Ontario Home Builder - Winter2025

With a bolstered staff and high-tech upgrade, a new day has dawned for OHBA

The trials of tall building construction

Benjamin Tal’s 2025 economic outlook

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P26 Tall Tasks

Finding the sweet spot when it comes to condominium heights.

P35 Seize the Day

Bolstered by staff and technology, a rejuvenated OHBA has prepared an ambitious plan.

CONTENTS WINTER 2025

9 Association News

Building the industry association of the future, government relations, adding EnerQuality, coldweather renos, and more.

17 Inside Storey

What can we expect from Donald Trump, interest rates and the home building year ahead? CIBC economist Benjamin Tal weighs in.

23 Trending

From a wrinkle-free upgrade to the latest news on steam ovens, here's what’s new in industry products and services.

43 Building Buzz

Details from the annual NKBA Bath Trends Report , Cambria's new digs and a new project from The Gupta Group that bucks the trend.

47 Product Focus

Not all housewraps are created equal, but neither are all tradespeople. So pick the right product, and avoid the wrong applications.

P47 Seal of Approval

Reviewing the best housewraps on the market—and the most common installation errors.

54 Chapter Spotlight

Our new back-page focus on one of OHBA's 28 local chapters begins with London HBA and its CEO Jared Zaifman.

Congratulations to all winners and finalists of the 2024 OHBA Awards of Distinction on your outstanding achievements in the building industry!

Your commitment to excellence has set a high standard for the industry, and your achievements are a testament to your talent and expertise. Your innovative ideas and bold approaches have helped drive growth and progress in the building industry, making it an exciting and dynamic field to be a part of.

EDITOR

Ted McIntyre ted@laureloak.ca

ART DIRECTOR

Ian Sullivan Cant

CONTRIBUTORS

Tracy Hanes

PHOTOGRAPHY

Laing Studios

ADVERTISING

Cindy Kaye, ext. 232 cindy@laureloak.ca

PUBLISHER

Sheryl Humphreys, ext. 245 sheryl@laureloak.ca

PRESIDENT Wayne Narciso

PUBLISHED BY

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ASSOCIATION NEWS

OHBA news, views and events

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR

Building the Industry Association of the Future

This past year has been thrilling for OHBA! We’re going through a period of growth and opportunity that is unprecedented in our organization’s history. While we’ve already made significant progress on many fronts, we’ve also repositioned ourselves for the future success of OHBA and the residential construction industry.

I started my journey with OHBA over 25 years ago, and my passion for our association has never diminished. Through many council and committee positions over the decades, I’ve learned so much about the organization and the value it delivers to the residential construction industry. Over the course of the last year, the transformation OHBA has gone through has been remarkable and I’ve never

been more excited to be a part of its success.

As the new chair, my focus is on ensuring OHBA and the local chapters speak with one voice when it comes to supporting the residential construction industry on the provincial level. Working with the CEO, Scott Andison, and the rest of the board, including past chair Dave Depencier, our new strategic vision focuses on remaking OHBA as an industry association of the future. We want OHBA to be able to effectively speak for the diverse issues regarding housing across the province, and we have many initiatives in place to work towards this objective.

Along with pursuing our vision of “one voice,” I’m also focused on growing OHBA’s membership, allowing us to do more to

support our members and partners on all levels of government, while continuing to improve the structure of OHBA for the better.

Namely, we’re working towards a new, more efficient structure for our regional and subject-based councils and committees. We’ve heard from our members that there is a need to reexamine how these councils and committees operate to ensure they are as effective as possible for all members. We are currently developing a plan to understand how to best address the needs of members across these various groups.

Acquiring 100% of EnerQuality was another notable step forward for OHBA. We heard our members and understood their need for more education and training. Our aim is to grow EnerQuality’s training offerings to both leverage it as a resource for members and turn it into a revenue generator for OHBA.

On the policy side, we’re looking to focus on specific areas and expand on some of the success we’ve seen in recent months. Financial regulation, including the issue of government fees and taxes, is materially impactful on housing supply and affordability. And while we’ve seen progress—for example, on the subject of pay-on-demand surety bonds—we still have a way to go in other areas like development charges.

Despite the City of Vaughan’s recent move to cut their development charges, the burden of

these charges cannot be understated, especially as they continue to increase in many municipalities at the same time as we face a provincial housing crisis. We’re hoping the recent news out of Vaughan is a positive sign that more municipalities will follow suit and lower their development charges.

Likewise, GST/HST is another item we’re looking at for 2025. After the federal Conservatives pledged to cut the GST on all homes under $1 million, and with the success of the HST cut on purpose-built rental housing, our aim is for this pledge by Pierre Poilievre to be extended to provincial taxes and for a threshold above $1 million.

There are several other advocacy files we’re looking to address as we move forward with OHBA. Illegal building, Green Development Standards and housing-supportive infrastructure are just some of the critical areas we will be exploring this year.

Ultimately, while the residential construction industry may be currently facing a challenging economic environment, both industry and government are aligned on many aspects of how to deal with this housing crisis. We’re all looking to increase our housing supply and make homes more attainable for Ontarians.

And with OHBA’s new outlook for growth, I’m confident that we will be able to come together and build the future of Ontario. OHB

—Mike Memme, chair, OHBA

Cold Weather Renovations in Ontario:

Essential Tips for Renovators

As winter takes hold in Ontario, it might seem that the season for renovations is past. But there are many types of projects renovators can still pursue during the colder months. Moreover, there can also be some unique advantages to certain projects with the right approach.

What work can you do during the winter?

INSULATION: Proper insulation can be crucial to reducing heat loss and keeping heating bills low. Clients may not be aware of the insulation issues they have in their homes and could end up saving money on energy bills after the work is done. Focus on vulnerable areas like attics and basements.

WATERPROOFING: Leaks in basements can be brutal during the winter months, with snow, freezing rain and more potentially doing damage. While exterior waterproofing shouldn’t be done in the winter, any issues that can be fixed from inside the home can prevent leaks and mold and protect a home’s foundation.

INTERIOR PROJECTS: There are a variety of interior projects that can be completed during the winter that clients may be eager to get done before the spring. Think basements, kitchens, floors and bathrooms. These kinds of projects can be completed without interference from the cold outside.

A good rule of thumb for any homeowner is to always work with a professional renovator. So if you’re not a RenoMark renovator, consider looking into it and giving your customers that extra peace of mind. All RenoMark renovators agree to abide by a Code of Conduct, which holds them to a number of obligations, including being covered by at least $2 million worth of liability insurance. You can find out more about RenoMark renovators on the OHBA website.

ASSOCIATION NEWS

OHBA’s Government Relations Outlook

As we kick off the new year, OHBA is focused on the priorities that matter most for Ontario’s residential construction industry. From tackling affordability to breaking down barriers to increasing housing supply, our 2025 advocacy efforts aim to drive meaningful change and deliver real solutions for communities across Ontario.

1.

Illegal Building and Illegal Vending

These issues continue to be a significant problem in communities across Ontario. This illegal activity contributes to increased home prices, tarnishes the reputation of the industry and destabilizes the Tarion New Home Warranty Program.

2. Government Fees and Taxes

Government fees and taxes contribute to at least 25% to 30% of the cost of a new home in Ontario. They are a material contributor to the affordability crisis and must be either rationalized or eliminated.

3.

Housing Policy Reform and Long-Term Land Supply

This is a two-fold regulatory barrier for increasing housing supply. Municipal approvals still take too long, and there is insufficient new land designated to support the types of housing needs required to meet the forecasted population growth.

4.

Housing-Supportive Infrastructure

Core infrastructure such as roads, transit and water and wastewater are vital for supporting new housing in the province. To meet the ambitious provincial housing targets and get

shovels in the ground, sustained investment in housing-supportive infrastructure must remain a top priority.

5.

Ontario Building Code

Ontario’s Building Code has some of the highest environmental sustainability thresholds in Canada. Yet, many municipalities are adding performance standards that go beyond the statutory authority of the Planning Act through its site plan, subdivision and zoning provisions. These standards are a regulatory barrier to increasing housing supply, as they extend timelines and increase construction costs. OHB

Addressing illegal building is among OHBA’s priorities in 2025.

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ASSOCIATION NEWS

OHBA Acquires Full Ownership of EnerQuality to Grow its Training Business

In September, the Ontario Home Builders’ Association (OHBA) announced that it had acquired full ownership of EnerQuality Corporation, the leading certifier of energy-efficient homes in Canada. OHBA founded EnerQuality in 1999 alongside the Canadian Energy Efficient Association (CEEA) with a mission to improve building and energy efficiency standards in the residential construction industry.

The acquisition of 100% of EnerQuality’s shares comes as OHBA seeks to expand its external education arm and deliver needed training to its members and the industry at large. Acquiring EnerQuality, which has certified over 120,000 homes since its founding, will enable OHBA to reposition EnerQuality as a revenue generator for the association.

EnerQuality already offers training programs to its customers, covering subjects such as energy efficiency and high-performance building. It will now seek to expand its educational offerings to new topics the residential construction industry needs, as the sector seeks to address the labour shortage it currently faces. This will include subjects tailored to home builders, land developers, professional renovators and other service providers.

The Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) currently estimates that 22% of residential construction workers are set to retire in the next decade. This could account for 500,000 jobs across Canada, according to RBC Assistant Chief Economist Robert Hogue. OHBA is looking to get ahead of the problem, supporting its members by delivering training to encourage the next generation of construction workers to join the industry.

“This investment in EnerQuality is part of my larger strategy to transform OHBA into an industry association of the future,” explains Scott Andison, CEO of OHBA. “We spoke to our members about what the market needed,

and many of them highlighted education and training. So we prioritized it in our new strategic plan.”

EnerQuality recently announced a new interim board of directors, appointed in late November, to set strategic direction, advise OHBA on the scope and skills needed for the new board, and to initiate the search for its new CEO. These board members are Gord Cooke (president of Building Knowledge), Peter Saturno (president of Midhaven Homes) and Brian Johnston (former CEO of CreateTO).

