A who’s who of the Ontario construction sector and beyond feted Building Trades business manager Patrick Dillon at a gala retirement dinner held at Toronto’s Royal York Hotel Nov. 26.
Some 700 guests were in attendance including former premier Dalton McGuinty, current leaders of Ontario opposition parties Andrea Horwath of the NDP and Stephen Del Duca of the Liberals, Ontario Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development Monte McNaughton, Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie and federal Minister of Public Services and Procurement Filomena Tassi.
Many current and former trade union leaders as well as construction employers and other business leaders also showed up to celebrate Dillon, who has served as business manager of the Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario since January 1997.
1/8
DON WALL — Pat Dillon greets Rocco Rossi, head of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce.
2/8
DON WALL — LIUNA international vice-president Joe Mancinelli pays tribute to Pat Dillon.
3/8
DON WALL — Niagara Falls MPP Wayne Gates, Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath and Sudbury MPP Jamie West compared notes.
4/8
DON WALL — President and CEO of the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association Enzo Garritano (left) talks shop with Ontario College of Trades CEO George Gritziotis.
5/8
DON WALL — Toronto Construction Association president and CEO John Mollenhauer (left) chats with Ian Cunningham, president of the Council of Ontario Construction Associations.
6/8
DON WALL — Patrick Dillon thanked his family during his retirement speech. Pictured, his wife Maggi Martin and son Michael Martin Dillon.
7/8
DON WALL — Pat Dillon has taken a special interest in the life and career of Dilshod Marupov, a survivor of the fatal swing stage tragedy on Christmas Eve in 2009. Marupov was on hand for Dillon’s retirement gala.
8/8
DON WALL — Former Ontario premier Dalton McGuinty (left) chats with CBTU executive director Sean Strickland.
Video and other congratulatory messages came from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, former Canada’s Building Trades Unions (CBTU) COO Bob Blakely, Toronto Mayor John Tory and former Ontario cabinet minister Greg Sorbara.
In-person presenters included McGuinty, McNaughton, Del Duca, Crombie, Horwath, LIUNA international vice-president Joe Mancinelli, CBTU executive director Sean Strickland and Ian Cunningham, president of the Council of Ontario Construction Associations.
Ford’s message, read by Building Trades president Jim Hogarth, stated, “Your leadership and passion and hard work over the years have helped promote excellence and professionalism in the building and construction trades in Ontario.”
McGuinty was given the role of keynote speaker, with Dillon explaining later during his address that he felt the ex-premier had been ally of the union movement while in office and had boldly promised to end the era of coal power in Ontario and delivered.
“Pat brings unwavering devotion and decency and personal integrity to his work,” said McGuinty. “And when required, he brings ferocity — not some reckless, show-me ferocity, but one born out of a genuine desire to find a way forward.
“Yes, Pat takes a side and he never forgets whose side he’s on, but he also understands that solutions can only be found by bringing sides together.”
Dillon, clad in a tuxedo, gave a closing address in which he observed that holding the job had been a “real privilege for me.”
“Not only did I work with really, really great people and work with many great contractors, but for me I was a part of the construction industry, a great place to earn a living.”
Dillon turns over the reins as business manager to Marc Arsenault at the end of December. Arsenault has risen through the ranks of the Ironworkers, serving on the Local 721 executive committee and moving on to work variously as a field rep, organizer and business agent with the Central Ontario Building Trades and Ontario Ironworkers District Council.
Follow the author on Twitter @DonWall_DCN.
Recent Comments
comments for this post are closed