Right Sizing Summer 2022

summer 2022

New Homes, New Trends

What’s a Passive House?

Local developers give the scoop on what’s coming this summer

Locavore Grazing l Mortgage Tips l Great Community Centres l Hot Summer Sports

It’s Your Move.

crownisle.com | 250.207.0070 realestate@crownisle.com

Today’s Real Estate reality is that demand is far exceeding supply in the Comox Valley market. The Crown Isle Real Estate team is continually developing the remaining undeveloped portions of Crown Isle Resort & Golf Community. Currently under construction are two new developments, one offering single family building lots alongside two future multi-sites, while the second concentrates on maintenance-free strata patio-home living.

GREYSTONE ESTATES is nestled in the centre of the Community close to the Crown Isle Resort Centre and bordered by holes 8, 9 and 10 of the golf course. Greystone will afford stunning views and pastoral backdrops to many of the future properties. This new development brings to the Community 54 single family building lots plus two additional multi-sites and is already 65% sold.

“To ensure consistency in home design, new home construction will follow a similar Building Scheme as the rest of the Crown Isle Community,” says Jason Andrew, Director of Real Estate. “New residents will be able to choose from existing designs or build the custom home of their dreams with one of two approved Builders, Crown Isle Homes or Integra Homes.”

THE NEXT STEP IN THE EVOLUTION OF CROWN ISLE. New home building lots are available from $479,900 FOR MORE INFO Jason Andrew, DIRECTOR OF REAL ESTATE

jason@crownisle.com | 250-207-0070

crownisle.com

Spectacular units line the pristine fairways and lakes of the 14th, 15th and 16th holes of Crown Isle's championship golf course in SILVERSTONE ESTATES. Craftsman/ Farmhouse architectural style with 1,437 to 1,993 sq.ft. floor plans, designed with an open-concept living space that transitions to the outdoor patio so that you can take in the amazing views.

Silverstone in Crown Isle is a world class destination offering a lifestyle many only dream of living. You will enjoy the serene beauty of the golf course as well as the surrounding mountains from this one of a kind location.

Beyond these two developments, the Real Estate team at Crown Isle has plenty of future development ahead and is currently working on three other areas including plans for the RISE on the north side of Ryan Road along with lands to the east of the golf course to the Anderton / Ryan Road corner.

Re-imagine your life.

Future plans for the Clubhouse include a Top Tracer two-level driving range with tapas lounge and patio area, a spa, pool and expanded Villa offering. The Crown Isle Community will continue to grow and adapt to the ever-changing needs of the Comox Valley. Re-imagine your life and make your move to Crown Isle today.

SPECTACULAR PATIO HOMES ON CROWN ISLE’S CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF COURSE. Phase II Now Selling FOR MORE INFO, CONTACT Bert Jaeger, REALTOR ®

bert.jaeger@evrealestate.com | 250-898-9128

Central/East

West Coast - Local

North/East USA

1.866.395.5647

1.877.823.5639 / 604.787.4603

1.866.390.5647

DISCOVERY’S HOME SPOTLIGHT

The Lakes A timeless design with a spacious floor plan offering plenty of room for friends and family to gather.

Model Highlights Main Floor

Upper Floor

Master

Kitchen

Dining Area

Great Room

Bedroom 2

Bedroom 3

13′–0 x 14′–6 Flat Ceiling

11′–0 x 11′–10 Flat Ceiling

11′–0 x 13′–2 Flat Ceiling

19′–0 x 14′–6 Vaulted /Decorative Timbers

10′–10 x 12′–2 Sloped Ceiling

11′–2 x 12′–2 Sloped Ceiling

View 100’s of Our Plans Online Now!

Discovery Dream Homes.com

WHAT’S INSIDE Summer 2022

Up Front 8

Publisher’s Letter

10

Dispatches

Departments 14 Energy-efficient: homes for sale 19 Food and Drink: local treasures 40 Mortgages: overcoming hurdles 42 Community Centres: small-town gems 46 Summer Sports: hot new gear 50 Hidden Jewel: Smithers

Features 22 Passive Homes 28 New Home Trends 36 Next-generation Pre-fab Homes

Kayaking in Pender Island. Photo by Destination BC/Reuben Krabbe.

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Publisher, Founder Editor Head Designer Online Design Proofreader Digital Media Manager Video Production

S

ince the pandemic, housing markets throughout the world—and particularly in small-town B.C.-have experienced record sales and price increases. Now, like all cycles eventually do, this one is also slowing. In some cases, we should even start to see more housing inventory and increased choices for where to live.

That said, even with interest rate increases (which seem to be having one of the desired effects, of cooling a hot property market) we’re still going to struggle through a period of inflation. Due to variables as diverse as supply-chain issues, fuel costs, building costs, labour shortages and more, demand is as high as supply is low. Rather than being regional blips in our market, these are global issues brought on by macroeconomics, the pandemic and even war—major forces, causing ripple effects throughout the world.

What does this all mean for B.C.’s small towns? Since many small-town developers sold out their inventory of new residential property quite quickly over the past two years, they are still struggling to get new housing on the market. But rest assured it’s coming! (See page 28 for our take on new home inventory and new trends in community development.) Will prices come down? In some areas they already are, and my prediction is: things will likely stabilize very soon, but anything seems possible these days!

With many pandemic restrictions now eased in B.C., we see the pent-up demand for vacations, restaurant meals and other services that were curtailed over the past two years now expressing itself. Locavore restaurants (see page 19) and small businesses offer unique and comfortable shopping experiences close to home, or in nearby communities that are fun to visit. Great community centres (see page 42) are a form of reprieve from the unpredictable world we now live in, and a place to do everything from a daily walk to a vigorous workout to an art or sports class.

With energy costs on the rise and more stress than ever on the environment, we’re proud to champion some new and energy-efficient building options, including the Passive House (page 22) standard and various styles of kit-built and pre-fab homes (page 36)—which, by the way, are a great way of expanding your live, work or play space with minimal fuss.

Whether you’re visiting a smaller B.C. centre this summer or contemplating a second home or part- or full-time move, I encourage you to explore the local offerings.

From a roadside produce stand to a market-fresh local restaurant, from mom-and-pop grocery and general stores to carefully curated, one-of-a-kind clothing boutiques, by supporting community-owned and -run businesses, we help elevate local economies— and, ultimately, our own quality of life.

Wishing you a happy and safe summer!

Steve Dietrich Publisher

Steve Dietrich Charlene Rooke Amélie Légaré John Magill Lisa Manfield Charity Robertson Chris Dietrich

Writers Lucas Aykroyd, Catherine Dunwoody, Lisa Manfield, Joanne Peters, Tracey Rayson, Kate Robertson, Steve Threndyle Advertising Sales 604-787-4603

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Right Sizing magazine, established 2018. The magazine will be published four times per year by Publimedia Communications Inc., established 1996. All rights reserved. The opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher, or the staff. All editorial is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. The publisher is not responsible for any liability associated with any editorial or products and services offered by any advertiser. Editorial submissions will be considered, please send them to the publisher.

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Website www.RightSizingMedia.com Cover Image Elevated view of a golf course and residential subdivision at Shannon Lake, West Kelowna. Photo: Shutterstock.com

PRINTED IN CANADA 8

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Dispatches

By Steve Threndyle

>>

Squamish Continues to Boom Through Squamish real estate has been trending up for years, the trend seems set to continue indefinitely.

According to Craig Doherty, a Howe Sound real estate expert, “There is no slowdown in sight for this adventure paradise, as there are so many major projects on the go that will offer even more lifestyle options, more jobs, infrastructure and adventure options.” A few to watch for include Oceanfront Squamish, a community with 2,500 new homes, a Capilano University campus and an 11-acre oceanfront park; the $1.6-billion Woodfibre LNG plant, set to start construction in 2023; and an investment of $50-million from the District of Squamish in local infrastructure and facilities, including transportation and climate-action support. oceanfrontsquamish.com, woodfibrelng.ca, squamish.ca 45%: reduction in GHG emissions by 2030 targeted by District of Squamish.

The “Bank of Mom and Dad”

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It’s the question we all silently ask when a young family builds a massive new home: “Where did they get the money?” The Canadian Housing Statistics program, formed by Statistics Canada to gain insights into urban home buying, found that nearly 40 per cent of detached house sales in Metro Vancouver in 2018 were non-market (for instance, between related parties, or internal corporate transactions). Another eyebrow-raising tidbit: in 2018, 300,000 B.C. homeowners owned more than one property and 62,000 homeowners owned more than three. statcan.gc.ca/en/subjects-start/housing 40%: amount of Metro Vancouver home sales that were non-market in 2018.