The hunt for the new CEO will prove crucial for EnerQuality. The new CEO is expected to implement EnerQuality’s strategic vision, focusing on the

growth of its new training offerings and the energy labelling program.

“Our new interim board members will provide valuable insights as we work towards our strategic vision for EnerQuality,” notes Rose Benedetto, managing director of EnerQuality.

“The next generation of construction workers is out there, and we’re looking to them to build the future of Ontario.”

By fully integrating EnerQuality, OHBA is set to revolutionize the training landscape for the industry. The future of Ontario’s residential construction sector looks brighter with OHBA and EnerQuality at the forefront of this transformation. OHB

DeCator Bids Adieu

After 35 years of dedicated service to the Brantford Home Builders’ Association as executive officer, Fred DeCator has retired. Throughout his long career, Fred has been a steadfast and invaluable part of our community, consistently contributing his knowledge, expertise and unwavering commitment to the success of our home builders’

associations. His hard work, passion and leadership have left a lasting impact on the organization and everyone who has had the pleasure of working with him.

OHBA would like to extend its deepest thanks to Fred for his years of service and wish him the very best in his well-earned retirement. May this new chapter bring him joy and fulfillment. OHB

Partner with OHBA

Are you looking to connect with leaders in the residential construction and renovation industry?

The Ontario Home Builders’ Association (OHBA) offers unparalleled opportunities to network, educate, and grow your brand in this dynamic industry.

As an OHBA partner, you’ll gain access to:

Networking Opportunities:

Engage directly with top professionals and decision-makers in the residential construction and renovation sector.

Speaking Opportunities: Showcase your expertise and elevate your profile through exclusive speaking engagements.

We offer creative customized partnerships designed to support your marketing objectives for a variety of OHBA events and programs.

Be part of the driving force behind innovation and excellence in the residential construction and renovation industry.

Let’s build the future together!

Educational Training Platforms: Collaborate with OHBA to deliver impactful training and seminars that shape the industry’s future.

Creating the homes of tomorrow, today —

Get the support you need to build beyond code requirements with the Residential Savings by Design program. Gain access to resources, training and expert advice that empower you to build cost‑effective, high‑performing homes. Plus, take advantage of financial incentives. Join your fellow builders who are already benefiting from the Residential Savings by Design program today.

What’s in it for you?

Stay ahead of upcoming code changes

Get customized design advice and assistance

Reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions*

Earn financial incentives

Support your sustainability goals

greener Ontario

Looking forward to building the future together

In a world with climate changes, new building codes and shifting homebuyer preferences,† Ontario homebuilders are rising to the challenge. Enbridge Gas applauds your unwavering commitment to skillfully crafting energy‑efficient and sustainable homes better than code.

2024 Residential Savings by Design participating builders:

Alliance Homes

Alpha-Tec Consulting & Construction

Ballantry Homes

Baycrest Homes

Bickell Built Homes Ltd

BK Cornerstone Design

Build Ltd

Brookfield Residential

Brownlee Land Development

Cachet Homes

Campbell Homes Ltd

Cardea Homes

Castlemen Contracting Inc

Corsica Homes

Corvinelli Homes

Depencier Homes Ltd

Duncan Hill Homes LP

Empire Communities

Fernbrook Homes

Foxwood Building Corporation

Gemini Homes Inc

Generations Master

Builder Inc

Geranium

Gordon Tobey Developments

Granite Homes East Inc

Grason Homes

Hayhoe Homes

Lakeview Homes

Larry Otten Contracting Inc

Laurelcrest Homes

Lockwood Brothers Construction

Lucchetta Homes

Magnus Homes

Maple City Homes Ltd

Mapleton Homes

Visit

Mattamy Homes

Minto/Metropia

Mountainview Building Group

MP General Contracting

Nor-Built Construction

Norstar Baker Hill

Park View Homes

Pinnacle Quality Homes

ProFab

Prominent Homes Inc

Regal Crest Homes

Rembrandt Homes

Richcraft Homes Ltd

Rosehaven Homes

Royal Pine Homes

Rumble Homes Ltd

Saberwood Homes

Saratoga Homes Ltd

SEAN.

Sedgewick (RCH) Homes Inc

Sifton Properties Ltd

Sightlines Development Group

Silvergate Homes

Stalwood Homes

Starlit Homes

Stonebridge Building Group

Sunny Communities

Tartan Homes Corporation

The Ironstone Building Company

Thomasfield Homes Ltd

Tiffany Park Homes Ltd

Twelve Stone Group

Urbandale Construction Ltd

Wastell Developments Inc

Wrighthaven Homes Ltd

INSIDE STOREY

One-on-one with industry experts

Volatile Times

Trump, geopolitics and a housing supply shortage are among the variables in our 2025 economic outlook

By Ted McIntyre with Benjamin Tal, Deputy Chief Economist, CIBC Capital Markets

U.S. PRESIDENT-ELECT Donald Trump is probably bluffing. But what if he’s not? The Ontario economy has enough to worry about without pondering the implications of 25% tariffs on Canadian exports.

BENJAMIN TAL CIBC DEPUTY CHIEF ECONOMIST

Fortunately, Benjamin Tal, CIBC’s Deputy Chief Economist of Capital Markets, is here to help illuminate the murky road ahead for our economy and what it means for OHBA members.

OHB: Do you recall a more volatile international environment in your professional lifetime?

BT: “Things often look volatile at any point in time, then it turns out not to be as bad as first anticipated. But we do have a lot of things happening at the same time, including Trump and geopolitical issues, so it’s up there for sure.”

You forecasted the Bank of Canada’s 50-basis-point drop last month. The new interest rate is 3.25%. Where will it be this time next year?

“I think it will be 2.25% to 2.5%, with increments of 25 basis points.”

Is there any concern with homeowners renewing mortgages in 2025 despite those rates dropping?

“People have been calling it a ‘mortgage cliff,’ but from a ‘macro’ perspective this is much ado about nothing, because 40% of those renewing this year will actually see lower interest rates. For the 10-15% of people renewing who will see a big increase, that’s significant for them. It’s a ‘micro’ story that will impact those people, but not a macroeconomic thing that will impact the thinking of the Bank of Canada.”

Looking at the big picture, do you think incoming President Trump’s threat of 25% tariffs is just posturing?

“Yes, mostly. If you go back to May 2019, Trump tweeted that he was going to impose a 5% tariff on Mexico until they did something about the border. A week later, he tweeted that Mexico was doing everything needed to secure the borders and therefore the tariffs were not needed. I think he’s just using the 25% tariff threat as a negotiating tool. It will not be imposed across the board. But I do think there could still be tariffs in that 25% range targeting specific sectors like steel, forestry and dairy. But not the energy sector—60% of our exports are energy-related, and that would really hurt the U.S. consumer. I think Trump will be harder on China and Mexico.

“But it’s important to note that the last time he introduced tariffs on

Build a better business with insights affecting your industry

China, Chinese exports to the U.S. went down dramatically, but exports from other countries to the U.S., like Malaysia, South Korea, Vietnam, India and Mexico went up dramatically. So China is not stupid. They looked at how they could get to the U.S. by using the back door, so they have been heavily investing in Mexico, India and all those other countries. I call it ‘Trade Policy by Proxies.’ So if Trump really wants to go after China, he’s also going to have to go after those other countries, and that’s difficult because that’s the fastest-growing segment of the global economy—the consumers of emerging markets. So if you impose tariffs on them and they retaliate, all of a sudden you deny your exporters access to the fastest-growing segment of the global economy. So it’s not as simple as perceived. There will be a lot of barking; but not as much biting.”

But you do believe there will be targeted tariffs?

“No question about it. If I’m a dairy farmer, or in forestry or steel, I’m worried. But those tariffs will probably not last for more than a year, the way it was with the steel industry and forestry the last time.”

Rigid Board Insulation

But those are major home-building components. That can’t be good news for residential construction. “There are already significant tariffs on Canadian lumber, but it might go higher. It’s mostly not good news for the U.S., because they use this wood to build houses, and that will go into the final cost for housing.”

Banks appear to be tightening as opposed to loosening their financing of projects during the current housing crisis. Should they feel obligated to work with their developer clients?

“It’s not about the availability of credit; it’s the economics of housing right now. The condo market is in a recession. The demand is not there. Investors are out of the market. This is the biggest test of the condo market since the 1991 Recession. We have a lot of inventory to get through. The backlog will probably clear in about two years or so. And we’re not building right now. That means that in two years, when demand is there and investors back, the supply will not be

No one can predict the future of the construction sector. But you can prepare your business for the best possible outcome while capitalizing on opportunities. Stay at the forefront of this evolving sector with the latest tax, regulatory trends and business insights.

there. That’s why I think prices could pick up significantly two years from now. But in between it will be a buyers’ market in the condo space. So it’s a tale of two markets in Canada: The low-rise is fine—demand is there— while the high-rise is in recession.”

But we still don’t have the right kind of condos—ones that can support families.

“Yes, there was always mismanagement there. But we need to look beyond that—at families renting. I’d like to see a situation where families will be able to rent purpose-built rentals big enough to accommodate them. The new wave of renters will be young families with kids who don’t want to deal with a landlord; they’d rather deal with the builder. That’s why we need incentives for purpose-built rentals. That’s something I’ve been pushing for.”

Does the collapse of the condo market in the 416 affect the rest of Ontario?

“The most significant impact is clearly on the 416, but there has also been an impact on the 905 condo space. As long as we have those development charges and property taxes, it will be difficult to break this cycle without the resumption of demand, which is two years off.”

Is the international student cap a bad thing for building?

“It will clearly help the rental market, which has been on fire. But even with that population decline, we’re now seeing rent costs dropping. I believe that we’ve reached peak inflation when it comes to rent. It went up way too quickly and people simply cannot afford it. I feel that the affordability crisis we’re facing is a national emergency, and something we must deal with urgently.”

