Company of the Year by Hotelier Magazine’s Pinnacle Awards. In previous, Manga also earned numerous awards across multiple hotel brands, including InterContinental Hotel Group’s Canadian Developer of the Year and the Hilton Americas Development Awards. In 2024, for example, Hilton honored Manga Hotel Group with awards for ‘Multi-Brand Developer of the Year’ and ‘Dual-Brand Deal of the Year’. Additionally, Sukhdev himself was honored with the RBC ‘Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award’ and a Hilton Lifetime Achievement Award, highlighting both his personal and professional achievements. Today, Sukhdev is recognized not only as a billionaire entrepreneur but also as a visionary hospitality leader whose impact extends well beyond the hotel industry. Sukhdev credits that consistent recognition to his passion for innovation, which has always been a hallmark of Manga’s philosophy. Over the years, the company has led the way with several firsts, from Canada’s inaugural Hampton to the first LEED-certified hotel in Canada. Current projects continue that tradition, incorporating advanced sustainability features such as solar panels, geothermal systems, and wastewater heat recovery. These initiatives align with the company’s THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA
commitment to “green hotels,” ensuring their developments are not only efficient to operate but also environmentally responsible. In a sector often defined by tradition, Manga’s willingness to innovate sets it apart. For Sukhdev and his team, Manga Hotel Group’s position as a family-owned company is a source of strength. Unlike public companies that must prioritize shareholder returns above all else, Manga takes a long-term view, building projects designed to stand the test of time. “We are here to stay” has become more than just a sentiment; it is evident in the enduring partnerships, the investments in sustainable building, and the continued expansion into both hospitality and residential markets. As Manga looks to the future, the scale of their ambitions is striking. With thousands of apartment units and multiple hotels in the pipeline, the company is actively shaping skylines in Toronto, Halifax, Brampton, and Calgary, while maintaining a presence across the Canadian provinces and into the United States. Each new project reflects not only growth, but also the guiding principles that have defined the company for more than three decades: innovation, sustainability, trust, and family leadership. From their beginnings in a modest Ontario motel to their current position as one of Canada’s most recognized private hotel and real estate developers, Manga Hotel Group’s journey is one of resilience and vision. It is the story of an immigrant engineer who adapted, persevered, and built something lasting, and of a company that continues to grow with the same determination – shaping communities, redefining hospitality, and building with an eye firmly on the future. SEPTEMBER 2025
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA For more on Manga Hotel Group, their capabilities, their portfolio of properties, and their latest news, visit their website at www.mangahotels.com
A relationship company
Triple One Properties is an industry-leading and longstanding developer and manager of hospitality properties in Alberta and Saskatchewan. With nearly four decades of proven expertise in the sector, they specialize in delivering exceptional results through meticulous property development and efficient project management. According to Sameer Mawji, executive vice president, the company’s enduring success is a result of the relationships they have built over the years with all their key stakeholders – including their material suppliers, their contractors, their employees, and especially their guests. “Our greatest assets are our relationships,” Sameer says. “A lot of those started with my father. As a family, we’ve always put a lot of emphasis and taken a lot of pride in the relationships we’ve curated over the years.” Sameer’s father, Shiraz ‘Sam’ Mawji, came from humble beginnings – he immigrated to Canada from Tanzania at 21 years old with just $500 to his name. He eventually began his journey in hospitality when he opened the very first international Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton January 1997. Later, he opened the Courtyard by Marriott at the Saskatoon Airport in December of 2014, which was the first in the Marriott property in the province of Saskatchewan. The following year, Sam suddenly past away, leaving his family to take over the company and continue his legacy. Sameer, for his part, was born and raised in Calgary, as was his brother. They both joined the family business at a young age. “We’ve been exposed to the hotel industry for the better part of our entire lives,” Sameer says. “We’ve known the hospitality business for a long time.” SEPTEMBER 2025
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SEPTEMBER 2025 CALGARY'S MOST TRUSTED mechanical contractor Established 1982 The company was established in 1982 and has been installing quality mechanical systems throughout Calgary and the surrounding area ever since. We specialize in the new construction of multi-family and commercial projects using only the highest quality materials available. Working closely with our trade partners and suppliers we provide full mechanical services including, Plumbing, Gasfitting, Sheet Metal, Fire Protection, Controls, Refrigeration, Pipe & Duct Insulation and Firestopping. Mystique Mechanical has successfully completed over 10,000 condominium & apartment units and nearly 10 million square feet of commercial space. Whether its design built, design assist or spec and tender we have the expertise to complete any project on time and on budget. 7865 - 56th Street SE Calgary, Alberta T2C 5S7 mystiquemech.ca 403-250-3543