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A Flood of Insurance Options In 2021, forest fires, floods, freezing temperatures and scorching heat caused hundreds of millions of dollars in property damage throughout B.C. As the tortuous process of cleaning up and rebuilding got underway, some property owners received the shock of a lifetime: insurance that wouldn’t cover their expenses. Homeowners who live in semi-rural or rural areas should regularly consult one of B.C.’s almost 900 licensed local brokers to reassess evolving coverage, to ensure a policy that truly covers a “worst-case” scenario.

5%: average increase in Canadian home insurance costs in 2022.

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Snowbird Strategies

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Purchasing U.S. sunbelt property isn’t like nipping over the border to purchase bargain wines and chunks of cheddar.

The complications of foreign ownership require boots on the ground, on both sides of the border, to ensure a smooth buying process. Your accountant or financial planner can advise how U.S. property could affect your current assets and your estate, and strategies from cross-border trusts to holding property in a Canadian corporation to structure the purchase. On the U.S. side, seek out a local real estate agent (check references!) who specializes in foreign ownership sales. snowbirds.org 27%: increase in value of residential property in the Palm Springs, California, area in the past year.

HK 161

France 464

Canada 779

Japan 379

UK 356

China 215

Denmark 702

Australia 960

Germany 587

Sweden 425

Italy 335

Greece 484

United States 832

Spain 373

Russia 237

Average residential floor space per capita in ft2.

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Small Homes, Happy Lives

Suburban homes built in the 1950s seldom exceeded 2,000 square feet, with families of up to six making do in two or three bedrooms.

Sociologists (including UBC’s Elizabeth Dunn) have studied how the mania for monster houses might negatively affect modern families.

Pre-pandemic, studies and academic papers pointed to large lots and expansive foyers as discouraging social interaction and well-being, with the novelty of big-home living wearing off within two years. Stay tuned for how recent work-from-home, home-schooling and other living-larger trends might impact happy living in the long term; for smaller-footprint living consult firms like happyhomedesign.ca.

90%: new Penticton residents who moved into a house, condo or town home in 2022. Photo by Destination BC/Joann Pai.

>>

Penticton Reimagined

A recent Welcome Home survey in this Okanagan city revealed that new residents are young (91 per cent under 65), ready to work (32 per cent moved for a job or to start a business) and exiting the Lower Mainland in droves (23 per cent of new arrivals). “The number of skilled and remote workers moving to Penticton in recent months reflect a positive trend that is critical to our local economy,” says economic development manager Carly Lewis. Notable in the findings was a 16 per cent cohort of work-from-home new residents who chose the Okanagan setting for their “home office.” —C.R. penticton.ca

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CBC small town B.C. competition winner: Kimberley

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57%: margin by which Kimberley was voted B.C.’s Best Small Town. Photo by Kootenay Rockies Tourism/Mitch Winton/ Stonefire Pizzeria Restaurant.

Right Sizing is pleased to see the mainstream media agreeing with our selection of Kimberley as a B.C. small-town Hidden Jewel (visit our archives online to see our Kimberley story, from the Winter 2020 issue, and a Hidden Jewel town in every issue). CBC Radio Vancouver recently conducted the Search for B.C.’s Best Small Town (between 500 and 12,000 residents), which Kimberley won over 127 other places. The seven-week competition attracted more than 850,000 votes, with Kimberley’s attributes (like sunny year-round weather, low housing costs, endless adventure activities, proximity to an airport in Cranbrook and a walkable downtown) winning out over second-place Ucluelet. kimberley.ca, cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/community/best-small-town-1.6339961

A New Beginning for the Nicola Valley Troika Developments recently broke ground on a project that’s the culmination of 30 years of reconciliation with five local First Nations, plus collaboration with all levels of government and with PR Petroleum.

The seven-acre site of Gateway 286, a former rest stop near Merritt (the junction of Highways 5 and 97C), will be built out and transformed.

The new destination will have plenty of commercial space to serve the local community and passing travellers, including restaurants and food stops, Western Canada’s largest EV charging station and a dog park. troikadevelopments.com 30,000: number of square feet of commercial retail space at Gateway 286.

>>

Electric Vehicles Charging Forward Last summer, thanks to a new partnership between mining giant Teck and Vancouver-based Portable Electric, the world’s most powerful mobile charging unit appeared at community events and music festivals throughout the Kootenays. Light enough to be towed behind a pick-up truck, these mobile units could improve the uptake of electric vehicles in remote places where fixed charging stations are few and far between and frigid winter temperatures are the norm. portable-electric.com

>> 13%: amount of electric vehicle car sales in B.C. in 2021, the highest in North America.

Photo by portable-electric.com.

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It all starts here

Thinking of relocating? Nanaimo is the fastest growing community on Vancouver Island, and it’s easy to see why it is the perfect place for your next adventure. With biking, kayaking, shopping, ziplining and a growing number of new business opportunities, the lifestyle choices are endless in Nanaimo. From the moment you take the bikes off the roof rack, get onto the water, or open the door to your new office with a view, come #ExploreNanaimo and see why it all starts here.

tourismnanaimo.com/StartHere

@TourismNanaimo

SUSTAINABLE SELLS Plenty of B.C. residential property gems have energy-efficient and other earth-friendly features. Here are just a few green giants across the province.

By Right Sizing Staff For direct links to all listings, go to rightsizingmedia.com/sustainable

Whistler The resort community of Whistler is located two hours north of Vancouver along the picturesque Sea to Sky Highway within the Coast Mountain range, and is home to almost 12,000 permanent residents. Recent listing: Entertain family and friends in this architecturally designed four-bedroom, five-bathroom home situated near the Whistler Golf Course, which includes luxury finishes and is built to near net zero efficiency. $6,790,000.

Belcarra This village lies northwest of Port Moody and directly east of North Vancouver, across the waters of Indian Arm. It’s a geographically isolated peninsula accessible by a single, winding paved road or by boat. Recent listing: This tranquil four-bedroom, five-bath waterfront masterpiece is built to Energy Step Code 3 standards with high-efficiency boilers, seven-zone radiant in-floor heating and seamless indoor/outdoor living via Eurovision sliding doors. $6,990,000.

Coquitlam This suburban city lies in the Tri-Cities north of the Fraser River, 26 kilometres from downtown Vancouver. Coquitlam offers urban shopping, arts and culture, plus fishing and other outdoor and water recreation, including at the 38,000-hectare Pinecone Provincial Park.

Recent listing: Reduce your carbon footprint and save up to 80 per cent in energy costs in this three-bedroom, three-bathroom, Scandinavian-inspired Passive House-compliant town home, which has roughed-in accommodation for solar panels and EV charging. $1,289,900.

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Sicamous Conveniently situated halfway between Vancouver and Calgary, Sicamous is one of the most popular recreational destinations, offering over 1,000 kilometres of shoreline for water activities, as well as dozens of provincial parks. Recent listing: This unique boat-access-only cabin starts just off the waterline and includes propane appliances and a 425-gallon Rainfresh Gravity drinking water system, composting toilet, solar controller, battery, inverter, boat, moorage, and beautiful views of Shuswap Lake. $479,000.

Kelowna Located in the heart of the Okanagan Valley, along the shores of Okanagan Lake, Kelowna is home to almost 150,000 residents who enjoy all-season outdoor recreation along with a bustling city centre.

Recent listing: The Promontory is the first fully solar-powered development of its kind in B.C. This two-bedroom, two-bathroom, modern suite (currently under construction) includes vinyl-plank flooring and a full appliance package. $449,900.

Penticton Penticton has long been one of B.C.’s most affordable retirement havens for rain-soaked Vancouverites, and now it’s a hot spot among remote workers, young families and entrepreneurs. Recent listing: A contemporary three-bedroom, two-bathroom ICF (insulated concrete form, for energy efficiency) home located in The Ridge meets Energy Step Code 4 standards, is solar ready and includes an EV charger, as well as a separate (and legal) two-bedroom, one-bathroom suite. $1,295,000.

Nelson The West Kootenay city of Nelson is located between Calgary and Vancouver and could be described as B.C.’s Shangri-La, given its spectacular but somewhat remote location.

Recent listing: This environmentally friendly two-bedroom, threebathroom waterfront home is built with timber-frame construction, in-floor radiant heating, a solar power system tied back into the grid and includes a guest house. $2,695,000.

