Carlo Bot, chairman of Teranorth Construction and Engineering, has joined the Ontario Road Builders Association’s (ORBA) Hall of Fame.
Bot was inducted into the Hall of Fame during the ORBA President’s Inaugural Dinner held in Toronto in early February.
Following his induction, Bot becomes the 23rd inductee in the association’s Hall of Fame.
“He’s been an inspiration to me for many years. He taught me a lot about the industry and I’ve watched him grow Teranorth into the company it is today,” said Malcolm Croskery, chief operating officer of Pioneer Construction Inc., who nominated Bot for the Hall of Fame.
During his induction, Bot thanked his family, his staff, the construction industry and the provincial government.
“I’d like to thank the MTO and the fine staff I’ve met over the last 60 years, and the Province of Ontario for making it all happen,” Bot said.
For more than six decades, Bot has dedicated his life to building roads in Ontario.
In 1954, at age 18, he immigrated to Canada from Italy. Soon after, he started his construction career with Halton Paving and reached the rank of foreman within a year.
A few years later he created Bot Construction with his brothers in Oakville, Ontario and incorporated the company in 1957.Â
After two decades in Oakville, Bot moved to Sudbury, Ontario to lead the company’s northern operations.
During his 36 years with Bot Construction, he pioneered construction practices to tackle Northern Ontario’s tough terrain, which helped build the company’s name as a roadbuilder.
“I like to make things happen, that’s what I’ve done all my life,” Bot said.
The creation of Teranorth Construction & Engineering
In 1992, Bot left the company to establish Teranorth Construction & Engineering with his son James.
“We got our first contracts that year and things just expanded from there,” James said, adding “everybody has learned from him. He has brought a lot of integrity to the industry.”
Today, at age 83, Bot is still the first person in the Teranorth shop and the last to leave.
“I’ve been in the construction business since 1954 and I’ve never stopped since,” Bot said.
Teranorth has completed a wide range of projects since its creation, from building a rifle range in Burwash, to interchanges on Highway 400 to the final link of the four-laning of Hwy 11 near Burk’s Falls, Ontario.
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When the time comes to bid on new projects, Bot is known for keeping in mind that many families depend on Teranorth’s success.
“Carlo has been successful because of his work ethic and because of his care for his employees,” said Gary Cooper, construction manager at Teranorth. “He’s a generous man that looks after those around him.”
“It’s amazing to work with an owner of a business that doesn’t put the bottom line first,” said April Leroux, the controller at Teranorth.
Bot also offered some advice for the next generation of road builders looking to get a start in the industry.
“Start small and pay off the bills, then carry on and be consistent,” he said. “Never give up.”
