From workforce innovation to net-zero megaprojects, this year’s winners reflect a sector redefining leadership, performance and purpose.
The ballroom at the Coronado Bay Resort in Coronado, California buzzed with energy on Friday March 13, as leaders from across Canada gathered to celebrate the best of Canadian construction at the Canadian Construction Association’s (CCA) 2025 National Awards. More than a ceremony, the event served as a snapshot of an industry in transition – one balancing productivity pressures with sustainability goals, workforce shortages with inclusion, and geopolitical uncertainty with innovation.
And for general contractors, the evening’s winners offered something more tangible in the way of proven strategies, scalable programs and real-world results that are already reshaping how projects are delivered across Canada.
Gold Seal Award: embedding professionalism at every level
The Gold Seal Award went to Simpson Building Contractors Limited, a Fredericton-based firm that has made certification a foundational element of its operations.
Rather than treating Gold Seal as a milestone, Simpson has integrated it into hiring, performance management and succession planning. Today, 83 per cent of eligible managers and supervisors are Gold Seal certified, with a quarter holding professional-level designations. Over five years, the company has doubled its certified workforce, creating a sustainable leadership pipeline.
For GCs, it’s a clear indication that formalized professional development isn’t just about credentials – it’s a lever for consistency across estimating, site supervision, safety and client delivery.
“Gold Seal isn’t simply a credential, it’s a commitment to lead the industry forward,” said the company’s President and CEO, Kirk White, while accepting the award, emphasizing the program’s broader impact on workforce recognition. “Many talented people in construction may not have followed a traditional university path, but programs like Gold Seal allow them to earn recognition for their experience, knowledge and commitment.”
Community Leader Award: from jobsites to community impact
Individual leadership in action (first winner)
At Ledcor Group’s Saskatoon operations, Lyndsey Shaw and Rebecca Gelech were recognized for transforming community engagement into a team-wide culture.
While delivering a major healthcare project, they mobilized colleagues to support Ronald McDonald House Charities, organized volunteer programs and led fundraising initiatives, including running 42 kilometres to raise $11,000.
Their impact extended into workforce development as well through mentorship programs with Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies and “Jill of All Trades,” helping break barriers for underrepresented groups.
“We want to sincerely thank Ledcor for supporting not only the work that we do, but the values behind it – giving back, strengthening communities, encouraging leadership beyond the jobsite,” said Shaw. “Having that support makes it possible to contribute in meaningful ways.”
Corporate commitment to long-term impact (second winner)
The second Community Leader Award went to Marco Group Limited, recognized for embedding social responsibility into its operating model.
Marco’s initiatives include advancing reconciliation through the Partnership Accreditation in Indigenous Relations program, supporting community organizations across Atlantic Canada, and delivering tangible projects such as shelters for people experiencing homelessness and a community greenhouse in St. John’s.
“We don’t just want to build projects,” said the company’s President, Allan McIntosh. “We want to help build trust, create opportunity and strengthen the communities around us.”
For contractors, Marco’s approach underscores a shift highlighting the fact that community engagement is no longer peripheral – it’s becoming central to brand, workforce attraction and client expectations.
Partner Association Award: advocacy meets innovation
The Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA) took top honours for redefining what a modern construction association can deliver.
Its “Constructive Conversations” initiative brought policymakers directly into unscripted discussions with contractors, while digital advocacy tools, podcasts and real-time election insights kept members informed in a volatile political environment.
Equally impactful was its workforce pipeline work: the “Bring Trades to School” program grew from 15 students to nearly 600, while expanded training and micro-credential programs supported ongoing professional development.
Membership growth, which increased by more than 200 companies in two years, signals that contractors are responding to this more proactive, data-driven model.
Workforce Excellence Award: inclusion as a performance driver
Orion Construction earned the Workforce Excellence Award for building a culture where inclusion directly supports performance.
Its approach combines structured accountability, including anti-harassment policies, transparent reporting and regular employee feedback, with targeted development programs for underrepresented groups. The results are measurable – zero formal harassment complaints over two years, 83.5 per cent retention and a workforce spanning 12 cultures.
Notably, Orion prioritizes advancement from within. Employees have progressed from internships to project management roles, while leadership diversity continues to expand, including the company’s first female foreman.
