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All his experiences as a businessmen went into his decision to give the $850,000 to the seven buyers.

“We felt it was the right thing to do. If you’re a business, you have a chance to write it off, make it back. You got into it wide-eyed. You take risks when you’re in business. But usually as an individual you’re not looking to take a risk when you buy a home. So that’s why we felt a little more compelled to deal with those individuals differently.

“It’s almost like a charitable donation at the end of the day … We just thought the cleanest and the right thing to do was just give it back to them. And if we’re that good to them, they’ll come back and come and buy from us. And we didn’t want controversy over the project with deposits from people.”

The project, now called West Block, will take five to seven years to build and cost $250 million to $300 million. Condos for the first $50-million building will go on sale in April. Chelsea Hawrelak wants a bigger place now and won’t be buying there, but I expect Cantalini’s goodwill will pay off with other buyers taking note of his reputation.

On this matter, I’ll leave that last word to George Hawrelak, who recalls what it felt like when Cantalini’s managers said the cheque for $48,000 was ready.

“To watch my daughter’s eyes that day that we had a meeting was phenomenal … She had a tear come down her eyes when they told her they were going to give her money back that day.

“I am so thankful. And I want this project to be successful for Beaverbrook. I’m not trying to do a commercial for them or anything, but I do have nothing but respect for them.”

dstaples@postmedia.com

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