BILD People’s Choice Award goes to Innisfil project

TORONTO—The best of the Toronto region’s home building and land development industry, including a golf course community project favoured as the “People’s Choice,” were recognized at the 36th annual BILD Awards presented April 28.

Awards for excellence in sales, marketing, design and construction of new homes in the GTA were handed out by the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) in 47 categories. A group of expert judges from across North America determined the winners from more than 900 submitted entries, indicates the BILD media release.

The People’s Choice Award, determined by members of the public through online voting, was awarded to Friday Harbour by Geranium Corporation and Pemberton Group. The resort-style development in Innisfil will feature numerous public spaces where residents will have access to amenities like an 18-hole championship golf course, a nature preserve and a marina.

"This is a special award because it is completely decided by the public," said BILD president and CEO Bryan Tuckey in the release. "The eight projects vying for the title this year were all unique and show how the industry is providing a wide range of choices to new home buyers across the GTA."

In addition to the Home Builder of the Year title, Tridel was named Green Builder of the Year, and the company also won the inaugural Best Customer Care award for its customer service initiatives.

The award for the Best New Community currently planned or under development was presented to Aspen Ridge Homes, CountryWide Homes and Lakeview Homes for Queensville, a new community north of Newmarket.

This award recognizes a community that embodies the smart growth principles of the provincial growth plan.

The inaugural award for Best New Community — Built was presented to Hullmark Developments and Tridel for Hullmark Centre in North York. This new award honours the best existing "complete community" that embodies provincial smart-growth principles. Completed in 2015, Hullmark Centre features residential, office and retail space with direct access to the Yonge-Sheppard subway station.

A townhome development called 35 Wabash by Zinc Developments won the prize for Project of the Year Low-rise and a mixed-use condo development at Yonge and Eglinton called Art Shoppe Lofts + Condos by Freed Developments and Capital Developments won the Project of the Year Mid/Highrise award.

The prize for Best Mid-Rise Building Design was presented to the VANDYK Group of Companies for Mississauga’s Craftsman Condominium Residences, which consists of three interconnected mid-rise buildings in the shape of a W, designed in part as an homage to Frank Lloyd Wright as well as to create more corner units and terraces.

In a special presentation, Ignat "Iggy" Kaneff was honoured with the BILD Lifetime Achievement Award. The CEO and chairman of the Kanefff Group of Companies has built thousands of family homes, highrise residential apartment units, retail commercial plazas and office buildings in the GTA.