Latest news with #CanadianHomeBuilders'Association
Edmonton Journal
23-05-2025
- Business
- Edmonton Journal
Vicky's Homes named Canada's top renovator
Article content Vicky's won five awards for its mid-century modern home renovation, taking the following categories at the national level: Best Interior Decorating (Model/Showhome), Best Kitchen Renovation over $100,000, Best Exterior Renovation, Best Single Room Renovation (for the great room) and Best Whole Home Renovation over $800,000. But this wasn't the only strong showing for this award-winning home. Earlier this year, at the BILD Edmonton Metro Awards of Excellence in Housing, this mid-century modern renovation won for Best Exterior Renovation, Best Kitchen Renovation and Best Renovation over $600,000. The Edmonton home, on nearly an acre of land within city limits, boasts more than 6,000 square feet of living space. It includes an indoor pool, a tiki bar with an adjoining hut tub area, and what were once eight-foot high ceilings in the great room are now more than double that. More than 2,000 sq. ft. was added to the home, which now has a new primary suite on the second floor, and a legal suite designed for one of the family's key relatives. The national awards were handed out May 15 in Victoria, B.C., at a gala ceremony at the grand finale event of the CHBA's Home Building Week in Canada. 'Our national awards program always showcases the best of the best, and we are very proud of this year's finalists and winners,' said CHBA CEO Kevin Lee. 'Members of the Canadian Home Builders' Association are pushing to advance Canada's housing industry on so many fronts, and this competition is a great demonstration of the homes and communities that are developed, built and renovated across the country.'
Calgary Herald
23-05-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Four-peat: Jayman Built wins national design excellence award
Alberta continues to dominate headlines by winning multiple awards in the 2025 Canadian Home Builders' Association (CHBA) National Awards for Housing Excellence held May 15 in Victoria, B.C. Article content Article content Prolific production builder Jayman Built and premier custom home builder/renovator Vicky's Homes were front runners in the annual national competition held on Vancouver Island during CHBA's National Home Building Week. With an unprecedented 1,000 entries covering four dozen building, renovating, design, community development and marketing categories, 12 Alberta-based companies won 20 of those 48 categories plus two of the three prestigious aggregate awards for excellence. Article content Article content Awards organizer and CHBA director of marketing and communications, Natasha Rombough, said Alberta companies have had a lot of success on the national stage in recent years, with projects that are clearly hitting the mark among the nearly 200 judges from across the country. Article content Article content 'From appealing home designs and functionality, both for new homes and renovations, to livable communities, residents of Alberta have a lot of great choices when it comes to their housing,' she said. Article content Jayman, 2025 Building Industry and Land Development (BILD) Calgary Region large volume Builder of the Year, kicked off its successful awards evening by winning Best Short Video for The Streams of Lake Mahogany – Estate Living. Then, moving on to the New Home awards, Jayman received two Best New Low-Rise Home awards for the Benjam Villa (less than 1,500 square feet) and The Streams of Mahogany Brook model (1,500 to 1,800 sq. ft.) in Edmonton and Calgary, respectively. The builder's third New Home award was for Best Detached Production Home 2,401 to 2,800 sq. ft. for the Bentley 24, a model it launched in 2024. Article content Article content Toggle full screen modePrevious Gallery Image Next Gallery ImageToggle gallery captions View All 7 Photos 1 of 7 Article content Jayman ended the evening with another coveted Design Excellence Award, which is presented to the Canadian builder member with the most points. It's the fourth year in a row that Jayman, led by chairman and CEO Jay Westman, has received the nation's top CHBA prize either shared or alone. In 2024, Douglas Homes of Calgary split the spotlight with Jayman. Article content 'Winning the Design Excellence Award four years running is certainly a first for the competition, and a huge accomplishment. Clearly, their homes have national appeal among industry peers and are excelling in the areas of exterior and interior design, innovation, the functionality of their floor plans, and special features, which are the criteria the judges evaluate for all new homes,' Rombough said. Article content The Renovation Excellence Award went to Vicky's Homes, an Edmonton company founded more than 20 years ago by Vicky Kujundzic. Vicky's scored high in by winning four out of the 12 awards in the renovation category, all for the same home. Their Mid-Century Modern project nabbed Best Kitchen Renovation over $100,000, Best Exterior Renovation, Best Single Room Renovation and Best Whole Home Renovation over $800,000. Vicky's was also presented a marketing award for this mega makeover, winning Best Interior Decorating (Model/Showhome). With more than 6,000 sq. ft. of living space, this renovation recently picked up three local awards at the BILD Edmonton Metro Awards of Excellence.