Kaleden This rural town on the western shore of Skaha Lake (a 10-minute drive from Okanagan Falls) is home to approximately 1,200 area residents. Recent listing: This beautifully landscaped, nearly halfacre property with stunning views of Skaha Lake has four bedrooms, three bathrooms, openconcept living plus a pool and hot tub—and has been upgraded with solar panels, two septic tanks and exterior decking. $1,875,000.

Map from Google Maps

Summer 2022

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Gibsons This seaside paradise is located on the Sunshine Coast, with a historic landing from which to observe the working harbour, float planes, kayakers, marine life—and to purchase fresh seafood, right off the boat! Recent listing: The Driftwood is a collection of one-, two- and three-bedroom contemporary residences in a sustainable, efficient and community-minded development. Its Passive House design and construction principles are designed to tread lightly on the planet. $749,900.

Lasqueti Island Lasqueti Island is located 80 kilometres northwest of Vancouver in the Georgia Strait, with approximately 400 local residents who work to maintain power, water and waste systems while producing their own food. Recent listing: Fulfill your dream of living off-grid on this 30-acre biodynamic, self-sufficient farm. This ultimate island homestead encompasses a farmhouse, barn, paddocks and passive solar heating, as well as a creek leading to a micro-hydro dam. $1,450,000

Map from Google Maps

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Sooke The motto “Where the Rainforest Meets the Sea” speaks to the environmental richness of this community. Sooke is situated on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, 38 kilometres by road from Victoria. Recent listing: This West Coast contemporary four-bedroom, three-bath home features 270-degree ocean views, extensive use of first-growth Western Red Cedar and a 1,000-square-foot selfcontained suite with hydronic in-floor radiant heating. $2,500,000.

Salt Spring Salt Spring Island, situated in the Salish Sea between Vancouver Island and the B.C. mainland, is the most populated of the Southern Gulf Islands, with 11,000 year-round residents. Recent listing: This unique three-bedroom, two-bath Zero Energy Ready home already exceeds Energy Step Code 5 of the BC Building Code that will become standard in 2032. This modular-constructed, ocean-view home with many energy-saving devices promises a low carbon footprint. $1,418,000.

Think you’ve seen

?

Look again...

Welcome to the NEW Merritt.

merritt.ca

Fort St. John (Move up! you’ll love living here)

#1

304

11

Highest household income in BC, and fifth in Canada

Sunny days per year

Public schools

(same as Kelowna)

(elementary, middle and secondary)

31.4

$396,911

Median age

Average price of a single-family home in 2021

(11 years younger than BC’s median age)

[REALLY] LIVING HERE Fort St. John is British Columbia’s best kept secret: Move up here for affordable living and big city amenities in a small, friendly town.

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moveuphere.ca

Locavore Love Food culture isn’t just the stuff of big cities. All over B.C., you can find dedicated, creative culinary artists or locavores seeking to make their spot on the map a little more tantalizing. Here are a few of our favourite province-wide foodie haunts (always check local pandemic requirements and restrictions before visiting).

By Joanne Peters

Old Country Market, Coombs

Roost Winery, Bistro & Farm Bakery, North Saanich

Perhaps you’ve heard about the goats on the grass-covered roof, but don’t overlook the other attributes of this attraction: it’s a food lovers’ dream. The cheese section alone is worth a stop, from crumbly Red Leicester to Natural Pastures’ creamy Comox Camembert.

Snap up hard-to-find goods: salted cod from the Maritimes, Mexican refried mayacoba beans, fresh savoury herb from Newfoundland’s Mount Scio Farm, Cuban Lunch chocolate bars (a post-First World War classic born in Winnipeg) and locally smoked salmon. The joint even has its own Goats on Roof extra-virgin first cold-extraction olive oil from Andalusia! oldcountrymarket.com

You know you’re in good hands when the menu lists its own Pét-Nat sparkling wine by the glass, paired with a triple-decker club made with local grain-fed turkey breast and house-made cranberry mayonnaise. Roost co-owner Sarah Bohl grew up on the 10-acre farm, where her father still raises chickens and grows wheat, berries and other produce. Order the Sweet Ginger, an aperitif of fresh ginger steeped in estate-grown Siegerrebe-grape wine, with a Montreal smoked-meat sandwich on artisan bread. Melt-in-your-mouth homemade marshmallows round out dessert. Take-out and frozen meals are available, too. roostfarmcentre.com

Old Country Market, Coombs.

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Wild Poppy Market, Ladysmith Vancouver Island-born chef Kate Cram trained at the Culinary Institute of America in New York before going on to become a certified Red Seal Baker and a registered holistic nutritionist.

During the pandemic, Wild Poppy Bistro became Wild Poppy Market, a food hub specializing in gluten-free grab-and-go meals, baked goods and drinks. The community-minded spot carries thoughtfully sourced products from B.C. makers like Tofino Kombucha, Salt Spring Sea Salt, Cowichan Milk Co. and Farmer Ben’s Eggs.

Cram and her husband also run Old Town Ice Cream and Old Town Bakery (home of famous cinnamon buns). wildpoppymarket.ca

Wildflower Bakeshop and Café, Port Alberni Snag a seat at a picnic table in the café’s charming herb and flower garden for one of the best brunches you’ll find in Alberni Valley.

Those with a sweet tooth can go for grilled banana bread with creme fraiche, berry compote and pecan crumble; hungry diners will devour smoked beef brisket and fried egg with barbecue sauce and Tabasco butter on a buttermilk, cheddar and herb biscuit. We love the roasted beet salad with greens, Macedonian feta, red onion, pistachio and mint in a pomegranatesumac dressing. Rustic pan pizzas appear on the recently launched dinner menu, along with baked pastas for two, a spicy tuna bowl or fried chicken. Wine, cider and beer are exclusively from B.C. producers like Averill Creek, Sea Cider and Twin Sails. Check out the whole cakes and pies—carrot, lemon meringue, chocolate “blackout”—plus espresso-based drinks made with Drumroaster Coffee from Cowichan Bay. cafewildflower.ca

Okanagan Grocery, Kelowna Soothing aromas of freshly baked bread will draw you in to the Bake Shop, on Windsor Road, where artisan loaves made with natural sourdough starter take centre stage, while the original location, in Guisachan Village, stocks signature breads and gourmet goods.

Prep for a picnic with a traditional baguette, house-made jam or chutney, locally produced honey and cheeses from Naramata’s Poplar Grove or Agassiz’s Farmhouse; grab soup or bread pudding from the freezer section to take home. Also, remember these four words: “Triple Chocolate Callebaut Brownie.” okanagangrocery.com TOP Wildflower Bakeshop and Café, Port Alberni. ABOVE Wild Poppy Market, Ladysmith.

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PROMOTIONAL CONTENT

The Word is Out About Cranbrook This affordable yet growing city continues to attract outdoor enthusiasts as its economic base expands

Morgan Turner Photography

www.choosecranbrook.ca Top 14 Reasons to Choose Cranbrook

Local Statistics

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The 600-seat Key City Theatre and a 4,500-seat hockey arena: The entertainment capital of the Kootenays.

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Canadian Rockies International Airport Flights to Vancouver (1 hour), Kelowna (1 hour) and Calgary (30 minutes).

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Infrastructure Investment $50M over the last five years Building Permits $93M 2020 – All-time high Over $260M in the last five years 5 Straight years of year over year growth Home Price Purchase a fully detached home for under 500K Number of Schools 10 Public Schools, 2 Private Schools

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Not your typical alpine home, SoLo is a mass timbre house located in the Soo Valley, north of Whistler, which showcases Passive House standards. Photo on this spread by Andrew Latreille / Courtesy: Perkins&Will.

PASSIVE COMFORT As climate change creates new challenges for homeowners, interest is growing in the Passive House building standard, not only for its energy efficiency, but for its comforts.

By Lisa Manfield

It’s been 12 years since Austria’s Passive House, home base for Austrian athletes and officials during the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games, put this standard for energy efficient homes in the spotlight in B.C. The idea was originally developed in North America in the 1970s, as governments grappled with the energy crisis. “The Canadian federal government funded a group of engineers, architects and building scientists to build a forerunner of today’s modern Passive House in Saskatoon,” says Chris Ballard, CEO of Passive House Canada. “They employed the fundamentals of modern Passive 22

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House standards: good windows and insulation, and solar orientation. Then the Europeans took the ideas and codified them.”

