HCAT donates $45,000 for George Brown civil engineering scholarships

TORONTO — The Heavy Construction Association of Toronto (HCAT) recently donated $45,000 to George Brown College.

A cheque presentation was held earlier this month at the College’s Casa Loma Campus. HCAT works to promote best practices in heavy civil construction, safety, infrastructure investments and labour relations, states a George Brown College release.

HCAT’s donation funds two scholarships: the HCAT Civil Engineering Technology Scholarship and the HCAT Award of Excellence in Honour of Vittorino Soncin.

The HCAT Civil Engineering Technology Scholarship, which represents $30,000, will be awarded over three years, with five $2,000 awards distributed each year.

The other portion, totalling $15,000, will fund the HCAT Award of Excellence in Honour of Soncin, which will be awarded over three years, with two $2,500 awards given out each year.

HCAT chose to honour Soncin for his multiple influences and achievements within the civil contracting and engineering world.

Soncin emigrated from Italy to Canada in 1956 beginning work in construction in Sudbury, Ont.

He was later lured to the city by civil contractor Pitts Engineering that hired him as superintendent for bridge building on the Gardiner Expressway, the QEW and Highway 401.

Soncin started Sonterland Construction in 1978 and Soncin Construction in 1983.

At the age of 82, he is still involved with the company, currently building and upgrading infrastructure throughout southern Ontario.

For over two decades he represented the Heavy Construction Association as a trustee at the Local 183 Training Centre and was instrumental in developing its current apprenticeship program.

"Civil engineering students at George Brown College will be a part of the workforce that constructs bridges, subways, harbours and other megaprojects in and around Toronto," said Peter Smith, executive director of HCAT, in a statement.

"We want to invest in the next generation of civil engineers to motivate and encourage the future of skills trade people. We promote the development of civil engineers and this is one way we have chosen to contribute to their meaningful growth."