Sponsored by Calgary Economic Development.
Joel Schlesinger © Postmedia Content Works.
Originally published in the Calgary Herald on Oct. 29, 2024.
Trico Homes’ success is built on a simple yet powerful philosophy that has guided the company since its inception over 32 years ago.
When founder Wayne Chiu established the Calgary-based company, he laid the groundwork for a company that would go beyond constructing houses to creating thriving communities.
“He started the company with the idea that you can do well if you do good things for your community,” says Trico president Michael Brown, also the company’s chief executive officer.
The philosophy, “doing well by doing good,” is woven into the fabric of Trico’s operations, embraced by its leadership, employees and the tradespeople who help create the homes they build for Calgarians. Trico’s core values — trust, respect, integrity, community and opportunity — are more than just guiding principles for Trico Homes; they are the foundation of its culture. Not only do they shape the company’s direction, but the first letter of each word also forms its very name: Trico. “Our values are really like water that flows through our entire company,” says Brown.
“Doing the right thing may not always be the easier thing to do, but if it guides your decision-making, those choices will be beneficial not just in the short term, but for the long haul.” As a trusted homebuilder, Trico takes immense pride in building everything from multi-family apartments to starter homes and dream homes for Calgarians, Brown adds. “Authenticity is immensely important to us; we do what we say we will do because, if we didn’t, as homebuilders our customers would eventually know otherwise.
Simply, we wouldn’t be in business for 32 years if we weren’t as good as our word.” Trico also places a strong commitment on enhancing community life in Calgary, which is evident in their support for initiatives like the Trico Centre for Family Wellness and substantial endowments to local postsecondary institutions and charities. It is also Western Canada’s only certified B Corp homebuilder, among the highest global standards for businesses regarding environmental and social practices.
“We may be a for-profit company, but we believe that if you look after the community, it will look after you,” Brown says. “It’s been the key to our success for the past 32 years and it will be for the next 32 years.”
This feature was created by Content Works, Postmedia’s commercial content division, on behalf of Calgary Economic Development.