Since its reintroduction, though, the concept has caught on like wildfire, and hundreds of Passive House buildings have gone up throughout B.C. and across the country. “We are influencing the entire building community by demanding better standards,” Ballard says. “If you look at where the federal government wants to go with the national building code, it really means that homes will need to use Passive House principles.”

Designed by Perkins&Will, SoLo is a prototype acting as a testing ground for low-energy systems, healthy materials, and prefabricated and modular construction methods.

Building science, not rocket science Passive House is the most rigorous global energy efficiency standard for buildings, enabling a home to perform 90 per cent more efficiently than one built to standard code, through a combination of design principles and technical specifications.

Cillian Collins is a senior architect at Perkins&Will and a certified Passive House designer who teaches training courses on behalf of Passive House Canada. “With increased focus on the building envelope, ventilation and healthy indoor environments, the Passive House standard offers resilience against the increasing risks of climate change, such as heat domes and harsher winters,” Collins says. “And with buildings accounting for 40 per cent of carbon emissions globally, this is low-hanging fruit in tackling climate change.”

The beauty of the Passive House standard is that it’s not difficult to build to, Ballard says. “The Passive House principles include lots of insulation, good quality windows, making sure the house is airtight and having a solar orientation. It’s not high tech to do that stuff.”

High performance, low barriers One of B.C.’s foremost Passive House builders is architect Lucio Picciano, who launched DPL Designs in 2005 to focus on highperforming buildings. “It quickly became obvious that Passive House was the only method for quantifying exactly what you’re delivering to the client in terms of energy and comfort.”

Getting Started with Your Passive House Build Passive homes are not hard to build, says Passive House Canada CEO Chris Ballard, but it’s important to know what to expect before you get started.

DESIGN Start by hiring an architect who is certified in Passive House design.

MATERIALS Prepare for a bit of sticker shock on components like windows, insulation and wrapping. But most of what you need, you can buy at the local hardware store.

COST Expect a cost premium of two to 10 per cent above a standard build. “People think that Passive House is for the wealthy,” Ballard says. “That is not the case.”

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE Without a furnace and building with high-quality materials, expect energy and maintenance savings over the long term.

Learn more at passivehousecanada.com

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This Salt Spring Island SIREWALL home by Terra Firma Builders uses textured and insulated rammed earth to conserve energy and control humidity.. Terra Firma Builders’ construction. Photo by John Cameron.

To prove it, he built his own Passive House in 2014 in East Vancouver. “I made a point of using standard trades and off-theshelf materials to demonstrate that the industry did not have to revolutionize to achieve this,” he says. “It became the first certified Passive House in Vancouver and only the fifth in Canada.”

After that, his work “exploded” he says. “I’ve become 100 per cent focused on Passive House with all my projects, including residential and mixed use,” he says. “We have the most [Passive House] certified buildings of any architectural firm in Canada.”

Picciano says Passive House standards come down to four main differences from traditional building conventions. “We use more insulation on the envelope—the floor, walls and roof,” he says.

“We use better windows—triple glazed with insulated frames. We use an enhanced ventilation system. And we look at the shape of the building, the placement of the windows, the style of roof, to reduce articulation.”

Ultimately, Passive houses stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter without much energy consumption. But they come with lesser-known benefits, too.

Healthier for the planet, and for people During a pandemic, while the world is hyper-focused on indoor air quality, interest in the Passive House standard is also driven by health concerns.

“Even before [the pandemic], more and more people were dealing with health issues due to their environment,” says Joss Krayenhoff, co-owner of Terra Firma Builders, located on Salt Spring Island. The company’s proprietary wall construction system, SIREWALL 24

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(Structural Insulated Rammed Earth Wall, invented in 1991 by Krayenhoff’s father), combines rammed earth with insulation to create energy-efficient, and healthier, homes.

Interest in the Passive House standard is also driven by health concerns, such as indoor air quality.

“My father was frustrated with how [wood-built] homes performed, but he also started seeing homeowners getting sick,” Krayenhoff says. “We live in a rainforest, and if you’re opening up a 10-year-old stick building, you’re going to find mold. Rammed earth, however, doesn’t mold.”

The company used SIREWALL in the construction of Randy Bachman’s home (technically not a Passive House) in the 1990s to help alleviate Bachman’s daughter’s asthma, for instance. “Within a year of moving into the home, she was able to throw away her [asthma] puffer,” Krayenhoff says.

But Passive Houses offer other health benefits, too, including noise and emissions reductions. “When you walk in and close the door, you’ve left the noisy world behind you,” Ballard says. “There are no car horns, no police sirens, and it’s so wonderfully soothing.”

Most importantly, passive homes can significantly help curb global carbon emissions, Pacciano adds. “Studies have shown that if everyone built to the Passive House standard, that would be the only thing we would have to do to maintain global temperature increases to two degrees.”

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Job opportunities in all sectors, including the trades, retail and food services, non-profits and the public sector.

Photo: Northern BC Tourism/Andrew Strain

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What’s New in 2022

New Home Trends, New Home Inventory Shifts in where British Columbians want to live, work and play have recently meant that real estate listings in many areas have been at historic low volumes. While building up more residential property inventory, B.C.’s developers are working hard to meet the demand for new homes. Here are new development projects to watch and some real estate trends to expect in 2022.

By Kate Robertson

FEATURED Projects like Base10 Living are bringing urban-style densification to communities like Chilliwack.

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Even pre-pandemic, people were moving to smaller B.C. communities. More affordable places, with less crowding and a small-city feel, but big-city amenities and abundant outdoor activities, have become particularly appealing. For these reasons, regions like the Okanagan, Comox Valley and Kootenays are just a few B.C. communities continuing to grow in 2022.

The BC Real Estate Association predicts that as buyers compete for space outside of the Greater Vancouver area, Fraser Valley prices will increase more than 20 per cent over the next year.

Chilliwack’s Van Maren Construction Group expects a continued migration from the western Fraser Valley towards the eastern part where homes are still less expensive. “Our projects are designed to appeal to those who want a somewhat larger home for less than they would be able to obtain in the Lower Mainland,” says Eric Van Maren, co-managing partner.

Many urban homeowners are still considering listing their homes to right-size their lives. “For some,” says Marc Leger, manager of community relations for Lakestone in Okanagan’s Lake Country,

“it’s a legitimate downsizing and exploration of condo life. In other cases, I’ve seen parents and adult children invest and move into homes together, to take advantage of economies of scale and to create an affordable option for everyone.”

The demand for right sizing and lifestyle relocations is also driven by retirement and the work-from-anywhere ethos, which has made smaller communities more attractive than ever. To cater to this demographic, developers like Penticton’s Skaha Hills are focusing on main-level-living homes with office space and soughtafter lifestyle amenities like on-site fitness facilities, social club spaces, wineries and restaurants plus hiking and biking trails with golf and beach access nearby.

Jason Andrew, director of real estate for Crown Isle in Courtenay, which is growing rapidly with infrastructure projects like a new hospital and expanding airport, believes that the disbursement trend will continue through 2022 and well into 2023, as homeowners from the larger urban centres find new forever homes in small-town paradise.

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Collaborative City Planning

Wilden projects feature natural areas and lively common spaces. Photo by Wilden.

Development can be a slow process. To help projects complete sooner, many B.C. developers are working collaboratively with city planners, as Wilden Construction Group is on its Wilden Village project. This sustainable community in Kelowna has common spaces and a wide range of amenities, including an elementary school and preserved natural areas.

Crown Isle is also working with its engineers and the City of Courtenay to design and complete future development areas. “Our goal is to continue to work with local municipal government and other planning partners, to have as much ready to go [as possible] with projects approved for servicing, road works and new construction within the community,” says Andrew. To help further speed up the process and better meet demand, Crown Isle has also created a vertically integrated group of companies which deals with development through to marketing and sales, all within the same community.

Desire for Community Developers are finding that a sense of community is a hot “amenity” and are tailoring their projects accordingly. They look at each site independently and design based on a variety of requirements: those might include tailoring it to fit the local vibe, the environment and location, plus local customer needs and desires.

For example, The Block, an office space in downtown Kelowna, has a thoughtfully curated mix of street-level retail that caters to the urban context of the site. “At Mission Group our goal is to not only cater to trends, but to build communities that allow people to flourish and prosper,” says Narinder Nagra, the developer’s director of marketing and communications.

The Block in downtown Kelowna includes street-level retail. Photo by Mission Group Communities.

