PAGE A2 – December 2008 – The GTA Construction Report
Jacqui Elliott retires
Co-founded Construct Canada in 1989 – Show has
become Canada’s largest construction event
STAFF WRITER – The GTA Construction Report
cided to sell the business to Merchandise
Mart, recognizing corporate ownership pro-
Construct Canada co-founder Jacqui El- vided a good fit for their existing business.
liott is preparing for her final trade show, Under the agreement, the partners agreed to
having seen the growth of an idea in 1988 to stay on for a little while, leaving in orderly
the development of Canada’s largest net- schedule. “Jacqui is leaving first, but I will
work of construction and real estate shows stay on a while,” Przybylowski said. He de-
and events. clined to say when he plans to retire. “Mark
Elliott, who with partners George Przy- Stevenson will be last as he is the youngest.”
bylowski and Mark Stephenson, sold their “This way, (MMPI) gets to know our re-
show and conference business to Chicago- lationships, how we run our business, and
based Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. create some succession plans – we’re teach-
says she hasn’t decided what she will do ing them how things work,” he said.
after retiring. She will take a vacation, and Przybylowski paid tribute to Elliott’s
then decide. “I have no idea,” she said. “I contributions over the years since she gave
want to work with a blank canvass and take up her plans to enter graduate school to join
it from there, knowing from there I will be in the business. “If I had to do it all over
busy. “ again, I couldn’t think of a better situation
“I might do some more charitable work, with respect to finding a partner like Jacqui.
or go back to school,” she said. associations – they worked, for example, “There was still some government build- She’s strongly motivated, and empowered
She and Przybylowski started their York with the Toronto Construction Association ing going on. And during the recession, at the team – we provide excellence in prod-
Communications business on July 19, 1988 from the outset of Construct Canada. a time when you are trying to find anything ucts and things we do, and she is very client
on a shoestring budget, from home offices. Then, they encountered the early 1990s out there, a trade show pulling together peo- focused and relationship oriented in her ac-
Their first Construct Canada show, in 1989, recession. ple in the main industry proved to be a cost tivities.”
had 208 exhibits. They also started a sepa- “The show grew during the recession be- effective way of seeing what is happening, “We needed to roll up our sleeves and
rate property management show, PM Expo cause of two things,” Przybylowski said. and what leads you need to get to see peo- work really hard,” he said. “It took a lot of
jointly with Kevin Brown of MediaEdge “New construction dried up considerably, ple.” blood, sweat and tears to reach a point where
Communications. Soon, they realized that but people wanted to focus on retaining Today, the combined group of shows the business was strong. I feel blessed that
combining the events in one location would some cash flow and market share, through Dec. 2 to 5 at the Metro Toronto Convention she was my partner and we were able to
attract even greater interest and synergy be- renovations and maintenance business, and Centre has approximately 1,080 booths and build this.”
tween exhibitors and visitors. Early on, they this meant they needed to reach the people is expected to attract 23,000 visitors. Elliott, meanwhile, said before joining
aligned their shows and events with major attending the PM Expo side of the event.” Along with Construct Canada, Elliott the business she was trying to decide
and Przybylowski built a network of 17 whether to obtain her graduate degree in so-
strong real estate conferences, and with cial work or business. “When you think
CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYERS:
Stephenson and Brown, developed the show about it, the two disciplines aren’t that much
and conference business in Western Canada. different than what we ended up doing with
Need help hiring foreign workers?
A couple of years ago, the partners de- our lives,” she said.
CREWS is a service offered through the Building Industry and
Land Development Association (BILD) that helps construction employers
with the foreign worker application process.
Tendering still open
for Barrie Development
Call CREWS today for your free consultation.
GINA MONACO – The GTA Construction Report
ton is the private real estate arm of David
Thomson, son of the late Kenneth Thomson.
Silvia Bendo 416-443-1583 www.constructionworkers.ca
The multi-million dollar commercial de- The city of Barrie, with a population of
velopment on the former Barrie fairgrounds 130,000, has become a hotbed of economic
is about to take shape. The construction site activity. The commercial development of
plan has been approved and building per- the raceway at Essa Road and Hwy 400 is
THE FENCE PEOPLE LIMITED
mits have been issued. Demolition should located at the entrance to cottage country,
begin sometime in December. Construction making it an ideal spot for retail shoppers.
tendering will start in early January through The anticipated retailers for the site in-
All Types of Temporary Fences
Ledcor. clude box stores, banks, restaurants, smaller
Despite the slowed economy, the project shops and will include the Barrie Curling
is on track despite the delays in getting ap- Club, which could not be moved.
provals. “The permits, the paperwork and
• Chain Link (Driven In)
When residents first heard of the plan
• Plywood Hoarding satisfying the conditions of the various lev- there were concerns about traffic and noise.
• Chain Link (Panels) • Covered Walkways
els of government took longer than antici- A Traffic Impact study has been completed
• Snow & Silt Fence • Sliding Gates
pated, “ said Paul Hatton of PHA, the and these issues are being addressed as part
project management company. “Now we’re of the overall economic assessment con-
full steam ahead.” ducted by the city.
Osmington Inc. purchased the 15.4 “We expect to break ground in early
Tel: (905) 450-0500 Fax: (905) 450-0502
hectares of land that housed the Barrie spring of 2009,” Hatton added.
Raceway and Fairgrounds in 2007 for $32. It’s anticipated that the commercial space
www.thefencepeople.com
3 million — that’s approximately $2.1 mil- will be ready for shoppers in the spring of
250 Clarence Street, Unit #11, Brampton, Ontario L6W 1T4
lion per hectare — breaking all previous 2010.
records for commercial property. Osming-
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