1948 was a quiet year in Canadian history—but a good one. With prosperity returning to the country, nation-building was underway, and businesses of all stripes were busy shaping what the future was to become. AGF was one such business.

AGF Group
Reinforcing the Future Since 19481948 was a quiet year in Canadian history—but a good one. With prosperity returning to the country, nation-building was underway, and businesses of all stripes were busy shaping what the future was to become. AGF was one such business.
Concord Engineering Group
The Power of PersuasionTalking about the emerging energy-efficient technologies available back in the 1980s and ‘90s, Michael Fischette, P.E., says that at the time, it was “a new frontier”.
Bamboo Living / Rizome
The Greenest Building Material is Growing FastWhen it comes to sustainability and the future of the planet, David Sands wears his heart on his sleeve. Passionate about the environment and believing there are better ways to build, the long-time architect has devoted his life and career to making the world a greener place.
Arpi’s Industries Ltd.
Finding Success With Family ValuesSixty years after its creation, Arpi’s Industries Ltd. remains true to the vision of its founder, Arpad “Arpi” Berdin.
Altius Architecture
The Voice of ExperienceThoroughly eschewing the pessimistic belief that “the sky is falling,” Altius Architecture’s Graham Smith says the time to build and renovate is now.
IWCD
Proof that Building on Experience Builds TrustConstruction is an ever-changing industry, and the businesses that not only survive but also thrive have the willingness to adapt. British Columbia-based Island West Coast Developments Ltd. (IWCD) is one of those companies.
Celebrating Black Leaders in Architecture and Construction
Building on Strong FoundationsThe timing of the launch of the new Afro Canadian Contractors Association (ACCA) on February 1st fittingly coincided with the beginning of Black History Month in 2021. Honouring the legacy of Black Canadians through festivities and events, the theme that cold February during COVID was “The Future is Now.” For ACCA, it was appropriate and necessary, especially considering world events at the time.
Southernwind Pools Inc.
Reflecting Lives and LivingLooking back on his legacy, John Versfelt has a lot to be proud of.
Lang Masonry & Restoration Contractors
Building America BeautifullyIn his younger years, Damian L. Lang had his sights set on becoming part of America’s construction sector. Taking a masonry program while in high school, Lang aimed to become a mason contractor after he graduated. Not only did he achieve that goal, but he went on to create a well-respected company bearing his name.
Samcon Inc.
Redevelopment Recharged – Great Condos Make a Great CityLooking back on his long career in Montreal’s construction and real estate industries, Sam Scalia is proud of the role Samcon Inc. has played in transforming the city for the benefit of condominium buyers and neighbourhoods alike.
Empire Crane Company
Taking it HigherWhen Brothers Paul and Luke Lonergan were thinking about a name for their company, one immediately came to mind: Empire, after New York’s legendary Empire State Building. Twenty years on, the Empire Crane Company has grown to become one of America’s foremost specialists in the sector, focusing exclusively on crane sales, service, parts, and rentals.
Cornerstone
Industry PioneersOver the past 24 years, Cornerstone Detention Products, Inc. has grown from a two-person business to the largest and most successful company in its sector. “We are classified as a specialty contractor, so we focus on one particular type of construction, and that’s corrections,” explains Charles ‘Mitch’ Claborn. “And we’re growing every day.”
The Latest in PPE
Smart ThinkingConstruction has a disproportionately high number of reported workplace accidents compared to other sectors, making personal protective equipment essential.
Rogers Brothers Corporation
Four Generations & Still TruckingThe year 1905 was a landmark one. Albert Einstein unveiled what became known as his Theory of Relativity, which changed the course of the world. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle published The Return of Sherlock Holmes to appease a public still disappointed by the fictional death of his detective a dozen years earlier.
The Future of Age-Friendly Cities
Cities for SeniorsBy 2030, almost one billion men and women worldwide will be 65 and older. Mobility devices and technologies keep seniors safe in their homes, but once they leave their four walls, how are cities and towns making life easier, more enjoyable, and safer for aging residents?
Steamatic
Making It RightOriginally founded in 1948 as a cleaning company by two Fort Worth businessmen, Steamatic quickly earned a reputation for high-quality, dependable service.
In-Depth with HVAC
Keeping ComfortableFor businesses and homeowners alike, few things are worse than an air conditioner conking out in an August heat wave, or a furnace giving up deep into the coldest night of February.
SJOC Construction
Better Construction ExperiencesAmong construction sector stars, most life stories you hear are about kids becoming interested in the industry in their childhood, working alongside parents in the family business, building a backyard shed, replacing pipes, patching holes in walls.
Gross Mechanical
Not Your Usual ContractorFor over 60 years, Missouri-based Gross Mechanical has been on a mission: to help rebuild America’s infrastructure.
Canadian Home Builders’ Association
The Need for Housing is NowOver the months leading up the release of Canada’s latest federal budget, A Plan to Grow Our Economy and Make Life More Affordable, there was speculation over what recommendations the 304-page document would contain about the nation’s housing crisis. Highlighted as a priority for all levels of government, the dearth of all kinds of housing, from single-family homes to condominiums, townhomes to rental units, is a threat to our future.
CURRENT EDITION
Read Our Current Issue
PAST EDITIONS
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
The Future of Health Care Is Flexible
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, it caught our society flatfooted. Not one sector was left untouched or unscarred by the pandemic. And if you had to rank the impact among industries, you would be hard-pressed to find one more profoundly affected than health care.
Building Trades Recovery Week (BTEA Northeast)
In light of the numbers of annual opiate-related deaths of people working in construction, Building Trades Employers’ Association (BTEA) Northeast’s Executive Director Emeritus Thomas J. Gunning saw the need for the next generation to find solutions to the problem. That is how Recovery Week was conceived. Today, his son, Executive Director Thomas S. Gunning, and his team are helping to save and change lives and educate leaders and employees among the over 74,000 construction professionals the union building trades represent in Massachusetts—and their approach is working.
Homestar Inc.
Homestar Inc., a full-service construction company based in Quispamsis, New Brunswick, continues to push itself to “make it happen for our customers,” says owner and CEO Mark Hatfield.
G.R. Noto Electrical Construction, Inc.
Choosing an electrical contractor for any construction project can be risky. However, G.R. Noto Electrical Construction is steeped in generational knowledge with a reputation for excellence, and that is why its clients keep coming back. This unionized electrical contractor has over half a century’s industry expertise, spanning three generations.
Alpha Iron
Alpha Iron, part of the Alliance Industrial Group, Inc., specializes in steel erection, fabrication, steel painting, and coatings for a variety of industries including high-tech, commercial, marine, bulk handling, primary metals, energy, and chemical.
Danard Electric
Electrical services provider Danard Electric is based in Tacoma, Washington and has a diverse clientele across the state. The company was formed in 1947 when Ben Danard wanted to start a company for electric home heating; he didn’t like what he saw in the industry at the time, and knew he could provide better quality and customer service.