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winter 2015 | issue 14
contents 12
9 Lifestyles
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9 Focus On
Gifts for the home With Christmas fast approaching it’s time to shop for the homeowner on your list
12 Lifestyle Feature
Family snapshots. Central Alberta communities share common roots
33 In the Kitchen
Festive favourites. Sweeten your season with holiday scones
37 Getting to Know
Kelly Coutts Sales development, Doormasters
38 You Said It
What’s on your Christmas wish list this year?
Homes 11 Market Overview
Like a box of chocolates Predicting housing market numbers is an inexact science
19 Events
What a show! First ever Home Renovation Show a huge success
20 Community Profile
Full circle – from Lacombe Residents and city administrators work to make Lacombe a vibrant city
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24 Show Home Profile
Falcon Homes Soaring to new home building heights
28 Show Home Profile
Abbey Master Builder Turning new home dreams into reality
31 CHBA-Central Alberta members Items
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6 Message from the cheif executive officer 34 Maps Central Alberta and Red Deer
New communities
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message from the chief executive officer
Season’s Greetings! There’s nothing quite like unwrapping a present Christmas morning and being surprised to see it’s just what you wanted. This edition of Central Alberta Homes & Lifestyes is kind of like that. If you’ve never read it before you’ll be pleasantly surprised at what you find inside. And if you have read it before you’ll find the changes we’ve made are exactly what you asked for. And what that would be is more lifestyle content, more stories about local people, places and things — in addition to maintaining our position as the number one source for new homes information. Our monster main story this edition was a huge undertaking, but it was worth it. We talked to the mayors of nine different Central Alberta cities and towns for a quick “How are things?” kind of conversation. The good news most agree on is that, despite the recent downturn, communities in Central Alberta are well-positioned for the future. Features on Christmas gifts for the home, favourite recipes and You Said It, our person on the street photo essay, all add a distinctive seasonal flavour to the magazine. Meanwhile, A Night at the Symphony is exactly that, at visit with Red Deer’s own Symphony Orchestra and a timely reminder of some of the great cultural and entertainment opportunities we have. We’ve even opened up the advertising in the magazine to include such local favourites as the Museum and Art Gallery and Red Deer College. On the Homes end of things we’ve got our regular line-up of community and show home profiles, a list of members of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association – Central Alberta region members, and — something new — two pages of maps showing the location of communities where new homes are being built. It truly is the best of both the new homes and lifestyles worlds, coming together in one great magazine — an early Christmas gift for readers. We hope it’s just what you wanted. Until next time, have a Merry Christmas and healthy and happy New Year!
CANADIAN HOME BUILDERS’ ASSOCIATION – CENTRAL ALBERTA represents professionals in the housing industry. CHBA – Central Alberta has been in existence for over 55 years and is a network of professionals that manages industry issues to provide value to our members. #200, 6700-76 Street Red Deer, Alberta T4P 4G6 Tel: 403.346.5321 Toll-free: 1.888.346.5329 Fax: 403.342.1301 Toll-free: 1.877.342.1301 E-mail: eo@chbacentralalberta.ca www.chbaca.ca Denie Olmstead | Chief Executive Officer eo@chbacentralalberta.ca Joan Butler | Administration & Event Co-ordinator admin@chbacentralalberta.ca
PUBLISHED BY Source Media Group Corp. 207, 5809 Macleod Trail S.W. Calgary, Alberta T2H 0J9 Tel: 403.532.3101, Fax: 403.532.3109 Toll free: 1.888.932.3101 Email: info@sourcemediagroup.ca www.sourcemediagroup.ca ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER | Jim Zang ART DIRECTOR | Jean Faye Rodriguez GRAPHIC DESIGNER | Dave Macaulay PRODUCTION CO-ORDINATOR | Colleen Leier CONTRIBUTORS | Tanya Lee, Jock Mackenzie, Treena Mielke, Shelley Newman, Shae Paterson, David Shepherd, Tammie Sorensen DIRECTOR OF SALES | Norma Robertson norma.robertson@sourcemediagroup.ca ADVERTISING SALES | James Pearce james.pearce@sourcemediagroup.ca © 2015 Source Media Group Corp. Material cannot be reprinted in whole or in part without written permission from the publishers. Source Media Group Corp. agrees to advertise on behalf of the advertiser without responsibility for claims or misinformation made by the advertiser and acts only as an advertising medium. Source Media Group Corp. reserves the right to refuse any advertising at its sole discretion.
Sincerely,
Denie Olmstead Chief Executive Officer CHBA – Central Alberta
Central Alberta Homes & Lifestyles is published quarterly and is distributed to every member of the Canadian Home Builers’ Association – Central Alberta, as well as on free stands throughout the region. Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to: Source Media Group, 207, 5809 Macleod Trail SW, Calgary, Alberta T2H 0J9. Publication Agreement #41072011
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Gifts for the home With Christmas fast approaching it’s time to shop for the homeowner on your list. Here’s a few tried and true ideas to take the guesswork out of your last minute shopping
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BY TA N YA L EE
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1 Canada Pillow by lady Rosedale, 19x14 inches. $30 at Countr y Cupboard. 2 Fresh and Natural Soaps, F & N $9 at Sunworks. 3 Italia, Fiskars Brands Inc. $26-$40 at Sunworks. 4 Josephine Frame, teal, 5x7 inches, $22. Barnes Frame, 8x10 inches, $39. Sara Frame, silver 3x3 inches, $19 for a set of 3. Available at Urban Barn.
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5 The Madoc Throw, black and white, $59 at Urban Barn. 6 Canada, eh? Blocks, locally made by Canadian Craft Company. $32 at Countr y Cupboard. 7 Staub, Zwilling Henkel. $149$600 at Sunworks. 8 Lake birch letters, by Luv. $68 at Countr y Cupboards. 9 Gurgle Pots, HP Johnson, $39.95 at Countr y Cupboard.
