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Thu Jun 21, 2007
Centre helps displaced workers
BY VINCENT BALL
EXPOSITOR STAFF / BRANTFORD
Companies looking for skilled, motivated workers need not look any further than the Steel Worker Action Centre on Morrell Street, says a centre spokesman.
"We have lot of people here - former GenFast and now former Easton (Coatings) employees - who are good, skilled workers and we want to make sure employers in and around Brantford know that," said Brian Van Tilborg, the centre's co-ordinator. "A lot of the skills they obtained at GenFast and also at Easton are transferable. They have skills other employers can use."
The centre is a community effort that includes contributions from the United Steel Workers area council, provincial government, the city's economic development department, as well as King and Benton, which has provided the centre free space.
King and Benton's Steve Charest attended the open house and said the need for the centre is a "sign of the times." He said he wouldn't be surprised to see additional jobs lost in the manufacturing sector.
Charest, who provides free space to other action centres in the city, believes there's a transition taking place in the economy. And he thinks city officials and others should be doing more to lessen the impact on the community.
"This is a community issue and we need to get moving on this. But right now I don't see that sense of urgency out there."
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Wed Jun 20, 2007
Councillors push ahead contentious program
BY MICHAEL-ALLAN MARION
EXPOSITOR STAFF / BRANTFORD
City councillors moved closer to approving a special incentives program for mined-out quarry lands, that could give a tax grant for King and Benton's proposed $500-million industrial and commercial project called Oak Park North.
The revised program was supported by Mayor Mike Hancock and councillors Mark Littell, Vince Bucci, James Calnan, John Sless and John Bradford.
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Mon May 28, 2007
Four-footed friends walk for SPCA
BY MICHAEL-ALLAN MARION
EXPOSITOR STAFF / BRANTFORD
The skies threatened to pour down upon Sunday's 15th annual Brant County SPCA fundraising walkathon in Mohawk Park, but 65 dog owners and their pets were undeterred.
By Sunday afternoon, the Friends For Life Walkathon was well on its way toward its $17,000 goal to support the operations of the SPCA's shelter on Mohawk Street.
Meanwhile, Kuchma said plans are moving along well for the SPCA's new shelter, which will be built at the edge of the proposed Oak Park North industrial and commercial mega-development on Oak Park Road, just north of Highway 403.
Developer King and Benton has donated four acres of its 450-acre holdings to the SPCA. The shelter will be built on a small portion that is on the Brant County side.
The Six Nations firm Two Row Architects has been contracted to undertake the new shelter's design. The firm is preparing a preliminary design to help the agency determine its required size and cost.
Kuchma said she is grateful that King and Benton and president Steve Charest stepped in to help the agency find a new home to replace its cramped, obsolete shelter.
"They're always very supportive of us," she said.
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Thu Mar 29, 2007
Coves condo deal nearing completion
The Brantford developer says the plan offers the first "legitimate" public access to the area.
JOE BELANGER, SUN MEDIA
The LONDON FREE PRESS
A deal to build condominiums on the site of a former paint factory overlooking one of London's ecological and recreational gems could be done within weeks.
Brantford-based developer King and Benton is awaiting results of final soil tests before closing the deal with Minnesota-based Valspar Industries to buy more than 28 hectares at The Coves.
"This is one of the largest and most challenging brownfields in Ontario and, if everything goes well, we're hoping to do more business in London," Charest said.
"We've been treated very well by city officials, the neighbours, everyone."
Charest said the company hopes to use about eight hectares for low-rise condominiums, leaving the balance "for community enjoyment."
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Mon Mar 26, 2007
Builders take new approach to natives
As Caledonia talks drag on, others find talking to the band smoothes the road
BY KATE HARRIES
Special to The Globe and Mail
Frustrated by the slow pace of talks between the federal government, Ontario and the Six Nations, developers are starting to go directly to the reserve to seek assurances that their projects won't be stalled by a land-claim dispute or, worse, a lengthy occupation.
Steve Charest, president of King & Benton, a Brantford developer, believes it's just good business to take the Six Nations presence seriously by trying to take positive steps to resolve problems.
King & Benton is redeveloping a former aggregate mine on 170 hectares in the middle of Brantford, in an area where Mr. Charest said there's documentation to show it was surrendered properly. "I'm hoping that we can have that confirmed by the confederacy and we've asked them to assist us with that."
Mr. Charest faults the federal government for a lack of commitment to resolving the Six Nations claims. "Best I can tell, the federal government's position is it's not their problem," he said. "I think that's the wrong attitude and my preference would be to see the federal government as part of the solution."
