2023 Contractors Awards by Island Living

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2023 CONTRACTORS AWARDS

SLOW BUT STEADY

CAOB discuss improvements in Bermuda’s construction industry

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GOING GREEN FROM THE KITCHEN Sustainable options for the food that we eat

TYPE 2 DIABETES

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CONTENTS 2023 AWARDS CONTRACTORS

2023 CONTRACTORS AWARDS 6 Take a look at this years winners!

hen it comes to our homes, securing the ultimate contractor W is a major priority to ensure that everything maintains its optimal appearance and functionality. We’re so excited to bring you our 8th Annual Contractors Awards and sing the praises the individuals and teams that have kept our homes functioning smoothly and looking their best over the past year!

SLOW BUT STEADY IMPROVEMENTS

The Construction Association of Bermuda (CAOB) have

remained focused on their scholarship fund and assisting Bermudians advance their studies. The demand for contractors is outstripping supply and supply chains is pretty much back to normal. Simon Tully, President of CAOB, discusses this and more in this Q&A article.

11 GOING GREEN FROM THE KITCHEN

ISLAND LIVING Contact: Jennifer Ward Tel: (441) 236-2025 Email: advertise@ipn.bm

hen we think about ‘going green’ or sustainability, we might W reuse or recycle where we can or purchase a keep-cup or reusable bag, but what about the groceries and foods that we are using these items for? Island Nutrition bring us some amazing ways to make a positive choice when it comes to the food that we eat.

VITAL CONNECTION - Approaching the 13 Aprevention and remission of Type 2 Diabetes

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Listed Realtors

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BERMUDA PROPERTY LINK LTD. P.O. Box FL 663, Smiths, FL BX T. 232-7272 • C. 704-6212 E. ann@bermudapropertylink.com www.bermudapropertylink.com

CRANFIELDS PROPERTY BERMUDA LTD.

P.O. Box 433,Warwick, WK BX T. 305-8074 • E. sharon@bda4sale.com www.bda4sale.com

KIM SHEEN PROPERTIES PO Box 408 Sandys MA BX T. 734-1264 E. kim@kimsheenproperties.bm www.kimsheenproperties.bm

MAINPOINT REAL ESTATE LTD. 83 Reid Street, Hamilton HM 12 T. 296-0984 • C. 335-0984 E. mainpointrealestate@gmail.com www.mainpointrealestate.com

MASTERKEY MANAGEMENT

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2023 CONTRACTORS AWARDS Welcome to Our 8th ANNUAL CONTRACTORS AWARDS! When it comes to our homes, securing the ultimate contractor is a major priority to ensure that everything maintains its optimal appearance and functionality. When we discover an exceptional contractor, it becomes second nature to enthusiastically share our experiences online, with our social circles, family, friends and even with complete strangers.

We’re so excited to bring you our 8th Annual Contractors Awards and to celebrate all of those contractors and businesses who impact our homes, who have stood out in their field over the past year. In the wake of the post-pandemic era, collaborating with strategic partners to ensure seamless project completion has become more crucial than ever, particularly in Bermuda’s construction industry. Situated in the middle of the Atlantic, the industry faces unique challenges, including shifts in local planning regulations, global supply chain disruptions, and escalating prices. Despite these hurdles, Bermuda’s industry leaders have demonstrated resilience, continuously navigating the complexities and optimizing project efficiency.

project execution, meeting expectations and contributing to Bermuda’s construction success.

Many residents have successfully identified reliable partners who not only meet their expectations but also exceed them, paving the way for more ambitious and inspired projects. While some homeowners explored do-it-yourself renovations during unexpected downtime in recent years, the reality is that we are now fully immersed in active project pursuits. As we strive to balance our home and work life, there is a renewed interest in outsourcing various dream projects to skilled professionals.

Let’s celebrate and support these individuals and teams that keep our homes functioning smoothly and looking their best!

This resurgence emphasizes the significance of contractors in our homes. Whether it’s interior or exterior work, a minor plumbing repair, a kitchen back splash installation, or a comprehensive home renovation, understanding each contractor’s specialization is crucial. Identifying the right professionals ensures seamless 6 Island Living • 2023 Contractors Awards • www.ipn.bm

Our Contractors Awards aims to highlight both individuals and teams within a company who have stood out as the best in each of our 18 unique categories. Our awards also offer a great opportunity for contractors big and small to talk about their trade and share their expertise with the island through Island Living as an editorial expert so be on the lookout for some of our winners in future issues.