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market overview
Like a box of chocolates Predicting housing market numbers is an inexact science BY J I M Z A N G
P
redicting the Central Alberta new homes market is a fortune teller’s worst nightmare. What does that mean to the rest of us mere mortals? Well, whether you’re a builder or a buyer, it means you’ve got to pay real close attention to exactly what is going on, and where, as some local markets are definitely outperforming others — seemingly resistant to the current economic millieux — for whatever reasons. Why are housing starts up in one town and down in the next, just a few minutes down the road? It’s hard to pinpoint any one or two reasons, but the numbers are what they are, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) goes to great lengths to track these things, and their stats are considered gospel in the industry. Once again, the numbers for Red Deer proper are down from last year, from 116 starts last September to just 29 this year, but Red Deer County is up. Lacombe is up, while Sylvan Lake is up for September, but down for year-to-date. It’s a real mixed bag or, as Forrest Gump would have said, “like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get” until you open it up and take a closer look. One thing you can count on, however, is lower prices and great value as the average single family home in the City of Red Deer is still checking in at a relatively svelte $550,823, nearly $215,000 less than in Calgary ($764,765) and more than $50,000 less than in Edmonton ($603,069).
QUARTER 3 2015
QUARTER 3 2014
YEAR-TO-DATE 2015
YEAR-TO-DATE 2014
Red Deer Starts Completions
160 114
209 358
548 417
680 598
22 18
24 16
62 62
49 58
69 65
55 62
158 176
177 124
51 25
40 37
80 64
90 87
19 19
29 19
52 66
51 43
26 24
43 28
58 52
71 56
Lacombe Starts Completions Sylvan Lake Starts Completions Red Deer County Starts Completions Lacombe County Starts Completions Clearwater County Starts Completions
Mountain View County (includes Olds) Starts Completions
26 15
37 23
38 36
60 62
10 N/A
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Olds Starts Completions
Whether you’re a builder or a buyer, it means you’ve got to pay real close attention to exactly what is going on, and where, as some local markets are definitely outperforming others.
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feature
Family snapshots Central Alberta communities share common roots BY DAV I D S H EPH ER D
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he communities of Central Alberta are a lot like a great big family. They all come from the same parents, were all born as service centres for the farming, ranching and oil and gas industries, and have since grown into vibrant, diverse cities and towns. But, like children, and any parent can vouch for this, each community still has its own unique character and personality. Red Deer is the big brother of the bunch, with some close siblings like Lacombe and Blackfalds, and some that live further away, like Sundre and Rocky Mountain House, foothills towns that have a totally different vibe than their prairie brethren. As with most families, it’s hard to get everyone together at the same time for a family photo so, instead, we contacted the mayors of the various municipalities to take an individual snapshot of each community. Sort of a quick state-of-thenation address on population, economic and new home market trends. Join us as we travel Central Alberta on our own version of a family reunion.
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RED DEER
Mayor Tara Veer Crossing the 100,000 population threshold positions Red Deer as the next big city in Alberta, says Mayor Tara Veer. “We are Alberta’s next big city. Red Deer’s role as a regional hub for Central Alberta means we serve a population of upwards of 300,000 people. This poses lots of opportunities and challenges for Red Deer, with respect to our development and growth.” One of those challenges? Preparing Red Deer to host the 2019 Canada Winter Games. “The Canada Winter Games are a catalyst,” says Mayor Veer. “A lot of our infrastructure upgrades pertain to those games specifically, so that we’re ready to welcome 20,000 Canadians in 2019.” While the upgrades to various recreational facilities around the city may be the most noticeable upgrade to the casual observer, the city isn’t resting on its laurels. Thanks to a partnership between the City of Red Deer and the Government of Alberta, along with a grant allocation from Red Deer County, the Red Deer Airport is set to expand its runway. “This will allow for extended passenger service for the commercial carriers at our airport,” says Mayor Veer. “That substantially elevates our regional trade and distribution capacity.” Other major infrastructure projects include the north highway connector, which will connect the community’s ring road on the eastern side of the city, two new emergency service stations, and upgrades to regional water and sewer services. So what brings people to Red Deer? “The city’s becoming more urban in its style of development and in terms of the quality of life that we can offer,” says Mayor Veer. “Our positioning along the QE2 means that of the 100,000 people moving to Alberta every year, we’re realizing a substantial portion of that population. We offer a lot in terms of quality of life, and we have a very business-friendly city, so we see a lot of small business start-ups.” Mayor Veer optimistically predicts growth for 2016. “Even though our local economy and the provincial economy is in an economic recession, we’re still predicting growth in industrial, residential and commercial sectors, albeit at a more stabilized rate.” The keys to this growth? Public sector investment in key strategic areas, she says, which will keep the local economy stable in spite of the province’s struggles. “These investments also give the private sector confidence — we’re still seeing new permitting requests in industrial, commercial, and residential sectors.”