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Penticton Lifestyle Attracts Professionals and Remote Workers

BY THE NUMBERS Age Groups of New Residents

9%

Age 65+

Data collected by the City of Penticton since Jan. 1, 2022, shows an influx in skilled and remote workers. Young families and children make up 27% of the new arrivals.

Why they Moved to Penticton Top 5 reasons provided by the city’s newest residents: Moved for a job

6%

15%

Children (under age18)

16%

26%

76%

Age 19-65

18%

Housing Top 5 types of housing selected by the new residents: House

47%

Apartment / condo Townhouse

30% 13%

21%

Retired Moved with a partner, who came for work Remote worker or work from home Plan to open or take over a business

Where they Moved from 23%

Lower Mainland

14% 13%

Okanagan Ontario

Duplex 3%

Alberta

Basement / 3% suite

Northern B.C., Kootenays, Kamloops area

LEARN MORE Visit StartHerePenticton.com

LIVE | WORK| PLAY | FLY

12% 5%

Mission Waterfront Revitalization Master Plan The City of Mission is undergoing a generational trans-

a unique Green Shores approach to provide a risk-free

formation of 296 acres along the Fraser River that will

ecological buffer for river protection that will incorporate

redefine the community. An 18-month revitalization

flood protection, while also providing direct access to the

masterplanning effort was launched in 2021 to create a

Fraser River, and maintaining a natural aesthetic experi-

vibrant comprehensive planning area that will support

ence for residents of Mission and its visitors to enjoy.

sustainable growth, increase economic opportunities, and drive a bold connection to Mission’s unique historic

A new Waterfront will provide benefits that move be-

Downtown. Now we are here!

yond Mission to the rest of the Fraser Valley and Lower

As one of the largest underdeveloped waterfronts in the

parks and trails, art and culture, diverse housing options,

Lower Mainland, this Fraser River shoreline is set to be-

and innovative business spaces while incorporating its

come an exciting, innovative, and world-class mixed-use

important historical and cultural values.

Mainland. Here will be home to a new vibrant space with

community. The Waterfront will be home to new employment uses, living spaces, shops, and restaurants, inten-

The time is now to create jobs, establish the City’s new

tionally complementing and accentuating Mission’s historic

urban heartbeat, and build a renewed connection with

downtown. The Waterfront Master Plan brings a new

nature. Long-term strategies integrated with the City’s

dimension to urban living in the City without compromise.

Official Community Plan will guide how the Waterfront

The Waterfront Master Plan is now moving through the public hearing and approval process and adoption of the Plan is anticipated in July of this year. The Master Plan addresses challenges with clear solutions, including

will grow and develop over the next 40 years, and partnerships and future investment are already occurring to help realize on the potential of this area.

It all comes together in Mission’s Waterfront!

For more project specific information go to: engage.mission.ca/waterfront Stacey Crawford, Director of Economic Development scrawford@mission.ca | Ph. 1-604-820-3789 | T.F. 1-866-814-1222

Luxury Resorts West projects like The Residences at Bighorn Meadows in Radium Hot Springs are hot pre-sale properties.

Photo by Luxury Resort West Projects.

A Need to Act Quickly

As of the final quarter of 2021, the BC Real Estate Association advised that the total active listings in the province are about 50 per cent below the level needed for long-term balance in the markets. Last summer, Predator Ridge sold out its Fieldglass project in only 48 hours.

Currently, Lakestone has a waitlist of more than 800 interested buyers for 57 of its Summit lots.

Some developers, like Luxury Resorts, which pre-sold nine phases at its two properties (one in Radium Hot Springs and the other in Parksville), continue to see market absorption out-pace supply and expect to see continued increase in prices in 2022. “We’ve increased our pace of construction and continue to write pre-sale contracts with our customers which allows them to lock in their price at today’s value, something very few developers will do,” says Valerie Bracken, director of sales and marketing.

In other words, if you’re interested in jumping into the housing market in 2022, you will need to act quickly on pre-sales and offerings at market—while B.C.’s busy developers still have home inventory.

Economic Trends The Bank of Canada has made it clear that it will continue to raise interest rates from the historic lows brought on by the pandemic, but Gordon Karau, director of planning and product development for Predator Ridge in Vernon, doesn’t think this increase will impact business negatively. The supply of homes is at an all-time low in the Okanagan and, even if demand were to drop slightly due to increased borrowing costs, it would still be far in excess of supply. “If anything, rising rates will dampen the meteoric rise of home prices over the last two years and return us to something a bit above long-term average,” says Karau.

Rising rates should also remove some of the excess demand out of the system, which will give home builders, who have been coping with overstretched supply chains, shortages and dramatic price swings in nearly every building component, a chance to catch up.

Despite rising interest rates, there’s still plenty of market demand for new homes, as this Predator Ridge event in Vernon shows. Photo by Predator Ridge.

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Purpose-Built Accommodations and Higher Densification The rental market will see continued pressure as increased home prices make it difficult for many to purchase, leading them to rent instead.

To help service this demand, developers like Troika Management Corp. are continually looking for and pursuing new opportunities, specifically in the purpose-built rental market. “As we have done in the past, we will continue to use well-thought-out and planned designs to ensure the renters or owners of the units can live a great quality of life in our communities,” says Rich Threlfall, Troika’s president.

In Wilden’s case, Kelowna city planning asks for less urban sprawl and more multi-family units like duplexes and apartment buildings close to urban cores, allowing for higher densification of their developable pockets. Among the units that are still to come until Wilden is completely built out, roughly 2,000 single-family lots will get a lower share than originally planned. “Single-family lots are going to be even more sought after than they already are in Kelowna,” says Karin Eger-Blenk, Wilden director and co-chair.

Construction on Green Square Vert condos and town homes in Kelowna wraps up this year.

Photo by Troika Group.

Other developers, like Lakestone, have built flexibility into its 20-year masterplan to take advantage of trends in the market and the product requirements of buyers. That project will eventually see 1,365 owners living in a mix of dwellings including single-family and semi-detached homes, condos, villas and apartments. The Van Maren Group currently also has two “densification” projects under construction that include mixed types of housing: Shelter Bay in Kelowna and Base10 Living in Chilliwack.

Kanata International is addressing the fact that the Nelson real estate market has a very limited inventory of residential homes, especially reasonably priced ones, in yet another way. Its Queen’s Bay Resort project in Balfour has sites primarily geared to RV living.

The second phase has 32 sites that are intended for small stickbuilt homes or manufactured homes. “Our development is ideal for folks who would like to own an affordable home in a spectacular setting—in the middle of a golf course, close to Kootenay Lake,” says Herman Van Reekum, vice-president of Kanata.

More Energy Efficiency

College students learn about eco-friendly building. Photo by Wilden.

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In 2022, purchasers will be looking for energy efficient, lower carbon footprints and space efficient homes. “Thoughtful design and functionality, including easy access to local amenities will be desirable,” says Troika’s Rich Threlfall.

Wilden has long been catering to this trend by building its town homes to higher-than-average standards. “We’ve been building to Energy Step Code 4 since 2016, which is just one step away from net zero,” says Wilden’s Eger-Blenk. It also invests in research into more efficient building (through the Wilden Living Lab) and its single-family home designs are geared towards simpler shapes and smaller footprints.

Get It While it’s Hot Some 2022 projects to watch for, from B.C. developers.

CROWN ISLE The Rise, Cambridge Park, Greystone and Silverstone Estates at Crown Isle, Courtenay crownisle.com KANATA INTERNATIONAL Queens Bay Resort, Balfour queensbay.ca LAKESTONE The Summit and Zara Benchlands Condo, Lake Country lakestoneliving.com LUXURY RESORTS WEST The Residences at Bighorn Meadows on The Springs Golf Course, Radium Hot Springs; The Residences at Sunrise Ridge Waterfront Resort, Parksville bighornmeadows.com, sunriseridge.ca MISSION GROUP Bertram and The Block at Bernard Block; Aqua Waterfront Village Tower; Kelowna missiongroup.ca PREDATOR RIDGE Wildsong and Carrington Homes projects by the Ridge golf course, Vernon predatorridge.com SKAHA HILLS Phase 4 of Skaha Hills, Penticton skahahills.com TROIKA GROUP Completion of Green Square, West Harbour and The Landing at Wood Lake communities in Kelowna; construction starts in Prince George, Merritt, Kelowna and Lake Country troikadevelopments.com VAN MAREN GROUP Shelter Bay, Kelowna; Base10, Chilliwack shelterbayliving.ca, base10living.com WILDEN Wilden Village and Hidden Hills, Kelowna wilden.ca

Abbotsford is growing.