These days, under the leadership of Sameer and his brother, Triple One Properties focuses on building, developing and managing projects primarily Alberta and Saskatchewan, though they would be willing to venture into other provinces if the right opportunity arose. In terms of size, their projects have gotten progressively larger in size and scope over the years. Their most recent project – the Hampton Inn by Hilton, located in Downtown Calgary – is their most significant to date, topping off at 16 storeys, with 151 rooms, and a value of almost $50 million. Again, Sameer primarily credits Triple One’s continuous growth and success to the relationships they have built and maintained over the years. He says they usually work with the same contractors and suppliers on every project, and the result has been consistently high quality. “We don’t just go with the cheapest bid,” he says. “When we’re doing a project, we go out to the same people and we do the project with them. We do that for reasons of quality. It’s important to us that we get the best possible quality, not the best possible cost.” Quality is so essential, Sameer explains, because they’re in the hospitality business and they manage their own properties. “In certain businesses, it’s natural to try and build in the most cost-effective manner possible because you’re trying to get the highest yield in your margin,” he says. “But when you’re in the hotel business, if you build poorly, your operation THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA
will suffer. You’ll have issues with the guests’ experience.” “So we take a very steadfast approach to choosing partners and products,” he adds. “We make sure the products we use are going to stand the test of time, and we build strong relationships with partners who stand behind their work.” As an example of such a partner, Sameer points to Kohler, with whom they have developed a unique relationship. On their latest project, they have sourced from all across Kohler’s product line – the plumbing fixtures, many of the lighting fixtures, and even the backup generator is all Kohler-supplied. “The reason for that is because we have such a strong relationship with Kohler,” Sameer says. “We have shared values. They’re a family-oriented company. They value good quality and service. If there are ever any issues with their products, they make sure to address them. That’s why we like working with them – and I think a lot of our customers like working with us for the same reasons.” Over the years, Triple One Properties has formed relationships with a number of key suppliers and subcontractors who also share those same values. Other examples include Pentec Energy, Emco, and Mystique Mechanical. Some of those relationships, Sameer says, predate even his involvement. One supplier relationship actually goes back 42 years. “Again, it’s not just about making sure that we get the best price,” he emphasizes. “It’s about the service, the deliverability, and the people. My father always used to say to me, ‘There’s no successful company without successful people.’ People really drive this business.” SEPTEMBER 2025
Home away from home As previously mentioned, Triple One Properties doesn’t just build and develop hotel properties – they also operate them once they are built. In that role, they also focus on building strong and lasting relationships, particularly with their guests. According to Sameer, “we take a lot of pride and we put a lot of effort into ensuring that the guest has the best experience possible.” “The philosophy that our father always ingrained in us is we look at our hotels like a person’s home away from home,” he explains. “When our guests come in, they should feel that hominess. At the end of the day, they have a choice to stay wherever they want. They choose to stay with us, and we want them to feel that they made the right choice to stay with us. We make sure that our customer service embodies that.” THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA
Over the years, that approach has been validated by a long list of hotel service awards. Sameer says they highly value that recognition, because they are “a reinforcement of what we do.” “They certify that we’re doing the right thing,” he says. “We’re accomplishing what we want to accomplish. We’re giving our guests the right kind of experience.” As also previously mentioned, Triple One Properties recently launched their largest project to date, the Hampton Inn in Downtown Calgary. Sameer describes that project as “very unique” for a variety of reasons. For example, the project is located on a narrow lot on 6th Avenue S.W., a very busy street in a bustling urban setting. That made access very challenging. “So we had to lobby the city tremendously to make them understand that in this situation, you don’t want a lay-by, because it’s a safety issue. When you’re on such a busy street and someone’s parked off to the side trying to unload their luggage and there are cars going by really fast – that leads to accidents. We didn’t want any part of that.” Instead, the project was designed so that traffic flowed through the property. That took away from the square footage, “but it ensured the arrival experience of the guests was safe and welcoming.” Your Leading Wholesale Distributor of Plumbing and Hydronics Solutions Serving both commercial and residential customers, Emco is dedicated to delivering world-class customer service with an unmatched focus on product variety and availability. Customer Satisfaction Always. Calgary Foothills 7110 44 St SE Calgary, AB 403.252.6621 emco.ca SEPTEMBER 2025
