Profile February 2015 by Source Media Group

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content s CANADIAN HOME BUILDERS’ ASSOCIATION – CALGARY REGION represents professionals in the housing industry. CHBA – Calgary Region has been in existence for over 60 years and is a network of professionals that manages industry issues to provide value to our members. 100-7326 10 St. N.E., Calgary, AB, T2E 8W1 Tel: 403.235.1911; Fax: 403.248.1272 E-mail: info@chbacalgary.com Website: www.chbacalgary.com Donna K. Moore | Chief Executive Officer donna@chbacalgary.com Val Veldhuyzen | Director, Finance and Administration val@chbacalgary.com Amie Blanchette | Director, Government Affairs amie@chbacalgary.com David Bears | Director, Programs david@chbacalgary.com Kathy McCormick | Profile Editor, Director, Communications kathy@chbacalgary.com Habiba Gulnaz-Khalid | Accounting Co-ordinator habi@chbacalgary.com Jennifer Fong | Event Co-ordinator jennifer@chbacalgary.com Deb Mansfield | Executive Assistant deb@chbacalgary.com Wanda Wong | Receptionist info@chbacalgary.com Laurina Milne | Show Manager, Homexpo laurina@chbacalgary.com

FEBRUARY 2015 • VOLUME 22 • ISSUE 13

A SSOCIATION INFORMATION 7 Message from the President, CHBA – Calgary Region 9 Message from the CEO, CHBA – Calgary Region 10 Wood is good 11 Message from the President, CHBA – Alberta 17 Thank You 24 Professional Development Lunches 26 New and cancelled members

INDUSTRY E VENTS 20 Homexpo COVER FE ATURE 14 What comes up... A SSOCIATION E VENTS 19 Upcoming CHBA – Calgary Region events 22 Busy send off to 2014

INDUSTRY NEWS 25 State of the nation 27 Going high tech 29 Now is the time! 30 Where do your premiums go?

PUBLISHED BY Source Media Group Corp. 207, 5809 Macleod Trail S.W., Calgary, AB T2H 0J9. Tel 403.532.3101, Toll free 1.888.932.3101 Fax 403.532.3109 email: info@sourcemediagroup.ca web: www.sourcemediagroup.ca ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER | Jim Zang ART DIRECTOR | Jean Faye Rodriguez GRAPHIC DESIGNERS | Rylyn Kvarnberg, Dave Macaulay, Megan Sereda PRODUCTION CO-ORDINATOR | Colleen Leier ACCOUNTING | Norma Robertson ADVERTISING SALES | Andrea Glowatsky andrea.glowatsky@sourcemediagroup.ca © 2015 Source Media Group Corp. Material cannot be reprinted in whole or in part without the expressed written permission of the publishers. Source Media Group 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 reserves the right to refuse any advertising at its sole discretion. Profile is published quarterly per annum and is distributed to every member of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association – Calgary Region.

We’d love to hear from you… Letters to the editor, article suggestions, columns, topics and opinions are all welcome and encouraged! Please nail us a notice, saw us a yarn, measure us a metre of your thoughts. We’ll print the best ones in the next issue. Contact Kathy McCormick, Director, Communications at 403.730.4255 or kathy@chbacalgary.com

Need to change your contact name or address? Let us know at info@chbacalgary.com

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PRESIDENT ’S MESSAGE | A SSOCIATION INFORMATION

By Wayne Copeland President, Canadian Home Buiders’ Association – Calgary Region

It’s always a changing environment CHBA – CR committed to meeting challenges in the New Year In just 10 days we will usher in the Year of the Goat in the Chinese calendar — a year that represents solidarity, harmony and calmness. Let’s hope that translates to our homebuilding industry. 2014 was quite a year, with a record number of housing starts, led by the multifamily sector which accounted for 60 per cent of the total starts last year. A record population increase of 38,508 was mostly from the strong net migration where people came to Calgary for jobs. The resale industry also recorded a record year. And then oil prices started to fall, changing everything in a very short time. The effect of that on our industry still remains to be seen, but everyone is keeping a sharp eye on our economy and will respond accordingly to a different world. So here we are — with more challenges to face this year, many of which will result in better-built, safer homes, more protection for homeowners and a different direction for our industry and our association. But in some cases, they come with a cost. The new Condo Act has been revised and is in the legislature now. CHBA – Alberta will be reviewing this thoroughly to make sure it meets the needs of our industry and the people in multi-family homes. A new Building Code will be in place with some changes that

will impact our industry. And the Municipal Government Act may be opened and changed, again impacting our industry. You can be assured that our associations at all levels, along with our talented and expert volunteers, will be on top of any recommended changes to ensure they meet the needs of everyone. One change that I’m very proud to announce is our new Strategic Plan 20142015 which our board set up to ensure the success, the professionalism and the future of our organization through the next term. Our mission: An engaged membership building our successful future, and our vision: We are the respected voice shaping the future of the home building industry.