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BLACKFALDS
Mayor Melodie Stol
POPULATION 2015 – 100,807 2011 – 90,564 NEW HOME PERMITS 2015 – 251 (September 30) 2014 – 608 ACTIVE BUSINESS LICENSES 2015 – 2,171 (September 30) 2014 – 2,638 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTS • Lancaster (Laredo) Vanier East approximately 986 dwelling units • Timber Ridge - approximately 978 dwelling units • Timberstone - approximately 682 dwelling units • Timberlands North - approximately 603 dwelling units • Garden Heights - approximately 463 dwelling units • Evergreen - approximately 923 dwelling units • Clearview North - approximately 988 dwelling units
In 2014, Blackfalds saw record-breaking growth. In 2015, things slowed, says Mayor Melodie Stol. “The economy dictates some of Blackfalds’ growth, but we’re well-positioned. The expansion continues out at the petrochemical plants out by Joffre, so there’s still opportunities here in the area.” Blackfalds wrapped up several major infrastructure projects in 2015, including the Abbey Centre, which features a four-lane running track, a fieldhouse, and a fitness centre. “2016 is a planning and regrouping year,” says Mayor Stol. “We’re doing a bunch of consultations on a new facility needs assessment, and we’re also working on a new economic development master plan. That’s going to keep us busy through to late 2016.” One of the key projects — a regional waste water pipeline to Red Deer. “That’s a partnership with the City of Lacombe, the County of Lacombe, Blackfalds, and Red Deer,” explains Mayor Stol. “We’re pursuing money from the provincial government through their Water For Life strategy. We don’t quite have the go-ahead, but it’s something we’ve been working on for ten years, knowing what’s best for Blackfalds in the long-term.” As for the immediate future, Mayor Stol says 2016 is about “building good plans and implementing good plans.” POPULATION 2015 – 8,793 2011 – 6,300
NEW BUSINESS LICENSES N/A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTS Aspen Lakes Mackay Aurora Heights Panorama Estates Cottonwood Meadows Valley Ridge
NEW HOME PERMITS 2015 – 96 (September 30) 2014 – 270
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feature LACOMBE
Mayor Steve Christie
INNISFAIL
Mayor Brian Spiller When people come to Innisfail, they come from all over Canada, says Mayor Brian Spiller. “It’s a nice mix of the whole country. We have a lot of people that originated in the east coast, or in the south of Quebec and Ontario.” Right now, the town is focusing on the transformation of its sewer lagoons. “We received a $9 million small community Build Canada grant, so we’ll be remediating our sewer lagoons starting next year.” The lagoons are no longer necessary, as Innisfail is now on the regional sewer line. As for the 53 acres the lagoons currently occupy? “We’ll drain them, clean the sludge out, and turn the area into industrial land.” Mayor Spiller cites the good access to Highway 2 and the proximity to both Red Deer and Calgary as key factors when new citizens choose Innisfail. As for the immediate future? “We’ll probably see another year of measured growth,” says Mayor Spiller. “The good thing is, we have no debt, and we have approximately $10 to $15 million in reserves. If or when something comes along, we can pay cash for it, and we can plan well for the future that way.” POPULATION 2015 – 7,953 2011 – 7,876 NEW HOME PERMITS 2015 – 23 (September 30) 2014 – 30 ACTIVE BUSINESS LICENSES 2015 – 495 2014 – 422
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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTS • Napoleon Meadows – 42 above average size lots • Bella Vista – 659 homes • Woodlands – 400-450 homes • Hazelwood Estates • Madison Park
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Lacombe is another Central Alberta city that manages to draw people from around the world. “We’re fortunate in the fact that we have the Burman University, as they draw students from everywhere,” says Mayor Steve Christie. “We also have a federal research station that draws scientists and people to work at the station from elsewhere in Canada.” Drawing this new population has lead to the need for upgrades in infrastructure. “We’re reaching capacity with our current lagoon system,” says Mayor Christie. “We’ve just seen the ribbon cutting for the south leg of a regional sewer line hooking Olds to Red Deer and all the communities in between. Within that plan, we’re the north leg, and we hope to be the next leg in construction. It’s something we’ve been working on since 2012.” “One of the big draws for Lacombe is quality of life,” says Mayor Christie. “We have an excellent school system. We’re in close proximity to Red Deer, but we have our own hospital too.” More active people are choosing Lacombe due to its excellent trail system, green spaces, and parks. “We have the only artificial turf football field between Calgary and Edmonton, which has attracted the Central Alberta Buccaneers. When you put everything together, it becomes a great package for quality of life.” In the next year, Mayor Christie expects Lacombe to continue to grow at a sustainable rate. “We have some industrial land available, and we have more residential lots coming online in the near future, so it’s a great time to be living in Lacombe.” POPULATION 2014 – 12,728 2011 – 11,707 NEW HOME PERMITS 2015 – 66 2014 – 58
ACTIVE BUSINESS LICENSES N/A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTS • Elizabeth Park • Mackenzie Ranch • Metcalfe Ridge • Rosemont Estates • Shepherd Heights • Trinity Crossing
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PENHOLD
Mayor Dennis Cooper
OLDS
Mayor Judy Dahl Recognized for its agricultural roots, Olds has grown steadily over the past decade. “We’re experiencing growth from many areas,” says Mayor Judy Dahl. “From northern Alberta, and also regionally from Calgary and the southern areas due to a variety of factors, including Olds College, agricultural business, the oil and gas industry, and our proximity to places like Banff.” One of the biggest investments for the Town of Olds? “We’re continuing to invest in our fibre optic telecommunications network, ONET. And we’ve embarked on the development of a free community WiFi service,” says Mayor Dahl. Not satisfied with simply being an agricultural powerhouse, in 2016, Olds will continue to diversify. “We’re completing infrastructure redevelopment of the traditional business core area. We’ll also experience expanded opportunities for learning and value-added developments around both agriculture and environmental sciences.” But it’s not just the positive business environment that’s bringing people to Olds. Mayor Dahl explains. “Olds boasts amenities that are often only available in larger centres. We have excellent health facilities and doctors and surgeons, new schools — including the Community Learning Campus — and the fastest Internet in Canada.” Summed up in a sentence? “Olds is a great place to live, learn, and employ your passions.” POPULATION 2015 – 8,617 2011 – 8,235 NEW HOME PERMITS 2015 – 32 (September 30) 2014 – 55 NEW BUSINESS LICENSES 2015 – 65 2014 – 65
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTS • Chinook Meadows – Phase 1 • Highlands – Phase 3, 4, 5 (low density) & phase 6 (medium density) • Vistas – Phase 4, 5, 6 (low density)
For Mayor Dennis Cooper, Penhold is the place to be. “We’ve got people moving from Blackfalds, from Red Deer, and new people coming from Central Alberta and picking Penhold. There’s quite a variety of new residents.” But it’s not enough to simply draw new residents, you have to keep them. For Mayor Cooper, that means a $3.8 million flood mitigation project. “We’re going to be raising the height of Waskasoo Avenue by 1.5 metres, and we’ll be building a dike around the multiplex and the school. That way, when Waskasoo Creek overflows its banks, we’re protecting not only the school and the multiplex, but people’s biggest investment — their homes. “We’re starting to become a really complete community,” says Mayor Cooper. It’s that completeness that continues to draw new residents — particularly young families. “The average age in Penhold is 30 years, six months. When families consider Penhold, they see a brand new grocery store, a dentist, a walk-in clinic, a bank — we have a lot of services for people so they can stay in the community.” The other major advantages — a K-12 school, a familyoriented library, and a wellused multiplex. 2016 will see another 100 homes built in Penhold, along with the completion of the flood mitigation project. “We’ve already upgraded the water system, and we just got our first bank in 55 years open — all of these things combine to make Penhold a more complete community.” POPULATION 2015 – 2,842 2011 – 2,375 NEW HOME PERMITS 2015 – 49 (September 30) 2014 – 76 ACTIVE BUSINESS LICENSES 2015 – 303 2014 – 201