Vancouver Sun
15-05-2025
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
Award-winning Headwater has drawn a flurry of interest
Family-owned Apcon Group recently took home Best Multi-Family Townhouse Production and Best Multi-Family Kitchen at the Canadian Home Builders' Association ( CHBA ) of British Columbia's 33rd annual Georgie Awards Gala for Headwater. 'Headwater shines as an award-winning development, celebrated for its thoughtful design that harmoniously blends functionality, sustainability and esthetics,' says Tejvir Atwal, managing director, Apcon Group. 'Situated in Surrey's Fraser Heights area, the project complements the surrounding landscape with well-planned floorplans, a comforting colour palette, and environmentally conscious materials and practices.' Designed with young families in mind, Headwater is a collection of 39 three-level townhomes, offering three and four-bedroom plus den plans, ranging from 1,520 to 1,585 square feet. Stay on top of the latest real estate news and home design trends. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Westcoast Homes will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Headwater has also been resonating with buyers, most notably for the neighbourhood — one that has proven itself to be quite attractive to young families. 'What makes Headwater unique is the location and design — Fraser Heights neighbourhood is a unique blend of suburban and urban living. Fraser Heights has a strong sense of community and we wanted to bring spacious homes to the area where families could come together through community initiatives, nearby schools and recreational activities,' says Atwal. 'With a high walkability score, and being closely connected to the arterial road network, Headwater further contributes to a well-rounded community.' Fraser Heights is its own distinct community, interwoven with 12 parks, wide streets, creeks and ponds, with river valley and magnificent mountain views. North Surrey also has a reputation for having excellent schools, including Pacific Academy, elementary and secondary private schools catering from kindergarten to Grade 12. Accessibility to Metro Vancouver has been yet another draw. 'Residents who work in Metro Vancouver in particular are drawn to the proximity to the highway (for work commute mainly), so they get to experience suburban living without shifting their entire lives,' says Atwal. Janet Hardy, an interior designer at Creative Spaces, was tasked with designing the two show homes. Her first assignment was choosing the finishes. 'The cabinets have plywood boxes, soft close doors and drawers, the countertops are Quartz with undermount sinks, and the blinds are roller shades, so there are no edges to catch any dust,' says Hardy. 'We wanted the homes to be timeless for years to come, but also durable so that the home looks the same as the first day buyers moved in.' The two show homes were designed so that prospective buyers could easily imagine how their whole family could live in the spaces. Family friendly spaces feature open concept living, designer finishes and views of the mountain range and Fraser River. The efficient floorplans offer two-and-a-half bathrooms and plenty of practical space, including large dens with natural light for working remotely and expansive deck space for those looking for extra entertainment room. Another selling point is just how functional the townhomes are for young families. 'Every entrance has a coat closet, and all the main floors have a powder room and ample closet space that you can use as an extra coat closet or more pantry space,' says Hardy. 'Another benefit for families is that most of the homes feature side by side washers and driers with a countertop across and shelving above.' In the kitchen, a stainless-steel appliance package includes a full-sized French-door refrigerator, a slide-in gas range stove and built-in microwave in the pantry. Many of the islands are over six feet long — all with an overhang for stools. 'We have elevated our finishes to include champagne bronze fixtures to our kitchens,' says Hardy. Each home comes with an attached garage equipped with charging capabilities for electric vehicles and spacious enough to accommodate cars and also recreational toys. Amenities incorporate a multi-level indoor lounge and a furnished outdoor picnic area with bistro tables — adding to a sense of community. Headwater homeowners will appreciate the convenience of living in an emerging community, where shopping, schools, playgrounds and amenities are already complete. Located 10 minutes from Guildford Town Centre, with its over 200 shops and restaurants, as well as movie theatres, and a wide variety of restaurants, cafés, bars and entertainment options. It is also a short distance from Highway 1 to the south and Highway 15 to the east. Fraser Heights offers residents the opportunity to be close to both nature and big city amenities. Project: Headwater Project address: 17458 100 Ave., Surrey B.C. Developer: Apcon Group Architect: Flat Architecture Interior designer: Janet Hardy Project size: 39 townhomes move-in ready Number of bedrooms: 3 and 4 bedrooms Price: Starting from $949,900 Sales centre: On site Centre hours: By appointment Phone: 604-354-7025 Website:
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Business Standard
23-04-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Canada's 2025 immigration plan: Who gets permanent residency, who doesn't
Canada's recent immigration changes have drawn fresh attention to who is granted a path to permanent residency and who is left out. In March, the federal government introduced a national program allowing up to 6,000 out-of-status construction workers to apply for permanent residence. The scheme expands on an earlier pilot that had offered status to 1,365 people and their families in the Greater Toronto Area, which ended in December 2024. 'Although framed as a recognition of essential labour, the new program highlights a deeper reality: Canada's immigration reforms continue to prioritise business and industry needs,' wrote Shiva S. Mohan, research fellow at the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration & Integration, Toronto Metropolitan University, in The Conversation. Mohan added, 'This framework assigns greater value to certain types of labour, while sidelining others. This sidelining is often based on race, gender and class.' With a Canada federal election on the horizon and a growing housing crisis, the construction sector has become a clear priority. Groups like the Canadian Home Builders' Association have pushed for more skilled trades workers and faster housing construction. That lobbying effort appears to have paid off. The inclusion of 19 new occupations in the trades category—including roofers, concrete finishers, heavy-duty equipment mechanics, and cooks—reflects that focus. But the narrow scope of the new pathway leaves out thousands working in sectors like caregiving, domestic work and agriculture, many of whom are racialised and have no direct route to permanent status. Former Immigration Minister Marc Miller estimated in 2024 that Canada is home to between 300,000 and 600,000 out-of-status people. The new pathway would cover just 1 to 2 per cent of them. Mohan, who also works with the international research project MIrreM, said Canada's regularisation efforts are 'fragmented and insufficient'. 