When Témo Cruz enrolled in Mohawk College’s Architectural Technology Program, he never imagined it would introduce him to the world of shipping containers. His outside-the-box thinking led him to create LeafBox Concepts, a sustainable venture that transforms shipping containers into rentable, experiential event spaces for community organizers, entrepreneurs, and local businesses. But this alumnus didn’t stop there—he wanted to expand his horizons and recently joined Ballance Containers, a forward-thinking company that specializes in fast, efficient container builds for residential, retail, and event use. Témo is the Business Development and Project Manager.

Together, LeafBox and Ballance Containers are a force to be reckoned with in the transformation of shipping containers industry. 

“The Architectural Technology Program was a total eye-opener,” Cruz recalls. “The hands-on courses really prepared me for the field. Some of my favourite memories? Staying up late, working on 2D and 3D models with classmates—those nights taught me how to bring ideas to life.” 

He founded LeafBox Concepts over eight years ago with the eagerness to make his mark on the world. He saw shipping containers as an up-and-coming innovative opportunity to provide accessible platforms for new businesses to launch new products, new brands to pop up at festivals, and even mom-and-pop shops to expand into town without the costs of opening a brick-and-mortar location. 

He saw containers as a creative solution. 

Cruz’s experience as an entrepreneur wasn’t always easy. “The first couple of years as a business owner were slow to start,” he said. “And just as the business started to gain traction, COVID brought everything, including the event industry, to a screeching halt.”

With Ballance Containers' roots also in the event sector, they decided to reimagine their business and discover additional opportunities.

With the cost of living at its highest, people everywhere are looking for affordable alternatives to survive, and Ballance Containers is there with fresh, innovative, sustainable ideas when they call. Single-dwelling additions for home backyards, container cottages, container offices and classrooms, pop-up container booths—you name it, Ballance Containers has probably built it. They even had their hand in building a film set for Beast Games, a reality competition television series that came to Toronto in 2024.

One of Cruz’s favourite parts of the job is the energy of new projects, the excitement of clients, the client experience, and, of course, sustainability. 

They source “one-tripper” containers from brokers across the GTA—containers that have made just a single journey from China before starting their second life.

“We take an under-utilized container structure and transform it into a new retail or residential space. We’re upcycling and giving the structures a new life and creating a positive impact in the world in the process.”

The team has been hard at work on a top-secret summer project involving the transformation of 40 shipping containers into a vibrant new marketplace. Thanks to Ballance Containers’ indoor workspace, they can modify containers quickly and efficiently, without having to battle the elements, allowing for faster turnaround times no matter the season. 

You wouldn’t think that a once-metal box could be transformed so beautifully as to replace a brickand-mortar cottage, but believe me when I say, the possibilities are endless. Heated floors? Chefs’ kitchen? Think big, and this team will make it happen.

As LeafBox Concepts and Ballance Containers continue to expand, Cruz remains grounded. He plans to keep on growing and learning with his business. “We’re looking to transform the housing industry, be educators, be industry leaders in the field, and make a positive impact overall.”