Experience agriculture and grow with us. Book a farm tour, enjoy family fun at a pumpkin patch or sample delicious farm-to-table entrées at one of our local restaurants.

Learn more and explore by visiting abbotsford.ca/economicdevelopment

BOOMING AGRITECH

HOME TO 1,300+

RESPONSIBLE FOR 45% OF

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INSIDE THE BOX The Auxffice brings a modern workplace to your backyard. Photo by Aux Box.

These new-generation, made-in-Canada kit-build and pre-fab buildings make adding to your live, work, play or stay space simple.

By Charlene Rooke

Who has ever heard of a renovation that’s complete in a few weeks, minimizes waste, allows for a lot of personalization and leaves no messy building site? Click your way to a new guest cabin, office, studio, playhouse, gym or yoga room, with these close-to-home building options.

The pandemic has only accelerated the adoption of new-space solutions. “It’s been a great year of showing jurisdictions that we build a quality product, rivaling new-home quality construction rather than the glorified sheds of the past,” says Conor McGregor, business development director of Drop Structures. He notes an increase in urbanite orders, as municipalities “start to loosen rules on these types of structures.”

Always check your local zoning and building codes for what’s allowed and whether permits are required: in many areas, buildings less than 100 square feet don’t need to be permitted, but requirements vary. Make sure you read up on each company’s offering, to understand exactly when, how and in how many pieces your unit will be delivered, as industry usage of terms like pre-fabricated, modular, kit-build and other wording can differ.

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Aux Box WHO: A “team of carpenters, contractors, drafters, organizers and designers,” based in Parksville.

HOW: Pre-fabricated units are delivered, placed by crane and installed onto your foundation (such as metal screw piles or a concrete pad) and utilities, in a one-day installation.

RANGE: From a 97-square-foot Auxffice ($34,000) to a Model 240 complete with bathroom and kitchen (from $80,000).

TIMING: After a consultation call (paid 3D renderings, proposals and site visits are also available if needed), a typical build takes 16 to 18 weeks.

CUSTOMIZE: Options include patios, door/window placement and colour of the flooring, pine interior and siding. An upgrades menu offers more handy add-ons, from pull-down beds to space-efficient fridge and dishwasher drawers. auxbox.ca

Drop Structures WHO: A Lethbridge, Alberta-based operation building hardy, four-season structures, some ready for off-grid living.

HOW: Finished buildings are delivered on the back of a truck, craned into place and installed in a day, using your foundation and services.

RANGE: A 137-square-foot Mono Mini ($34,500) to a 481-square-foot Duo Plus ($140,000).

TIMING: From three weeks build time.

CUSTOMIZE: Upgrade to a cedar deck or siding, opt for a full-glass front or back panel and consider built-in furniture, skylight and window plus solar-power options. dropstructures.ca

Hardy Drop Structures can be used for four-season and even off-grid living. Photo by Drop Structures.

The Backcountry Hut Company WHO: A Vancouver-based group (with architect Michael Leckie as a co-founder, and including a Swiss master builder) that manufactures at Courtenay’s Cascadianwoodtech.

HOW: A “kit-of-parts” flat-pack system, built on-site with your labour or professional contractor support.

RANGE: From an 80-square-foot sauna ($44,900) to a 100-square-foot A-frame ($56,495).

TIMING: Build time is two weeks and up, and the company estimates its smallest model can be built by four to five people in less than a week, with no heavy machinery.

CUSTOMIZE: Two larger units have modular configuration and expansion options up to 1,800 square feet. Finishing materials can be personally selected, and the building envelope can be customized to meet net zero or Passive House standards. thebackcountryhutcompany.com

Architect and master builder input makes The Backcountry Hut Company a cut above. Rendering by The Backcountry Hut Company.

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37

Phoenix Domes

Not all domes will withstand year-round Canadian weather, but Phoenix Domes can. Photo by Wild Skies Resort. wildskiesresort.com.

WHO: Western Canada’s first supplier of geodesic domes (based on Phoenix Farm, Salt Spring Island, where you can see demo domes) meant to withstand Canadian snow and wind loads.

HOW: Flat-pack dome structures and covers can be picked up in Vancouver, trucked by ground or shipped to sea ports. Install them on a wooden or concrete platform.

RANGE: The style of 10-foot diameter clear domes you see on restaurant patios sells for around $3,000 and takes a few hours to install; larger “glamping” domes ($7,500 to $18,000) can take up to three days and a few people to install.

TIMING: Some designs are in stock (but sell quickly); allow 12 to 16 weeks for custom orders.

CUSTOMIZE: Add-ons include solar fans, insulation, chimney flashings, inner decorative liners and curtains, awnings, plus window and skylight options. Inspiration photos, ideas for configuring different floorplans and more are online. phoenixdomes.com

Pan-Abode WHO: B.C.’s favourite supplier of cedar home-building kits since 1952.

HOW: Precision-cut and packaged materials (including hardware and everything you need, from floor to roof) are shipped to you for onsite assembly on your foundation.

RANGE: Seasonal-use cabins and “tiny house” building kits (from 120 square feet and around $13,000) are modern options, among many other full-size, four-season dwellings.

TIMING: After a design process that can take up to two months, allow three to five weeks for the build of your custom home package; building times vary with size.

CUSTOMIZE: Decks, insulation, skylights and many other upgrades are optional. An Idea Book and Pan-Abode’s designers and engineers can help you customize options. panabodehomes.com

Photo by Pan-Abode.

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Summerwood Products WHO: An Ontario-based supplier of outbuildings for more than 30 years.

HOW: Kits of pre-cut pieces or pre-assembled parts (like floors, walls and trusses) are shipped to you for assembly; the company can refer experienced installers in many regions.

RANGE: Includes everything from garden sheds, pool cabanas and playhouses to garages. A sleek, modern six-by-eight-foot Mini Oban ranges from $8,000 (pre-cut or pre-assembled). An eightby-10-foot Bunkie is $10,000 and up.

TIMING: Typically six to eight weeks from sale to shipping.

CUSTOMIZE: Options range from roofing, siding, door and window styles down to hardware options. The company also makes gazebos, trellises and other add-on structures; custom orders are also possible. Three-dimensional tours and tons of resources are online. summerwood.com

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SOLD

Reverse mortgages, HELOCs and HELs are ways of making home financing work for any situation.

NEGOTIATING THE FINANCING HURDLE Here’s what you need to know about alternative mortgage loans and how to make the equity in your home work for you, as B.C. mortgage experts guide you around creative financing solutions and right-sized borrowing options.

By Tracey Rayson

Considering the low lending rates that fuelled B.C.’s red-hot housing market, even with interest rates rising, some homebuyers headed into 2022 with a perceived sense of urgency, and perhaps some FOMO. Tougher-to-qualify for mortgage rules continue to make the homebuying process dauting; however, even if you fail to qualify for a conventional mortgage, you still have options.

Reverse thinking A reverse mortgage is designed to allow access to up to 55 per cent of your home’s equity. It’s an option well-suited for homeowners with very specific needs for cash flow. Eligibility typically starts at age 55, and at least two Canadian institutions (Equitable Bank and HomeEquity Bank through the Canadian Home Income Plan, or CHIP) offer it.

“This isn’t a mortgage for everybody,” advises Michelle Byman, 40

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Summer 2022

AMP, mortgage consultant with The Mortgage Group Inc. “It can get you through a tough time, and for others, especially seniors, it’s a way to stay in the home.”

It’s an attractive option for homeowners who are “house rich” (thanks to surging home values) but “cash poor.” If your home is currently appraised at $500,000, it’s possible you could take out equity up to $275,000 in a onetime lump-sum or monthly payouts.

“The amount released depends on the type of home, the home’s location and how old you are,” Byman explains. Existing mortgages of up to 55 per cent can be paid off with the funds, and tax deferrals on the property have to be paid first.

A reverse mortgage requires no monthly payments. The amount due climbs over time, and is paid off when the home is sold or you no longer live there full time. However, be mindful of the risks: interest

Calculating Resources Consult a mortgage broker to assess the right solution for your situation: bcfsa.ca, cmbabc.ca Learn mortgage terminology and find qualifier and calculator tools from a federal government resource: canada.ca/en/ financial-consumer-agency/services/mortgages.html Get basic information on debt and borrowing from the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada: canada.ca/en/financial-consumer-agency.html

rates and fees can be higher than conventional loans and your debt can rise quickly because of compounding interest.

