I am honoured this morning to announce that Well Grounded Real Estate’s dedication has elevated them as leaders in purpose-built housing, where from being a finalist in the North American division, they are now winners of the 2023 Holcim gold award in the global competition for excellence in sustainable architecture and design in Venice, Italy. It gives me great pride to report that this project is taking place in my riding of Scarborough Centre at 1925 Victoria Park.

This purpose-built is a mid-market rental building that fulfills a critical void in the marketplace, representing a scalable strategy for solving Ontario’s housing crisis, which our government, under the leadership of the Premier, is tirelessly working to solve.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome Jonathan and Gabriel Diamond, both vice­presidents of Well Grounded Real Estate, for taking us to the world stage. Welcome to your House. Your accomplishments not only bring pride to yourselves, but to all Scarborough Centre residents, all Ontarians and all Canadians.

Thank you and congratulations for your success, but also for elevating Scarborough Centre on the world stage.

This year, at their 2023 Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Year Award ceremony, the Burlington Chamber of Commerce paid tribute to Al Taylor.

In 1959, on his 20th birthday, Al founded Taylor Moving and Storage. In the 63 years since the company’s founding, Al Taylor estimates his company has moved more than half a million people. That’s more than the number of people who currently live in Hamilton.

Today, Taylor Moving and Storage employs more than 120 people, including Al’s sons and grandson. From the very start, Al knew the importance of keeping his business in the community. His story, rooted in hard work and determination, mirrors the very soul of entrepreneurship. From sweeping floors at 14 to driving trucks at 16, Al’s early days provided a hands-on education in the school of hard work. He hustled, built relationships based on integrity and trust, laying the foundation for an extraordinary legacy.

Al’s story embodies the Canadian spirit of entrepreneurship and community building. The Taylor legacy continues through Al’s sons, Richard and Russell Taylor, who purchased the company in 2002.

I would like to congratulate Al Taylor for his years of service to the Burlington community.