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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTS Pallisades – 47 homes Hawkridge – 31 homes Oxford Landing – 58 homes
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PONOK A
Mayor Rick Bonnett Who’s knocking on Ponoka’s doors? “A lot of the people moving into Ponoka are the farmers moving off their farms and coming into town,” says Mayor Rick Bonnett. “We’re also seeing some people coming in for jobs and for businesses. They’re coming here because it’s a little bit cheaper to live, our taxes are a bit cheaper, we have a great community, and our river valley is beautiful in Central Alberta.” Of course, with any river comes the necessity of flood prevention. The north bridge, which is over 100 years old, is scheduled to be re-done, along with a new roadway leading up to the bridge. “This will prepare us for any future floods, as well as give everyone options to make sure they’ve got access to both sides of Ponoka.” In addition to the upgrades of the north bridge, Ponoka is set to expand and update its recreational facilities. “We call it our rec master plan,” says Mayor Bonnett. “We’re basically looking at all of our recreational facilities and developing a plan to move forward over the next 10 to 15 years.” As for the coming year, Mayor Bonnett is focused on attracting more businesses. “We’re not one of the bedroom communities — we’re on our own here, so we need to have the business background to get people moving in to Ponoka.”
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POPULATION 2015 – 7,000 (estimated) 2011 – 6,773
NEW BUSINESS LICENSES 2015 – Unavailable 2014 – 480
NEW HOME PERMITS 2015 – Unavailable 2014 – 35
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTS • Meadowlark Estates
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Mayor Fred Nash
Rocky Mountain House is a great place to work and a great place to retire, says Mayor Fred Nash. “We have a lot of seniors from Central Alberta and the county come to Rocky Mountain House. That and a surprising number of city folks looking for a slower pace of life. Obviously, work is also a big reason to come to our town.” Speaking of work, several infrastructure projects are underway, including the first phase of the Park Avenue luxury retirement community, which is being developed by The Christenson Group of Companies. “We’re also redoing the entrances to our arenas, they’re open on a temporary basis right now but will be fully open in April.” A new hospital helipad is also under construction. What’s bringing people to Rocky Mountain House? According to Mayor Nash, it’s all about the pace of life. “We have a small community versus a big city atmosphere, while still being a short distance from a major city. We have mountains, rivers, and lots of outdoor recreation.” In 2016, working with the new provincial government will be key, says Mayor Nash. “There’s no shortage of work. The new government is looking for shovel-ready projects, so we have some identified.” Those projects? A potential airport terminal upgrade, finishing off the arenas, and the opportunity to introduce a splash park. POPULATION 2015 – 7,300 (estimated) 2011 – 6,933
NEW HOME PERMITS 2015 – N/A 2014 – 76 ACTIVE BUSINESS LICENSES 2015 – 600 (approximate) 2014 – Couldn’t generate report COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTS • Creekside
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Mayor Terry Leslie Sundre doesn’t pull people from any one place, says Mayor Terry Leslie. “Based on the research from one of the realty companies, we’re seeing folks from all over Canada.” And just what’s attracting them to Sundre? “There’s that opportunity to get back to the pace of life with some of the recreational pursuits and small town living,” says Mayor Leslie. “When I take my granddaughters to school, there’s deer to see. When I go for a run on Snake Hill, I see grouse and moose and all kinds of wildlife.” “When I first moved to Sundre 36 years ago,” he laughs, “we used to talk about Sundre time much like one of the eastern provinces that’s half an hour behind.” Slower pace of life aside, Sundre has some fairly significant infrastructure projects planned. “We have two projects this summer — waste water upgrades and water upgrades. We’ve spent $1 million on those two projects. We’re also working on 10th Street, which is an extension of Highway 22. It’s got water and waste water capability for future development underneath, and the possibility of broadband as well.” Those infrastructure projects are leading to increased interest over the coming year, says Mayor Leslie. “We’re seeing more interest in commercial and industrial. While our growth rate has typically been three per cent we’re expecting that we’re going to see a growth rate that is potentially double or triple that common trend we’ve had in the past.” POPULATION 2015 – 2800 (estimated) 2011 – 2610 NEW HOME PERMITS 2015 – 7 (September 30) 2014 – 3
ACTIVE BUSINESS LICENSES 2015 – 280 (approximate) 2014 – 280 (approximate) COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTS • Prairie Creek Estates – 35 homes at build out
SYLVAN LAKE
Mayor Sean McIntyre Most people choose Sylvan Lake for its quality of life and, of course, the lake, says Mayor Sean McIntyre. “The people I’ve been talking to that have recently moved to Sylvan Lake have been coming from provinces like Ontario and British Columbia. There’s a bit of regional relocation at play as well. “Right now we’re undertaking Sylvan Lake’s biggest ever infrastructure project — the construction of our NexSource Centre, which will be Sylvan Lake’s recreation hub.” Scheduled to finish construction in spring of 2017, the NexSource Centre will feature two NHL-sized ice surfaces, a curling rink, an aquatic centre, and other recreational facilities. This facility will work to improve the quality of life Sylvan Lake residents already enjoy, says Mayor McIntyre. “People relocate to this area because they’ve found a job in the region, but the people I’ve spoken to choose our community specifically for its quality of life.” That quality of life is anticipated to improve even more in 2016. “We’ve recently been named among Alberta’s top 12 communities to do business in. By and large, our residents have been reporting they’re very satisfied with our quality of life, and I think 2016 will be another exciting year for our community.” POPULATION 2015 – 14,310 2011 – 12,327 NEW HOME PERMITS 2015 – 73 (August 31) 2014 – 146 ACTIVE BUSINESS LICENSES 2015 – N/A 2014 – N/A
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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTS • Bayview at Newport • Beacon Hill • Crestview • Hampton Pointe • Ryder’s Ridge • Slopes of Sylvan Lake • Vista at Ryder’s Ridge
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events
What a show! First ever Home Renovation Show a huge success BY J I M Z A N G
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ith 108 exhibitors and more than 3,500 attendees, the first ever Renovation Show sponsored by the Canadian Home Builders’ Association – Central Alberta was a resounding success. Damon Bennett, perhaps known best for being Mike Holmes’ right hand man from Holmes Makes It Right, Holmes Inspections and Holmes on Homes, and now head of his own firm, Bennett Construction, was the headline presenter and he didn’t disappoint. His message? Simply this: “Preparation!” In a couple different “interactive presentations,” he explained about how best to go about the job of renovating a home, entertaining and engaging audience members in the conversation. As for the exhibitors, they ran the gamut from hot tubs, to roofing and siding, to general contractors and, of course, various gizmos and gadgets for the home.