At least the federal Progressive Conservatives have proposed a GST reduction, and Ontario is looking at reducing taxes on new homes, which all seem like good news.

“That’s all very good, but they’re demand-driven policies. We cannot use demand-driven policies to tackle a problem that is essentially a supply problem. So while I have no issue with those policies to help first-time homebuyers, you cannot do it without looking at the supply issue, because then you make the situation worse.”

MODULAR EFFICIENCY

Any suggestions for builders sitting and waiting for the market to pick up?

LONGEVITY PRECAST

LIVING MODERN

“There’s a lot of builders sitting on land that they’re not going to use in the next few years. In the meantime, we have an emergency in terms of a lack of housing supply. What if you’re a nonprofit or a municipality, and you lease the land from those developers for five to 10 years, and you build factory-made temporary housing—and you can do it to code—to house refugees and nonpermanent residents? Then you can disassemble it afterward. So instead of paying property tax on unproductive land, you can earn income from leasing the land, and we can generate temporary supply until the developer can use the land for more productive activity. The technology is there—you can build factory-made housing in six months. In Sweden, 80% of the houses are factorymade—and it’s all done to code.”

And we wouldn’t need it to be federally or provincially driven initiative.

“It could even be municipal! You wouldn’t need federal or provincial money at all. It could be a win-win situation for both the developers and municipalities.”

Is Trump the biggest variable in predicting the near future of the economy?

“The fact that Trump is Trump doesn’t mean he’s wrong on everything—it’s just the way he does things (that can be problematic). For example, every country needs secure borders. And I think he has a point on defence spending by NATO. But if he is not bluffing about tariffs, that’s recessionary for the global economy. What I’m counting on is that he’s really playing a game here, using tariffs as a tool. But if he’s serious about it and is going to impose 60% tariffs on China and, say, 20% of the rest, that will be very risky.

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“But if I’m Canada, and Trump does impose a 20% tariff, I’m not retaliating loudly just because it feels or looks good, because we will lose. I’m retaliating quietly and allowing the currency to do its job. Let’s say he imposes a 10% tariff on Canada—the currency will go up and, therefore, depreciate by 5%, so that ends up being only a 5% tariff. So in that scenario, allow the financial market to do its job and ease our pain.”

TIAGO - COLOR BARK

FULLAHEADSTEAM

The Brick Commercial Division shares some hot news. P.26

TRENDING

Ideas for Builders & Renovators

The LG Studio Styler from Goemans Appliances’ Commercial Sales Division provides a seamless way to elevate a laundry room or front closet space for your clients. Easy to install and use, this standalone steam closet is built to refresh and sanitize clothes at the click of a button, providing a unique option to homebuyers seeking new ways to upgrade their living space. GOEMANS.COM/HOME/ COMMERCIAL-SALES-BUILDER/

Homebuyers are increasingly turning to steam ovens, notes The Brick Commercial Division/Midnorthern Appliance, with healthconscious individuals appreciating how steam cooking maintains the flavour, colour and nutritional value more effectively. The process also cooks food 20% to 30% faster than with a regular oven. The Brick Commercial Division / Midnorthern Appliance carries steam oven brands such as AEG, Bertazzoni, Miele, Thermador, Wolf and more (Monogram 30” Minimalist pictured)—all on display for builders, renovators and designers at their 15,000 sq. ft. Richmond Hill showroom. MIDNORTHERN.COM

Carrying More Than Your Weight on the Jobsite

With a lift-load capacity of up to 265 lbs. in horizontal lifting and up to 132 lbs. max in vertical lifting, DeWalt’s amazing 20V Max Grabo Lifter utilizes a powerful electric vacuum pump to help maximize user control during lifting, carrying or installation applications. The Lifter can be used with a wide range of heavy construction materials, including glass, tile and metal, as well as semi-porous materials like wood, drywall, concrete and natural stones. DEWALT.CA

Smarter Flooring is a Breeze

BreezeWood calls its Dune stain the “new neutral,” with its soft sandy brown hue providing a rich layer of warmth while mitigating the sometimes overly yellow undertones characteristic of White Oak (7.5”-wide, Traditional Grade, engineered hardwood with Ultra Matte finish pictured). Locally sourced and with one of the industry’s lowest carbon footprints and no VOCs, BreezeWood’s engineered hardwood flooring is constructed with an industry-leading 5mm sustainably harvested real wood veneer. It’s also all certified ‘refinishable,’ meaning it can be refinished two to three times in its lifetime, making it a smart and sustainable investment for your clients. BREEZEWOODFLOORS.COM

Simplicity of an All-In-One Boiler

Compact, quiet and efficient, the new Simplicity residential boiler from WeilMcLain Canada is an all-in-one solution that can operate as a heat-only boiler or as a combi unit for heat and hot water. Just 20” wide, it’s easily installed in tight spaces. It’s also user-friendly (Bluetoothready, it can be accessed through the Weil-McLain ProTools app, while intuitive digital controls simplify adjustments and diagnostics for easy servicing). It boasts up to 95% AFUE and Energy Starcertified. WEIL-MCLAIN.CA

2024 ONTARIO BUILDING CODE COURSES

STARTING JANUARY 2025

Power up your career and enhance your skills with top-tier training and certification

Introduction Courses:

Introduction to Permit Administration

Introduction to Plan Examination - Part 9

Introduction to Plan Examination - Part 3

Introduction to Land Use Planning & Zoning Enforcement

Technical Courses:

Building Officials and the Law

Part 9 - Health & Safety

Part 9 - Building Envelope

Part 9 - Structural

Part 9 - Fire Protection

Part 3 - Health & Safety

Part 3 - Classification & Construction

Part 10/11 - Change of Use and Renovation

Part 2 - Farm Buildings (Coming Soon...)

Developed by Rogers Real Estate Development Ltd. and Urban Capital, M City in the Mississauga city centre with feature eight towers in total.

The higher you go, the more challenging it can become

By Tracy Hanes

TALL TASKS

KEEPING UP with the number of new homes needed in Ontario has been a tall order. The solution in many urban centres has been higher density—and in Toronto and other larger cities, that’s resulting in taller residential buildings. Some are climbing to heights never before seen in the province, or the county. But building skyscrapers comes with lofty challenges.

Richard Witt, principal at BDP Quadrangle and chair of the Canadian chapter of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitats, says 40-storey buildings used to be considered tall, and they’ve been built in abundance in the GTA for decades. But since high-rise living caught on in the Toronto core a decade and a half ago, buildings have inched upward.

Witt says 40 storeys on a 1,100 square metre floor plate are the magic numbers. The City of Toronto has used this format to develop guidelines, with other Ontario municipalities following suit. Once you get above 50 storeys, though, things get structurally trickier, with wind and gravity loads requiring reinforcement.

Even so, some developers are choosing to build beyond those heights.

Among them are Rogers Real Estate Development Ltd. and Urban Capital, developers of M City in the Mississauga city centre. Many of the eight towers in the master-planned community are tall (the completed M1 and M2 are both 62 storeys) with M3, under construction, to be the tallest, at 81 storeys plus a crown. When complete, M3 will be Canada’s tallest tower west of the GTA.

“We wanted this to be a showcase site for iconic architecture,” explains Adam Segal, director of construction at Urban Capital. “We are trying to bookend the Mississauga downtown. We wanted to come up with tall towers to complement the ‘Marilyn Monroe’ (Absolute World) towers, and the city was on board.”

Stranding 50 and 56 storeys, the curvy ‘Marilyn Monroe’ towers, built by Fernbrook Homes and Cityzen Development Group, earned Best Tall Building in the Americas in 2012 by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, putting Mississauga on the map internationally for their unique design.

With M City, the plan was to have buildings of staggering heights around the tallest, M3. With several super-tall buildings in the design, the overall plan, including the required density

and satisfying the city urban design staff was a big undertaking. That requires developing a good relationship with the city staff, says Segal.

Although part of Mississauga is in Pearson International Airport’s flight path, which limits height, this wasn’t a consideration for M City, says Segal. But there were other issues. Getting workers and materials up and down high-rises during construction is always a challenge, but in the case of M City towers, the biggest challenge has been wind.

Residents of high floors may get motion sickness if a building isn’t stabilized properly, says Segal. M1 and M2 each have two splash tanks on the 62nd floors—roughly one-storey tall and one-third of the floor plate—to help suppress motion.

However, for M3—a taller, slenderer tower on a smaller footprint—a splash tank wasn’t going to suffice, so an international wind consultant was hired. Their solution was a tuned mass damper—essentially a massive 700-ton steel weight. It will act as a suspended pendulum between the 76th and 78th floors, swinging slightly to counter any tower movement. A similar solution was used at the 101-storey Taipei 101, the world’s 11th-tallest tower

To get workers and materials high into the sky, hoists with landings on the outside of the tower are typically used, says Segal, and these can take up a lot of frontage, as they are stacked along a building’s width. The hoists/landings are used to get workers in and out of the building, and to deliver materials. Typically, a bank of four conventional hoists would encumber finishing several suites.

M City’s M1 and M2 towers (below), both 62 storeys, are finished and occupied. M3 is under construction and will be Canada’s tallest tower west of the GTA, s t anding 81 storeys plus a crown.

The room-sized tuned mass damper at Taiwan’s Taipei 101 can move five feet in any direction, reducing the building’s sway by 30-40%. Mississauga’s M3 (above) will employ a similar stablizing steel weight.

“At a certain (height) you have to put equipment in a building so that it doesn’t sway as much, and that’s a costly thing to do. It has an impact on the architectural design of suites and the exterior. It’s not impossible, but it is problematic and adds expense.”

At M3, a different hoist system was used, referred to as a common tower, where the same number of hoists (four) can be achieved, but only encumber the finishing of one suite on the typical floor.