'Programs remain narrowly targeted, restricted and quickly capped, with application limits often reached on the same day they open,' Mohan wrote. By contrast, Spain's 2005 reforms granted status to 700,000 people based on work history, long-term residence and community ties—a model some researchers say Canada could study more seriously. Immigration targets cut ahead of election As part of a broader tightening, the government has cut immigration targets for the next three years. In December, Miller told the Commons immigration committee that as nearly five million temporary permits are set to expire by the end of 2025, 'we anticipate that most holders will leave the country voluntarily'. According to Canada's new immigration levels plan: The permanent residency target will drop from 500,000 to 395,000 in 2025 The number of temporary foreign workers is expected to fall by over 40% by 2026 The cap on international students will be reduced by 10% The changes are intended to slow population growth and ease pressure on housing, healthcare and other services. Major changes to Express Entry categories Canada has also revised its Express Entry system, which fast-tracks skilled migrants. Some categories have been expanded while others have been cut. Healthcare and social services Added (8): Animal health technologists Cardiology technologists Dental hygienists Other medical technologists Pharmacists Pharmacy technicians Social and community service workers Social workers Removed (6): Educational counsellors Kinesiologists Instructors of persons with disabilities Natural healing practitioners Acupuncturists Assisting health occupations STEM Removed (19): Software engineers Data scientists Architects Urban planners Web developers Engineering managers Systems analysts Computer programmers And others No new occupations were added to the STEM category, suggesting a shift in focus or a belief that there is adequate local supply. Trades Added (19): Construction managers Industrial electricians Concrete finishers Painters Roofers Machinists Gas fitters Cooks and more Removed (4): Elevator constructors Residential installers Machine fitters Other construction supervisors Agriculture Added (2): Farm supervisors Landscaping contractors Education A new category has been created to address teacher shortages. Added (5): Kindergarten and elementary teachers Secondary school teachers Early childhood educators School teacher assistants Instructors of persons with disabilities Transport The transport sector has been removed from targeted selection. Occupations affected include: Truck drivers Heavy equipment operators
CBC
07-04-2025
- Business
- CBC
Red tape, labour shortage preventing homes from being built, says home builders' association
Increased costs, red tape and labour shortages are preventing more homes from being built in Newfoundland and Labrador, according to companies that attended the Canadian Home Builders' Association's (CHBA) annual expo in Mount Pearl over the weekend. Two weeks out from the federal election, Alexis Foster, executive officer of CHBA-NL, says she is looking to see what parties are proposing to make building easier. "By doing that we will create more housing supply which will impact housing affordability," Foster told CBC News. St. John's is dealing with a housing shortage. Last year, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation reported that rental vacancy rate in St. John's bottomed at 1.5 per cent. Election candidates are promising ways to boost home construction. The Liberals say they will create an entity to oversee the construction of affordable housing, and the Conservatives say they will give money to municipalities that increase home building. Foster says she is happy to see both parties promise to cut the GST on new homes. "It's so hard now to be able to qualify and afford a home. So, anything that helps eliminate those barriers to entry is phenomenal," she said. She also hopes to see the government reduce barriers that slow down development. For example, she says CHBA-NL is combating municipal regulations that allow "not in my back yard" mentalities. "It's just making people realize that by building more supply, we are helping everybody be able to access homes," she said. Lack of labour Many exhibitors inside the home show displayed signs indicating they were hiring workers. Foster says the lack of labour supply is preventing the construction of homes in the province, and that the CHBA is trying to encourage youth and newcomers to work in the trades. Curtis Mercer, CEO of K&P Contracting, is seeing that shortage. He says there aren't enough people to build the new homes, adding it takes nine or ten months to build a typical 1000-square-foot home today, compared to the five months it used to take. "All of our trades are short on staff, everybody's busy," said Mercer. "So we're actually building less.… We need to find new ways to build more with the amount of people that we have in the trades." Mercer says he is also paying close attention to the federal election, looking for incentives and funding any of the parties are promising to put into the industry to help move builds along. Tariffs top of mind Mercer says tariffs are top of mind for builders and clients, who are already asking if they should expect prices to skyrocket, and if they should delay investment. "We're expecting it is going to be similar to COVID," he said. "Where materials aren't going to be as readily available." Tariffs are also top of mind for TrueFoam Newfoundland, who had their booth decked out in "Buy N.L." logos. Regional manager Paula Mills says they're trying to make homes more affordable by selling energy efficient insulation, which is manufactured in Bishop's Falls. Right now, the company services Atlantic Canada, but Mills says if there are changes to interprovincial trade, they would consider shipping to western Canada. "I'm hoping that Donald Trump comes to his senses," said Mills. "We're hoping that whichever party ends up being our prime minister, that they will work out a fair agreement."
