- Words by Tess Van Straaten Photography by Don Denton

Mario Conforti began his career as a builder when he was just 14 years oldB次元官网网址攚orking for his cabinet-maker dad back in ItalyB次元官网网址攁nd he says he couldnB次元官网网址檛 imagine doing anything else.

B次元官网网址淲hatever we needed, we would make,B次元官网网址� the 79-year-old founder of Conforti Homes says. B次元官网网址淲e used to make windows and doors, and we would even make furniture. You start from the beginning and when you finish, youB次元官网网址檝e done something. YouB次元官网网址檙e creating something with your hands and the more you build, the more you want to do it.B次元官网网址�

After moving to Canada in 1965 and starting a homebuilding business with his wife, Vera, that building bug spread to their sons, Gino and Maurizio (Mo).

B次元官网网址淏oth my brothers have worked with my dad since they were 13 or 14 years old, keeping up the family tradition,B次元官网网址� Tania Conforti explains. B次元官网网址淚 saw that and said, B次元官网网址業B次元官网网址檓 not doing that!B次元官网网址� I actually worked as a paralegal for 18 years and I never thought I would go into the family business.B次元官网网址�

Tania began helping out part-time in 2006, but as the Conforti familyB次元官网网址檚 custom home business grew, she realized she couldnB次元官网网址檛 keep juggling both jobs.

B次元官网网址淚 was working at a law firm and I was burnt out and this was far more enjoyable,B次元官网网址� says Tania, who came on full-time in 2019 and handles all the contracts and designs. B次元官网网址淚 love design and I love the creativity of it. And because of my background in law, I have the ability to read and write contracts and that makes it a lot easier for us.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚t was not planned that everyone would work in the business, but itB次元官网网址檚 fun and we all get along very well,B次元官网网址� adds Mario, whoB次元官网网址檚 now semi-retired. B次元官网网址淲e respect each other and if thereB次元官网网址檚 a problem, we sit down and talk.B次元官网网址�

The three siblings all have distinct rolesB次元官网网址擬o is the project manager on job sites and they call Gino, a gifted interior finisher, B次元官网网址渢he artist.B次元官网网址� Tania believes their ability to work well together and make both the business and the family work is because they grew up watching their parents do it.

B次元官网网址淲e learned that business is business and family is family,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淔amily is important and, at the end of the day, family is more important than our business.B次元官网网址�

For Tania, the biggest learning curve has been getting used to working for herself and finding the right work-life balance.

B次元官网网址淚 spent 18 years working for somebody else, and suddenly I went from my day being 8 oB次元官网网址檆lock to four, or eight to five, to my time not always being my own,B次元官网网址� says Tania, whose adorable dog, Lola, joined us for the interview. B次元官网网址淲hen you work at home and your office is at home, itB次元官网网址檚 always there. You donB次元官网网址檛 get to walk away from it and itB次元官网网址檚 all about finding those boundaries and that balance.B次元官网网址�

The biggest challenges for the business right now are the same many companies are facingB次元官网网址攍abour shortages and supply-chain issues.

B次元官网网址淕etting products that we need in a timely manner has really been an issue since COVID-19,B次元官网网址� Tania says. B次元官网网址淲e try to get our custom homes done within a year and weB次元官网网址檙e really good at that, but weB次元官网网址檝e had to give ourselves a buffer because thereB次元官网网址檚 just things we canB次元官网网址檛 control.B次元官网网址�

The pandemic has also hammered up demand for renovation and building projects, which is something that initially surprised this tight-knit family in the early days of the crisis.

B次元官网网址淲hen the pandemic hit, we all had that nervousness that something might happen to our business because we werenB次元官网网址檛 sure that people would still want to build,B次元官网网址� explains Tania. B次元官网网址淎nd the shocking part for all of us is that the construction industry boomed. People couldnB次元官网网址檛 travel so they took their travel money and said, B次元官网网址業B次元官网网址檓 going to make my home my sanctuary.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

With their business growing even faster than they expected, Conforti Homes has several exciting projects coming up, including smaller developments, and Tania is planning for more growth in the future.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e really found a niche in the building market and we have a good reputation so we get a lot of referrals,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淚f youB次元官网网址檇 asked me two years ago if I could foresee where weB次元官网网址檙e sitting today, I would have said no. I thought it would have taken us longer to get here.B次元官网网址�

There are lots of lessons Mario has passed down to his children over the years, but Tania says the one that resonates the most has nothing to do with construction.

B次元官网网址淭he best advice my dad has ever given me is to do what makes you happy, as long as itB次元官网网址檚 not hurting anybody else in the process. And I try to live my life like that.B次元官网网址�

After building a successful business and spending 65 years in his field, Mario also has some key advice for other entrepreneurs or people thinking of starting a business.

B次元官网网址淕o for it, but you have to be willing to work,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 the main thing because you have to like to work because it takes a lot of your time.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淢ake sure you love what youB次元官网网址檙e going to do because itB次元官网网址檚 something thatB次元官网网址檚 going to be with you day and night for a number of years,B次元官网网址� Tania adds. B次元官网网址淲e love what we do and itB次元官网网址檚 more than just building a house for us. We always say weB次元官网网址檙e building a home because weB次元官网网址檙e building peopleB次元官网网址檚 dream homes.B次元官网网址�

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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