Latest news with #Briarwood
Edmonton Journal
28-04-2025
- Business
- Edmonton Journal
Briarwood exterior paint celebrates the beauty of the great outdoors
BeautiTone's 2025 Exterior Paint of the Year is a versatile brown. BeautiTone's 2025 Exterior Colour of the Year is Briarwood (WST26-9). Photo by runna10 / Getty Images/iStockphoto Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Earthiness. The great outdoors. Going to back to our Canadian roots. All three descriptors are why BeautiTone, the Canadian-owned retail paint brand, has selected Briarwood (WST26-9) as its 2025 Exterior Colour of the Year. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors A muted brown, BeautiTone claims Briarwood will help you to create the perfect backdrop for any outdoor gathering. 'Briarwood blends seamlessly with its natural surroundings, making it the ideal choice for any backyard,' said Kristen Gear, lead design and colour specialist, BeautiTone Paint and Home Products. 'No matter your style, Briarwood provides a beautiful backdrop that enhances gardens and outdoor spaces with effortless charm. 'More than ever, Canadians are seeking new ways to enjoy the natural beauty of their outdoor spaces, whether hosting friends and family or taking time to unwind. Briarwood perfectly complements the natural character of wood decks and furniture, bringing outdoor spaces to life.' Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Identifying an exterior colour of the year is just one of the ways BeautiTone is working to help Canadians incorporate a wider shade range within their exterior palettes, including those they might not have previously considered, the paint company said. 'Our goal is to act as a source of inspiration, inspiring homeowners to insert personality and vibrancy into outdoor spaces through colour,' said Gear. Past exterior colour selections have been brighter or bolder — Western White in 2023 or Pacific, a deep shaded blue, in 2024 — but this year BeautiTone opted to focus more on enhancing the natural beauty of decks and backyard spaces, as outdoor living comes into play with the warmer months ahead. Briarwood, said Gear, brings a fresh and on-trend update to any exterior. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. BeautiTone suggests using Briarwood on a fence or any wooden accent on your home's exterior to highlight its features and create a warm, inviting look. But it also notes that it's a versatile colour that complements any style. For example, if you did go with Western White when it was named the exterior colour choice, Gear said this would give you a sophisticated, timeless look to your home's exterior. Or pair it with 2024's Pacific for a touch of coastal charm, or even BeautiTone's Ebony for a look that has a modern edge. 'Create a backyard that sparks conversation at your next gathering — designed with what brings you joy,' said Gear. But with Briarwood being a stain, as opposed to a paint colour, and part of BeautiTone's Wood-Shield line, Gear said proper preparation is essential when staining any exterior surface, whether new or old. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'In fact, 90 per cent of stain failures are typically due to inadequate or improper prep work,' said Gear. 'To ensure long-lasting protection, we recommend consulting your local BeautiTone expert for the best products and techniques to achieve a durable, beautiful finish on your exterior projects.' Unlike paint, which creates a solid, opaque finish that covers the wood grain, stain penetrates the surface, enriching its natural appearance while providing protection against the elements. Stains are ideal for exterior wood surfaces such as decks, fences, and siding, allowing the wood's unique character to shine through while offering durability and weather resistance. Meanwhile, BeautiTone wants you to enjoy Briarwood in more than just the traditional way once your new exterior colour is applied. It has paired it with two recipes: the Briarwood Zero-Proof Cocktail — a blend of rooibos, honey and ginger — and Briarwood Honey Barbecue Salmon. While the salmon recipes can be found here, the cocktail version is located on the BeautiTone exterior colour of the year page. BeautiTone stains and paint are exclusively sold at Home Hardware, Home Building Centre and Home Hardware Building Centre stores across Canada. Cult of Hockey Cult of Hockey Edmonton Oilers Local News Sports
CBC
12-03-2025
- Business
- CBC
Ontario developer accused of extracting $18M from home buyers
An Ontario developer is accused of coercing 142 purchasers of pre-construction projects to pay more money for the same homes they purchased up to two years earlier — claims that are now the subject of a disciplinary committee hearing referred by the province's regulatory authority. According to a statement of allegations listed on the Home Construction Regulatory Authority (HCRA) website, purchasers were told by Briarwood Development Group that they'd have to sign a release forfeiting their homes if they didn't agree to pay the additional amounts. It's alleged the company extracted more than $18 million from the buyers. The allegations centre around pre-construction homes in the Ontario communities of Stayner, Angus, Quinte West and Georgina. The claims are that Briarwood demanded increases that ranged from $16,000 for an Angus project home to $320,000 for a Stayner project home. CBC Toronto reached out to representatives from Briarwood for comment last week but did not receive a reply. According to the HCRA's hearings office, Briarwood has not yet commenced its defence and has not yet entered the documents it relies upon as exhibits. CBC Toronto first reported on allegations made against Briarwood Homes in 2022 related to its project in Stayner. At the time, multiple buyers told CBC Toronto that Briarwood representatives told them that they needed to pay more to have their homes built or sign a release agreement that would see them lose their homes and get their deposits back. At that time, a Briarwood spokesperson told CBC Toronto the sudden price increase was due to supply chain issues and high costs of labour and materials linked to the pandemic. The disciplinary committee hearing, which is being held virtually, began Feb. 24. According to the HCRA's annual reports, it's received 2,606 complaints from the public since its inception in 2021. Since then, two have been heard by a disciplinary committee panel – though, per the HCRA website, one other case was stayed in 2023, and three other cases are scheduled to be heard. What happens next with disciplinary process A disciplinary hearing is one of many potential outcomes of a complaint filed with the HCRA. Its registrar determines the best course of action – which could include the levying of fines, license suspensions or the laying of charges under various provincial acts. "The appropriate enforcement action for each case is determined based on the specific facts of the matter and the potential risk or harm to consumers," an HCRA spokesperson told CBC Toronto. According to the statement of allegations in the Briarwood case, the HCRA's registrar highlighted the relevant section of its code of ethics as the one on "fairness, honesty and integrity," which states: "In carrying on business, a licensee shall treat every person the licensee deals with fairly, honestly and with integrity." The registrar goes on to say: "There was nothing in the APSs [agreements of purchase and sale] that allowed Briarwood to demand, or required purchasers to pay, this extra payment. As a result of these unethical price increases, Briarwood extracted a monetary benefit of over $18 million from these purchasers." Hearings are heard before a panel made up of a certain number of people who are licensed home builders or developers (licensees), as well as members of the general public. The disciplinary committee panel will determine whether the code of ethics has been violated. If it finds there has been a violation, there are various outcomes from a builder being ordered to take educational courses to fines of up to $100,000. However, the HCRA told CBC Toronto that if a licensee is found to have received a monetary benefit by failing to comply with the HCRA's code of ethics, it could impose a fine equal to the amount of that benefit, and those funds could then be directed to the impacted buyers. Advocates for better industry protection for buyers are welcoming the decision to hold a disciplinary hearing for the Briarwood case. "Anybody who wants to do this again in the future … They're going to be very careful because of the Briarwood case, however it turns out," said real estate lawyer Bob Aaron, who represents some clients impacted by Briarwood's alleged actions. "This may put a complete stop to this kind of practice," Aaron told CBC Toronto. Aaron has historically been critical of consumer protection organizations, such as Tarion, which administers Ontario's new home warranty program, and the HCRA, for not doing enough to protect consumers. But he says he welcomes the regulatory authority's recent actions. "I'm really encouraged now that these regulators are stepping up," said Aaron. The hearing has been adjourned until later this month.
