VIDEO: The 2016 BILD Awards - the best of the industry

It was a gala evening with record-setting attendance, and we were all there for the 36th Annual BILD Awards on April 28. The awards are recognition for the excellence in land development and new home and condo construction - as well as the sales and marketing efforts behind each development. It was a great night of celebration with recognition going to some of the most exceptional members of the industry.

Toronto is a world class city, and we've become so by continuing to grow, continuing to improve and constantly raising the bar for quality of life. One way in which we excel for doing this is in our residential construction. New condos have changed the face of every city in southern Ontario, and changed the skyline of cities like Toronto, growing them taller and more varied; and for new home communities that have created entirely new towns and villages, expanding the GTA to incredible sprawling proportions, the industry recognizes its own. The BILD Awards give the industry an opportunity to showcase some of the truly innovative and exceptional projects, giving consumers insight into the industry's high standards and true commitment to quality.

Awards were given out in 47 categories. Over 900 entries were submitted and it was up to an expert panel of judges to decide on winners. Some of the categories this year were added to keep up with the changing housing market - others to recognize the best in the two prevailing industries instead of one award that would go to either a condo developer or a new home community builder. The residential housing industry is enormous, and the two facets are really quite distinct, deserving of individual merit. Both Homebuilders of the year were well deserving: Tridel for Highrise and Great Gulf Homes for Low-rise. Tridel was named Green Builder of the Year for its outstanding leadership in Green building innovations and efforts, also taking home one of the new awards: Best Customer Care for oustanding and numerous customer service initiatives.

One of the pinnacle awards, the Lifetime Achievement Award honoured Ignat "Iggy" Kaneff. Mr. Kaneff came from humble beginnings in Bulgaria, learning the homebuilding industry first hand, on construction sites. He graciously accepted the award, telling a story of his first home in Canada, he built and loved all 750 square feet of it. His pride in his craft, in the quality and in the people in his company has grown his business into one of southern Ontario's well-respected developers and he counts among the holdings rental, commercial, residential construction and golf courses. He took the stage to a standing ovation and sets an example of the true values we hold in this industry.

"The GTA is home to some of the best projects in the world thanks to the hard work of local industry professionals," said BILD President and CEO Bryan Tuckey. "Their hard work is a testament to the quality of our communities, which is what makes the GTA such a great place to live."

Full list of Award Winners

HOME BUILDER OF THE YEAR – MID/HIGH-RISE
Tridel

HOME BUILDER OF THE YEAR – LOW-RISE
Great Gulf Homes

GREEN BUILDER OF THE YEAR
Tridel

PROJECT OF THE YEAR – MID/HIGH-RISE
Art Shoppe Lofts + Condos - Freed Developments, Capital Developments, Brandon Communications Inc., Cecconi Simone Inc., DesignStor, Montana Steele Advertising, PSR Brokerage Ltd.

PROJECT OF THE YEAR – LOW-RISE
35 Wabash - Zinc Developments, BA Consulting Group, Bousfields Inc., The Brand Factory, Brandon Communications Inc., Design Agency, exp, Firm Capital Corporation, PSR Brokerage Ltd., RAW Design, Read Jones Christoffersen Ltd.

PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD
Geranium Corporation and Pemberton Group, Friday Harbour - The Brand Factory, The Morrison Group

BEST NEW COMMUNITY – BUILT
Hullmark Centre – Tridel, Hullmark Developments Inc., The Brand Factory, Brandon Communications Inc., Drive Agency, Mike Niven Interior Design Inc.

BEST NEW COMMUNITY – PLANNED OR UNDER DEVELOPMENT
Queensville - Aspen Ridge Homes, CountryWide Homes, Lakeview Homes Inc, BAM Builder Advertising and Marketing Inc.

RILEY BRETHOUR LEADERSHIP AWARD
Hunter Milborne, Milborne Real Estate Inc.

STEPHEN DUPUIS HUMANITARIAN AWARD
Steve Stipsits, Branthaven Homes

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Ignat "Iggy" Kaneff, Kanefff Group of Companies

BEST LOGO – MID/HIGH-RISE
Signature Communities, East United Condos - Blackjet Inc.

BEST LOGO – LOW-RISE
Kettlebeck Developments, Brick&Oak

BEST SIGNAGE
Tridel, Bowery

BEST DIRECT MAIL
Tridel, SQ2 - The Brand Factory

BEST PRINT AD
Geranium Corporation and Pemberton Group, Friday Harbour - The Brand Factory

BEST BROCHURE – MID/HIGH-RISE
Signature Communities, East United Condos - Blackjet Inc.