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Tue Dec 05, 2006
Brantford's newest favourite son?
A hockey legend's hometown pins renewal hopes on $500-million mega-complex
BY GREG MCMILLAN
Special to The Globe and Mail
BRANTFORD, ONT. -- Memories die hard, especially in Brantford, where residents still talk about the devastating economic hit that occurred two decades ago with the loss of three major employers and the thousands of jobs that went with them.
Plant closings of Massey-Ferguson, Harding Carpet and White Farm Equipment threw the city into a nightmarish tailspin, but plans for a $500-million commercial and industrial mega-complex are making locals forget all the woes of the past.
Indeed, this city 100 kilometres west of Toronto has been buzzing since Brantford's King & Benton Development Corp. unveiled the proposed development, which will include an industrial park and retail power centre located on a 427-acre parcel of land at Highway 403 and Oak Park Road. The industrial component of the site covers about 300 acres.
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Wed Nov 29, 2006
The Coves: With the paint plant gone and a developer poised, will public access increase?
BY JOE BELANGER
LONDON FREE PRESS, CITY HALL REPORTER
A former paint factory that has long haunted neighbours of the Coves soon may be cleared for development.
A former paint factory that has long haunted neighbours of the Coves soon may be cleared for development.
The dilapidated factory buildings just off Springbank Drive were demolished quietly over the last few weeks.
Part of the land would be returned to its natural state. Another key component of the project would be providing the first "legitimate" public access to the Coves.
"I never thought I'd live long enough to see it happen," said Thom McClenaghan, president of the environmental group.
Steve Charest, president of Brantford developer King and Benton, said the company has met with community groups, city and provincial officials to reach agreement on the extent of a residential development.
"This is one of the largest brownfields outside the (Greater Toronto Area) and it's one of the most beautiful sites in the province," he said.
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Sun Oct 01, 2006
Steve Charest is shooting for the stars
BY COLLEEN TOMS
VIBRANT MAGAZINE
It is said that people dream in black and white. When Steve Charest dreams, he dreams in Technicolor – IMAX size.
With a passion that is matched only by the magnitude of the projects he takes on, Charest, president and founder of King & Benton Development Corporation, is making an impact on Brantford in a huge way. Since being the first to tackle the city's derelict Brownfield sites, to investing in local organizations and events that affect the very lives of community residents, to embarking on a monumental industrial and retail development project that will change the social and economic fabric of this community, Charest, 41, is clearly a man who is driven.
And he's driven to succeed.
"We have a common theme in everything we do at King and Benton - we want to come up with ways to make things better. I want to continue to develop our social conscience and bring our kids back, they are looking for somebody to help them and I would like to see the community as a whole participate in those solutions so our youth once again feel like they belong."
Supporting organizations like the Why Not Mission, the local food bank, SPCA and Brant United Way is important to Charest and will help facilitate the community's revitalization.
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Fri Sep 29, 2006
Habitat project back on track after theft of tools
BY VINCENT BALL
EXPOSITOR STAFF / BRANTFORD
Strong support from a lot of community-minded people has helped Habitat Brant recover from a major setback to build its latest home for a local family.
“Our construction trailer, the trailer where we keep all our tools, was broken into just before we were about to start construction,” said Kathy Poirier, of Habitat Brant. “All our tools were stolen and we had to replace them all so we could get going.”
Enough people heard about the problem so that Habitat Brant has been able to move forward with its latest project.
Elgin is a busy street and parking for workers and other volunteers was going to be a challenge. At least it was until Steve Charest and King & Benton stepped in to help.
The company has been providing parking spaces for volunteers workers as well as more than 10,000 square feet of warehouse space in its Elgin Street building to Habitat Brant. As well, Habitat Brant is using some of the space for a food tent it sets up at every build for volunteers.
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Thu Sep 21, 2006
From mine to major industrial
BY BRIAN BAKER
DAILY COMMERCIAL NEWS
A former Brantford mine is getting an intense makeover, transforming it from a 427-acre gravel pit to a booming industrial market west of the GTA. The initial earthworks project is scheduled over 10 months, creating 5,000 jobs, redeveloping uneven land, improving the interchange at Hwy. 403 and Oak Park Road, and constructing the buildings post excavation.
While not at liberty to say who the partners in the $500 million complex development were, Charest did say they are, “the world’s largest and most sophisticated facility developers in the world.”
“We’re excited about what it means for the community. We’re excited about what it does for jobs, investment and that it provides an opportunity for Brantford to stand on the roofs and announce ‘we’re back,’” Charest said.
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