An ACS – Automatic Climbing System – is being used to form the core of the tower around the elevator and stairs. Inside formwork is fixed and raised by hydraulic cylinders. The outside formwork is suspended by outrigger beams, that can be moved horizontally to allow rebar to be placed. Once the rebar is placed, the outside formwork can be set in place (sliding along the outrigger beams) to cast the wall. Once complete, the entire system rises to the next floor above. This eliminates using a crane for the majority of this work, says Segal.

The conventional method would be to release forms, bring them back to the ground, do rebar for the next floor, then bring the forms back up, creating a lot of crane time and more impact from weather. A concrete pump is also being used at M3 to eliminate the need to haul buckets of the material up the building.

A third system employed at M3 is a Railing Climbing System (RCS) that provides a protective wind screen around the perimeter of the building, and shields against the elements. Conventionally a fly form, or table form, is used to make the slabs (or floors). It’s a mold of sorts, made of plywood. Layers of steel are set up top of the wood with electrical and mechanical lines, then concrete poured on top. Once the concrete sets, the form or ‘table’ is pulled out beyond the face of the building by a crane, then moved up to the next level.

A 31-storey mixed-use building proposal from Unix Housing Group and Icon Architects at the corner of College and Henry Streets could become the world’s largest masstimber building.

WHAT ABOUT WOOD?

While not soaring anywhere near the heights of concrete and masonry buildings, wood towers are becoming more commonplace—and taller—in Ontario.

There are several such buildings on the “taller end,” notes Hailey Quiquero, technical manager of WoodWorks Ontario, a program of the Canadian Wood Council. But that typically means 10 to 14 storeys, and most are on the institutional side, including the Academic Tower at the Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport at the University of Toronto. At 14 storeys and 77 metres high, it will be the tallest masstimber building in Canada when completed.

But a 31-storey mixed-use building in Toronto could become Canada’s—and possibly the world’s—largest mass-timber building if a proposal from Unix Housing Group and Icon Architects comes to fruition. Slated forthe corner of College and Henry Streets, the design would include 490 rental units. Currently, the world’s tallest mass timber building is the Ascent, a 25-storey retail and rental apartment tower in Milwaukee

One of the biggest challenges for tall masstimber residential construction has been the financing model, Quiquero says. Institutional and commercial projects are able to take on a lot more complexity and innovative technologies, as historically they are able to assume more risk than the residential market, she says. Generally, lenders focus on the project’s cash flow projections rather than the borrower’s financial position. Many large commercial and institutional developers are also owners, investors and operators in their projects, such as Cadillac Fairview, owned by the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan. Manulife also has a real estate division, while SmartCentres REIT is

a real estate investment trust that develops, owns and operates retail real estate.

Zoning has also posed a “bit of a hurdle,” says Quiquiero, as wood’s sweet spot tends to be six to 16 storeys. In Toronto, buildings of all types in that height range aren’t getting built as they don’t yield enough financial return.

While the zoning and municipal planning landscape has not necessarily restricted wood, the typology has made it difficult. For instance, angular planes and setbacks require more complicated structural systems and pose a challenge for designers working with wood.

Until last year, the Ontario Building Code required exit stairs made of non-combustible materials, but that’s been changed, and wood stairs are now permitted, says Quiquero.

Another 2023 update now permits encapsulated mass timber construction up to 18 storeys—up from the previous 12-storey limit.

“There are not a lot of unique challenges that come with building taller with wood,” says Quiquero. “It’s about finding teams knowledgeable about designing with those materials. Often when you get to 16 storeys or above, it’s a combination of wood, steel and concrete. There are challenges coordinating those materials and trades. But there are a lot of benefits to a hybrid system, as the buildings are lighter and can be prefabricated—so go up faster—and are low in carbon intensity.”

Quiquero says wood buildings have other advantages, such as requiring less labour, causing less disruption to neighbours, and exposed wood finishes bring a biophilic element, promoting mental health benefits. And as wood is a renewable resource, it helps achieve ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) standards required by lenders and regulators.

Photo courtesy Reza Eslami / ICON Architects

The RCS prevents the table from being slid beyond it on the building’s exterior, so the developers went with a table system that breaks down by hand and can be carried to the floor above by the staircase. Wind is not a factor, as this is done in a controlled environment.

Witt’s firm has designed the CG Tower, with construction almost complete, in the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre (VMC). At 60 storeys, it is significantly taller than any other building in the city. Though there are a number of new towers in the area, Vaughan lacks a landmark building. The CG Tower will fill that gap. Overlooking the largest city-owned park in the VMC, it is the fifth and final tower in Cortel Group’s master-planned Expo City.

Witt says Vaughan’s earlier character was based on low-rise living, and while the VMC marks a shift to high-rise character, some of the previous towers’ designs were tentative about reflecting that change. The CG’s design and scale are bold. To give it a “homes in the sky” flavour, the tower is brick rather than glazed, but a lot of planning was required to use that material at such a large scale. The CG Tower has stepped silhouettes to reduce its mass, while still creating a distinctive profile on the skyline.

“You want a landmark, but you don’t want every building to scream out for attention,” explains Witt, who says the supporting cast, while well-designed

and attractive, can consist of more modestly designed edifices such as the stores, offices and apartments.

Witt says people have long complained about the homogeneity of Toronto buildings—both in terms of design and materials—but “you can see architecture in the city now” with more interesting buildings getting constructed.

The commodification of housing has been driven by economics, Witt explains, with considerations such as how people will live there, the absorption rate of units, and the cost of borrowing money. All are deterrents to building taller than 50 storeys.

Scott McLellan, chief operating officer of PlazaCorp, says his company prefers to remain beneath that threshold, even in the City of Toronto. Recent projects include the 32-storey 5858 Yonge St., 47 storeys at 400 King St. West and 48 storeys in the Theatre District. An exception is Plaza’s 1 Yorkville tower at 56 storeys.

“We don’t often want projects higher than 48 to 50 storeys, as the cost impacts success,” McLellan explains. “It’s harder to bring kitchens and workers up, and it takes a lot longer. Under 50 works, but after that, you have diminishing returns. At a certain (height) you have to put equipment in a building so that it doesn’t sway as much, and that’s a costly thing to do. It has an impact on the architectural design of suites and

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The south elevation of PlazaCorp’s 400 King West project takes shape. Given how difficult it is to make the numbers work, PlazaCorp prefers to keep its work to 50 storeys or less. And new green standards are making it even more challenging.

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the exterior. It’s not impossible, but it is problematic and adds expense.”

McLellan says the cost of building higher must be offset by suite costs. For instance, if the cost increment is $1,000 per floor, a suite 60 storeys and beyond would cost $60,000 more than a first-floor version.

Plaza typically strives for parking spaces based on 40%-50% of the number of units in a building, with two levels of underground parking. Given a common footprint, a taller building means more units, which means more required parking spaces. Then there’s the matter of access. Plaza plans on one elevator per 100 suites, so about five elevators in a 50-storey building. Anything over 55 storeys requires additional elevators.

“You have to think about your market too,” says McLellan. “A smaller boutique building will have bigger suites, more end users and fewer investors. The suites are priced much higher. If you’re building towers, whether they are 30 or 50 storeys, it’s the same philosophy. You need smaller suites to meet the price point, and you need to sell 75%-80% to start construction. A 55-storey building may require another three or four months of carrying a construction loan before closing than a slightly shorter one.”

McLellan may have a point. The One, an unfinished mixed-use condo tower at 1 Bloor St. by Mizrahi Developments that was to rise 76 storeys, went into court-ordered receivership in 2023, then went up for sale in mid-2024, with creditors seeking a minimum bid of

$1.2 billion. It was $1.5 billion in debt due to defaulted loan payments.

Cost of Being Green

Toronto’s coming Green Standard Version 4 is also going to make it “incredibly expensive” to build taller, McLellan says, estimating it will easily add $60,000 to $70,000 to the cost of a suite. He believes this will significantly slow the 416 condo market, with less construction and less affordability. To meet those standards, he predicts we’ll see far fewer glass buildings and more masonry ones, and that balconies on towers will disappear.

But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Balconies, Witt says, are a “weird Toronto conundrum.” From his office window, he sees a condo building that has balconies, but he never sees people on them—people love the views they offer but rarely use their balcony on windy days, he says. “There’s the idea that you need a balcony for resale, but it’s a funny attitude. When you look at luxury developments, they don’t have balconies. But you need a big terrace.”

While balconies are small, elevated platforms attached to the exterior of a tower, terraces are larger outdoor spaces, usually found on the ground floor or rooftops, and can be private or a common amenity. They can also be found at other levels if a building has a stepped design, or on top of a podium.

Balconies are a loss leader as they are costly to construct on tall buildings, indicates McLellan, calling them a “bad detail” that creates thermal bridging

and energy inefficiency and that allows for water and moisture penetration. As the expression of tall buildings is being rethought, he says, in terms of materiality and form, balconies will become less commonplace, especially in rental buildings where landlords are seeking energy efficiency and to minimize potential future maintenance. And with the 416 condo market slowing and fewer investor buyers, McLellan expects developers to build more rental projects. Despite the challenges in building them, Witt still predicts the rise of super-tall towers in other GTA cities, centred around transit. CentreCourt Developments plans to build 10 highrise condominium buildings around the Pickering Town Centre, as tall as 55 storeys. The City of Hamilton will get its tallest building with Tercot Communities’ 45-storey condo at the Pier 8 waterfront development. In Ottawa, Trinity Centre near LeBreton Flats was approved in 2018 for 65 storeys, although construction has yet to commence. OHB

Cortel Group’s Expo City in Vaughan Metropolitan Centre (VMC). Its soon-tobe-completed CG Tower (back middle and pictured at right), is intended to be a landmark for the VMC. At 60 storeys, it will be the tallest building in Vaughan.

