Lafarge Canada subsidiary Innocon has been collaborating for more than a decade on the revitalization of Toronto’s Regent Park neighborhood, the oldest and largest social housing project in Canada. In addition to providing building solutions for Daniels Spectrum, Regent Park’s arts and cultural hub, the producers have also invested $800,000-plus since 2013 via the People & Planet Fund. Their contribution has supported “The Journey Musical,” a production tracking the 70-year Regent Park history and transformation.
This summer’s edition of the musical, titled “Songs from The Journey,” was once more produced by The Daniels Corp. with People & Planet Fund backing. The show was presented in collaboration with The Royal Conservatory of Music, Innocon and Lafarge Canada among major sponsors. It featured local artists sharing the stage with renowned Canadian performers. The production’s sixth version made its national debut at the Koerner Hall at the TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning. The 2024 edition raised close to $1.2 million with net proceeds reinvested in the vital support of the arts at Daniels Spectrum and The Royal Conservatory. In total, the musical productions have been a catalyst for change, raising nearly $6 million since 2013.
“The People & Planet Fund was created to drive positive social change and environmental transformation in the communities in which we operate,” says Lafarge Canada (East) CEO David Redfern, whose company is a 50/50 partner with Heidelberg Materials in Innocon. “The revitalization of Regent Park aligns with our purpose of building progress for people and the planet, which ultimately means to build a more equitable and sustainable world for present and future generations.” The People & Planet Fund consists of five pillars designed to address pressing societal and environmental challenges, he adds: Affordable Housing Solutions, Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship, ECOPact – low-carbon concrete Champions, Planetwise Innovators, and Biodiversity Conservation.
“We use real estate development and construction as platforms for creating positive social and environmental impact,” notes Daniels Corp. Vice President, Social Impact Heela Omarkill. “Lafarge Canada and Innocon have been true leaders in these areas. Their generous, long-standing support as Presenting Sponsors of The Journey Musical and Songs from The Journey have contributed to youth programming and long-term sustainability at Daniels Spectrum.”