Announcements

Arcadis Expands Western Canada Leadership Team
Arcadis has announced three senior appointments supporting the continued growth of its Western Canada practice, welcoming Maren McBride as Principal and Landscape Architect, Antoine Henry as Senior Project Manager, Transportation Engineering, and Sahar Safaie as Disaster and Climate Risk Management Specialist. Collectively bringing experience across landscape architecture, transportation infrastructure, urban design, and climate resilience, the new leaders strengthen the firm’s multidisciplinary capabilities in delivering complex city-building, mobility, and environmental projects. 

BILD and OHBA Welcome Toronto Development Charge Reductions
BILD and the OHBA have welcomed the City of Toronto’s new Development Charge Reduction Program, which will lower development charges by 40% to 60% through funding provided under the Canada-Ontario Partnership to Build. Industry organizations say the reductions will improve project viability by helping offset rising construction costs, encouraging new housing starts, and supporting employment across the residential construction sector. The announcement marks the first municipal agreement under the provincial and federal program.

Station House Toronto Earns Rainbow Registered Accreditation
Hazelview Investments' Station House, a purpose-built rental community, has received Rainbow Registered accreditation from Canada’s 2SLGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce, recognizing its commitment to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for residents, employees, and visitors. Opened in 2026 at Bloor and Dufferin as part of the Bloor Crossing masterplanned community, the development adds more than 1,100 rental homes to Toronto’s west end while becoming Hazelview’s ninth residential community to receive the national designation. 

Starlight Marks Topping-Off at Donvale Commons Rental Development
Starlight Investments has reached the topping-off milestone at Donvale Commons, its purpose-built rental infill development near Sheppard Avenue East and Don Mills Road, marking completion of the building’s structural frame as work advances toward occupancy. The project will deliver 160 new rental homes, including a nine-storey apartment building and three blocks of townhomes, while improving an existing rental property through new landscaped spaces and resident amenities. Donvale Commons forms part of Starlight’s broader infill development strategy.

Mississauga Seeks $2.2B for Housing-Enabling Infrastructure
The City of Mississauga has identified five major infrastructure projects as part of its application for up to $2.2 billion through the new Development Charges Reduction Program under the Canada-Ontario Partnership to Build. The proposed investments include transit facilities, community centres, road infrastructure, and a downtown convention and music venue, with the projects collectively intended to support tens of thousands of new homes while accommodating future growth. Mississauga’s application follows the City’s decision to reduce development charges by up to 100% and builds on a series of recent housing initiatives.

Infrastructure Ontario Prepares RFQ for PTSI Centre of Excellence
Infrastructure Ontario and Runnymede Healthcare Centre have provided advance notice of an upcoming Request for Qualifications for the Post-Traumatic Stress Injury (PTSI) Centre of Excellence for First Responders, with procurement expected to begin later this month. The combined RFQ will invite teams to prequalify for the construction of two facilities (a five-storey clinical hub in Toronto and a residential recovery centre in Caledon) that together will establish Canada’s first dedicated treatment network for first responders and frontline healthcare workers experiencing post-traumatic stress injury. 

Province Awards Contract for Ontario Place Parking Structure
The Ontario government has awarded a $198 million design-build contract to Pomerleau for a new five-storey parking structure at Ontario Place, following a competitive procurement process led by Infrastructure Ontario. The provincially owned facility will provide up to 3,500 parking spaces, approximately 680 electric vehicle charging stations, bicycle parking, and bus facilities, forming part of the broader redevelopment of the waterfront destination. According to the Province, the garage is expected to generate up to $60 million in annual revenue while supporting future attractions, including the new Ontario Science Centre and expanded public parkland.

Prominent Torontonians Call for Review of Airport Expansion Plans
More than 20 prominent Toronto public figures, including former elected officials, business leaders, and cultural leaders, have signed an open letter urging the federal government to pause proposed expansion plans for Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport pending further public consultation and review. Organized through the Reality Check campaign, the letter calls on the federal government to maintain the existing Tripartite Agreement until a comprehensive, evidence-based long-term plan for Toronto’s Inner Harbour is publicly presented and debated. The initiative raises questions surrounding transportation, environmental impacts, waterfront planning, and regional airport capacity.