Lock Into a HELOC A home equity line of credit (HELOC) provides a smart and flexible buying solution for existing homeowners, according to Daniela Serena, AMP, mortgage broker with The Mortgage Centre, who works with clients from Vancouver and the Lower Mainland to Whistler.

“Instead of locking into a five-year mortgage term, where you’re making principal and interest payments, some choose a HELOC because they might want to sell, and when you pay it out, there’s no penalty,” says Serena. She explains that a HELOC allows you to borrow up to 60 per cent of your home’s value. “For example, if you have clear title on a $1-million home, you could qualify for a HELOC of $650,000.”

It’s an open term, for as long as you own your home, and you can dip into it whenever you like. There’s no limit; you can withdraw up to the value of the HELOC, whatever you’ve been approved for, and you likely never have to requalify or renew it.

“Whether the total or in part, there’s no minimum or maximum, except the max of the limit,” says Serena. “You’re only required to pay interest payments, which is calculated by prime, plus the component.”

HEL: the new second mortgage A home equity loan (HEL), in many cases, is considered a second mortgage if you already have an existing mortgage on a property. Think of it as a second component to your mortgage with the same lender.

That lender can add a component to your already existing mortgage, and offer you a new credit facility, for which you have to qualify.

“You need an appraisal to ensure your home has the value in it or they might make you rewrite your current mortgage,” says Serena.

“Some banks don’t allow a second component, so it’s important to know how flexible their mortgage products are.”

View of Sicamous, Shuswap Lake and Mara Lake from Sicamous Lookout. Darren Robinson/Shuswap Tourism

Small Communities and Developer Videos find Over 40 one or two minute videos on one platform: RightSizingMedia.com/Video For video development services call 604-787-4603 scan me using your phone’s camera!

CENTRE STAGE

B.C.’s local recreation centres can be one-stop fitness, community and social hubs all in one.

By Catherine Dunwoody Community and recreation centres bring locals and visitors of all generations together. Social interaction, physical and mental wellness, volunteerism, team support, the arts and lifelong learning are all great reasons to find these local hotspots.

Gibsons Public Market on the Sunshine Coast is more than a place to shop for food. It offers marine education through the Nicholas Sontag Marine Education Centre, plus hosts yoga and cooking classes, live music, art exhibits, cultural events and more. gibsonspublicmarket.com

Port Coquitlam Community Centre is a $132-million facility that opened in 2021 which includes two ice arenas, steam rooms, a leisure pool and a lazy river, fitness centre, library, games room, concession and more. Outdoor amenities will include sports courts, gardens, walking paths, a playground and spray park. portcoquitlam.ca/recreation/port-coquitlam-community-centre

Aldergrove Credit Union Community Centre is a summer hotspot, with the Otter Co-op Outdoor Experience waterpark keeping the whole family cool and having fun. It has a lazy river, canopied hot tub and a wave pool, plus waterslides with a view. tol.ca/recreation-culture/facilities/aldergrovecredit-union-community-centre/otter-co-op-outdoor-experience

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Upper Skeena Recreation Centre in Hazelton is a collaboration between municipal and Indigenous groups.

Opened in 2019, its NHL ice surface offers hockey and skating, plus there’s a gymnasium for basketball, volleyball and pickleball. Fitness centre offerings include dance and yoga classes, a walking concourse and various fitness-related courses, including one for aspiring teen coaches. myreccentrehazelton.com Photo by Ema Peter Photography, courtesy Hemsworth Architecture.

Lillooet R.E.C. Centre (Recreation, Education and Cultural) has an NHL-sized rink, 25-metre pool, weight room, squash court, climbing wall, gym, public library and meeting rooms. It serves a region including six surrounding Indigenous communities. The District of Lillooet and Lillooet Tribal Council are exploring the possibility of a renovated, expanded St’at’imc Cultural and Community Centre. lillooet.ca/Recreation-Activities/Recreation-Centre.aspx

Sun Peaks Centre

, built in 2020, features an open-air NHL-sized ice rink (available for rent) surrounded by mountain views, a conference centre and modern facilities for summer weddings and concerts. The centre is walkable from the village: Sun Peaks is growing into much more than just a place to ski. sunpeaksresort.com/sun-peaks-centre

Buy here Sun Peaks single-family home assessments were up by 25% in 2021.

Photo by Adrien Williams.

Kamloops Tournament Capital Centre

is a 165,000-square-foot sport, recreation and community wellness facility containing the Canada Games Aquatics Centre, plus a fieldhouse with a six-lane indoor track, stadium, three NBA basketball courts, plus gymnastics, trampoline and spin studio facilities. kamloops.ca/recreation-culture/facility-hours-rates/ tournament-capital-centre-tcc Photo by Tyler Meade Photography.

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Vernon Community Arts Centre

focuses on arts-based classes, camps and workshops including pottery, fibre arts, painting, music lessons and much more for adults, kids and teens (like a Youth Artist in Residence program). Exhibits, art sales and fundraisers step up the arts community spirit, and members of the Arts Council of the North Okanagan receive discounts here. vernonarts.ca

Nakusp and District Sports Complex

, in the Slocan Valley/Arrow Lakes area, has indoor squash and a foursheet curling rink, an ice arena and auditorium (the latter serving as a walking track in the winter). Surrounding the complex is a sports field, playground and swimming area with a sandy beach and skate park. nakusp.com/municipal-services/arena-parks/ nakusp-district-sports-complex

Rossland Youth Action Network is a safe space geared to the community’s youth, offering leadership programs, cooking classes, art programs and even Dungeons and Dragons play. Also popular is a youth snowboard program called YAN shreds, where kids are mentored as riders, and a rock-climbing club. rosslandyan.ca

Buy here Rossland single-family home assessments were up by 33% in 2021.

Photo by Tourism Rossland/Dave Heath

Creston & District Community Complex boasts an 800-seat indoor ice arena, a six-sheet curling rink, a two-lane 80-metre indoor track, fitness studio with wood sprung floor, plus an indoor aquatic area and physiotherapy clinic. In 2020, an outdoor park opened with pickleball and basketball courts, horseshow pits plus a skatepark, beach volleyball and more. creston.ca/2159/Community-Complex-Rec-Centre

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Golden Civic Centre was built by volunteers in 1948, then rebuilt in 2011, honouring the building’s past. This is the town’s performing arts and cultural hub: past hits include Bruce Cockburn, Ballet Kelowna and the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour. A conference room space can be configured various ways, and don’t miss the eye-candy Bugaboos art exhibit. goldenciviccentre.ca Photo by wikimediacommons.org/ Royalbroil.

Radium Hot Springs Centre multi-use community hub in the Village of Radium was completed in 2018 and was awarded a Community Recognition Award by Wood WORKS! BC for its wood architecture, natural light and heating and cooling systems. Overlooking Legend’s Field, the all-seasons activity hub also opened a new splash park in 2021. radiumhotsprings. ca/village-facilities/radium-hot-springs-centre

Invermere’s Columbia Valley Centre, which opened in 2017, houses the Invermere Public Library, has a rooftop patio with panoramic views of the Rocky and Purcell mountains and hosts live theatre, music, sporting events, film festivals and more. Fitness classes, yoga, Zumba and gardening workshops are big hits here! invermere.net/community/community-centre

Fernie Aquatic Centre

features an indoor waterslide, hot tubs, a six-lane competitive pool and a splash pool for the wee ones. Summer means the outdoor workout equipment, Fernie Dirt Jump & Skills Park and new outdoor volleyball courts are in full swing. A skatepark is slated to open in summer 2022. fernie.ca/EN/main/residents/parks-recreation/fernie-aquaticcentre.html

Buy here Fernie single-family home assessments were up by 17% in 2021.

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PEDAL, SCOOT, SURF SAIL INTO SUMMER

&

Sure, camping, hiking and fishing are more popular than ever.

But new-generation sports equipment for summer 2022 might just mean you need a bigger shed or garage. Check out these must-haves.

By Lucas Aykroyd

Mobility, freedom, escape: we all crave these things as summer gets closer—this year, more than ever. After spending months at home, it’s time to explore with world-class outdoor sports products in 2022, many made here in Canada. Whether you’re tackling a new sports challenge or mastering an old favourite, here are the goods you need. Always check ahead for travel restrictions and regional health and safety rules before planning your next B.C. adventure.