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Another issue was parking. Because the building had such a small footprint – only about 6,500 square feet – it was hard to allow for the kind of turn radiuses that would make underground parking feasible. Sameer’s solution was to leverage the relationships he had with friends and colleagues in the auto dealership world. “Auto dealerships have freight elevators that can take cars up and down,” Sameer explains. “We have something similar. We have a car elevator that will take cars down to the lower level, and then we have a car rack system, and the valet can ‘stack’ the cars three-high. That tripled the amount of parking space that we are able to achieve. That’s how we were able to get the development permit.” “We had to think outside the box for this project,” he adds. “We had to take advantage of some unique opportunities. Otherwise, we would not have been able to do it.” Moving forward, Triple One Properties intends to continue to identify and pursue unique opportunities, and to continue expanding as a result. Currently, for example, are currently looking at some acquisition and conversion opportunities – they don’t intend to stop developing new properties, but Sameer says there are a lot of existing properties out there that are primed for redevelopment and they want to do a lot more of that. “I would say our plan for the next three to five years is to continue to grow,” he says. “My hope is to have a new project commencement and completion every 18 to 24 months. That’s a little bit slower than some other developers, but we’re a small group, we own and operate all our properties, and we don’t want to also over-extend ourselves. We want to grow in a way that allows us to keep control within our family, because that’s how we keep our relationships strong.” “We’re always going to be a relationship company,” he concludes. “We’re always going to value relationships above all. That will always be the fundamental backbone of our company. That’s how we got to this point, and that’s what’s going to lead us to be successful in the future.” SEPTEMBER 2025
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA For more on Triple One Properties, their story, and their properties – and to get in touch with Sameer and the rest of their expert team – visit https://tripleone.ca/
Everybody wins
Golpro Holdings Inc. is an Ottawa-based commercial real estate company known for revitalizing heritage buildings and focusing on tenant experience. Since acquiring their first property in 2014, they have grown consistently and greatly expanded both their portfolio and their capabilities. Today, they are capable of managing all aspects of real estate acquisitions, lease administration, construction development, asset and multi-residential building management. In addition to developing and managing their own properties, they now also offer construction development services to third party developers and property management services to other property owners. Golpro was initially founded by principal Goldy Singh, who comes from a background in the financial sector. His vision was to acquire and hold real estate long-term, and then find ways to create efficiencies within each building that would save on operating costs while also enhancing the tenant experience. To execute that vision, he brought on Bill Sioulas as director of real estate. Bill has five decades of hands-on experience in commercial leasing, market analysis, marketing and construction project management. He previously worked at another company that owned and managed a vast portfolio of commercial, industrial and retail spots in Ottawa, and he and Goldy met when Goldy purchased one of those properties, on the corner of Clyde and Baseline. After closing, Bill recalls that Goldy met with all the tenants of the property, and the tenants all said some variation of “I hope you run it as well as Bill does.” That inspired Goldy to arrange a sitdown and then officially recruit Bill in June 2015. In the years since, Golpro Holdings has moved SEPTEMBER 2025
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SEPTEMBER 2025 quickly, growing in size and gaining prestige. After that first building – a one-storey retail plaza with a total of 20,000 square feet on Clyde Avenue – they acquired Mercury Court, a beautiful 75,000-square-foot heritage building on the corner of Dalhousie and Rideau. They ended up investing heavily in that building, adding modern technology and improving the energy-efficiency while still retaining the building’s historic charm. For their efforts, they received an award in 2022 at The Outstanding Building of the Year (TOBY) Awards, held by the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) of Ottawa. In 2019, Golpro Holdings also acquired 207 Queen Street, the Trafalgar building located on the corner of Queen and Bank. This 115-year-old five-storey property has gone through similar upgrades as Mercury Court. Over the following years, the company continued to acquire and rehabilitate commercial and office buildings throughout Ottawa. Eventually, they also entered the multi-residential sector, picking up their first multi-unit (55 units) apartment building at 305 Metcalfe in the city’s Golden Triangle neighbourhood. They then entered the industrial market with 830 Campbell Avenue, a one-acre property in the commercial portion of Carling Area. Then COVID hit. “We slowed down after 2021 and focused on our existing buildings,” Bill says. “We focused on helping our tenants out through the pandemic. And I’m proud to say, we didn’t lose any of our tenants. They all stayed with us.”