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SEIZE THE DAY

Refocused and bolstered by staff additions and new technology, OHBA is poised for great things

By Ted McIntyre

t was an unusually warm early December stretch in 2023, with temperatures in Toronto topping out at 13C—bonus times for construction crews. But beyond the weather, there wasn’t much good to talk about within the Ontario Home Builders’ Association circle. In midst of an exhaustive search to replace their CEO, there were just three full-time staff holding down the fort at the North York office. The housing industry had seen better days and OHBA was nursing a strained relationship with their largest member, BILD.

Scott Andison wasn’t entirely oblivious to the situation when a morning email from the association’s headhunter was followed by a 2 p.m. phone call: “Would you like to be our chief executive officer?”

“I’d previously been CEO of the Federation of Rental-housing Providers of Ontario and had worked on some common policy files with a former CEO at OHBA, Joe Vaccaro, and we were in the same building at the same time,” Andison relates. “I wasn’t sure if I was ready to make a move like this, but the headhunter was quite convincing and said, ‘Just come have a conversation. I think you’ll like what you hear.’”

Andison extensively researched the association to prepare for his interview with OHBA’s search committee. He knew this

wasn’t the optimal economic and political environment for new residential construction.

“I’m surprised he didn’t run based on where the organization was at,” laughs OHBA COO Sajida Jiwani.

To the contrary, Andison walked straight into the flames, fire extinguisher in hand.

“I like going in and refocusing things, problem-solving and growing new brands for organizations,” Andison says. “And I liked what I heard in that initial interview. They were looking to go in a new direction, which really appealed to me. This is my fifth association role, but I have never seen this type of energy and passion in a group of leaders.”

Although not privy to the inner details, Andison arrived at the first meeting with a plan of attack.

“We spent a whole day interviewing three candidates, but Scott was the clear choice,” shares OHBA Chair Mike Memme. “He had put together a business plan for the association, not knowing who all the players were and the challenges we were working through. Despite all that, it was a plan that could have been executed immediately. It proved to be a great reflection of what we would see within the first 30 days after we hired Scott. He offers a unique value proposition in that he’s probably one of the most operationally strong leaders OHBA has ever had, but he’s also quite happy to get involved in advocacy. He’s good at getting into the weeds, but at the same time he is driving all over the province to talk to people.”

Jiwani missed the original interview with Andison due to Covid but had a one-on-one soon afterward. “We had scheduled a one-hour meetand-greet but sat there for two hours talking about everything except OHBA,” Jiwani says. “The conversation was so easy.”

The transition has been just as seamless. “Scott is the fifth CEO I’ve worked with,” Jiwani notes. “He has incredible leadership qualities and an open-door policy. It’s a partnership, as opposed to him throwing down the hammer. He understands the government relations part

very well, but that members and chapters also needed to run this organization.”

Step one was getting everyone on the same page. “There was a misalignment within the industry on priorities and direction,” Andison says.

“The board of directors developed a strategic plan in 2022 that takes us through 2026, but between Covid, replacing our CEO and other challenges, we hadn’t been able to incorporate it into a business plan. But now we have a road map,” says Jiwani. “And people are really impressed with the business plan and all our consultations. If you look at where we were a year ago—comparing the 2023

Annual Conference to the 2024 Conference—it’s a big step up. People are reinvigorated.”

New Hires

Much of that enthusiasm has been fuelled by OHBA’s bolstered ranks. For several months, staff had been whittled down to two full-time employees—Emma Maynard on the events and communications side and Jiwani—before they were joined in the fall of 2023 by Senior Manager of Stakeholder Liaison & Technical Services Miyoko Oikawa. Oikawa, most recently the manager of research and innovation at Doug Tarry Homes and an energy analyst at Building Energy Matters, plugged

a critical hole for the association, which had lacked a building code expert for years.

After Andison’s arrival, the remaining puzzle pieces were quickly fitted into place. OHBA’s fulltime staff now stands at 11, one of those being Paul Newman, OHBA’s first-ever employee dedicated to the renovator side of the membership.

“I’ve sat in on some of the renovator council meetings, and the energy has been amazing,” says Andison, who heard of the need for more representation in that realm from day one. “At our Queen’s Park Day, the week before I officially started, Steve Barkhouse, then the chair of OHBA’s Renovators Council,

found me in the security line to get into the legislature and started pitching me on the need for more staff support on the renovator side. I now have renovator members at different chapters asking how they can get more involved. Now we can forward them on to new Renovators Council Chair Peter Di Scola and Paul (Newman). This is where our biggest growth potential lies.”

How will OHBA finance all these new hires? “We have a plan that will deliver us there,” Andison assures. “It is part of the multi-year investment the organization is making to improve and expand our capacity. There was never any question that we needed to expand our resources across the

board to match both our economic clout within the industry and our impact on building a better future.”

Office Space

More people meant a need for more workspace. And so, after 26 years at its previous 2,400 sq. ft. headquarters at 20 Upjohn Road in North York, OHBA settled into its 6,000 sq. ft. new digs at 251 Consumers Road in September. It was just a 10-minute drive away, but in many respects, a world apart.

“With the staff increase, we had outgrown the other office,” Andison says. “But it was also representative of our change in direction. It was a physical rebrand of a new team, a new way of doing business and a

TEAM OHBA: (Back row) Sofya Mitelman, Sheri Rilett, John Cruickshank, Scott Andison, Andres Ibarguen, Paul Newman, Al icia Phillips and Sajida Jiwani. (Front row) ) Miyoko Oikawa, Emma Maynard and Kirstin Jensen.

new commitment. When you talk to the team, they’re feeling a sense of energy and optimism. It feels like a brand-new start.”

“Since we moved in, the mood of the longstanding employees has completely changed,” says Jiwani. “The space is beautiful—crisp and well-lit. People have stand-up desks, and there’s a lounge area if you want to work downstairs—the facility provides a great work-life balance. But it’s not just the new offices; it’s the entire working environment, with each staff member being able to hone their leadership qualities.”

As of January 2, staff have been required in-office a common three days of the week, with the other two workdays allocated as optional work-at-home days and with Friday positioned as a “no meetings, workfocus” day.

New Website

The next box to check was OHBA’s website. “The old website was tired and out of date. It needed a refresh to reflect our approach to more modern solutions going forward,” says Andison. “We’d been putting Band-Aids on the existing website for years because there’d never been a business plan to approve a new one,” adds Jiwani.

Designed by Rees + Stager, whose portfolio varies from EnerQuality and Building Knowledge Canada to

Niagara’s Finest Hotels and Ontario Beef, the new site is currently undergoing extensive beta testing and is expected to launch in the spring. When released, access to member services will require log-in so that not all website information is available to the public.

Beyond the major facelift, a more user-friendly design and improvements to elements such as the search function, it will serve as a vital information hub for OHBA. A big part of that is the addition of iMIS to the site—“the most recognized association management software (AMS),” according to Andison.

“The organization has never had an AMS before,” Jiwani explains. “We’ve been using our online database to collect and send things to the members. It has always been an organizational challenge with the local chapters since we have often not received sufficient member information to do our job effectively. With the iMIS system, we’ll be able to collect the data we need to service our chapters better. For example, if a Durham member takes a training education course in Haliburton, we need to understand why they went there in order to determine if we need to provide that type of training in Durham as well.

“The new system also includes Chapter Link, which will enable us to support locals who don’t have AMS tools, while offering an

alternative to those whose current solution may not offer the broad range of tools and options that iMIS can deliver,” Jiwani notes. “For those that are paying for other solutions, iMIS is being offered to them at no additional cost, thereby helping the bottom line of local associations who could put those funds to other uses. In some cases, this could mean savings of $8,000 or more monthly.”

This will, in no uncertain terms, be a boon for OHBA chapters and their executive officers. “For example, small or medium-sized locals managing in Excel for their database, distribution and invoices can now access our more modern solutions without paying for it,” says Andison. “It’s a labour-intensive operation they no longer have to perform, giving that executive officer time back to focus on other priorities. We can provide them with better communication tools—how they get information out, register for events, deliver their events and training and on and on. We’ve looked at everything we’re doing at the provincial level through the lens of ‘How do we extend this benefit locally?’ And it’s designed so that they get to choose from an à-lacarte menu of options—every detail of which allows for better integration with our local chapters. It helps our members see that our delivery is more unified, and it shows them the many opportunities OHBA provides

Seated in the main boardroom, OHBA’s team has begun providing specialized support to its 28 locals, saving those executive officers time and expense on everything from events to bookkeeping.

MEET THE TEAM

SCOTT ANDISON Chief Executive Officer

KIRSTIN JENSEN

Vice President, Policy, Advocacy & Relationships

MIYOKO OIKAWA

Senior Manager, Stakeholder Liaison & Technical Services

PAUL NEWMAN Manager, Renovator & Regulatory Affairs

JOHN CRUICKSHANK Manager, Engagement & Advocacy

Since Scott Andison was hired to take on the role of Chief Executive Officer last April, several additional hires have been made to augment the pre-existing team at OHBA. Here’s the entire 11-member team at the association’s shiny new Toronto offices:

Providing a much-needed spark to ignite OHBA’s Strategic Plan, Andison’s recent posts include principal at First Counsel Consulting & Advisory Services, chief customer officer at Canada HealthLabs and president and CEO of the Federation of Rentalhousing Providers of Ontario. His double-barrelled approach as CEO covers both the operational and advocacy sides of the association’s mandate.

Jensen is heading up OHBA’s government relations and policy department, overlooking both strategy and operations. A planner by training, Jensen was formerly deputy chief of staff at the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. She arrives with extensive housing policy and government relations experience, as well as a network she can rely upon.

SAJIDA JIWANI Chief Operating Officer

EMMA MAYNARD Director, Member Service Delivery

After 20+ years with OHBA, including the past five as COO, Jiwani’s scope has been happily expanded, thanks to extensive staff additions that have enabled her to focus more on the association’s strategic operations.

