‘This business became what we are’: Construction mogul started as a painter

Sam Biasucci has left his mark on the Sault’s residential construction scene.

After 45 years in business and still going strong, the SalDan Developments president has overseen the building of 6,000 homes in the Sault and northern Ontario.

Born Salvatore Biasucci in Caserta, Italy, he moved to Canada as a teenager in 1972.

“I was very lucky back in the early days. I met the Hollingsworth family that owns Soo Mill,” Biasucci told SooToday.

“They were building homes like there was no tomorrow. I began working for them as a painter. I loved working for them.”

Biasucci’s official training is in painting and drywall.

As part of the construction crew building Soo Mill homes, Biasucci added to his skills and eventually became a professional builder of detached homes and apartment buildings.

“I was doing doors, I was doing windows. I got the hang of it.”

He partnered with Dan Braido to form SalDan Developments and Imperial Painting and Drywall in 1980.

He remained in partnership with Braido until 1984 but hasn’t forgotten his roots as a skilled trades worker or his former business partner.

“We still have probably 50 to 60 people in the painting and drywall part of the company. I still see that proudly as my original trade and I will never give that up,” Biasucci said.

After Braido’s death, he had a company vehicle dedicated to his memory.

After Ontario Lottery and Gaming established an office in the Sault in the late 1980s, business skyrocketed for Biasucci.

“We went from 25 to 30 houses a year to 150, then 170, then 250. In 1989, we delivered 300 homes.”

The provincial NDP government of 1990-1995 introduced a subsidized housing initiative.

With that in mind, SalDan built the 40-unit Vesta Housing Co-Op near Market Mall.

“That was the first project we did under the new housing program. When Bob Rae was in power we did probably over 1,000 units,” Biasucci recalled.

They built in the Sault, Wawa, Chapleau and in Sudbury. 

“We were everywhere. We developed a real understanding of the need for social housing and made a commitment to deliver.” 

Biasucci said they were never over budget. 

“We delivered what we promised. We made amazing friendships and 45 years later we’re developing for the same people we built for back then. The customers keep coming back.”

Though SalDan has built shopping centres in the Greater Toronto Area, Biasucci said he is committed to building homes, whether they be detached houses or apartment buildings, primarily in the Sault and northern Ontario.

“We haven’t diversified in anything other than housing. Our core business was always homes, even when the Sault had its ups and downs.”

Biasucci said he sees apartment buildings as the way of the future for many in regard to housing.

“The single residential units are becoming too expensive for people to own. We’re reassessing how we look at housing. Everybody’s in apartment buildings. I think that will work for Canada going forward.”

While Biasucci’s projects can be seen all over town, apartments such as One Ten Pim on Pim Street, the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 25 apartment complex on Great Northern Road and Trinity Tower, also on Great Northern Road, are recent landmark jobs completed by SalDan.

One Ten Pim has been occupied by tenants since July 2025 and the Legion building since the spring of 2024.

Trinity Tower will be completed in July 2026.

Biasucci and his team are currently planning a 232-unit apartment building on MacDonald Avenue.

“It’ll be similar to the Legion and Trinity Tower. We’re looking at starting that in the next month-and-a-half.

“We are encouraging it to be for seniors but it will be for younger people as well,” Biasucci said.

Out of all the projects he has completed, Biasucci said the Legion was his favourite. 

“Growing up in Italy after the war, we always appreciated the soldiers that came through and liberated the country.

“I’ve visited the war cemeteries and learned about the sacrifices of the Canadian soldiers who gave their lives, so the Legion and veterans have always been dear to me.”

Biasucci, a married father of two sons and grandfather of three, said it’s passion that still drives him to build.

“If you don’t feed your passion you’ll regret it for the rest of your life. It became my passion when we were starting to renovate houses.

“My wife was expecting our first child and she was helping me cut plywood with a table saw. This business became what we are.”

SalDan has won many awards for its work in the construction industry.

Most recently, the company was named the 2026 winner in the Insulated Concrete Formwork (ICF) Builder Award – MultiFamily Category and People’s Choice Award at an ICF ceremony in Las Vegas. 

SalDan received the awards for its construction of the Legion building.

“That was our third Builder Award but our first People’s Choice Award. That was very surprising.

“There’s competition from all over the world. There are entries from Europe, there are entries from Great Britain, all over North America. That was a humbling moment for us,” Biasucci said.

With a team of approximately 135 core employees, he said he has no plans to retire in the near future.

“I’m not done with this. I’ll probably be doing this as long as I can walk. My son Joey has been amazing. He’s taking over a lot of the nuts and bolts, but I can’t see myself not doing the planning and the vision.

“I would have no reason to get out of bed in the morning and that would be sad.”