BEST BROCHURE – LOW-RISE
Zinc Developments, 35 Wabash - The Brand Factory, Brandon Communications Inc.

BEST RADIO AD CAMPAIGN
Geranium Corporation and Pemberton Group, Friday Harbour - The Brand Factory

BEST WEBSITE – MID/HIGH-RISE
Great Gulf Homes, Trafalgar Landing - DesignStor, weare1188

BEST WEBSITE – LOW-RISE
Mattamy Homes Limited, Mattamy Homes Website Redesign - Bensimon Byrne

BEST SALES VIDEO
Empire Communities - Pureblink

BEST NON-SALES VIDEO
Geranium Corporation, Construction & Craftsmanship - Builder Insight Group Inc., The Morrison Group

BEST RENDERING – MID/HIGH-RISE
Geranium Corporation and Pemberton Group, Friday Harbour - The Brand Factory

BEST RENDERING – LOW-RISE
Sorbara Group of Companies, Crafthouse at St. Andrews - Paul Johnston: Unique Urban Homes, Pureblink

BEST PUBLIC RELATIONS CAMPAIGN
Signature Communities, East United Condos - Blackjet Inc., Kim Graham & Associates Inc.

BEST DIGITAL MARKETING CAMPAIGN – MID/HIGH-RISE
Aspen Ridge Homes, Aspire - The Brand Factory

BEST DIGITAL MARKETING CAMPAIGN – LOW-RISE
Lancaster Homes Inc. and Zancor Homes Ltd., Pine River - BAM Builder Advertising and Marketing Inc.

BEST MARKETING INNOVATION
Minto Communities, Minto Bside - Kim Graham & Associates Inc., Montana Steele Advertising

BEST OVERALL MARKETING CAMPAIGN (PINNACLE)
Geranium Corporation and Pemberton Group, Friday Harbour - The Brand Factory

BEST SUITE DESIGN
Adi Development Group Inc., Nautique Lakefront Residences, Norte - Cecconi Simone Inc.

BEST INNOVATIVE SUITE DESIGN
Building Capital Inc., University Studios, SmartStudiosTM - McOuat Partnership

BEST LUXURY SUITE DESIGN
North Drive Investments Inc., The High Park, The High Park Penthouse - Cecconi Simone Inc., Quadrangle Architecture and Interiors

BEST MODEL SUITE
Camrost Felcorp Inc., Yorkville Private Estates - Montana Steele Advertising

BEST MID-RISE BUILDING DESIGN (PINNACLE)
VANDYK Group of Companies, The Craftsman Condominium Residences - U31 Design

BEST HIGH-RISE BUILDING DESIGN (PINNACLE)
Signature Communities, East United Condos - Giannone Petricone Associates Inc. Architects

BEST SINGLE DETACHED HOME DESIGN
Tribute Communities, Gates of Nobleton, Wedgewood - Cassidy & Co. Architectural Technologists, Guidelines Advertising Inc.

BEST INNOVATIVE HOME DESIGN
Mason Homes, Parklands, The Oakwood Model - Builder Insight Group Inc.

BEST SEMI-DETACHED OR TOWNHOME DESIGN
Minto Communities, Minto Oakvillage, Castlerock - RN Design Ltd.

BEST LUXURY HOME DESIGN
Sorbara Group of Companies, Crafthouse at St. Andrews, Crafthouse Model E - Paul Johnston: Unique Urban Homes, Symbolics Architecture + Design

BEST MODEL HOME
Menkes Developments Ltd., Pears on the Avenue, TH 1

BEST SALESPERSON OR TEAM – MID/HIGH-RISE
Tridel - Juliana Tsui and Chili Yung

BEST SALESPERSON OR TEAM – LOW-RISE
Minto Communities

BEST SALES OFFICE - SMALL
Zinc Developments, 35 Wabash - The Brand Factory, Brandon Communications Inc., Design Agency, PSR Brokerage Ltd.

BEST SALES OFFICE - LARGE
Curated Properties, CABIN - Paul Johnston: Unique Urban Homes, RAW Design

BEST MARKETING PERSON OR TEAM
Minto Communities

BEST DESIGN TEAM
Fieldgate Homes and Hullmark Developments Inc. - Quadrangle Architecture and Interiors

BEST CUSTOMER CARE
Tridel

SOURCE Building Industry and Land Development Association