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In 2015 Nepal was struck by two devastating earthquakes. The earthquakes killed 9,000 people and destroyed over 900,000 homes. Many schools were either destroyed or severely damaged. Rebuilding the schools was a challenge, particularly in the rural areas where government help is limited. RTM Masonry, Victoria’s leading masonry contractor, strongly believes in supporting the community and has done an incredible job helping to bring schools in Nepal back into working condition.

Rob Tournour, president of RTM Masonry, co-founded Another Brick in Nepal (ABIN) to help rebuild the schools in rural parts of Nepal that were damaged by the earthquakes. While reading the newspaper in a coffee shop, Rob, who is no stranger to volunteering, spotted a two-page photo about the devastation in Nepal. Having already helped in the building of a school for impoverished girls in Honduras in 2005, Rob decided that he needed to do something for Nepal. Eventually, he set up ABIN along with his friend Randy Jones and they made their first of many trips to Nepal in October 2015.

In 2017, ABIN funded the rebuilding of an elementary school in the village of Aapchaur. By using locally sourced brick and labor, money raised went back into the local economy, thus further helping the rebuilding process. Another school, the Yagyamati Secondary School in Kathmandu, received funding from ABIN to replace the furniture in two classrooms after government funding ran out. ABIN is currently helping rebuild the Sharada Secondary School in the Sankhuwasava district of Nepal. The school, housed in a two-story building and having over 450 students, was deemed unusable after the earthquakes. After ABIN stepped in, the rebuilding process progressed rapidly. ABIN has been organizing several events like a silent auction and a trail run in Victoria to help raise funds for its rebuilding efforts.

RTM Masonry recently received recognition as Member of the Year at the Vancouver Island Construction Association (VICA) Awards. The award is an acknowledgment from peers for the inspirational work done by RTM Masonry not only locally but also internationally.

Greater Victoria recently had a period of high temperatures. These high temperatures often came with heat warnings. This extended heat wave affected the speed of completion of our masonry contracts.

Recently on Chek News, this is what one of our masons had to say about working in the heat.

Safety has always been of utmost importance to us, and we treat our employees like family. As the masons work on projects for weeks, heat exhaustion and heat strokes are of concern and can be fatal. Because of this, the masons need to take it slow and stay well-hydrated. Additionally, they take time off in a shaded area to cool off. Despite this heat-induced slowdown, we pride ourselves on providing quality results.

RTM Masonry has many residential, commercial, and community projects in Victoria. If you take a drive through downtown Victoria, you are likely to see one of our projects. Some of our more notable projects include:

• Patient care tower at Royal Jubilee Hospital
• Oak Bay Beach Hotel
• Union condo building in China Town
• Songhees Wellness Centre on Admirals Road
• The Empress Hotel

We also support many community projects in Victoria and abroad. Community projects include the work done by HeroWork in renovating charitable organizations.

At RTM Masonry, we are proud to be a family-owned business, supporting the community in which we work.

RTM Masonry is a long-term supporter of HeroWork. HeroWork helps charity organizations in Victoria, BC carry out renovations to their buildings. This renovation, called Radical Renovation, takes a fraction of the time and cost. Here is more on the great work done by these heroes.

The charitable sector in Victoria, BC has a disparity between demand and resources. Due to this disparity, the infrastructure of the charities takes a back seat. Most charities do not have the expertise or the funds to redevelop their buildings. HeroWork steps in to help charities bridge this gap. How does it do it?

HeroWork, itself a charity, partners with many businesses like RTM Masonry Ltd. and puts together community events to help other charities carry out renovations. To carry out successful Radical Renovations, HeroWork believes there are 4 ingredients –

1) Change – a visible and radical change over a short time
2) Coolness – a memorable experience for all participants in the project
3) Connection – give participants a sense of feeling connected with those around them
4) Cohesion – a thorough organization of the project so that all participants are clear on their roles

The work done by HeroWork has benefits of its own. It provides the recipient with a sustainable structure that meets current building codes. Second, refurbished construction helps the charity deliver its services. There is a sense of pride and engagement amongst all the clients, staff, and volunteers who help out.

Starting with a minimal budget of only $ 380, the first renovation project that HeroWork completed was worth $ 25,000. Since then, HeroWork has completed over $ 2.5 M worth of charity rebuilds in Victoria. Projects include the Rainbow Kitchen Project, with which RTM Masonry partnered.

RTM Masonry Ltd. is proud to take a leading role in the various projects of HeroWork, and to support the community.