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA Recently, Golpro’s has grown mostly in terms of their service offering. As previously mentioned, they have diversified into the field of construction project management, extending their services to third party construction development of restaurants, fast food and other retail leasehold improvement projects. Similarly, the company has also expanded to provide third party real estate management services to owners of commercial, industrial, retail and multi-residential properties throughout Ottawa and surrounding regions. Their tenant and property services include: income enrichment; cost control; preventative maintenance; security and life safety; risk and environmental management; full-service accounting; reporting and banking; and the management and coordination of capital costs. As a property manager, Golpro’s track record is exemplary – according to Bill, all of the tenants he started working with when he joined the company 10 years ago he’s still working with today. He credits that loyalty to the company’s emphasis on communication and their proactivity. Not only do they resolve issues when tenants bring them up, but they often interview tenants and ask for feedback. If they learn that there are amenities the tenants believe could help them attract the best talent for their business, they will often produce those amenities. Additionally, if Bill notices a problem, he will do his best to fix it, even if the tenant doesn’t specifically request it. For example, he recently noticed some
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seniors in one of his buildings struggling with the bathroom door. In response, he installed a system that allowed residents to open the door with a tap of their phone. The response from the tenants, especially the seniors, was extremely positive. “I saw a few seniors were having difficulties, so I took it upon myself to make their life easier,” Bill says. “I saw there was an issue, and without even the tenant complaining about it, I went and fixed it. I think that kind of thing leads to retention.” As Bill mentioned, Golpro even retained all their tenants throughout the challenges of the pandemic. To achieve that, they had to get creative when it came to helping them out. For instance, during COVID when their restaurant tenants lacked patrons, they decided to donate money to shelters that the shelters used to buy food. “For example, we would go to the Shepherds of Good Hope and donate $10,000. Then every Friday, we would have some of our restaurant tenants supply food for the homeless, and they would invoice the shelter, at a discounted rate, and the shelter would draw from the $10,000 we donated. So we were helping our tenants and helping the homeless – everybody wins.” “We could have sat back and said ‘Tough, pay me the rent or you lose,’ like many landlords did,” Bill adds. “Instead, we asked ourselves ‘How can we get creative to help our tenants?’” Bill believes kind of creativity and care is a big THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA
part of what sets Golpro apart as a property manager. As a construction manager, meanwhile, he believes Golpro stands out due to the strong relationships they have formed over the years with their tradespeople and suppliers. As a result of those relationships, he says they are able mobilize fast and get work done quickly and efficiently. They earn that speediness from trades and suppliers by staying loyal to them, and by paying them promptly every time. “When I call them and I say ‘Look, I need this done right away,’ they’re usually there within the hour,” Bill says. “I think a big reason for that is because I have a policy that I pay all my trades within 10 days. They really appreciate that, and they show up for me in return. Again, it’s a winwin relationship.” One example of a key supplier would be Cash & Carry Carpet Centre, a locally owned and operated company with more than two decades of experience. They are a company known in the Ottawa area as a leading source of high quality flooring materials, with an extensive offering that includes selections of vinyl, laminate, tile, and hardwood flooring. Much like Golpro Holdings does with their tenants, Cash & Carry strives to go above and beyond to ensure that all their customers’ needs are met. When Golpro finds partners who demonstrate that kind of commitment, they do their best to stick with them. SEPTEMBER 2025
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Finitiative To date, Golpro Holdings has grown their own portfolio mainly through acquisitions and rehabilitations of existing buildings. Moving forward, that’s going to change, as they are currently in the process of developing their very first development from scratch. That project will comprise two apartment towers built the original Clyde property that Goldy first acquired in 2014. Those towers will include a combined 525 residential units, as well as some retail space on the ground floor and some additional office space. That will introduce more density to the street, which will soon be home to a new stop as a result of the city’s O-Train Extension. The property had to be rezoned to accommodate that density, but that turned out not to be an impediment – the plans reflect exactly the city wants to see in that area, and the rezoning application was passed unanimously by city council earlier this year. SEPTEMBER 2025
1356-1366 Clyde Avenue Ottawa www.golproholdings.com THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA
