TORONTO, July 31,
2024 /CNW/ - For over a decade, Innocon, a
subsidiary of Lafarge Canada in the Greater Toronto Area, has been proudly
collaborating on the revitalization of Toronto's Regent Park neighbourhood -
Canada's oldest and largest social
housing project. In addition to providing building solutions to the
construction of Daniels Spectrum, Regent Park's arts and
cultural hub, Innocon and Lafarge have also invested via the People
& Planet Fund over $800,000,
since 2013, in the fundraising musical production "The Journey
Musical", that has told the story of Regent Park's 70-year history
and transformation to thousands of spectators. The Fund aims to
accelerate social change and transformation in Eastern Canada through targeted charitable
funds and resources.
![Credits: Artur Mola Photography. Photo: The Songs from the Journey musical production performed at The Royal Conservatory of Music (ON) in June 2024. (CNW Group/Lafarge Canada Inc.) Credits: Artur Mola Photography. Photo: The Songs from the Journey musical production performed at The Royal Conservatory of Music (ON) in June 2024. (CNW Group/Lafarge Canada Inc.)](https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2472364/Lafarge_Canada_Inc__Lafarge_Canada_and%C2%A0Innocon_celebrate_more_th.jpg)
This summer's edition of the musical, titled "Songs from
The Journey", was once more produced by The Daniels
Corporation and supported by the People & Planet Fund.
This time, the show was presented in collaboration with The Royal
Conservatory of Music, with Innocon and Lafarge as the Presenting
Sponsors, and like in previous years, audiences watched local
artists share the stage with renowned Canadian performers. The
production's sixth version made its national debut at the Koerner
Hall at the TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning in June -
inaugurating a brand new chapter in this extraordinary production
celebrating the Regent Park community. The 2024 edition raised
close to $1.2 million with net
proceeds reinvested in the vital support of the arts at Daniels
Spectrum and The Royal Conservatory. In total, the fundraising
musical productions have been a catalyst for change, raising over
$5.6 million since 2013.
"It has been extremely rewarding to be part of this vibrant
community building program in Toronto through our People & Planet Fund,"
affirmed David Redfern, President
& CEO, Lafarge Canada (East). "The Fund was created to drive
positive social change and environmental transformation in the
communities in which we operate. The revitalization of Regent Park
aligns with our purpose of building progress for people and the
planet, which ultimately means to build a more equitable and
sustainable world for present and future generations." The People
& Planet Fund consists of five key pillars designed to address
pressing societal and environmental challenges: Affordable Housing
Solutions, Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship, ECOPact - low-carbon
concrete Champions, Planetwise Innovators, and Biodiversity
Conservation.
"I have had the privilege of having a front-row seat to this
city-building project's evolution over the course of my career at
Innocon and Lafarge. I feel honoured to be part of an organization
that invests in the local community. With every production, I am
amazed by the talented performances and storytelling - they truly
raise so much awareness and bring incredible joy to audiences,"
said Andy Unger, VP, Ready-mix,
Lafarge Canada (East), and former President, Innocon.
In 2012, Innocon provided approximately 25,000 m3 of concrete
for the construction of Daniels Spectrum, a 60,000-square-foot
multi-purpose facility including a 3,400-seat performance and event
venue and space for 15 arts and community organizations. Throughout
the years, the community and cultural hub has been adding creative
experiences and fostering learning and innovation for local youth
and families, contributing to the neighbourhood's continued
cultural and economic growth. Lafarge Canada and Innocon are
honoured to be long-standing collaborators with The Daniels
Corporation and share the common objective of positively
contributing to the redevelopment of Regent Park into a place where
community members can grow, work, express themselves, and
thrive.
"At The Daniels Corporation, we use real estate development and
construction as platforms for creating positive social and
environmental impact. Lafarge Canada and Innocon have been true
leaders in these areas, and we share a commitment to sustainability
and social impact. Their generous, long-standing support as
Presenting Sponsors of The Journey Musical and Songs from
The Journey have contributed to youth programming and long-term
sustainability at Daniels Spectrum. Now, through our latest
production, their support also champions equitable access and
inclusion through the My Piece of the City initiative at The Royal
Conservatory," affirmed Heela
Omarkhail, VP, Social Impact, The Daniels Corporation, and a
co-writer of the production series.
"As someone who grew up in Regent Park, witnessing the
transformation of Daniels Spectrum into the social heart of our
revitalized community is nothing short of remarkable. The thousands
of connections being made here with local community members and
beyond are truly inspiring. From incredible events and exhibitions
to inspiring programming for young people and the young at heart,
there's something here for everyone. This vibrant and inclusive
space is made possible by the generous support of organizations
like Lafarge and Innocon. Their contributions ensure that Daniels
Spectrum remains open and accessible to people from all walks of
life. We are deeply grateful for their strong support and
commitment to our community," explained Farid Jalil, Hub Manager, Daniels Spectrum.
About Lafarge Canada Inc.
Lafarge is the largest provider of innovative and sustainable
building solutions in Canada,
including aggregates, cement, ready mix and precast concrete,
asphalt and paving, road and civil construction. We have over 6,900
employees and 400 sites across the country, and as an affiliate of
Holcim, Lafarge is driven by the Group's purpose to build progress
for people and the planet.
Holcim's 63,448 employees are on a mission to decarbonize
building while improving living standards for all. We empower our
customers to build better with less, with a broad range of
low-carbon and circular solutions, from ECOPact® to ECOPlanet®.
Through innovative systems, from Elevate's roofing to PRB's
insulation, Holcim makes buildings more sustainable in use, driving
energy efficiency and green retrofitting. With sustainability at
the core of our strategy, we are on the way to becoming a net-zero
company with 1.5°C targets validated by SBTi.
www.lafarge.ca
About Innocon Inc.
Innocon Inc., a joint venture between Lafarge Canada and
Heidelberg, is the largest
provider of innovative and sustainable concrete solutions in the
GTA. Every day, Innocon delivers concrete to hundreds of
construction projects, ranging from small house renovations to the
biggest high-rise buildings in Canada. We are dedicated to continuous
innovation and sustainability with the support of our joint owners,
Lafarge and Heidelberg, both world
leaders in the construction industry. Our products display
increasing levels of technical performance and anticipate changing
industry requirements.
With over 450 employees distributed around 18 sites in the GTA, our
core values include respect for people and respect for our
environment. We hold ourselves to the highest Health and Safety
standards, ensuring that our actions today do not limit the
possibilities of future generations.
www.innocon.on.ca
About The Daniels Corporation
The Daniels Corporation is one of Canada's pre-eminent builders/developers,
building nearly 40,000 new homes across the Greater Toronto Area for over 40 years.
Daniels is the developer of TIFF Bell Lightbox in Toronto's Entertainment District and the City
of the Arts community on Toronto's
East Bayfront. Among its many initiatives, Daniels partnered with
Toronto Community Housing to revitalize 53 of the 69-acre Regent
Park community in Toronto. Regent
Park is home to the World Urban Pavilion, a collaboration between
the Urban Economy Forum, UN-Habitat, Canada Mortgage and Housing
Corporation and Daniels. Understanding that quality of life is
created by much more than physical buildings, Daniels goes above
and beyond to integrate building excellence with opportunities for
social, cultural, and economic well-being.
SOURCE Lafarge Canada Inc.