News & Events A LEGACY IN PLAY
Before it became a tournament, it was a reputation built over decades.
That reputation is carried forward each year through the Ben Backman Memorial Industry Leaders Invitational Golf Tournament.
Sponsorship opportunities are now open for the 17th Annual tournament, and several key sponsorships remain available. Members and partners are encouraged to consider supporting an event that reflects the leadership and integrity that define our industry.
Ben Backman founded Kingston Construction in 1962, naming it after his favourite music group, the Kingston Trio. He led the company for nearly fifty years and brought it into CLR membership in 1971. Over the years, he served on numerous negotiating committees, was elected to the Board of Directors, and held multiple terms as Chairman. His leadership shaped both his company and the broader unionized construction industry in British Columbia.
For Ben, leadership was never about position or title. It was about how you conducted yourself at the bargaining table, on the job site, and in conversations with competitors, clients, and union representatives. He earned a reputation for fairness and integrity, and he was respected by employees, industry partners, and peers alike. In an industry defined by infrastructure, he built something just as important, trust.
When Ben passed in 2009, CLR chose to continue the standard he set. The Ben Backman Memorial Industry Leaders Invitational Golf Tournament reflects that commitment. It is not simply a day on the course, but a gathering of industry leaders who understand that construction leadership extends beyond projects and contracts.
Each year, the tournament also recognizes an Industry Leader whose accomplishments, bargaining engagement, and contribution to the unionized construction
sector reflect the same qualities Ben embodied. In doing so, CLR continues to highlight the kind of leadership that strengthens the industry for the long term.
Over the past sixteen years, the tournament has raised more than $170,000 in support of the Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation. As the Jim Pattison Acute Care Tower prepares to open as part of the Royal Columbian Hospital Redevelopment Project, the impact of that support can be seen in the enhanced care and services available to families across the region.
The seventeenth annual Ben Backman Memorial Industry Leaders Invitational Golf Tournament will take place on Monday, June 22, 2026, at the Vancouver Golf Club in Coquitlam, a venue that reflects long-standing personal and industry connections. Members are invited to join the tournament or explore sponsorship opportunities by contacting [email protected]. Registration can be completed here. The tournament continues a legacy rooted in integrity, leadership, and community commitment. It serves as a reminder that what defines this industry is not only what we build, but how we lead and the communities we strengthen in the process.