Entrepreneurial enthusiasm is one of the key values at EllisDon. Our capacity and ability to innovate – not just on a construction site, but in how we engage with each other and our communities – is woven into the fabric of our culture.

Mohammed Al-Salem, EllisDon’s Community Benefit and Relations Manager, is the embodiment of this spirit. Having already spearheaded three community outreach programs with EllisDon, he’s currently piloting a new outreach program involving everyone’s favourite childhood toy: LEGO.

Brick By Brick: The Pilot Program

LEGO Construction Workshops is an initiative born of a different kind of skills gap:

“We’re very good at bridging the skills gap when it comes to the kids that are of an age to focus on a career,” said Al-Salem. “High school, college – we have co-ops to help build skills, provide mentorship, and get kids more familiar with skilled trades and construction. But the younger kids, we had space there to develop something fun and educational.”

These workshops are being piloted at two schools in Ontario’s Peel Regionas a fun, interactive way to introduce you the fundamentals of construction. Aimed at elementary and middle school students, these workshops allow participants to build and design structures, sparking interest in engineering and construction from an early age.

When all is said and done, the schools will have built an entire community out of LEGO blocks.

For the Future

Building a community serves to provide an end-goal, but the real aim of this program is to teach participants that they have the skill set to solve complex problems and make successful decisions. They build trust and confidence in themselves and their capacity to tackle problems efficiently, effectively, and creatively.

“It gets them thinking and hopefully creates some core memories,” said Al-Salem. “And then, who knows, a few years go by and they’re thinking about their future, and they think of us, of EllisDon and construction – it all started in a classroom with LEGO.”

Entrepreneurs at Heart

We are not just employees at EllisDon – we are people, with goals, hopes, and things we do that fill our soul inside and outside our offices. It’s what sets EllisDon apart, culturally and as an employer: our goal is not confined to the success of our employees, it’s ensuring they can thrive as human beings. Mohammed Al-Salem embodies this entrepreneurial spirit. He sees a gap and seeks a solution with creativity and a passion for community-driven change. We can’t wait to see what he does next!