Bridge Lake-based Gordon Ross Contracting Ltd. (GRC) was recognized with the 2017 Keystone Award for Best Marketing Project: Website by the Canadian Home Builders' Association-Central Interior at a gala awards dinner in Kamloops on Feb. 4.
Gordon says after submitting projects for the awards, he and his son, GRC lead carpenter Brandon Ross, were very pleased and excited to win as Keystone Award silver finalists for both its Best Single Family Detached Home between $500,000 and $750,000; and Best Marketing Project: Website in partnership with Shot Hawks Aerial Photography (SHAP).
All of those who contributed to the design project were even more delighted, of course, when they were awarded the "Gold" top honour for their marketing website, he adds.
These include his Shot Hawks Aerial Photography owners Mark Phillips and Taylor Fargey, who Gordon says were instrumental in their contributions and therefore were noted as GRC's project partners for the award.
Gordon explains he entered the 2017 Keystone Awards competition because he was particularly pleased with the quality of the energy efficient, concrete home GRC built at Bridge Lake, and with the website featuring the "very talented" Taylor and Mark's aerial photography of its past projects with the aid of a drone.
"It's a nice home, a beautiful home and it has great curb appeal," he says. "The website was well done, it has some great shots, and I think the aerial photography really helps to enhance that."
Gordon adds in the construction business, it is important to surround yourself with good people – from good sub-trades to good clients.
"I've got a team of people right from geotechnical people, if we need them, to deal with ground conditions down to the final finishing."
This is the first time GRT has been won a Keystone Award, although Gordon has been a member of the Central Interior division of the national association for about three years, he explains.
Gordon says he was particularly pleased to go this year as silver finalists, along with Brandon, Taylor and Mark, and a couple of family guests.
Brandon definitely "deserves some accolades for doing a great job of managing the home building," while his father, after 25 years in the business, is now mostly managing the company, Gordon explains.
"I don't get to doing the tool-stuff anymore. He ran that project that got the silver for the house."
Gordon says it "felt great" to hear that GRC had won and be presented this Keystone award at the gala event, particularly because it is, for the most part, a recognition from his local industry peers.
"We are always trying to produce quality projects in whatever it is that we do."
More information on the Keystone Award and the 2017 winners is online at http://chbaci.ca/news/2017keystoneawardwinners.htm.