Construction on that project is not set to commence immediately, however, as there are currently a lot of market uncertainties due to factors like tariffs and the fluctuating costs of materials. Bill wants to be sure that “if we’re going to start, we’re going to finish it.” “One word I always use in conversations with my trades my staff is ‘finitiative,’” Bill explains. “Whatever we initiate, we have to finish. That word seems to be spreading around Ottawa, and I like it a lot. Because you can have all the initiative you want, but if you don’t finish, it’s useless. Finishing is what’s important.” As that project nears commencement, Golpro Holdings intends to stay busy. Over the next three to five years, their goal is to continue acquiring properties that fit their criteria, continue to improve the numbers of their existing portfolio, and to continue growing the construction management side of the company, which is thriving. The company’s vision also includes expanding the expertise and capabilities of their staff – right now, Bill says they are paying for some junior staff members to take courses with the Real Estate Institute of Canada and the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) in Chicago, so they will one day be capable of expanding their authority and career in real estate. “We’re really proud of the work we do and the reputation we’ve built for providing really great tenant experiences,” Bill says. “We hope to keep providing those experiences for many years to come.” SEPTEMBER 2025 halpenny.com (613) 722-7626 | info@halpenny.com Insurance - Benefits - Consulting Trusted insurance specialists providing customized risk management and insurance solutions since 1912.
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA For more on Golpro Holdings, their capabilities, their properties, and their community engagement – and to get in touch with their expert team – visit https://golproholdings.com/
Quality without quit
SEPTEMBER 2025 EQUIPMENT SALES & RENTALS • TRANSPORTATION • PARTS & SERVICE Crossfield, AB Founded in 1995, Craig Kergen and his team have built a solid track record by providing innovative solutions to the aggregate equipment industry. With industry-leading brand partnerships, Tyalta Industries represents the best brands on the market, ensuring top-tier equipment and support. Tyalta Industries is also proudly the longest-standing McCloskey dealer globally, showcasing decades of trusted expertise. Tyalta Industries is the largest material handling fleet in Canada with unmatched inventory of crushers, screeners, stackers, and more—ready to tackle any job. EQUIPMENT SALES & RENTALS • TRANSPORTATION • PARTS & SERVICE tyalta.com
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA info@tyalta.com TF: 1-800-960-9939 Nationwide Coverage from Manitoba/Ontario Border to the West Coast • Comprehensive service and support across Western Canada. Established Fleet of Fully Equipped Service Trucks • Ensures uptime and peak performance of both rental and customer-owned equipment. On-Site Fabrication Shop • Skilled in custom builds, modifications, and specialized equipment repairs. Heavy Haul Trucking Fleet • In-house delivery and logistics capabilities for seamless equipment transportation.
Zulu Aggregates is a trusted provider of affordable, high-quality aggregate solutions based in Rocky View County, Alberta. Since forming in 2015 to serve a highway project in the town of Wainwright, they have steadily grown their team and expanded their service offering to include paving, road building, and asphalt production, and they have developed a proven track record of processing a wide range of products for the construction and heavy civil industries. Recently, they have also expanded geographically – earlier this year, for example, they launched a division in British Columbia, where they see a lot of opportunity and potential for growth. Reid Church, Zulu’s CEO, largely credits the company’s recent evolution to their people. At all levels, he says their team is composed of a group of “very hungry individuals.” “We’re a very persistent team,” he says. “There’s no quit in us. Things change daily in this industry, there are a lot of ups and downs, it can be emotional – but at the end of the day, we know we can count on the people we work with. Our people are the strength of this whole thing.” Reid personally comes from a deep background in the paving industry – his dad was in the industry, and during summers as a kid he would “go ride around in an asphalt truck or sit at the asphalt plant and watch the trucks get loaded.” At just 14 years old, he started working in the industry himself. In 2015, while working at another paving company, he rented some crushing gear and acquired that initial highway project in Wainwright. After completing that project successfully, he went on to earn some more work and transitioned to Zulu Aggregates full time. SEPTEMBER 2025