“We’ve grown without losing sight of what really matters,” said the company’s Director of Sales and Marketing, Cameron Archer. “We keep people at the centre of every decision.”
For GCs facing labour shortages, Orion’s model highlights the fact that retention and culture are now as important as recruitment.
Young Leader Award: delivering complexity with clarity
At just 36, Sarah O’Malley of PCL Construction represents the next generation of leadership.
Her portfolio includes more than 15 major projects, including complex P3 healthcare builds such as the Niagara Health System and the QEII Halifax Infirmary expansion. Known for her “fierce, fair and firm” leadership style, O’Malley has built a reputation for aligning stakeholders and delivering results under pressure.
Beyond projects, however, her mentorship and community involvement demonstrate how leadership is expanding beyond technical execution.
“Construction is an incredible industry,” said O’Malley. “It makes it easy to find purpose in contributing to the essential infrastructure we get to help build.”
Environmental Achievement Award: raising the bar for sustainable builds
PCL Construction also took home the Environmental Achievement Award for Limberlost Place at George Brown College – a 10-storey net-zero mass timber building on Toronto’s waterfront.
The project pushed the boundaries of mass timber construction, introducing a hybrid structural system that enabled long spans while meeting strict height constraints. Off-site fabrication, advanced BIM coordination and just-in-time logistics helped manage complexity and maintain schedule certainty.
With over 600,000 work hours and zero lost-time injuries, the project also demonstrated that sustainability and safety can go hand-in-hand.
“This project has become a global model for mass timber construction,” said the company’s Regional Vice President, Alistair McKnight. “It showcases how strong environmental performance can be achieved at scale.”
National Safety Award: redefining safety culture
Kiewit Corporation was recognized for its industry-leading safety program, built around the philosophy that “Nobody Gets Hurt.”
Its “Under the Hat” initiative integrates mental health into safety practices, bringing psychological wellbeing into toolbox talks and daily site conversations. The program generated 7,100 website visits on launch day, with ongoing engagement through webinars reaching up to 2,000 participants.
Combined with rigorous training systems and digital tracking tools, the company has logged 13.8 million work hours with zero fatalities.
“Safety isn’t a slogan,” said the company’s Safety Operations Director, Wade Medley. “It’s a responsibility we take seriously every day.”
Excellence in Innovation Award: rethinking how projects are delivered
Urban construction without disruption (first winner)
JCB Construction Canada was honoured for its transformation of a 28-storey tower at 600 de La Gauchetière in Montreal.
Using a first-in-Canada “umbrella system,” the team created a fully enclosed, climate-controlled work environment suspended from the roof, allowing construction to proceed without disrupting pedestrians, traffic or transit below.
The unique system resulted in a 50 per cent schedule acceleration, over $500,000 in savings and safety performance six times better than traditional scaffolding.
Digital innovation at scale (second winner)
A second Innovation Award went to PCL Construction for “Beeline,” a digital optimization platform that connects design models directly to field execution.
Already deployed on major industrial projects, the system has reduced material usage by 6.5 per cent, accelerated installation by 38 per cent and improved safety through better planning of heavy equipment and materials.
Pinnacle Leader Award: a legacy of leadership
The evening’s highest honour went to Geoff Smith of EllisDon Corporation, whose four-decade career has helped redefine leadership in Canadian construction.
Under his tenure, EllisDon evolved into a global, employee-owned construction services and technology company grounded in values like transparency, accountability and trust.
During a recorded acceptance speech, Smith emphasized that people, not projects, are the foundation of success:
“You don’t need to be a great construction guy to succeed,” he said. “You need to surround yourself with great people.”
A blueprint for the future
Across every category, a consistent theme emerged at this year’s CCA National Awards, highlighting the fact that the definition of excellence in construction is expanding and now includes workforce strategy as a competitive advantage; community engagement as core business; digital innovation as standard practice; sustainability as a baseline expectation, and safety as a holistic responsibility.
For general contractors, the lessons are practical and immediate. Whether it’s embedding certification into HR systems, leveraging digital tools to reduce rework, or building inclusive cultures that retain talent, the programs recognized at this year’s awards are not theoretical, they’re already delivering results.
As the industry faces ongoing pressures from labour shortages, cost volatility and shifting trade dynamics, it was made clear at this year’s awards that the contractors who lead will be those who adapt, not just how they build, but how they think.
