Canadian Design and Construction Report staff writer
The traditional groundbreaking ceremony took on a fresh new perspective with EllisDon’s construction launch at a 261-unit affordable housing development at 60 Caledon in Hamilton.
Instead of the typical line of shovels breaking ground, this ceremony introduced a new way to honor the significance of the moment with a focus on community, hope, and purpose.
Led by EllisDon’s London office in close collaboration with their Community Builders team, provided the perfect opportunity to experiment with a more meaningful and human-centered approach.
The project team includes:
- Developer Victoria Park Community Homes Inc, Kiwanis Non-Profit Homes Inc
- Architect McCallum Sather Architects
- Landscape Architect GSP Group
- Electrical Quasar Consulting Group
- Engineering exp, Aercoustics Engineering Ltd, Quasar Consulting Group, Entuitive, Pratus Group Inc
- General Contractor EllisDon
- Planning GSP Group
- Site Services exp, A T McLaren Limited
- Transportation & Haulage Cini-Little International Inc.
- Transportation & Infrastructure LEA Consulting
Dignitaries were invited to write their hopes for the development on biodegradable paper, which was then placed into biodegradable capsules and dropped into augured holes on the construction site. This symbolic gesture was designed to leave a lasting impression, carrying with it the messages of intent and respect for the community that will be served by the project.
“Instead of the usual photo-op with shovels, we wanted to create a moment that spoke to the deeper significance of this development,” said Nick Gefucia, Senior Vice President at EllisDon. “It’s fitting for a project that has had community collaboration from the beginning, that we honor the passion and commitment that has gone into this uplifting moment.”
As part of the ceremony, Victoria Park Community Homes also gifted guests with wildflower seed paper, encouraging them to plant the seeds as a reminder of the “seeds of progress” planted during the event. The gifts symbolize not just the beginning of a building project but the growth and flourishing of the community it will support.
“This is about more than just the physical construction of homes,” said Gefucia. “It’s about creating something that has real meaning for the people who will live here, and we wanted to reflect that with a ceremony that honors the values at the core of this development.”
EllisDon has long been dedicated to pushing boundaries and challenging traditional practices, and this ceremony is an example of how they are continually finding new ways to connect with and empower communities.
The company hopes to inspire others to see groundbreaking ceremonies not just as a milestone for a building, but as an opportunity to celebrate the deeper connections that will define the future of the community.