According to Denie Olmstead, Chief Executive Officer for the CHBA-Central Alberta, the inaugural show was everything they hoped it would be, and one they plan on making an annual event. “In our opinion,” he says, “the first Renovation Show was VERY successful. Based on the feedback we received from exhibitors and attendees, we look forward to organizing and hosting next year’s show.” But you don’t have to take his word for it, comments from guests visiting the show echoed those sentiments. When asked what they liked best about the show, the responses were very positive, ranging from “the speakers”, to “the booths”, to “seeing all the options” , to “knowedgeable people.” And that’s what it’s all about, bringing together knowledgeable industry experts, great new products, and their customers, all at the same place the same day. It’s a great idea that’s time has come in Central Alberta.
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Damon Bennett
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community profile
Full circle – from Lacombe Residents and city administrators work to make Lacombe a vibrant city BY S H EL L E Y N E WM A N
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f you measured community spirit, Lacombe would come out at the top of the class. “Community spirit is an important part of Lacombe’s culture,” says Mayor Steve Christie. “People appreciate the events and festivals that are held here, and Lacombe residents are second to none for volunteering and participating in their community.” In a truly Canadian testament to this, 889 residents braved the frigid November weather back in 2013 to go to the ME Global Athletic Park and form the world’s largest human Christmas tree — a Guinness World Record that held for just over a week. More recently, the city won the nation-wide “One Horse Town” contest, where residents had the chance to tout their city and show their pride during filming of a one-hour documentary featuring Lacombe that was aired on CMT on November 6, 2015. This kind of civic spirit isn’t just demonstrated at one-time events; it’s also evident at annual festivals, which have been growing in numbers and popularity in recent years. “Things don’t just happen,” says Christie. “I give a lot of credit to residents for being able to say what they were looking for and to staff for listening and working hard to make it happen.” Christie notes that
Mayor Steve Christie
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Lacombe used to have one annual festival and now there are four each year. “These events are very diverse and they attract many different groups,” he says. “It’s a great way to get to know people and celebrate the community.” This sense of being distinct is something that defines Lacombe, as “it really isn’t a bedroom community,” says Guy Lapointe, economic development manager. “60 per cent of the people who live here also work here, and it’s a thriving city with essential services and a number of large-scale employers.” Among these are Burman University, Agriculture Financial Services Corporation and the Lacombe Research Centre, as well as the hospital and private, public and Catholic schools throughout the city. Christie adds that communication services, such as the Lacombe Globe and Lacombe Express newspapers and Sunny 94FM radio station help to define the region. In addition, innovative new businesses such as the Blindman Brewery help to add a distinctive local flair to the area. With its population at nearly 13,000, Lacombe’s city administration is working to strike the balance between preserving the character associated with the historic downtown while also creating a modern city with full amenities for residents. To achieve this, they’re planning for growth on both residential and commercial fronts. “There is residential development happening in five different areas,” Lapointe explains. These include Shepherd Heights, Trinity Crossing, Metcalf Ridge, Mackenzie Ranch and Elizabeth Park. “We’re expecting to have 500 new housing units in the next five years,” he says. “This will include an apartment complex in Trinity Crossing, which will have over 80 units.” The creation of this apartment complex is an important step in achieving goals from Lacombe’s housing strategy, which identifies the need for more diversified and affordable housing. As part of
community profile
this diversification, “Habitat for Humanity is currently working on its first project in Lacombe,” Lapointe says. “This is an exciting new partnership for us.” Construction is currently underway, with two housing complexes scheduled for completion in 2016. On the flip side of housing growth, commercial expansion is planned to help balance the city’s needs. “We were fortunate to have a good commercial year in 2015,” says Christie. “Looking ahead, we’re ready to expand in the light industrial and manufacturing areas, and there are 15 acres ready for sale in the new Len Thompson Industrial Park.” “Retail development is also something that we look at,” says Lapointe. “Our citizen satisfaction surveys indicate that people want retail — they want to be able to do their shopping where they live and work, so we look for ways to connect with the appropriate anchor tenants to make that happen.” Citizen satisfaction is something the City of Lacombe administration takes seriously, whether for retail needs or quality of life elements like recreation, parks, culture and other amenities. “Lifestyle is a big reason for why people live here,” says Christie. “We’re always looking for innovative ways build on the positive elements we currently have, while also making Lacombe an even more vibrant and sustainable city.” While administration is looking to make the city more vibrant and sustainable, Christie notes that citizens are doing their part to make their world a better place. “In a government report based on data from personal income tax returns in 2013, donors from Lacombe and area have the highest median donations. The median from across Canada was $280 per person and from the Lacombe area it was $780 per person,” he says. “This is just another great example of how Lacombe is a giving community. People are willing to give their time and donate to what they believe in, and that’s a huge part of who we are.”
