April 2002
YORK REGION BUSINESS TIMES - BUSINESS OF THE MONTH
Chant Construction Focuses on Building Relationships
By Chris Traber
Excerpt:
If you build it, they will come.

That's the wishful mantra of the construction industry in these competitive times. However, one Aurora-based firm has taken it one successful step further.

Chant Construction Limited, founded by president Ted Chant in 1998, builds relationships.

Chant, a York Region resident and career-long construction professional, believes in doing things a little differently.

"Ours is really a relationship business," he said. Our focus is on developing and maintaining our good reputation for thoroughly understanding the needs of our customers and then delivering value and excellence in every aspect of the construction services we provide.

The company specializes in program management and the construction of power generation facilities and power transmission infrastructure. The young company also has experience in other types of heavy engineering and building work.

"In the construction industry, companies do not do the work, people do. Consequently, it is the quality, experience and commitment of the people and the delivery teams within which they function that ultimately determines the successful orientation of any construction management effort."

The approach seems to be working. After founding the parent enterprise, a subsidiary company, Chant Construction Inc., was established in October 1999 to better service Western Canada customers. With headquarters in Aurora, it now has Calgary and Vancouver offices.

Canada's current fiscal malaise isn't bothersome to Chant's prospects. The construction industry, while not immune to periods of recession, isn't an accurate barometer of economic times, Chant said.

"There are so many facets to this industry that it's difficult to make a global statement," he said. The industry tends to lag 12 to 18 months and is late to react to economic slowdowns. That's because projects are based on capital cost decisions made long before they start.

Chant and his business continue to forge ahead, building relationships and construction projects.

"Our overall philosophy is to view employees as our most valuable resource and to install and reinforce management practices which encourage mutual respect, co-operation, trust, equity and employee involvement," he remarked.

A business, like a building, requires a solid foundation. Chant's performance orientation is based on the philosophy that "the best relationship is one where everyone wins."