Oikawa came aboard in September 2023, filling a building code expertise gap at OHBA with a wealth of experience, including roles at Natural Resources Canada, and manager of research and innovation at Doug Tarry Homes. In addition to her technical code proficiency, she is focusing on stakeholder relations, providing extensive support to OHBA locals on both fronts.

Previously director of innovation and integration at EnerQuality and with extensive experience in government including as director at the Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy Queensland, Newman is OHBA’s first-ever staff person devoted to renovators, an area the association identified as a priority. He also oversees regulatory affairs (Tarion and HCRA).

A former town councillor for Grimsby, Cruickshank has extensive experience in municipal politics and will support the government relations team and local HBAs on municipal advocacy. His recent posts include senior government relations roles at triOS College and YMCA of Greater Toronto. His expertise in municipal and association work will help OHBA devise strategies and advocacy plans on local-level matters such as development charges and official plan amendments.

SOFYA MITELMAN Coordinator, Finance & Administration

ANDRES F. IBARGUEN Senior Manager, Communications

ALICIA

PHILLIPS

Manager, Membership Liaison

SHERI RILETT Coordinator, Operations & Events

Entering her fourth year at OHBA, Maynard leads the member service delivery team. With over a decade of experience in project management and event production, she brings a strategic and results-driven approach to her work. With added resources now at her disposal, she is focused on the strategy and implementation of enhanced member services.

Ibarguen has extensive experience in the construction and infrastructure space having previously been manager of marketing and communications at RSG International, a global leader in the road safety sector, and an investment analyst working in infrastructure private equity. He will be responsible for communications strategy.

As the former executive officer for the Haldimand-Norfolk Home Builders’ Association, Philips is very familiar with the inner workings of OHBA and ideal to support members and local HBAs in their endeavours. Philips will be responsible for expanding member benefits and services and engaging new members.

With over a decade of experience in marketing and events management, Rilett will be supporting Emma Maynard in expanding the events calendar for OHBA and working with Scott Andison to support operations and administration for OHBA.

Mitelman has a background in accounting and finance and joined OHBA in September to support Sajida Jiwani with OHBA’s finance and administration needs. She has previous work experience in accounting, administration, and customer service in manufacturing sector.

that we haven’t consistently communicated in the past.

“We’re shining a light on the benefits we’re bringing to the table,” Andison continues. “And I’m seeing an increase in the invitations we’re getting from local chapters who want to hear what we have to say. We’re having what I call reboots in chapters such as Grey-Bruce, Windsor and Oxford, where there is a new level of interest in being involved. We have areas like Haldimand-Norfolk who have doubled their membership in the past eight months.”

Interacting with Locals

It’s not just the technological improvements that will make this interaction more efficient; it’s OHBA’s added manpower. “We’re providing extra services for our chapters,” Jiwani says. “For example, if the local EO doesn’t have expertise in a certain area, such as events or a specific advocacy file, we can do a shared service agreement and have our team at OHBA help them out.”

Andison’s has encountered a common request during his travels around the province—more opportunities to network and learn. The association now owning 100% of EnerQuality will undoubtedly contribute to the educational side. “Training is a priority for our organization,” Andison says, “and the best way to deliver that cost-effectively is to leverage not just the assets but the experience of an existing organization.”

The same can be said for OHBA and its largest chapter, the relationship of which has taken a deer-like leap forward. “I have to give a big shoutout to BILD for how they have embraced the changes OHBA is making,” Andison says. “A year ago, the relationship was not in a great state. They didn’t think OHBA was sufficiently engaged, due mostly to our lack of resources, so felt they had to step up on behalf of their GTA membership. Over the last seven months, we have been able to leverage the capacity of both organizations and are now doing monthly integrated staff work with their policy team.”

“For a while, BILD was better staffed and had more seasoned veterans than OHBA,” Memme says. “Now there are some things that we’re better

equipped to deal with than BILD is. We’ve relieved some of their burden, allowing them to focus on issues local to the Greater Toronto Area while we take care of the provincial-level issues. I feel like the relationship is as strong as ever, if not better.”

The One-Voice Effect

Just as OHBA is now working with all its large locals—BILD, Ottawa, West End and London—to collaborate on responses to provincial-level matters, so is it better integrating the concerns and positions of every chapter to deliver a one-voice position to Ontario government.

That’s good news for government and residents alike. “We’re seeing lots of positive discussions and potential movement in critical areas that were just not on the table before,” notes Memme. “This could flip the scales for new-home buyers, especially young people. The primary examples are potential HST/GST tax relief and development charges.”

“Government has its limitations,” adds Andison. “It is not designed to be market savvy. They sometimes don’t understand things like the time lags involved from when a new project is conceived to when there’s actually a shovel in the ground. Through conversations and significant effort in

the last while, I think they’re starting to arrive at better solutions. I’m hearing phrases like, ‘We know we’re going in this direction, but need your input and advice on this before we pick the path forward.’

“They’re seeing a renewed OHBA that truly represents its membership,” Andison says. “We can advocate strongly on things that are important to the industry, but at the same time put it into a framework that allows government the opportunity to take our input and respond effectively. They need our industry to deliver on the commitments they’ve made publicly—to build 1.5 million new homes by 2031.”

It’s admittedly a work in progress for Andison and company. OHBA is still ironing out the details of how its new board and group of local EOs will function, as well as how staff will interact with local chapters. But the association’s collective foot will remain on the gas pedal.

“We need to be quick and bold and to demonstrate that OHBA is an association that’s worthy of being part of,” Andison says. “And we’re getting validation of our efforts from both members and government.”

A year after accepting the job, he is feeling the warmth of a new day at OHBA. OHB

With iMIS association management software embedded into the design, a totally revamped OHBA website will be launched this summer.

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BUILDING BUZZ

News and moves from the industry

We Need More Spa Time!

NKBA 2025 Bath Trends Report highlights stress-free environments

Growing stress in our everyday lives is leading to the growing desire for a sanctuary at home. So says the 2025 Bath Trends Report from the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA | KBIS), the world’s leading trade association for the kitchen and bath industry.

The report, generated from a survey of 500 members of the NKBA community (roughly 10% being Canadian) suggests the focus over the next three years will largely remain on wellness, with spa-like features, intentional lighting, natural colours and minimal upkeep taking the lead as key aspects for decreasing

stress. The report also reveals several emerging trends, including increasing the overall footprint of the primary bath and the rise of personalized design, particularly through technology.

“Thoughtful design elements such as ease of maintenance, optimal lighting and integrated smart technology empower homeowners to craft spaces that not only restore the body and mind but also elevate their sense of well-being,” says Bill Darcy, Global President & CEO of NKBA | KBIS.

The full report is available at NKBA. org with free access for NKBA members. Key findings include:

Introducing The “Re-” Room – A Wellness Retreat

Respondents agree the primary bath is an important place to renew, re-centre and reinvigorate, with 90% saying homeowners want their primary bath to be a retreat from the outside world where they can relax and recharge. The two most popular bath themes in the next three years will be relaxed/ retreat-like (66%) and spa-like (64%), further illustrating the increasing emphasis on wellness in the bathroom. In fact, 78% of respondents agree that primary bath design will be inspired by homeowner experiences at hotels/ resorts, demonstrating a desire to bring high-end spa experiences into the home. Other details include:

+ 72% of respondents agree that homeowners are using their showers for rehabilitation, such as steam showers, chromotherapy and aromatherapy.

+ 55% of respondents agree that lighting for health and wellness is a top goal.

+ 70% of respondents agree that soaking tubs for physical healing and recovery will be popular

Let the Light In

Lighting quality continues to be a top consideration for bathroom design, with a strong desire to create both task and mood lighting. In a space where privacy is always a top concern, designers are finding creative ways to fill the bath with natural light as it becomes a priority for clients. Respondents agree that the two most important considerations in bathroom design are lighting quality (96%) and natural light (93%), with 81% agreeing that skylights, windows, and doors are increasingly desired in bathrooms to let in more natural light.

More Real Estate for the Bath

Homeowners are looking to increase bathroom space, primarily by removing bathtubs to increase shower size (53%) and taking down walls to increase the footprint (42%). However, some walls are still wanted: 72% of

Natural lighting, custom storage and double sinks are among the popular homeowner requests.

Overcome Your Biggest Bookkeeping Frustrations

designers agree that separate water closets for commodes are highly desired by clients. Additionally, respondents agree that homeowners are consistently seeking out sets of two in the bathroom, whether it be vanities (61%), large showers that fit more than one person (59%), or double shower heads (67%—the most popular shower configuration overall).

Natural Colors and Materials Prevail

A strong desire to connect with nature is still top of mind, as 65% of respondents expect organic and natural styles to remain popular. Specifically, 42% expect to see a return to a 1970s colour palette with earthy, neutral colours and natural woodgrain textures for floors, walls and vanities. The top five colours in 2025 will be white (76%), green (71%), blue (55%), gray (44%) and brown (44%). In terms of flooring, respondents agree that warm neutrals (72%), earth tones (55%) and wood tones (53%) will be the most popular options. The numbers were similar for wall coverings.

Custom Experiences for Better Living

Homeowners are seeing more custom solutions in their primary baths, from tech to storage. Storage—particularly where it can be customized to homeowners’ needs—is a priority across the board in vanities and medicine cabinets, as well as additional closet space. Notably, 79% agree that integrated power outlets are becoming the standard. While a high-tech bath is not yet the norm, some features that offer personalized programming solutions and spa experiences are becoming more in-demand, including smart toilets (57%), showers (59%), motioncontrolled lighting (67%), and heated flooring (57%).

Easy-to-Maintain Materials

In order to make living easier, homeowners want to minimize upkeep of their bath space, with respondents agreeing that being easy to clean is the top priority when it comes to showers (55%), flooring (81%), countertops (76%) and sinks (72%). Looking to technology for support, 84% of respondents agree that there will be increased demand for smart-cleaning toilets, leaving more time for relaxation and decreasing overall stress.