THIS YEARS SURVEY:

To select the Winners and Honourable Mentions for this years awards, we assembled an amazing group of industry experts who work with a wide variety of contractors in many fields and rely on their support for their clients and businesses. Our Expert Panel Included: Simon Tully, President, Construction Association of Bermuda Alex DeCouto, President, Greymane Sharika Tucci, Managing Director, Masterkey Management Ltd. Angela Handwell, Sales & Rental Representative, Coldwell Banker

Indoors:

2023 AWARD WINNERS!

Air Conditioning/HVAC

PLUMBING

CARPENTRY

Honorable Mention:

#1 - T hermodynamics & Maintenance • Cold Snap Services Ltd. • Efficiency Limited

#1 - Lopes Plumbing Services

#1 - DeCosta’s Unique Carpentry

• H&H Plumbing & Mechanical • C&C Solutions

• Fine Woodworking • RMD Maintenance

ELECTRICAL

Interior Painting

CLEANERS

Honorable Mention:

#1 - ACS Electrical • Reeves Electrical Services • Keen Ltd.

Outdoors:

Landscaping & Excavating #1 - MDM Landscaping Honorable Mention:

• Island Wide Landscaping • JL Landscaping

Glass & Windows #1 - Island Glass Honorable Mention:

• PVC Doors & Windows • Clear Choice

Other:

Home Insurance #1 - BF&M

Honorable Mention:

• Freisenbruch-Meyer Group • The Argus Group

Home Security #1 - Selectron

Honorable Mention: • 2Tech • Smart Security

#1 - CB Painting

#1 - Paradise Cleaning

• Abbott Decorating • TCM General Maintenance & Painting

Exterior Painting

#1 - TCM General Maintenance & Painting Honorable Mention:

• PrimeWorks Property Services • Colour Management

Pools

Stonework & Tiling

#1 - Pembroke Tile & Stone Honorable Mention:

• Surface Trends • Eminence Tile & Stone

Surveyor/Valuations

#1 - Bermuda Valuers & Appraisers

#1 - Longtail Pools Honorable Mention:

Honorable Mention:

• Pimentel Pools • Doc’s Pools

• Bermuda Land Surveyors • MainPoint Realty

Locksmith’s

#1 - Bermuda Security Services Ltd Honorable Mention: • Ward’s Locksmith • Barnes Locksmith

Interior Designers #1 - Aina Curated Honorable Mention: • Design by KD • Encore Designs

Architectural design

Movers

#1 - Joe Vieira Trucking Honorable Mention:

• Atlantic Cleaning • Assured Quality Cleaning

• Fast Forward Freight • Bda Residential & Commercial Trucking

#1 - Tika Gilbert Architects Honorable Mention: • CTX Design Group • Broadview

www.ipn.bm • 2023 Contractors Awards • Island Living 7

All Types of Keys Supplied • Master Key Set Ups Business & Residential • Safe Combination Changes

Phone: 337-3235 • tpmobile44@yahoo.com Call Today for Your FREE ESTIMATE!

the Voice of construction in Bermuda Dedicated to making the construction industry safer, more efficient, more competitive and better able to contribute to the development of Bermuda. We represent our members to stakeholders in Bermuda and maintain industry standards. Contract one of our members with confidence for your next project.

DO YOU own a construction business? Do you sell or provide a service to the construction industry?

Become a CAOB Member 8 Island Living • 2023 Contractors Awards • www.ipn.bm

construction-association-of-bermuda Contact: [441] 292.0633 • info@caob.bm • www.caob.bm

Slow but steady Improvements Q – As the Voice of Construction in Bermuda,describe

some of the main tasks and initiatives you have had over the past year.

A – We have remained focused on our scholarship fund and assisting Bermudians advance their studies in the various engineering categories – mechanical, civil, electrical and structural. One of the criteria is to ensure that the awardees are returning to Bermuda to continue in their chosen field post graduate, to ensure a robust local pool of qualified engineers. This years awardees were Daniel Cabral, Nadia Atttride-Ramella, and Keishun Swan. Q – What are some of the main struggles that you have seen this past year?

A – Lack of labor, and pricing increases. It is becoming increasingly challenging to source labor in contracting, particularly in the General contracting arena because young people simply have more options and lack the desire to get into trades. The traditional Azorean route for labor is also becoming difficult to source as there are other opportunities rather than Bermuda for those individuals. With pricing, the importation of aggregate has driven up the cost of concrete and block, further exacerbating an already inflated building cost. The cost of doing business in the construction field is relatable to the retail industry as there are fixed costs to doing business that you cannot reduce, therefore in general it’s a costly venture. Q – Have you noticed a success trends for members as we are exiting the pandemic?