Hazelview and Sierra Break Ground on Leaside Rental Project
Hazelview Investments and Sierra Corporation have broken ground on a new 15-storey purpose-built rental building at 383-389 Cleveland Street in Toronto’s Leaside neighbourhood, delivering 217 rental homes along the Eglinton Line 5 corridor. Originally planned as a condominium, the project has been redesigned as rental housing and will include 43 affordable units, 33 accessible suites built to CSA standards, and a range of family-sized homes supported by federal, municipal, and private investment. The development also marks Hazelview’s first project to incorporate a geothermal heating and cooling system, with occupancy anticipated in 2028.

Toronto and Ontario Advance Gardiner and DVP Upload
The City of Toronto and Province of Ontario are advancing the final stages of an agreement that will transfer ownership and responsibility for the Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway to the Province in Fall 2027 as part of the Ontario–Toronto New Deal. The upload is expected to relieve the City of its largest state-of-good-repair liability, unlocking approximately $1.9 billion over the next decade for investments in transit, housing, municipal infrastructure, and other civic priorities. Until the transfer is complete, the Province will provide up to $353 million for the operation and maintenance of the two expressways, in addition to funding previously allocated for ongoing maintenance and rehabilitation work.

Mississauga Advances Transit-Oriented Pre-Zoning Initiative
Mississauga’s Planning and Development Committee has approved a plan to pre-zone lands across 35 Major Transit Station Areas, streamlining approvals for higher-density, mixed-use development along key transit corridors. The initiative establishes zoning standards in advance, reducing planning hurdles and supporting the City’s long-term goal of accommodating up to 114,000 new homes while concentrating growth around the Hurontario-Main Line 10 LRT, Transitway, and other higher-order transit routes. The proposed zoning amendments implement the City’s Official Plan 2051 and form part of a larger strategy to accelerate housing delivery and create transit-supportive communities.

Events & Awards

City of Vaughan Communications Team Earns National PR Award
The City of Vaughan’s Communications, Marketing and Engagement department has earned Bronze for In-House Team of the Year at the Canadian Public Relations Society’s 2026 Awards of Excellence, recognizing leadership, collaboration, and measurable impact in organizational communications. Vaughan was recognized alongside organizations including the University of Toronto and SickKids, with the award highlighting the department’s work in strategic communications, digital engagement, and community outreach. 

BILD to Host Economic and Land Market Update Webinar
BILD will host a members-only Economic & Land Market Update webinar on July 13, bringing together industry experts to discuss economic conditions and development trends affecting the Greater Toronto Area. Economist Marc Ercolao of TD will provide an overview of the broader economic outlook, including consumer confidence, household debt, and CUSMA-related considerations, while CBRE Vice Chairman Mike Czestochowski will examine current conditions in the GTA land market. 

BILD to Host Custom Builder and Renovator Summer Social
BILD will host its annual Custom Builder & Renovator Summer Social on July 23 at The Brick Midnorthern Commercial Design Centre in Richmond Hill. Designed as an informal networking event, the evening will bring together custom builders, renovators, and other industry professionals to connect and exchange ideas in a showroom setting featuring kitchen and interior design displays. Attendance is limited to encourage meaningful networking opportunities among members and professionals from across the residential construction sector.

OHBA Golf Classic Returns This July
The OHBA will host its annual Golf Classic on July 29 at Lionhead Golf Club in Brampton, bringing together homebuilding and development professionals for one of the association’s signature networking events. The tournament offers members an opportunity to strengthen industry relationships while connecting with builders, developers, consultants, and other stakeholders from across Ontario. The event combines recreational activities with professional networking.

OHBA to Host Reception During AMO Conference
The OHBA will host its annual reception alongside the Association of Municipalities of Ontario Conference on August 18 in Ottawa, bringing together municipal leaders and representatives from the residential development industry. The event is intended to encourage dialogue between local decision-makers and industry stakeholders on housing delivery, planning, and growth-related policy issues. 

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