Starward Homes, a pioneer in building homes and communities in Hamilton and Burlington, marked more than a century of business success last week at LIUNA Station, where family, associates and friends gathered to reflect on four generations of home builders and looked 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 emigrating from Europe to work in the booming steel mills.

The family tradition continued under Edward Ratcliffe's son and daughter Bettina. Bettina's husband Charlie Campbell joined her and 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. It was also among 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. Starward has established itself as a leader in R2000 construction, energy efficiency and indoor air quality - improvements that result in healthier homes.

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.

The Campbell-Szostak family marked the occasion with 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.