A – Any contractor – tiling, electrical, GC, HVAC etc that is good at what they do – and I don’t just mean skilled in their trade, I mean punctuality, communication, cleanliness etc – are having a successful time. Demand for contractors is outstripping supply and many clients are waiting months if not a whole year plus for contracts to be fulfilled. Q – How have things been with supply chains? Have things

improved and how is this all effecting costs for building.

By Simon Tully, President of CAOB

A – Supply chain is pretty much back to normal, the trade shows have resumed and relationships have blossomed due to other avenues for products. Pricing has not changed mainly due to global economics and as with inflation, will continue to rise. Q – Are you seeing an increase

in new development as we exit the pandemic – how is the industry doing overall?

A – We are seeing steady development in the high end residential markets and some hotel developments outside of South P. Renovations and remodeling are a staple of our construction economy and that is also holding steady. Foreign investment in property is the man driver of this. Q – What are you seeing in terms of job creation within the construction industry?

A – There is not so much job creation as there is steady work. A couple of areas that are seeing growth are solar and home automation as electricity costs continue to spiral upwards and instant access to your home security (cameras), remote locking, and anything app related to your phone increases. Q – What are the latest updates on the CAOB safety training and safety efforts currently available to both members and non–members?

A – We are currently looking at an initiative with the Chamber to increase the awareness of safety training that we provide so that we can better serve the public. Campaigns to raise awareness is almost a full time job so we require additional resources to market these sorts of services. The benefit to members is that we allow for discounted costs so if companies would like to take advantage of multiple courses, it is beneficial to become a member. www.ipn.bm • 2023 Contractors Awards • Island Living 9

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GOING GREEN FROM THE KITCHEN Expert Advice from Hanah Cannon, RD, Registered Dietitian at Island Nutrition

When we think about ‘going green’ or sustainability, we might reuse or recycle where we can or purchase a keep-cup or bagfor-life, but what about the groceries and foods that we are using these items for? Our dietary choices can have significant ramifications on the environment; however, they are within our immediate control day in, day out. There is a real need to both reduce our ecological impacts and improve our health. Luckily, every time we eat, we have another opportunity to make a positive choice. The biggest thing that you can do right away is replace some animal protein with plant-based options. Particularly reducing

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consumption of red meats such as beef or lamb. Eating fewer red meats reduces your risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes as well as reducing your contribution to greenhouse gas production, wastewater, and deforestation for production of these meats from farming. It is a complicated conversation, but research shows time and time again that red meats require more resources to grow than any other animal products and animal products over all place more strain on the environment than plant based lifestyles. So, if we increase our consumption of plant-based foods, we, in turn, lower our environmental impact and often improve our general health. Let’s look at this from the outlook of a water-conscious nation such as Bermuda. The average rainwater tank in Bermuda holds 15-20,000 gallons. A full tank would be as much water as is needed to produce 8.3lbs of red meat (that’s just 33 quarter pound hamburgers). This same tank could produce 7699 beyond burgers! This is not to say that you can never eat meat or dairy foods, but that some simple swaps on a day-to-day basis can really make a difference. The Eat-Lancet report from 2019 recommends wealthy countries limit their intake of red meat. If choosing to continue animal protein, opt for pork, poultry or fish which are slightly less demanding for the environment and better for your health too. Locally, restaurants and supermarkets are making efforts to improve their vegetarian and vegan offerings. There is increased variety on menus and on the shelves. Use your power as a consumer to show demand for these foods and help this sector grow further. This could be as simple as opting for the black beans instead of beef in your burrito bowl or swapping chicken for falafel in your wrap. Forgo the cheese in your sandwich, ask for almond milk in your coffee and substitute the beef chili for veggie at your favorite cafes at lunch time. When snack time hits, opt for hummus & veggie sticks instead of cheese & crackers or a packet of mixed nuts instead of the jerky at the gas station check out. These are only small changes, but all can help to reduce our intake of saturated fats and sodium, increase our fiber, and leave us feeling satisfied that we are caring for ourselves and our planet for generations to come. This article is mainly aimed at those with no pre-existing health conditions. If you have any questions about your nutritional health and feel you would benefit from support from a Registered Dietitian, please contact us at Island Nutrition on 295-4082 or at reception@ islandnutrition.bm. www.ipn.bm • 2023 Contractors Awards • Island Living 11