P H OTO S CO U R T E S Y C I T Y O F L A CO M B E
(BELOW) The Honourable Lois Mitchell, Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, joined Mayor Christie and special guests to celebrate the construction of the first Habitat for Humanity project in the city.
(ABOVE) The popular Music in the Park concert series, one of the many events that highlight Lacombe’s community spirit.
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show home profile
Falcon Homes Soaring to new home building heights
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ince its inception over 17 years ago, Falcon Homes has been committed to providing families with an exemplary home building experience. They pride themselves on helping homeowners experience the thrill of seeing their dream home become a reality. Each home built by Falcon Homes is exceptionally crafted and environmentally conscious. Innovation, quality, value, style and design as well as their commitment to service are evident in every project they undertake. The company’s stellar reputation throughout central Alberta has not gone unnoticed. Their unwavering commitment to quality work has earned them several Business of the Year awards, Excellence is Home Designs at the annual CHBA Awards Gala and many other honours. Currently Falcon Homes is proudly rebuilding ‘The Lighthouse Project’ in Sylvan Lake and is grateful to be a part of returning that iconic landmark back to the Marina and to the residents. Creating the best possible product, no matter what the size or the budget of the project, is what Falcon Homes is all about. This commitment is evident at Falcon Homes show home at 4289 Ryder’s Ridge in Sylvan Lake. A unique roofline and a cool earth tone colour palette of two-toned vinyl siding, highlighted by modern and light cultured stone and cedar
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elements, blend in perfectly with the gently sloped neatly manicured front yard. The two-storey 2,584-square-foot fullydeveloped home features an attached double car garage and a walk-out basement. A large deck outside the dining room’s double French doors extends the full length of the back of the house. The view of a retention pond and lovely walking trails visible from the deck and the living room windows is picturesque and serene. The backyard also features a large fire pit, a perfect place to gather around and enjoy the magic of long summer evenings. The open concept of the home’s main floor lends itself to family gatherings and entertaining. The kitchen features stainless steel Samsung appliances, which compliment the granite and quartz countertops on the maple custom built cabinets and the black, white and gray glass tiles featured on the backsplash. The dining and great rooms are open and spacious and plenty of natural light coming in from the windows gives the area a light, airy atmosphere. A fireplace flanked by built-in maple wood cabinets and hardwood floors throughout add to the main floor charm. A main floor half bath and a multi-purpose laundry and mudroom complete the main floor. A large bonus room located over the garage is located at the top of the carpeted stairs on the upper floor. The bonus room is a delightful addition to the family designed home and provides space for entertaining, watching television or simply enjoying some quiet time alone. The upper floor also features two large bedrooms as well as a master bedroom, a main bath and a strategically placed linen
show home profile
“We have something for everyone. From starter homes to custom homes, we can build to work within the framework of any budget.” closet located adjacent to the bath. The spacious master bedroom has a large window offering a lovely view of the pond and walking trails and a huge walk in closet. The ensuite features double sinks, a tub and custom tile shower with plenty of storage area. The walk-out basement is completely finished and carpeted throughout. It includes a large bedroom, a full-sized bathroom and extra storage space under the stairs. At the asking price of $599,000, this show home is a wonderful opportunity for a prospective buyer who wants superior quality and craftsmanship. For those budget minded buyers, who are interested in the basic concept of the home without as many upgrades this home has to offer, the base price is $301,283 — all you need to do is find a lot and Falcon Homes can begin to help make your dream home a realty. A stand-out feature that puts Falcon Homes at the forefront of the building industry is their on-site draftsman and design team. “We can customize anything to meet your
For those budget minded buyers, who are interested in the basic concept of the home without as many upgrades this home has to offer, the base price is $301,283 — all you need to do is find a lot and Falcon Homes can begin to help make your dream home a realty.
needs,” said Stephanie Fehr, Falcon Homes New Home Co-ordinator/ Customer Liaison. “We have something for everyone. From starter homes to custom homes, we can build to work within the framework of any budget.” Falcon Homes has a large selection of lots available in the Sylvan Lake, Red Deer, Blackfalds and Springbrook communities and sales have been steady, says Cathy Lange, marketing co-ordinator. Falcon Homes is committed to Central Alberta and that commitment includes building affordable homes and working with customers to help them achieve their dreams of home ownership.
For more information visit www.falconhomes.com
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show home profile
Abbey Master Builder Turning new home dreams into reality
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magine this: You wake up on the first morning in your brand new home — 64 Henderson Crescent in Penhold — and can’t wipe the smile off your face. You are the proud new owner of an Abbey Master Builder show home! You sit up, stretch, and admire your beautiful master bedroom and think about how this fantastic three bedroom, two-and-a-half bath, two-storey home will be the perfect setting for making new family memories. No time for daydreaming though, it’s time to rise and shine and enjoy the luxurious adjacent three-piece ensuite and connect your favourite music playlist to the wireless showerhead speaker for some morning karaoke. But not before taking a quick detour to grab some warm, fresh towels out of the dryer from the laundry room just down the hall. Dressed and ready to go, you make your way down the stairway that’s open to the front foyer, gazing out the window part way down and stopping to visually survey and appreciate your surroundings. You take the time to admire unique details like the decorative transom in the doorway as you enter your spacious open concept great room, dining room and kitchen.