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SEPTEMBER 2025 For the first few years, Zulu Aggregates stuck to pure aggregate crushing. In late 2022, however, they were asked to do a paving project. Reid and his team had a lot of experience in that industry, so they accepted the job and bought a paver. Once again, that project was a great success, and more projects followed. Over the next couple years, the company purchased some more asphalt plants and continued expanding in both company size and reach. This year, they are continuing that expansion into British Columbia – they have already been awarded municipal projects in Terrace and Prince Rupert, as well as some subcontract work with local construction companies, and they have purchased some property in the city of Trail, where they are planning to develop an existing gravel source. In terms of staff, Zulu’s team fluctuates in size depending on the season, but these days their team hovers between 25 and 30 people. As much as possible, they strive to employ locally and support the communities they are working within. Again, Reid says the company’s growth is largely a credit to their employees, and to their talent and dedication. He goes as far as to say “they make me who I am.” “They make my job very easy where it could be a lot more difficult,” he says. “I am so thankful for them. Like I said, when it comes to the company succeeding, it’s more about them than it is about me.” Some of those employees come and go, Reid admits, as is the nature of their industry, but the company also employs some longstanding team
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA members. Many of them have been working with Reid since before he founded Zulu Aggregates. “I have employees that have been with me since I was just a foreman at my previous company,” he says. “We’ve been working together for 17 years. The loyalty is incredible.” The company has also formed loyal relationships with suppliers and vendors. Reid describes those longstanding partners as “the backbone of the company.” “It’s not easy to start a company from zero,” he says, “but our suppliers have helped us so much. There have been tough times, but they’ve been there for us, and they’ve helped us get over the line. They have wanted to see us succeed just as much as we have. If we didn’t have those relationships, we wouldn’t be here.” As an example, one of the company’s key suppliers is Tyalta Industries. Tyalta is the exclusive dealer for McCloskey International in Alberta, as well as other provinces. Since forming over 30 years ago, they have been dedicated to bringing their customers the very best in aggregate equipment. Throughout their history, they have developed a reputation for being quick, flexible, and creative in how they conduct their business, as well as a track record for delivering on their promises. As a result, they have been able to build some strong and lasting relationships with clients and suppliers – their relationship with Zulu Aggregates being a prime example.
The right way In addition to forming strong relationships with employees and vendors, Zulu Aggregates has also formed some strong relationships with clients. According to Reid, a significant percentage of the company’s work comes from repeat clients who come to them directly, without even pricing against other competitors – which is the very best indicator of customer satisfaction that exists. Over the years, Reid also says that Zulu Aggregates has earned some highly positive references from very reputable clients such as Parks Canada and McElhanney Engineering. In many cases, he believes those references have put them over the top when they have started working in new areas: “When you’re new to an area, and the client doesn’t know you, it often comes down to what you’ve done before,” he says. “The references you have and the work you’ve completed carries great leverage. I SEPTEMBER 2025
think we’ve got a lot of contracts just because our past clients speak so highly of us.” Reid credits that client loyalty to several factors. One factor is his personal history in the industry: “While working in previous companies as an employee, as a foreman, as a superintendent, I built relationships,” he says. “When we went out on our own, we already had that trust built with a lot of clients. It’s a small industry, people talk. That was a big advantage for us.” Another key factor is Zulu Aggregates’ commitment to providing a really professional service. They strive to create a positive atmosphere for employees, and they want employees to have fun, but they also demand they take the work seriously: “We strive to teach our personnel how to do things the right way and not to cut corners,” Reid explains. “That means showing up on time. It means keeping everything neat and tidy. It means putting safety first. Those are the expectations when you work here, and all our team members must buy in.” Moving forward, Zulu Aggregates intends to continue earning that team buy-in, both in Alberta and in British Columbia. Currently, the company is very active in both provinces. In Alberta, for example, Zulu is currently supplying aggregates on a municipal project for the town of Banff, as well as a road improvements program for Parks Canada, also around Banff. In their paving THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA
division, they are servicing some private clients in the Canmore area. They also have a crusher out in the Mînî Thnî First Nations settlement, as well as a crusher in Jasper, where they are providing aggregate to facilitate some new roads and pads for prairie housing. As for British Columbia, Reid explains the company has always intended to expand there, and now it’s finally happening. “Most of us are actually from BC and we’ve spent a lot of our careers in BC,” he explains. “From the beginning, we’ve always talked about coming back here, because this is home for most of us. We’ve always had a bit of a plan and that plan is starting to come to fruition. We’re making the move this year. We’ve found some areas there where we think Zulu Aggregates can do well, where we can support the community with some great work and some great pricing.” Ultimately, Reid says, the company has room to grow – particularly in British Columbia – but their goal isn’t to grow as big or as fast as possible. Rather, their goal is to maintain their industry reputation, and to maintain their culture, and grow organically as a result. “We like the size we’re at right now,” he says. “We’re open to growth, we could maybe get a little bigger, but the important thing is that we support the communities we work in, we provide some really great workmanship, and we can provide a really great place to work for our employees. As long as all that’s true, we believe the growth will come naturally.” SEPTEMBER 2025