12 Island Living • 2023 Contractors Awards • www.ipn.bm

A VITAL CONNECTION APPROACHING THE PREVENTION AND REMISSION OF TYPE 2 DIABETES Expert Advice from The Bermuda Diabetes Association

The prevalence of pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes is on the rise, and the importance of weight loss cannot be overstated in the management and even reversal of these conditions if you are overweight. Type 2 diabetes is a condition that occurs when your body may not produce enough insulin, or when your body becomes resistant to the insulin it produces. Insulin helps your body use the glucose (sugar) in your blood to give you energy. If you don’t have the right amount of insulin, or if your insulin is unable to work properly, your blood sugar levels will become high, leading to type 2 diabetes. Around 13% of Bermuda’s population has type 2 diabetes, and this rate is higher than the global average of 10%. The presence of pre-diabetes is a warning sign, indicating elevated blood sugar levels that are higher than normal, but not enough to be classified as type 2 diabetes. When left untreated, pre-diabetes often progresses to type 2 diabetes. It is estimated that over 470 million adults will have pre-diabetes by 2035, and 93 out of 100 people do not even realize they have it. The good news is that pre-diabetes is reversible. Weight loss plays a central role in this process and is one of the main recommendations for helping those already diagnosed with type 2 diabetes achieve remission. If you are living with diabetes or pre-diabetes, the health benefits of losing 5-7% of your body weight can be considerable.

The role of weight loss in reversing pre-diabetes:

• Losing weight, if you are overweight allows your body to use insulin more efficiently to regulate blood sugar. • Reduced fat accumulation, particularly around the abdomen, improves insulin sensitivity and reduces the risk of prediabetes progressing to type 2 diabetes. • Weight loss lowers blood pressure and improves cholesterol levels. This is significant because these are both risk factors for heart disease, and people with diabetes are at increased risk of heart disease by nearly 50%.

The benefits of weight loss are significant for individuals living with type 2 diabetes: • As you lose weight, your body requires less insulin to regulate blood sugar levels. It can reduce the need for diabetes medications and improve overall blood glucose management. • It is possible for individuals to reduce or even eliminate their dependency on diabetes medications when they lose weight. • Diabetes-related complications such as cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and neuropathy can be significantly reduced with weight loss. • Weight loss improves energy levels. This can contribute to a better quality of life and make diabetes management easier.

Tips for reducing weight and reducing high blood sugars: • I t is important to make healthy food choices. The cornerstone of weight loss success is a balanced, calorie-controlled diet. Put an emphasis on whole foods, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. Limit sugary, sweet foods, processed foods, avoid sugary drinks, and reduce intake of high fat foods. • I ncreasing physical activity is a key component to improving insulin sensitivity and helps weight loss by increasing our metabolic rate. Building lean muscle and losing weight can be achieved by combining aerobic exercise and strength training. • Portion size is an important part of weight loss, and reducing portion sizes is an effective means of managing your blood glucose levels, particularly portions of carbohydrate containing foods.

A Clearer Picture of Glucose Management

The Abbott FreeStyle Libre has come as an entirely new concept in glucose monitoring. Instead of pricking your finger, the Abbott FreeStyle Libre glucose monitor provides ‘flash glucose monitoring’ through the scanning of a sensor on your arm. Using this method helps you to determine whether your blood sugar levels are going up, down, or staying stable. You can use this tool to learn how to keep your glucose readings within your normal range if you are living with type 2 diabetes. It is useful for those with pre-diabetes, helping you learn more about what affects your glucose levels which can enable you to make dietary modifications in order to reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. A good understanding of your glucose patterns is certainly a key component in reversing pre-diabetes and supporting type 2 diabetes remission. Thanks to advances in technology, monitoring glucose levels has become much easier, and glucose monitoring devices like the FreeStyle Libre, now available and used widely in Bermuda, can help people monitor their sugar levels more conveniently, and provide more meaningful data to help make healthy choices which have positive outcomes for weight and glucose levels. To achieve long-term success with weight loss to reverse prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, it is essential to develop healthy habits and make sustainable lifestyle changes. Nutrition education and support with lifestyle changes are important steps to your success. Create a strong support network around you, and for professional guidance and support speak with your GP about a referral to see a Registered Dietitian. To learn more about our programs, and individual medical nutrition counselling available at the Bermuda Diabetes Association, visit our website www.diabetes.bm. www.ipn.bm • 2023 Contractors Awards • Island Living 13

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