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The laminate flooring is a show-stopper and you can’t help but enjoy the added openness the nine-foot ceilings and natural light from the triple pane windows provide. In the kitchen, the maple cabinets with the soft closures, pantry with adjustable shelving and, of course, sculptured ceramic backsplash, are as wonderful as your Abbey sales person promised they’d be. The added bonuses of a fully finished garage with 10-foot ceilings, Hot Shot heater and floor drain, and fully-sodded, large back yard with the vinyl fence along the back add incremental value to both your lifestyle and investment. Plus, the proximity to Penhold’s Multiplex, park and the Hawkridge Market Square help to seal the deal. Abbey Master Builder’s mandate is to make your dream a reality. And an affordable one at that. Their show home at 64 Henderson Crescent in Penhold and could be yours for as little as $399,900. To
show home profile
If you are interested in building your dream home, Abbey Master Builder has plenty of award-winning home plans to choose from that can be modified to suit your needs. view this spectacular show home, stop by Saturday to Wednesday from 1 – 5 p.m. If you are looking for a home in Penhold with a little more square footage, Abbey has the answer for you too. They currently have a quick possession home located at 15 Henderson Close that is on a beautiful pie lot overlooking a pond and green space and features a gas fireplace and granite countertops! If you are interested in building your dream home, Abbey Master Builder has plenty of award-winning home plans to choose from that can be modified to suit your needs. Choose from one of the 27 lots in
Hawkridge Estates or nearby Oxford Landing. “Homebuyers have an exceptional opportunity in Penhold,” says Abbey’s General Manager, Chris Beaumont. “A number of these single family lots allow for attached garages and are selling for under $100,000!” He adds, “Abbey also has a muti-family project under construction. These 31 affordable townhome units, located on Hampton Close, across the street from the Multiplex, are great for personal or investment properties.” Abbey Master Builder is a local family-run home builder that has been building homes in Central Alberta for more than 34 years. Currently building in Red Deer, Lacombe, Blackfalds, Penhold, Sylvan Lake and acreages, Abbey Master Builder is dedicated to making the purchase of your new home an enjoyable and rewarding experience.
For more information visit www.abbeymasterbuilder.ca
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Canadian Home Builders’ Assocation – Central Alberta Members
industry news
Your reliable, reputable source for all your new home and renovation needs
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Abbey Homes Ltd. Alberta New Home Warranty Program All Weather Windows Arbor Valley Cabinet Gallery Aries Airfflo Heating & Air Conditioning Artistic Stairs Ltd. Asset Builders Corp. ATCO Gas Audio Integrations Aurora Heights Management Ltd. Avalon Central Alberta
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B&B Cowie Insulation Ltd. Ben’s Glass & Marble Bildex Construction Ltd. Black Press (Red Deer Advocate & Express) Blanket Home Warranty Ltd. Bomaier Developments Ltd. Bowood Inc. Bruins Plumbing & Heating Burnco Rock Products Busse Homes Ltd. Buylo Homes Ltd.
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Canada Mortgage & Housing Corporation Canadian Closet & Storage Co. Candel Homes Can-Air Heating and Air Conditioning Ltd. Carbon Earthworks Ltd. Carolina Homes Inc. Carpet Colour Centre Central Alberta Fencing Inc. Central Alberta Flooring Central Alberta Realtors Association Central Alberta Co-Op Ltd. Central Alberta Tile One Central Stoneworks Ltd. (Acadia Stone) Christenson Developments CIBC City of Red Deer (Inspections Dept.) Newcap Inc. (CKGY FM/ZZ 99 FM) Clearview Glass Service Ltd. Colbray Homes Ltd. Compass Geomatics Ltd. Communications Group Red Deer Ltd. Complete Flooring Solutions Inc. Compliance Safety Solutions Ltd. Consolidated Gypsum Supply Ltd. Cunningham Electric Ltd. Deer Run Homes (1990) Ltd. Dominion Lending Centres Regional Mortgage Group
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Doormasters Inc. Durabuilt Windows & Doors Dynovac Industries Inc.
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Eagle Ridge Homes Corp. EMCO Corp. Erickson Homes Executive Builders Group Executive Home Building Centre
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Falcon Homes Ltd. Fanta Homes Ltd.
Paradise Homes Corp. Parkland Community Planning Services Parkland Drywalling Ltd. Paul Davis Systems of Red Deer Hub International Phoenix Insurance Brokers Platinum Homes & Developments Proform Precast Products Inc. Progressive Home Warranty Solutions Inc. Prominent Homes Ltd. Ply Gem
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General Appliances Lacombe Ltd. Gienow Windows & Doors Gilmar Construction Global Overhead Doors Ltd. Goodmen Roofing Ltd. G&R Builders Innisfail Ltd. Great Canadian Roofing & Siding (Red Deer) Ltd.
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RBC Royal Bank Realty Investments Corporation Red Deer County Red Deer College Red Deer Electric Red Deer Lighting Red Deer Overdoor Riser Homes Ltd. Roofmart Alberta Ltd. RONA Inc./TM Red Deer North Royal LePage Network Realty Corp.
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Habitat For Humanity Red Deer Henderson Homes Ltd. Henry’s Eavestroughing Ltd. Heywood Holmes & Partners Home Renewals Homestead Custom Carpentry Inc. Howard & Company Reals Estate Appraisers Inc.
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Inland Concrete Ltd.
Scarlett Built Homes Schnell Hardy Jones LLP Serge’s Homes Ltd. Servus Credit Union Ltd. Siderman Ltd. Snell & Oslund Surverys (1979) Ltd. Soderquist Appraisals Ltd. Sorento Custom Homes Ltd. Source Media Group Stalwood Homes Stevenson Development Corp. Stoneworx Masonry & Stucco Inc. Sylvan Lake Homes Ltd.
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JELD-WEN Windows & Doors Jim Pattison Broadcast Group Jorgenson Homes Ltd.
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KCB Cabinets & Renovations Kirk Miller Properties Inc. Knelsen Sand & Gravel Ltd. Krest Homes Ltd.
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LA Radio Group Laebon Homes Lafarge Canada Inc. Lakeside RONA Building Centre Landmark Homes (Red Deer) Inc. Larkaun Homes (Red Deer) Inc. Levi-Rio Custom Home Builders Ltd.