Cambria Unveils Stateof-the-Art Showroom

Cambria, the leading producer of American-made quartz surfaces, opened its new Sales & Distribution Center and showroom in Richmond Hill in the fall. This strategic investment marks a significant shift in Cambria’s operations and underscores the company’s commitment to meeting the growing demand for high-quality quartz surfaces in the region.

Its location at the intersection of highways 404 and 407 provides it with easy accessibility, ensuring timely delivery and service to its industry customers across the region.

Apart from the new showroom and office spaces, the facility boasts two state-of-the-art bridge cranes and a large slab viewing area to check out Cambria’s designs.

This move from a fabrication operation to a full-scale distribution facility will allow the company to better serve the Toronto market and support the growth of local and regional fabrication businesses. Since entering the quartz business in 2000, Cambria has steadily expanded its presence in Canada, starting with the opening of a fabrication shop in 2007, and then the Toronto Gallery in the East King District in 2012, which continues to serve the Toronto design community.

EDUCATION

CHBA Offering Training Program Rebates

CHBA has launched a three-year NRCan-funded project called Enabling Tiered Codes – Implementation and Market Preparedness, with an aim to help prepare the industry for future building codes.

To support the project’s objective of building industry competency, CHBA is offering post-course rebates of $330 for a wide range of building science and net-zero sessions. Dates and locations will be posted as they become available.

Following is a list of the rebate-eligible courses. (Note that the rebates are only available to CHBA members who pass the exam.) Visit chba.ca/net-zerotraining for further details.

ENERQUALITY

Building Science Training | Online |

Jan 14 & 15 | 1:00 to 4:30 pm

Net Zero Builder Training | Online | Feb 11 & 12 | 1:00 to 4:30 pm

GREEN CANADA ENERGY ADVISORS

Net Zero Builder Training | Online | Jan 15 & 16 | 12:30 to 4:30 pm

Building Science Training | Online | Feb 12 & 13 | 12:30 to 4:30 pm

Net Zero Builder Training | Online | Feb 19 & 20 | 12:30 to 4:30 pm

Building Science Training | Online | Mar 11 & 12 | 12:30 to 4:30 pm

Net Zero Builder Training | Online | Mar 19 & 20 | 12:30 to 4:30 pm

HOMESOL BUILDING SOLUTIONS

Building Science Training | Online | Feb 11 & 12 | 12:00 to 4:00 pm

Net Zero Builder Training | Ottawa, ON (in-person) | Feb 25 | 8:00 to 4:00 pm

Gupta Project Defies the Trend

Premier Doug Ford was on hand for the groundbreaking of The Gupta Group’s Yonge City Square last month. The largest new Toronto condominium project to break ground in 2024, it will include two high-rises (32 and 14 storeys) with 700 residential units, as well as retail and commercial spaces. It will mark the first new condominium project to rise in Hoggs Hollow in over two decades.

Despite the fact that the number of new condos starting construction in Toronto had decreased by approximately 65% from 2022 to 2024, The Gupta Group has commenced construction earlier than expected.

Yonge City Square will offer direct access to the York Mills subway station and overlook the Don Valley Golf Course. Occupancy is slated for Spring 2028. OHB

PRODUCT FOCUS

Seal of Approval

Not all housewraps are alike, but the following can all be valuable means to high-performance ends

By Ted McIntyre

When it comes to water resistance, two approaches are common in the market. The first is a membrane housewrap, some of which are coated and some not. The second approach opts for solid panel materials such as coated structural sheathings or foam-based products

While both seek to reduce unwanted air leakage and thereby improve energy efficiency, housewraps are

also designed to be vapour-permeable to play a vital role in allowing water vapour to escape rather than trapping it inside the wall cavity. As residential roof and wall products firm Benjamin Obdyke observes, “There is a growing recognition among building scientists and building codes that, going forward, all housewraps will be judged by how effectively they provide positive drainage of water from the wall.”

Dupont's Tyvek FlexWrap helps create airtight and watertight seals around windows, door sills, chimney breasts, pipe penetrations and more.

As the housewrap market share goes, Tyvek remains the 800pound gorilla in Ontario. “There are high-end products on the commercial side that architects prefer, but they’re usually four or five times the price than Tyvek,” notes Building Knowledge Canada President Gord Cooke. “On the residential side, there are more inexpensive products by maybe $15-$20 a roll, but not of the same quality. For an extra $20 a roll or $100 a house, you can go with one that actually has technical support.”

“The difference between Tyvek and all the other products is that it's a non-coated product,” says DuPont Performance Building Solutions Residential Specialist Bruce Kelly.

Product Focus

Using foam sheathing as the WRB presents a challenge at the top of these windows, which also feature improper taping at the bottom.

“There are high-end products on the commercial side that architects prefer, but they’re four or five times the price.”

“Every other product in the marketplace has a coating, which they rely on for their air and water holdout. So as soon as you scratch that surface, you’re losing your air and water holdout properties.”

Panel-type WRBs can be exceptional rain repellents, Cooke says. “But you have to be careful how you install them because there’s no way to do so without having reverse flashing (with the accompanying risk of water intrusion). Some custom builders do an amazing job of applying the tapes and then back-taping and rolling them. But you’re now taping every 4’x8’ sheet and every cut and joint and the tops of windows, and back-taping that to ensure it sticks.

“Builders regularly ask me, ‘What’s the best product?’ I always talk about their risk-versus-reward,” Cooke explains. “If you’ve got a big custom house or are out on a windswept coast, you’ll be inclined to buy very high-end. If you have a flat roof and no overhang, that’s a big risk factor, and you’ll need to do a great job of detailing your housewrap. If you’re building small bungalows with big overhangs that hardly ever see any water, and the higher initial cost is not a factor, then perhaps taping the seams of a coated structural sheathing will be adequate.”

Whatever you choose, it’s essential to utilize compatible tapes and systems, Cooke stresses. “I often see a piecemeal approach where

the installer has picked up some tape they think will work with their WRB (water resistant barrier), and then the flashings and tapes are not compatible with the windows. Pick one product and install it per the manufacturer’s recommendations and Canadian standards. The vast majority of windows are not installed according to CSA Standard A440.6. Your single biggest risks—and single biggest openings—are windows. If they’re not done correctly, it doesn’t matter what housewrap you use.

"Now that Ontario has adopted the National Building Code, this is a good opportunity to look at those requirements, talk to whoever your WRB expert is, and determine how to install windows in accordance with the NBC," Cooke continues. "We’ve already seen building officials with advanced copies saying, ‘Since we’re switching codes, this is one area we’ll be looking at.’”

INSTALLATION ERRORS

Virtually every housewrap system works until you put a hole in it, and the biggest holes are the windows. Integrating your chosen system properly is the trick. “It needs to be shingled and lapped correctly,” notes Cooke. “If you’re using a flanged window, the top of the window flange has to go underneath the WRB. And that’s the problem with the coated sheathing products—you can’t do that.

"Similarly, some builders choose to use a foam-insulated sheathing as the WRB by taping all the seams," Cooke says. "Again, this means that at the top of each window they are relying on the tape as the sole deterrent for water entry in this vulnerable location. If you’re relying on a tape joint, you had better make sure you use a tape that’s at the right temperature and that the surface is clean and dry and that it’s applied with the manufacturer-required pressure roller—otherwise, you’ll void the warranty. But I often see installers choosing the wrong materials and/or the wrong sequencing around the windows. The most common example is the tape. You should be using a 4”-wide, self-adhered

for wood-frame

flashing, not a 2”-wide sheathing tape. Blue sheathing tape is designed to attach sheathing membranes to sheathing membranes, not to windows.”

“When we look at where the problems most often occur, it’s where they haven’t used the window flashing properly and the lower corners of the windows are rotted,” says Kelly. “Water comes in at the head of the window, drips down and sits on those lower corners. So you should at least flash the sill since that’s where the big problems are. We put the FlexWrap down before the window goes in, flash the side jams and the head jam, and then spray foam. We leave the bottom of that window open for drainage so that any water that does get in can drain to the outside.”

If you want to really drive Cooke to distraction, try taping the bottom of your windows. “That is the last thing you should do because when the window leaks—not if, but when —you want the water to get out, not stay in,” Cooke observes. “So shingle at the top, pull the housewrap overtop, use proper side flashings of at least 4”-wide—butyl tapes, not asphaltbased tapes—and don’t tape the bottom of the window.

“We test this stuff all the time at

the Construction Instruction lab in Denver,” Cooke adds. “We have builders show us how they do their windows. We put them on a test rig and spray them with water, and they leak. Yes, these are exaggerated tests, and the builders will say, ‘I’ve been doing it this way for 20 years and haven’t seen many leaks in my houses.’ But it’s the single biggest warranty item. And it’s seldom the fault of the windows—it’s almost always the installation. And when windows do leak, it’s really expensive. Cladding has to come off. It takes no more than 10-15 minutes of extra time per window to apply proper flashings. And in terms of the proper tapes, it’s no more than $25 a window.”

“It’s quick and easy,” echoes Kelly. “With our FlexWrap, there’s no primer required, no cutting. It takes five minutes to flash a window. For a 4’x4’ window, you’re looking at $15 to $20. For a whole house, you’re looking at $300 to $400, so it’s pretty cheap insurance to make sure the windows don’t leak.”

Still, constant training is required, Cooke emphasizes. “Most builders use their framers to install windows. It’s not that some of those framers want to do a bad job; they just don’t necessarily know any better.”

Tyvek is probably the most active

WRB company on the training side, highlighting Doug Tarry Homes among its certified installers.

And don’t rely on building inspectors to highlight a WRB issue if you’ve missed it, Cooke cautions. “Many building departments say they do not inspect the weather barrier because they know if they inspect it, they’re liable for it. So check with your local building department whether they’re doing a full weather barrier inspection. For example, the cities of London, Hamilton and Guelph don’t— I’ve asked. Some say, ‘We can’t get to the house at the right time because the cladding is going up,’ or ‘We would have to watch it all going up because we can’t see everything at one time.’”

