IMAGINE...
WHEN STEPHEN DUPUIS PASSED AWAY IN 2011, THE TORONTO HOMEBUILDING COMMUNITY LOST A TIRELESS AND INSPIRING LEADER. AND ALL OF US IN THE DEVELOPMENT INDUSTRY LOST A GOOD FRIEND.
Stephen was CEO of the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD). And while Stephen’s successes in uniting and representing the GTA’s building community were unmatched, it was his unwavering commitment to corporate social responsibility that truly marks his legacy. The Stephen Dupuis Humanitarian Award was created by BILD to honour that legacy, with recipients chosen for their consistent community involvement and philanthropic activity. We are thrilled to have received the award bearing Stephen’s name, and recognize this honour as an opportunity to further leverage the power of our business platform to build strong, healthy, and inclusive communities. All of us in the development industry are in a uniquely powerful position: we have the resources and expertise, not just to build, but to build responsibly. We also have the ability to build partnerships with ‘not for profit’ groups to create affordable housing and to find practical solutions to homelessness in our city and across the country.
IMAGINE THE IMPACT IF EVERY DEVELOPER ACROSS THE COUNTRY PARTNERED WITH GROUPS LIKE COVENANT HOUSE, OR WITH A LOCAL HABITAT AFFILIATE TO INCLUDE ONE OR MORE HOMES FOR HABITAT FAMILIES IN
” EVERY NEW COMMUNITY.
There are countless ways to make a significant impact. Our partnership with Covenant House, for example, is providing stable transitional housing for homeless youth. We are also partnering with Egale to build a brilliant new home that will combine counselling services and transitional housing for homeless LGBTQI2S youth. And for 20 plus years, our partnership with Habitat For Humanity has helped make the dream of homeownership a reality for many families. And while each of us acting alone can make a difference, the potential for significant long term impact is far greater when we partner with the public and ‘not for profit’ sectors. For example, the long-term public/private partnership between Toronto Community Housing, Daniels and residents of Regent Park are transforming a once stigmatized neighbourhood into a healthy, vibrant, mixed income community. This partnership is clearly demonstrating the power of shared values and a shared vision, and what can be achieved when trust is built and maintained. IMAGINE THE IMPACT IF ALL DEVELOPERS COMMITTED TO HIRING, TRAINING AND SPENDING LOCALLY… BUYING AND DISPLAYING THE WORK OF LOCAL ARTISTS, ENGAGING LOCAL CATERING AND SEWING COLLECTIVE S, CONTRACTING WITH LOCAL LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE COMPANIES, ETC. Collaboration and partnership are the basic ingredients of community building, and social procurement is the tool by which community capital can be nurtured and sustained. The possibilities are endless, the impact incalculable. Thank you Stephen for inspiring us to do SO much more than just build buildings, and for inspiring us to think deeply about the impact each of us can make, both as individuals and corporate leaders.
LET US ALL REMEMBER AND CELEBRATE STEPHEN’S HUMANITY AND LEADERSHIP.