CivE 6T3
Inducted: 2011
As an undergraduate at U of T Engineering, while Michael participated on the engineering football team and boxing, he also
delved into what would be his first of various entrepreneurial ventures — starting and running his very own construction company.
Upon graduation, he joined Mitchell Construction in Toronto. Recognized for being tremendously business savvy, he was
transferred to Bridgetown, Barbados, to set up their Caribbean Group of Companies. Just two years later, he was promoted
to Managing Director.
By 1969, he set up operations in South Africa. Ten years later, he started the Buttcon Limited. By bringing strong business
and engineering expertise to his operations, his company grew into a $100 million per year entity, and continues to expand today.
The company has completed many high profile projects, such as Novotel on the Esplanade, Queen’s Park restoration, Casino
Niagara as well as numerous institutions, including U of T.
He is also one of the two founding members of the Canadian Design-Build Institute (CDBI), has served on the Canadian
Construction Document Committee, and from 1996 to 2004, he was Chairman of the Board of Directors at Greater Toronto
Airports Authority. Michael is proud of his engineering background, as evidenced by his membership with Professional Engineers
of Ontario (PEO) for more than 45 years.
- Member, Canadian Society for Civil Engineers (CSCE), 1964
- Member, PEO, 1965
- Member, Ontario General Contractors Association, 1979
- Member, Toronto Construction Association (TCA), 1979
- Member, Canadian Construction Association (CCA), 1995
- Distinguished Volunteer Award, TCA, 1996
- Member, CDBI, 1998
- Chairman’s Award of Recognition, Ontario General Contractors Association, 2000
- Robert G. Saunders Memorial Award, CCA, 2000
- Councillor, PEO, Ontario Executive Council, 2001
- Fellow, CSCE, 2006
- Fellow, CDBI, 2008