Considering the expense of rectifying the problem after the fact, does it surprise Cooke that more in the industry don’t prioritize it a little more? “It’s always shocking to me. I’ve had someone say, ‘It’s $4,000 to wrap a house.’ I can’t imagine that. It’s three rolls. Each is about $150, and it’s about three rolls per house. Yes, there’s labour and tape. But even if it was $4,000 for a standard house, it’s still worth it. Water always wins in the end.”

Here’s a handful of the hottest housewrapping products in the market.

HenryBlueskin VP100

This cutting-edge, self-adhered, vapour-permeable and water-resistive air barrier offers you an effective solution to improve building performance and energy efficiency. It combines an engineered film and a patented, permeable adhesive technology with split-back poly-release film. By selfsealing around nails and fasteners, it eliminates air gaps and water and moisture intrusion.

Best fit for builders and renovators: Blueskin VP100 is specially designed for wood-frame construction. This high-performance building wrap helps builders meet airtightness targets to enhance occupant comfort

Designed

construction, Henry Blueskin VP100 is a cuttingedge, self-adhered, vapourpermeable and waterresistive air barrier.

Product Focus

Standing up to the harsh conditions of a jobsite, BP Canada considers Air-Guard "the strongest intermediate wall barrier on the market."

and lower energy costs. And its straightforward installation process using standard hand tools, along with a self-adhesive backing that eliminates the need for tapes or fasteners, makes for a hassle-free application.

Still owning the lion’s share of the Ontario housewrap market, Tyvek HomeWrap is a

premium-performance, extendable, self-adhered flashing material that can be applied over a wide range of building substances, including nonnailable sheathing materials like PS foam board, fibreboard, concrete masonry units, etc. Requiring no binders to hold it together, it incorporates a unique nonwoven structure that helps keep air and water out while letting water vapour escape, keeping homes cool in the summer, warm in the winter, and dry all year round. From a durability standpoint, it can withstand up to four months

of UV exposure and is resistant to abrasion, tearing, puncturing, aging and bacterial penetration (including asbestos, mould, fibreglass and lead).

Best Fit for Builders and

Renovators: Simplicity of installation remains a strong selling point. Tyvek’s availability in 9’ and 10’-wide rolls minimizes seams and can help reduce labour costs compared to narrower rolls. Faster and easier to install than average housewraps, it’s lightweight and pliable, wrapping around corners with ease. That flexibility allows it to smoothly interface at joints and over architectural elements.

Tyvek FlexWrap

Here’s a premium performance, extendable, self-adhered flashing material that can be applied over a wide range of building substances, including non-nailable sheathing materials like PS foam board, fibreboard, concrete masonry unit (CMU) and other such materials. Mechanical fasteners are not required in the flexed corner areas. Packaged in ready-to-use 6”-or-9”x5’ rolls or 9”x15’ rolls” and backed by a 10-year limited warranty, it can be installed at external temperatures as low as -4°C (if the surface is clean and free from frost and ice). Integrating easily with all DuPont air and water barriers, FlexWrap helps create airtight and watertight seals around windows, door sills, chimney breasts, pipe penetrations, etc.

Best Fit for Builders and Renovators:

Among its many uses, FlexWrap is ideal for flashing roundtopped or custom-shaped windows in a seamless manner, eliminating the need to cut and place individual pieces of conventional flashing on an arched opening. And in harsh-climate environments, it’s nice to know that this highly durable product is designed to withstand up to 270 days of UV exposure, while its 100% butyl adhesive performs through extreme temperatures. In recent years, Tyvek added FlexWrap EZ to its lineup, which is perfect for flashing around the many smaller electrical, HVAC and plumbing penetrations.

DuPont Tyvek HomeWrap

BP Canada

Air-Gard

Air-Gard is a cross-woven polyolefin (a family of thermoplastics that includes polyethylene and polypropylene) coated on both sides with millions of micro-sized pores that allow the sheet to breathe. It has CCMC certification for its effectiveness as a water-resistant barrier and vapour permeance, which allows any trapped moisture to evacuate the wall assembly. It’s offered in convenient 9.5’- and 10’-wide rolls, while Air-Gard’s UV inhibitors make it suitable for outdoor exposure for up to 180 days.

Best fit for builders and renovators: With superior wear and tear

resistance, it stands up well to the harsh elements of a jobsite. In fact, BP calls Air-Gard “the strongest intermediate wall barrier on the market.”

Air-Lock

A polypropylene-based non-woven membrane, BP Air-Lock can be used both as a breather-type sheathing membrane and an air barrier material, leaving your walls warm and dry. Suitable for UV exposure up to 180 days, it comes in conveniently sized roll options of 10’ x 95’, 9.6’ x 100’ and 40” x 100’.

Best fit for builders and renovators: For those looking to avoid mistakes and reapplication, Air-Lock is thick enough to withstand the harsh abuse of a jobsite and also allows visibility to locate your nail marks and

stud placements (line-up and installation are facilitated with easy-to-see nail guide every eight inches).

EPAK

Titan Protective Housewrap

Produced by Winnipeg-based EPAK and sold exclusively to Canadian businesses means a localized supply chain, quick lead times and dedicated support. Titan is lightweight yet durable, featuring superior water resistance with a design that balances strength and breathability. Its slight translucency makes alignment and application more accessible by allowing visibility of structural elements beneath. And its anti-glare muted colour further improves visibility and safety, even in bright sunlight.

Best Fit for Builders: For builders and installers seeking confidence and flexibility in case of delays, Titan offers an industry-leading UV exposure rate of 270 days. And if you’re looking to distinguish yourselves from the competition, Titan offers a private label program if you commit to just one pallet (64 rolls). EPAK also produces coloured housewraps.

Owens Corning

Foamular FlashSealR

This acrylic polyolefin flashing tape, compatible with XPS insulation, OSB, plywood, vinyl, and spun-bonded polyolefin wraps, provides excellent protection against air infiltration and water penetration. Boasting long-term adhesion and strength, it self-adheres without primers and is designed for cold temperatures.

Best Fit for Builders and Renovators: Thin and flexible, this is a great product for sealing around penetrations and uneven surfaces, especially in low application temperatures (-18 °C), where it remains flexible and elastomeric, allowing it to move with building components. OHB

Thin and flexaible, Owens Corning's FlashSealR foam flashing tape can be applied at temperatures as low as -18C.

Produced in Winnipeg, EPAK Titan housewrap is made for the Canadian climate. That includes an industry-leading 270-day UV exposure limit.

Chapter Spotlight

London HBA

FOUNDED: 1952 MEMBERS: 271

OHB: You replaced 27-year E.O. Lois Langdon in 2021. What attracted you to the position?

Jared Zaifman: “I grew up in a builder/ developer family in London and spent summers when I was younger working for the family business on home construction sites, cleaning up and later helping with some of our rental apartment portfolios. At the same time that my dad was getting sicker with Parkinson’s, my interest was growing in municipal government politics and policy, because I’d seen how that really impacted our business. So I went back to school to pursue my master’s in public administration, with a focus on municipal government, and started working for the City of Stratford and Town of St. Marys. My ultimate goal was to become a member of London City Council. I was eventually successful and spent a term there from 2014 to 2018. I was unsuccessful in my re-election bid, but that opened up opportunities for me in the private sector. Then the opportunity came up at London HBA. It was the perfect fit with my previous experience, and having relationships already built up with the City of London really helped me start working on behalf of the industry.”

How is London distinct from other locals?

“I think everyone faces similar challenges, including rising fees, but I think

the severity of challenges are less in London than most locals because of the advocacy work and relationships we have. But we have had a challenge with the City wanting to intensify in a substantial way, but lacking the appropriate servicing and infrastructure in our downtown to accommodate that growth.”

“Also, in part due to Housing Accelerator Fund dollars, the City was incented to upzone a lot of areas to allow for greater heights and density, but we’ve struggled with the city’s planning department wanting to implement design requirements that are more subjective than objective and that shouldn’t be part of a zoning bylaw.”

What are some of your local’s proudest achievements of late?

“We’ve had an incredible year on the community side. Apart from our annual golf tournament, we enjoyed our second year of the Constructors Cup charity soccer tournament, which we do in partnership with one of our members, Tricar. It’s an opportunity for almost everyone from our members’ businesses to participate. The whole industry came out, and with matching dollars from Tricar, we raised $70,000 for the Fund for Change to help with homelessness initiatives in London. We’ve also participated in the Business Cares Food Drive for 25+ years, partnering with our local food bank around Christmastime, raising $320,000 in monetary and food

donations in 2023. And with our Green Home Build, built to a net-zero standard with our building partner Sifton Properties, we were able to donate $100,000 to Kids Kicking Cancer Canada.

“From the government advocacy side, I’m really proud of being part of establishing even more relationships with City staff, Council and the mayor, while also being relied upon as a key advocate and advisor when it comes to homes and housing. I think we have one of the most housing-friendly councils in all Ontario. Whether we’re sharing our challenges on development charges, planning fees, building permit fees, we’re a very respected and listened-to association. We thankfully have a seat at the table in those meetings and discussions, which doesn’t just happen on its own.”

Any advice for other members hoping to work better with their municipal government?

“It’s so dependent upon the personalities and developing relationships from the ground up. There isn’t some secret sauce. It’s been nice for me to share what I know with other EOs, whether that’s how you interact at Council meetings, how you deputize, how you provide communications or pitfalls to avoid. The key is to get on the same page with those people— getting on the phone, sending an email. You may not always agree, but you must have that open dialogue if you want to be part of those conversations.”

CEO: JARED ZAIFMAN Chair of OHBA’s Executive Officers’ Council

Above, the 2024 LHBA Constructors Cup Charity Soccer Tournament. At right, the association’s Green Home Build contribution to Kids Kicking Cancer.

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