The last couple of years were tough on everyone, but 2022 kind of felt like a turning point. An opening, instead of a closing in. Hope instead of fear. Opportunity instead of inertia. We had so many momentous events this year and so many exciting milestones. So, as we close out the year, we thought we’d take a look back and see how far we’ve come. Here are 11 moments that brought us to new heights in 2022.

1. Green Building Culture Award

The year started off with a bang when, in February, it was announced that Collecdev had been chosen as the winner of the Green Building Culture Award from the Toronto Construction Association. The award, which is presented annually to the TCA member whose actions inspire environmental sensitivity and encourage a green building culture, reaffirmed our commitment to Environmental Stewardship (one of our three key company pillars alongside Social Sustainability and Experiential Design) as we strive to implement a forward-thinking approach that reduces the carbon footprint of our developments and results in long-lasting, balanced urban landscapes.

2. Bloor Street United Church Key Handover 

Earlier this spring, members of the Bloor Street United Church congregation and members of Collecdev met at the Cielo Presentation Centre to mark the next stage of development with the ceremonial handover of the church. The culmination of the event was the symbolic handover of the key from BSUC to Collecdev, a gesture signifying how the church has entrusted the site to our team, confident that we will shepherd it into a new era of prosperity and community.

3. An Inspiring Collaboration with CWSA

For our second art initiative with the Visual Arts Department at Claude Watson Secondary Arts Program - Earl Haig (CWSAP-EH), students were invited to produce works inspired by blooming roses and romantic floral motifs, pieces that are now on permanent display in the East Tower lobby at Westwood Gardens, creating a spectacular entrance for residents each time they arrive home. "The partnership exemplifies one of our core beliefs," said Natascha Pieper, Collecdev's VP of Sales and Marketing, "that art has the power to engage the public and enhance the built environment.”

4. Collecdev Continued to Grow

In 2022 we welcomed 17 new members to our team and we’re still growing. New growth means even more opportunity to support our mission of building complete and sustainable communities for inclusive and accessible places that give people a sense of belonging in the modern world.

5. Cielo Wins Big

2022 was an enormous year for Cielo. The landmark address bringing an uncommon luxury to the Annex, Toronto’s arts & cultural hub, was nominated for 16 local, national and international awards, including the Pinnacle Best New Community award and Best High-Rise Building Design from BILD, Best High or Mid-Rise Condo Suite at the OHBA Awards of Distinction and Multifamily Community of the Year at The Nationals. We continue to be honoured by the recognition.

6. A Milestone Groundbreaking at Cielo

In late October we celebrated an exciting milestone with friends, family, partners, platinum brokers and key consultants who were instrumental in the project, all gathered for an evening marking the moment where Cielo moves beyond design and planning, and into real life. The new community will bring a world of uncommon luxury to the Annex on Bloor, just steps from the designer boutiques on Mink Mile, across from the world-class University of Toronto, and above the Bloor Street subway, laying the groundwork for an address that will redefine Toronto’s skyline.

7. We Moved!

2022 was the year we said goodbye to our space at 20 Eglinton Avenue West, and hello to a spectacular new head office at 365 Bloor Street East. Eglinton had been our home since the 80’s, originally built by our sister company, Shiplake Properties. But growth requires change and our move was the perfect chance to put our pillars of social sustainability, experiential design and environmental stewardship to the test in a new 14,000 square foot home base. With the help of Figure3, one of Canada’s leading interior design studios, we created an environment full of welcoming, neuro diverse spaces; industrial-inspired décor; and places to meet, collaborate and innovate, all wired to power tomorrow’s workplace, today. And our team couldn’t be happier! Read what they have to say about our new office in this blog post.

8. Nørdic Topped Off

Last month we gathered with over 100 trade partners on the Nørdic site to celebrate an exciting milestone – the topping off of Nørdic’s first building. The ceremony and ensuing festivities marked an important moment in the development of the Wilson Heights community, and put residents one step closer to their spectacular new home.

9. Westwood Gardens is Nearing Completion

In June 2022, just 7 months after occupancy began in the East Tower, the Westwood Gardens West Tower welcomed its first residents and by February 2023, the extraordinary residential community will be fully occupied. Throughout the process, our Customer Care Team has received amazing feedback as homeowners discover the completely connected lifestyle with inspiring amenities and exceptional design, all in the heart of Richmond Hill.

10. An Exciting New Site

In November we announced a proposal for 3400 Dufferin Street, a 3-tower development opposite Yorkdale Shopping Centre. Building on the success of Nørdic and TRETTI - Scandinavian-inspired communities that set a new standard for urban residential offerings in the area - we're set to continue to impress the market with an airy and innovative building design from award-winning architects, gh3*.

11. TRETTI is Getting Ready for Occupancy

The wait is nearly over! Members of our Customer Care team will be reaching out to TRETTI homeowners in the new year to schedule PDIs, marking the last milestone before the multi-layered community with a Scandinavian sensibility welcomes residents into their new home.

As we look back at the year, we are incredibly proud of our accomplishments; deeply grateful to our homeowners, partners, supporters and our team; and humbled by what we achieved together in 2022. We can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2023.