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Tar-ific Construction Ltd. Techno Metal Post Central Alberta Inc. The Brick Thermo Pro Insulation Ltd. Timber Wolf Truss Ltd. Trail Appliances Ltd. Travelers Insurance Company of Canada True-Line Homes
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Malibu Communities Marshall Construction Co. Inc. Mason Martin Homes McGonigal Signature Homes Inc. M.C. Home Ltd. Melcor Developments Ltd. Mooney & Rogers Insurance Mr. Fireplace
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Unique Elevations Vleeming Construction Ltd. Western Financial Group – Red Deer Westridge Cabinets Ltd. Window Masters (2013) Windsor Plywood Wolf Creek Building Supplies Ltd. ZyTech Building Systems Inc.
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National Home Warranty Northland Construction Supplies
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Olds College Oriel Windows & Doors NOTE: Bold listings are advertisers in this magazine
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in the kitchen
Festive favourites Sweeten your season with holiday scones BY TA M M I E SO R EN S EN
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t is often said that the heart of a home is the kitchen. From grand holiday family meals to therapeutic pints of ice cream at 2 a.m., you do a whole lot of living in your kitchen. For this new food feature we combine some of our favourite recipes with some of the region’s finest new kitchens to bring it all home. For the recipes in this issue, we headed over to Ryder’s Ridge in Sylvan Lake and set-up in True-Line’s ‘The Ridge’ show home, where the well-laid out kitchen is enough to make any would-be chef’s Christmas wishes come true.
Holiday Morning Scones A wonderfully light, red and white scone that is perfect for those special holiday mornings. Add some orange zest to capture all the flavours of the season. Ingredients 2 c all-purpose flour 1/4 c granulated sugar 1/4 tsp baking soda 1 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 c cold unsalted butter, cut into small chunks 1/2 c buttermilk 1 large egg 1/3 c sweetened dried cranberries, chopped fine 8 squares Bakers white chocolate Optional orange zest to taste
Method 1 Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. 2 Medium bowl, whisk or sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, soda and salt. Add butter chunks and toss lightly with flour and put bowl in fridge (the colder the ingredients, the lighter the scones). 3 Small bowl, whisk together egg, buttermilk and put the bowl in fridge. 4 Chop cranberries and then chop 4 squares of the bakers chocolate, setting both aside. Remove bowls of flour and buttermilk from fridge. Cut butter into flour with a pastry blender or rub together with your fingertips until it resembles coarse crumbs. Add cranberries and chocolate chunks (and orange zest if using), stirring to combine. 5 Add buttermilk mixture all at once to flour mixture and stir until the mixture clumps together. Place mixture on floured counter
top (it will be sticky, so flour your hands) and gather into a ball. Knead a couple times to combine everything. Pat into a circle about 1/2 inch thick. Cut into 8 slices, like a pie, or cut with any cutter shape you like. Put scones on lined baking sheet and then bake for about 13-15 minutes. 6 While the scones are baking, melt the remaining squares of white chocolate using the microwave (check and stir every 10 seconds — depending you’re your microwave, it happens fast!) or in a double boiler. 7 After you scones are baked, place on rack to to cool. Once they have cooled slightly, drizzle the melted white chocolate over them using a spoon or piping bad bog smaller lines.
S’Mores Topping Ingredients Graham Cracker Crumbs Mini Marshmallows Chocolate Sauce Kitchen Blowtorch (optional) Method 1 Rim a large mug with graham cracker crumbs. Water is ok for this, but I find using a syrup like maple or agave works better. You can also use the chocolate sauce for this. 2 Pour the hot chocolate in to the rimmed mug and generously top with the marshmallows. If you have a kitchen blowtorch, lightly brown the tops of the marshmallows. Drizzle with chocolate sauce and sprinkle with a few more graham crumbs. You can reach Tammie Sorensen @foodiewithoutablog on Instagram
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RED DEER
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getting to know
Kelly Coutts Sales development, Doormasters T E X T A N D P H OTOS BY J O CK M ACK ENZI E
K
elly Coutts may sell doors, but he prefers to spend his time outside of them. As part of the sales development team at Doormasters, Kelly spends his days doing commercial and residential sales and, he says, “lots of commercial bidding”. He also sits on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Home Builders Association – Central Alberta, assisting in making sure the CHBA-CA continues to evolve to strike a balance between serving industry and consumer interests. On his off days, however, you’re more likely to find this avid outdoorsman camping, hunting or strapping on the blades for a game of shinny. Maybe hitting the old pub in Carstairs, where they live, with his wife, Lorraine, and some friends. Or maybe just sitting around listening to Toby Keith or some other country music artist. Originally from Edmonton, Kelly’s career path from M. E. Lazerete High School, to warehouse manager for a door company, to sales person is a familiar one. His dad was a heavy equipment operator for 15 years before moving to Goodyear and putting in another 25 years on the sales end. As was the custom more often than not in those days, Kelly’s mom was a stay-at-home mom for himself and his sister. Kelly and his wife have three children, two boys; Ryan, 19, and Kyle, 16, and a girl; Paige, 13. What they like best about living in Central Alberta, says Kelly, “is the very warm and welcoming.” As for Red Deer itself, “It offers big city amenities, but feels like a small community.” The biggest challenge facing the region right now, he
says, is the same as everywhere else: “the economy, the price of oil, the cost to buy things.” As for the local new home market, he’s cautiously optimistic, and suggests potential homebuyers adopt a similar strategy. “Building a house is a big decision, and a special time,” he says. “Especially if it’s your first. Don’t rush or hurry on decisions. Take the time to really see what you want.” Because, after all, as in life, when one door closes another one always opens.
“Building a house is a big decision, and a special time. Especially if it’s your first. Don’t rush or hurry on decisions. Take the time to really see what you want.”
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you said it
What’s on your Christmas wish list this year? BY S H A E PAT T ER SO N
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Jullisa, age 4
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James, age 6
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A stuffed animal.
Jace, age 4
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Spending Christmas with my grandchildren. Val, library assistant
A dinosaur. Jullene, age 3
Isabelle, age 5
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The Jurassic World video game. William, age 7
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Sophie, age 5
A tiger.
Hot Wheels and Star Wars LEGO.
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Elsa Accessories
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LEGO.
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OWL Harry Potter colouring books. Deb, library assistant
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