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA For more on ZULU Aggregates and their service offering, and to get in touch with Reid Church and his expert team, visit their website at https://zuluagg.com/
A foundation of trust
Marmot Builders is a full-service construction company based in Prince George, British Columbia. Jonathan Burkholder and Preston Aitchison, the company’s founders and managing partners, are veterans of the building industry with over 40 years of combined experience, and a wide range of expertise spanning commercial, residential, and civil construction. These days, they approach every project, big and small, the exact same way – with “careful planning, meticulous execution, and dedication to the client’s vision.” “We believe that once a client tells us their vision for a project, they shouldn’t have to worry about it until the ribbon is cut and the key is in their hands,” Jonathan says. “We don’t believe in lip service. We don’t believe in unreasonable change orders that break the bank. We believe in building quality projects on a foundation of trust and responsibility.” Jonathan and Preston first met while working at another construction company, where they were both estimators and project managers in different divisions. Jonathan recalls walking into Preston’s office one day and asking ‘Have you ever thought about doing this for yourself?’ Preston had thought about it, as it turned out, and after several months of conversation and discussion with their families, they formed Marmot Builders in 2019. In the years since forming, Marmot has taken on a variety of projects, though they now mainly focus on the commercial sector. Within that sector, Jonathan says that “no client is too small – if you’re a tenant in a commercial building and you want a small improvement done, or you need a door fixed, we want to be there for you.” “We never want to forget where we came from,” SEPTEMBER 2025
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SEPTEMBER 2025 he explains. “When we started out, it was just Preston and I, and we did everything. We bid work. We self-performed it. We would hire subtrades as needed, but the baseline was that we did it ourselves. We’re significantly bigger now, but we never want to lose sight of where we started. We don’t want to chase after the big, shiny, glamorous client at the expense of the small client.” So Marmot Builders will still take on small projects, especially on behalf of past clients. At the same time, they will also take on some pretty large projects. For example, they recently completed their largest project to date – a 27,000-square-foot community centre and administration building for the Cheslatta Carrier Nation, valued at just under $20 million. No matter the size or scope of the project, however, Jonathan believes what sets Marmot Builders apart is their track record and their reputation. He says they have become known for “working hard, being honest, being fair, and giving a good quality product.” In turn, he credits that reputation to his and Preston’s hands-on management style, and their personal involvement in every single project they undertake: “All of our clients have both our cell phone numbers,” Jonathan says. “If they have a problem, they can come to us directly to solve that problem. Whether the problem has to do with personnel, with schedule, with pricing, or with anything else, they have access to the managing partners of the company.”
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA As a result of that accessibility, Preston and Jonathan have been able to build personal relationships with many of their clients, and those relationships often become recurring and longstanding. According to Jonathan, some of those relationships go back to the very beginning of Marmot Builders. Marmot Builders’ relationships with other stakeholders also tend to be longstanding. The company’s relationships with employees, for example, are very important to both Preston and Jonathan. When they started Marmot Builders, Jonathan says a key part of their vision was to create a company “where employees feel like the work and effort and sacrifice that they put in matters.” “There’s no secret formula to that,” Jonathan explains. “The biggest thing is showing up for the guys.” For example, if an employee is struggling, if their work seems to be slipping, their default reaction is not to dress them down or write them up. Instead, they prefer to approach them and have a conversation. “We ask them what’s going on, is everything okay at home? Is there anything we can help out with? It helps that we know them, we know their families. We might see a guy struggling a bit, but we also know that his baby is six months old. We have kids. We know he probably isn’t getting sleep. So we’ll have a conversation with them. ‘Hey, do you need to take a break? Do you need a couple days
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