Electric Bike Global electric bike sales spiked a whopping 145 per cent in 2020. As environmentally friendly as they are easy on the thighs, e-bikes are an ideal way to explore local roads and forest trails.

MUST-HAVE GEAR: The 2022 Boar Explorer from award-winning Vancouver-based Surface604 (surface604bikes.com, $3,599) delivers a smooth ride with torque-sensing pedal assist, a 500W hub motor and a range of up to 105 kilometres. With a Velo ergonomic saddle and a state-of-the-art colour LCD display, your physical and mental comfort is assured.

Marysville, just southeast of Kimberley, is a biker’s paradise. Photo by Kootenay Rockies Tourism/Mitch Winton.

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DESTINATION OF CHOICE: Kimberley debuts 36 kilometres of e-bike trails this year, featuring solar charging stations in the 840-hectare Kimberley Nature Park.

Electric Scooter Along with hoverboards and electric unicycles, electric scooters are having a moment. Why drive to the beach or the farmers’ market when you can scoot to your destination, with the wind flowing through your hair and zero emissions?

MUST-HAVE GEAR: Designed by Vancouver’s Urban Machina, the VSETT 10+ Dual Motor (urbanmachina.com, $3,499) tops out at 80 kilometres an hour in sport mode. Max single-charge range is still 100 kilometres! This badass foldable scooter provides great stability with dual hydraulic disc brakes and shock absorbers.

Wedge Cheesery, Vernon.

Photo by Destination BC/@miraecampbell.

DESTINATION OF CHOICE: Vernon, nestled between Silver Star Mountain Resort and Okanagan Lake, is one of six B.C. municipalities that sanctions electric scooters on local roads (pilot project to 2024).

Electric Surfboard You can get your cowabunga thrills, even as a novice, on an electric surfboard.

No waves required! The tech has come a long way since Bloomingdale’s 1965 launch of the first commercially available motorized surfboard.

MUST-HAVE GEAR: EWave’s elite V2-6000 (ewavesurf.com, USD$11,699) offers precision-control cables on a sleek carbon-fibre board with a 10K Watt zero-emission electric motor. Find your watery bliss at 56 km/h!

Cultus Lake. Photo

by Unsplash/ Jorge Fernando.

DESTINATION OF CHOICE: Cultus Lake is a popular watersports paradise in Chilliwack, an hour and a half from Vancouver.

Camping Whether you’re roasting marshmallows over a campfire or gazing over a tranquil lake with cedar and spruce trees behind you, there’s nothing like a camping trip. With massive demand for campsites all over B.C. and Alberta, book well in advance this season.

MUST-HAVE GEAR: The Thule Low-Pro 2-Person Rooftop Tent (thule.com/en-ca, $2,100) bills itself as the “penthouse of car camping,” and with an almost three-square-metre floor area and ultra-waterproof polyester fabric, it’s a classy way to bunk down in the great outdoors.

DESTINATION OF CHOICE: Just north of Sechelt, Porpoise Bay Provincial Park stands out among the dozens of spectacular Sunshine Coast camping spots. Canoeing and hiking opportunities abound.

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Inflatable Sailboat If you’re not ready to circumnavigate the globe in a 100-foot clipper like Sir Francis Drake, but still crave maritime adventure, an inflatable sailboat is calling your name. Portability, easy storage and affordability are among the advantages.

MUST-HAVE GEAR: Smartkat (smartkatsailing.com, $5,995) is an inflatable catamaran market leader. It is made for air travel and fits into two bags, weighing less than 23 kilograms (50 pounds) each. It takes less than half an hour to set up.

DESTINATION OF CHOICE: Shawnigan Lake, in Vancouver Island’s scenic Cowichan Valley, has three boat launches for public use.

Fishing/Hiking From Dame Juliana Berners to Ernest Hemingway, there’s a long history of great writers who loved fishing. And when you’re trying to author your own epic fishing tale, it’s easy to lose track of time as you wait to reel in that big steelhead or cutthroat trout. You need a good watch.

MUST-HAVE GEAR: No matter where you’re fishing, Nixon’s Regulus Expedition Watch (ca.nixon.com, $325) keeps you on track with an altimeter, barometer and compass. Housed in a rugged case, it’s geared for the stormiest seas and longest hikes.

DESTINATION OF CHOICE: Paul Lake, half an hour from Kamloops, is a South Thompson mecca for rainbow trout fishing.

Photo by Wikimedia.org/koppertone.

Wing Foil If you crave innovation, a wing foil just might be your thing. This new sport is considered easier than windsurfing, as you grip an inflatable wing, riding a surfboard—above the water atop a foil—with minimal drag.

MUST-HAVE GEAR: Retailer the Boardroom (locations in Vancouver and North Vancouver) offers foils, boards and wings from Liquid Force, Sling Shot, Armstrong and Lift. A full set-up could start at about $4,000; chat with store staff about many custom options.

DESTINATION OF CHOICE: Head out on dazzling Anderson Lake one hour north of Whistler, where pros like watersports sensation Chris Rasman struts his stuff.

Photo by Ben Girardi.

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HIDDEN JEWEL: SMITHERS Become a “Smithereen” by moving to this idyllic northern community that’s now one of B.C.’s real estate hotspots.

By Steve Threndyle Who wouldn’t fall in love with Smithers? Summer is mecca for mountain biking; autumn brings golden leaves of deciduous trees filtering late afternoon light on gin-clear lakes and rivers; come winter, early snowfall dusts the ski runs on Hudson’s Bay Mountain.

Known as the “Gateway to the North,” Smithers (population 5,600) boasts a more diversified economy than most resource towns along the Yellowhead Highway. Tourism, transportation and regional health and educational services provide much employment, while a growing number of residents are shuttled on a rotational basis to the Brucejack Mine gold operation in Northern B.C. Favourably compared to B.C. lifestyle centres like Nelson, Salmon Arm and Cumberland, Smithers residents (known as “Smithereens”) prize natural beauty and the creative arts. Downtown Smithers has cobblestoned streets, mountain bike and backcountry ski shops, art galleries and yes, hipsters, a craft brewery!

That doesn’t begin to describe just how hot the real estate market in the Bulkley Valley is right now, though. Like most smaller cities across the province, residential property sales have skyrocketed during the pandemic. Realtor and Smithers native Kiesha Matthews says, “I’d love to provide some listings, but I don’t have any!” She estimates that volume of listings is about 40 per cent of normal.

“We’ve had tons of interest coming from southern B.C., Alberta and even the United States. Everyone from “down south” (referring to the vast swath of B.C. south of the Yellowhead) seems to want an

updated house or cabin on a five-acre lot, five to 10 minutes outside of town.

That’s exactly what Laurie Cooper and George Vodarek lucked into when they moved, pretty much sight unseen, to the Bulkley Valley just under two years ago. Cooper says, “In January 2020, just before [the pandemic] hit, we were living in Whistler and feeling like the town had become overwhelmingly busy. We decided to look around at some other places to live. Anywhere we went had to have a ski hill… on a whim, [we] threw Smithers into the mix.”

Her daughter had visited Smithers and the Bulkley Valley several times with a fisher friend. “She thought we would love it up here. We told her she was crazy,” says Cooper, citing the usual—too far north, too far from everything—”down south” excuses. “But we drove up here and fell in love with the place, the ski area and, most importantly, the people.”

Their timing was perfect when it came to entering the housing market: a house on more than seven acres, five minutes from town, with mountain and valley views. “All for the price of a one-bedroom condo in Whistler or North Vancouver,” Cooper raves.

Pre-pandemic, Smithers was a pretty sleepy place, but as realtor Matthews says, “I think that city folk come here not to be city folk any longer. We love seeing new people move into town. They bring fresh energy and new ideas.” You could say they’re smashing northern small-town stereotypes to Smithereens.

Dennis Lake in Smithers, B.C. Photo by Destination BC/Grant Harder.

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NEW URBAN LIVING IN THE HEART OF WILDEN With our upcoming townhome neighbourhood Pondside Landing, we have started to develop the urban core of Wilden, Kelowna’s largest master-planned community.

Our Village area will include the Market Square, Wilden Elementary School and an array of multi-family neighbourhoods surrounded by preserved natural areas, ponds and trails.

All Wilden townhomes are built to an energy efficiency standard far ahead of their time.

PONDSIDE

LANDING

Presentation Centre open daily from 1-5pm except Fridays 1454 Rocky Point Drive • Kelowna • Wilden Sales: 250.762.2906 • sales@wilden.ca • #WildenKelowna

Wilden.ca