Meet John Tilstra: MTR Foundation’s Heart for Home Award Recipient in 2026

John Tilstra often jokes that he finished high school on a Friday and was on the road Monday heading west.

What started off as an adventure in B.C., turned into decades of his life where John built a family and companies that would serve as one of the pillars of the BC development industry.

Those who know John understand that his success in business is deeply rooted in his belief in, and investment in, people. That’s why, when he built Centra Windows, he chose to make it an employee-owned company, where every person in the organization was a partner.

“When people do well, we all do well,” he reflected recently.

John’s colleague and friend, Lanson Foster shared, “Throughout John’s career and the organizations he has worked in and built up, he has consistently built up those around him and worked to make their lives better. Whether it be employees, business associates or family members, his actions help people to make themselves better, increase their value and ultimately improve their lives both personally and professionally.”

Ultimately John transitioned away from Centra after 40 years of service, leaving it in the very capable hands of more than 250 employee-owners. For his leadership and success, John was named B.C Business’s 2011 Pacific Region Entrepreneur of the Year in Real Estate and Construction.

In this next stage of his career, John is building a company that hits close to home: Wesmont — a commercial and residential land development company he owns with his three sons: Sean, Nick and Joel.

While Wesmont is a generational project, it also provides a new home for John’s deep commitment to giving back. 

Through the Wesmont Foundation, John works closely with his daughter, Sydney, to support organizations here in B.C. and around the world to go beyond building neighbourhoods and to invest in building healthy communities. True to who he’s always been, the Wesmont Foundation reflects John’s enduring belief in investing in people.

From building capital projects to funding scholarships, grants and training programs, John’s faith-fuelled legacy of generosity impacts thousands of lives for the better.