NORRIS IN HALL OF FAME
Brookfield CEO inducted
Whether it’s his company, the industry as a whole, or causes that are near to his heart, Alan Norris is a proven leader.
The chairman and CEO of Brookfield Residential, a 35-year veteran of the business, is one of two people being inducted into the BILD (Building Industry and Land Development) Alberta Hall of Fame this weekend, during BILD Alberta’s Fall Conference in Jasper.
Norris joins Ralph Young, formerly of Melcor Developments in Edmonton, in receiving the distinction earned through “prolonged contributions and leadership to the industry, and involvement in the association at multiple levels,” says a release from BILD Alberta.
“Alan has been an inspiration to so many of us,” says Wendy Jabusch, chair of BILD Alberta, and senior vice-president of Brookfield Residential, Edmonton Homes. Jabusch was formerly an executive in Brookfield’s Calgary office.
“He’s been in a leadership position in the industry for a long time, but he hasn’t just stuck to the industry. He’s had contributions outside of it,” she adds, singling out his work as chair of the Resolve Campaign.
Norris’s work has also included previous roles as chair for the Carma Centre for Excellence, and the Calgary Homeless Foundation, says BILD Alberta. “If (Norris) can make a positive impact, if he has something to offer, he really steps forward and tries to make the world a better place.”
Norris calls the hall of fame induction an honour.
“It’s a wonderful industry that’s full of many great individuals, so to be recognized in this way is quite special,” he says.
On his involvement, Norris says “you want to do well by your company, by your stakeholders, but I think there’s an obligation to do the right thing for the industry, as well. To make sure that the industry is in a better place. Then also, to make sure your community is in a better place. And you can do all of those things, in my opinion.
“You can do many things that which benefit the industry and the community and still be successful from a business perspective.”
He joined the company in 1983 and was named president and CEO in 1994. Going from a small staff in the 1980s to more than 1,300 people in 13 markets across North American, Norris has seen major growth.
And it’s Brookfield’s beginnings in Calgary that Norris says he’s “so proud of.”
“We’re well-recognized across the continent and it started here,” he says.
Overall, “we have an amazing culture and an amazing team,” he says, adding many people within the company give back. “That’s what we do … everyone pitches in to support the overall vision.”
The 11 builders that participated in the above mentioned Resolve Campaign, also received a BILD Alberta volunteer honour. The group was named this year’s recipient of the Community Service Award.
Resolve, which teamed up with nine Calgary agencies, is an innovative campaign that raised funds for affordable rental homes with support services for homeless and vulnerable Calgarians.
It also saw a team of Calgarybased home builders make a collective $15.4 million pledge, with many of them committed to being construction managers on a series of apartment buildings for the Calgary Homeless Foundation and Calgary HomeSpace Society through the Resolve Campaign.
They include Cardel Lifestyles and Logel Homes, Shane Homes, Cedarglen Living, Morrison Homes, StreetSide Developments: a Qualico Company, Albi Luxury by Brookfield Residential, Brookfield Residential, Calbridge Homes, Homes by Avi Group of Companies, Hopewell Residential, and Jayman Built Group of Companies.
“On behalf of the nine partner agencies and everyone at Resolve, we are truly grateful for the generosity and commitment to the community by the 11 founding builders who kicked off the campaign and were so instrumental in helping us raise $74 million to house 1,850 individuals,” says MaryAnn Steen, director of development at Resolve. “We could not have made such an achievement without their outstanding support.
“They have made an incredible difference in the community and we are delighted that they are being recognized with this prestigious award.”
BILD Alberta’s volunteer awards also shine a light on the contributions of Randy Meise, owner of TriCity Developments, who earned the Legacy Award, and Marissa Koop of B&A Planning, and Tyler Hermanson from 4 Elements, both of Calgary, who each picked up the Exceptional Service Award.