Ontario Construction News staff writer
The General Contractors Association of Ottawa (GCAO) has recognized retired architect David McRobie with its annual Integrity and Ethics Award.
GCAO president Douglas Drevniok presented the award to McRobie, who retired on Jan. 1, 2023 from his practice McRobie Architects and Interior Designers, at a Rideau Club cocktail reception last Wednesday (June 8).
McRobie built the practice from a two-person branch office of a Toronto-based practice providing planning services to the NCC to “become an integrated architectural, urban design and interior design firm serving commercial enterprises, office developers, retail businesses, educational institutions and governments at all levels throughout and beyond the national capital,” his retirement notice says. He is continuing to serve as the firm’s practice advisor.
Drevniok, vice-president at Frecon Construction Ltd., said in introducing McRobie that “nobody’s going to question Dave’s ethics and integrity as an individual.
“But what really resonated with the nomination is how his ethics and his integrity and his respect towards contractors and owners alike resonated throughout the firm.”
In his acceptance remarks, McRobie said he is truly grateful for the award.
“And it is really built upon the advice of a lot of mentors, and I really believe in mentoring in a huge way, and I see it here as well.”
He said several GCAO members and others “provided me with pretty good advice over the years.
McRobie said he would use the recognition “to inspire my kids, which I think is the best use of it, and in their careers and as they start down the path.”
