Toronto Construction Association honours top projects, people

The Toronto Construction Association (TCA) saluted outstanding contributions of individuals and companies in its 12th annual “Best of the Best” awards.

In the project achievement category, three awards were presented.

This category acknowledges prime contractors and their teams who have completed “extraordinary” projects and demonstrated outstanding leadership and business practices.

The 2009 winners are:

• Phase III of the Telus Centre for Performance and Learning at the Royal Conservatory of Music. (large project category): The $49 million third phase incorporated fit-out of academic and administrative spaces and completion of the 1,140-seat concert hall and adjoining east lobby. Construction manager was PCL Constructors Canada Inc.

• The Allstream Centre at Exhibition Place (medium-sized project category): The project, which involved renovation and restoration of the Automotive Building, was completed in 18 months at a cost of $46 million. General contractor was Vanbots, a division of Carillion Construction Inc.

• Ireland Park (small project category): Located on the Toronto waterfront, the $2.5 million park is a monument to Irish immigrants who fled the potato famine. It was constructed by Kenaidan Contracting Ltd.

“The quality of submissions this year was excellent,” said TCA president John Mollenhauer. “But that’s no surprise, given the number of exciting projects that were completed in Toronto.”

Awards were presented at the TCA’s 142nd annual meeting last night.

Other winners were:

• The Matt Stainton Top Gun Award: The winner is Leah Traviss of Vanbots. The award recognizes a volunteer who signed up the largest number of new members during the annual October membership campaign.

• TCA Distinguished Volunteer Award: This award recognizes outstanding service to the association. The winner is Charles Lau of Cohos Evamy.

• The Sean P. McKenna Young Construction Executive Leadership Award: The recipient is Justin Gouthreau of Layfield Geosynthetics. The award is presented to a member of the young executives’ club who has exhibited outstanding leadership.

• Trade Contractor Award: The winning firm is Onyx Mechanical. The award salutes a TCA member firm that has demonstrated outstanding leadership and superior business practices.

• Outstanding safety performance: The winner is Greenspoon Specialty Contracting. The award recognizes outstanding leadership, performance or significant contributions to advancing construction safety.

• Innovation Award: The recipient is Amherst Concrete Pumping. The award is presented in recognition of a unique adaptation or approach of a product process, technology or technique.

• Green Building Culture Award: The winner is Montgomery Sisam Architects. The award is presented to a company that best demonstrates a corporate culture that inspires environmental sensitivity.

• The Construction Institute of Canada-Chancellor’s Award of Excellence: This year’s winner is Clint Kissoon of George Brown College. The award recognizes individuals who have advanced the cause of both construction education and the institute itself.

• Donald P. Giffin Construction Industry Achievement Award: This year’s winner is Michael O’Malley of PCL. The award is given for exemplary dedication and leadership in pursuing the construction industry’s common goals and interests.

• Life Member Award: This year’s winner is Dave Kueneman of the ECE Group. The award recognizes a lifetime of service to the association and the industry at large.