Building Industry Honours Hugh Heron with BILD's Lifetime Achievement Award

GREATER TORONTO, May 7, 2018 /CNW/ - For the past 50 years, Hugh Heron has been a "builder" in every sense of the word in the province of Ontario. Today, he is one of the most active and influential professionals in the new home industry, as well as an avid media spokesperson for the building and land development industry in the Greater Toronto Area.

For this and much more, Mr. Heron received the Building Industry and Land Development Association's (BILD) highest honour – the Lifetime Achievement Award. Mr. Heron received the accolade at the 38th annual BILD awards surrounded by his family, friends and more than 1,300 industry colleagues.

In 1967, Hugh immigrated to Canada and got his first job with Costain, a company that he had worked for in Scotland. In 1979, Hugh went off on his own to co-found Heron Homes with a group that he is still in business with today. Hugh's building entities has gone on to build over 8,000 homes in 50 communities across Ontario and has built over 1,000,000 square feet of commercial and retail space.

"For 50 years Hugh has given back to the industry that gave so much to him and his family," said Dave Wilkes, President & CEO, BILD. "He has served in leadership positions at some of the industry's most important institutions, including chair of the Ontario New Home Warranty Program, past president of both the Greater Toronto and Ontario Home Builders' Associations, and former senior board member of Canada Mortgage & Housing Corporation (CMHC)," added Wilkes.

Mr. Heron is also well known for his community and charity work, establishing the Mikey Network in memory of Michael Salem, a partner at Herity who died of cardiac arrest on a golf course in June 2002. The Mikey Network helps place "Mikeys" (public access defibrillators) in schools, workplaces and public access areas across Canada. These "Mikey" defibrillators have been used to save 39 lives to date and many more to come.

"Hugh Heron's goal has always been to make the new home buyer feel comfortable during the building process," said Wilkes. "Hugh has always made the journey of new home ownership a positive experience. When someone buys a home from Hugh and moves in, he makes sure they feel 'Home at Last,'" said Wilkes with a smile.

With 1,500 members, BILD is the voice of the home building, land development and professional renovation industry in the Greater Toronto Area. BILD is proudly affiliated with the Ontario and Canadian Home Builders' Associations.

SOURCE Building Industry and Land Development Association

For additional information or to schedule an interview, contact John Provenzano, BILD Communications and Marketing Manager at [email protected], [phone].