The Hamilton Spectator November 17, 2007

Starward Homes, a pioneer in building homes and communities in Hamilton and Burlington, marks more than a century of business success this week.

To honour the occasion, Starward Homes hosted an amazing evening at Liuna Station on Thursday, November 15 where family, associates and friends gathered to reflect on four generations of home builders and to look forward to the century ahead.

“Our century of accomplishment is a testament to the solid relationships our family has with the community, our suppliers, trades, employees and homeowners,” said Starward President Ward Campbell. “I look with immense pride at the neighbourhoods we have created, where people have raised their families and fulfilled their dreams.”

The family business traces it roots to Edward Ratcliffe, who built his first home on Cannon Street in north central Hamilton in 1907. Although Cannon Street was still a dirt road at the time, Hamilton was an emerging industrial city, with strong demand for housing from the thousands of workers who had emigrated from Europe to work in the booming steel mills.

The Starward family tradition continued under Edward Ratcliffe’s son and daughter, Bettina, whose husband, Charlie Campbell, joined her and together they became industry leaders in their own right under the name Abbotsford Homes.

Among its milestones, Abbotsford pioneered the practice of offering guarantees on its homes, long before warranties were introduced. They were also one of the founders of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association, helping create national standards for the homebuilding industry across the country.

The torch was then passed to Ward Campbell, his sister, Lydia, and her husband, Jan Szostak, who formed Starward Homes as a successor company to Abbottsford in 1979.

Today the family business spans four generations and has built around 8,000 homes in some of the most desired communities in Southern Ontario, including Hamilton, Ancaster, Stoney Creek, Dundas, Burlington, Brantford, Cambridge and the Niagara Region. Starward has established itself as a leader in R2000 construction, energy efficiency and indoor air quality – improvements that result in healthier homes.

“It’s been an honour and a pleasure to be in business for 100 years. It’s a remarkable achievement for a family,” Ward said. “Not many businesses make it past two generations and here we are entering into a fourth. We are extremely proud.”

To commemmorate 100 years of leadership in the new home industry, the Campbell-Szostak family is making a major contribution to the YWCA Hamilton Endowment Fund, part of an ongoing commitment to increase the fund to more than $1 million over the next three years.

The family has a long tradition of donating time and funds to the Y, as well as many other local charities, such as the McMaster Children’s Hospital.

Catherine Pead, YWCA Hamilton’s CEO, is thrilled by the generous gesture towards the YWCA. “Bettina Campbell and the entire Campbell family have been very supportive of our community and YWCA Hamilton for many years,” she said.

“Mrs. Campbell has been Board President and a member of every committee, as well as having helped with several capital campaigns. In fact, Bettina Campbell was one of the founders of the Endowment Fund in 1995. It was very important to her, as a past Board President, to establish a fund that would provide YWCA Hamilton with financial stability and ensure that the important work of empowering women, building community and changing lives can continue for years to come.”

Charlie Campbell said his family has done their best to set an example both as builders and as people who have given back to the community. “My vision for the family is that they maintain their ethics and their standards no matter what type of business they are engaged in”

As Starward embarks on its second century, the company will begin to operate outside of its traditional geographic business area. Harbourtown at Erie Beach, a lakeside development in Fort Erie, will launch in Spring, 2008.

“Our business is growing beyond our traditional Hamilton-Burlington area,” said Ward. “We are looking forward to expanding the Starward family of homeowners with our commitment to providing our customers with a unique home-buying experience.”

Ward credits their longevity to the family’s “integrity, attention to detail and commitment to customer service.