We are dedicated to fulfill these worthy goals in every one of our endeavours. The detailed Plan has specific goals and measures that we will be following throughout the term. Please go to www.chbacalgary.com/ strategicplan and see the new, positive direction which will move us forward. The year will also continue with the investigation into the possible merger of our two organizations, CHBA – Calgary Region and UDI – Calgary. Just to let you know, a decision to merge has NOT been made. Last

…with more challenges to face this year, many of which will result in betterbuilt, safer homes, more protection for homeowners and a different direction for our industry and our association.

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A SSOCIATION INFORMATION | PRESIDENT ’S MESSAGE

fall both the UDI and CHBA – Calgary boards agreed with the recommendation to PURSUE a merger based on the project’s results, which were centered on the benefits, costs, risks and issues related. This included addressing a number of specific questions defining how the two organizations might merge based on four things: 1. Strategic Direction of the new entity 2. Operating Model of the new entity 3. Organization Structure of the new entity 4. Governance Model including Board Composition. This is now underway with a core team from both organizations representing all the different facets of the two organizations: professionals, suppliers, builders, and developers. The results of

Our mission: An engaged membership building our successful future, and our vision: We are the respected voice shaping the future of the home building industry. We are dedicated to fulfill these worthy goals in every one of our endeavours. this work will be presented for approval by each Board likely in the May timeframe. This approval would simply be to agree to conduct a membership vote, since it will be the members that will be the ultimate decision-makers per the Voting Rights of each organization. We are committed to a transparent process and intend to keep stakeholders

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informed of the progress and when appropriate, the results of our work. We are also committed to listening to our stakeholders and responding to questions you may have as we proceed. Please feel free to contact me with any questions, concerns or suggestions regarding this possible change or any other areas you wish to discuss.

CEO’S MESSAGE | A SSOCIATION INFORMATION

By Donna Moore

CEO, Canadian Home Buiders’ Association – Calgary Region

Our city is growing smarter New initiative details How to Build a Great City In this past year we have taken a significant move to help people understand our industry, the unprecedented growth we have been facing and the challenges associated with that as we try to house the people who call Calgary and its surrounding areas home. We are proud to be part of the residential construction industry in this Calgary region. We are one of the key economic drivers in a city that has seen record migration, job growth and strong economic fundamentals leading the nation — so our job to keep up with that surge in population has become harder. The City of Calgary, too, has its own challenges building the infrastructure needed to keep us building great homes in great communities. We understand the challenges everyone is facing, which is why key industry leaders from both CHBA – Calgary Region and Urban Development Institute — Calgary have funded a new enterprise that is a collaboration between both of our organizations. The Smarter Growth Initiative was launched in the fall of last year with a new website www.smartergrowth.ca and the first of several booklets that we will be developing. How to Build a Great City outlines many of the demands involved in the process of planning and building innovative, sustainable communities. The initiative is comprehensive: we’ve

hired two consultants — one who has done extensive research to find out what the issues are and what people know about the industry and the process of building a community; the other to put together and implement this plan to foster dialogue around growth. We have found out that many residents consider themselves under-informed about issues surrounding the city. For example, most do not know who builds what, who pays for what and who is responsible for what. We hope this initiative will change that. We are currently in the first phases of rolling out all this important information — and it starts with you, our members. We want you to know everything about how our industry works, what challenges are out there, what impact we have on the future of the city. Many decisions about the future of this city are tied into your industry. We need you to spread the word and get involved. The booklets are available for you at our office. Call 403-235-1911 or email info@chbacalgary.com and ask

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for copies; put them in your show homes or show rooms; make them available to your staff, your suppliers, your trades, and your customers; and keep the conversation going. Go to the smartergrowth.ca website and keep yourself up-to-date as more and more articles are posted. Be proud of your industry. We employ 42,600 people in construction, renovation and related fields — one of the largest employers in the Calgary region. We generate $2.7 billion in wages. We built 12,584 homes in 2013 representing $6.1 billion in investment value — the single largest wealth-builder for most families. Our homes and our communities are built with care, quality, sustainability, and innovation, meeting the needs of thousands of people. And we are continually improving.

A SSOCIATION INFORMATION | CHBA – C ALGARY REGION

By Amie Blanchette

Director, Government Affairs, CHBA – Calgary Region

Wood is good And it’s coming to Calgary! On October 29th, 2014 The City of Calgary announced they would begin accepting building permit applications for six-storey wood frame buildings. This is a tremendous step forward and brings exciting new opportunities for mid-rise and mixed use projects to the Calgary market. The best part of this particular announcement is that it is due in large part to the ongoing collaboration between The City of Calgary and CHBA – Calgary Region. It followed a year of meetings, discussion and investigation and would not have been possible without dedication on all sides, including our valued partners at Canadian Wood Council — Sukh Johal and Rory Koska. And a special mention must be made of Bruce Schultz, The City of Calgary. The highlight of this strong partnership was the trip out to Vancouver in September thanks to our co-sponsors Canadian Wood Council and Travelers Insurance. Not only were we pleased to have senior City management team members Kevin Griffiths and Marco Civitarese on the tour but we also welcomed City of Edmonton representatives Roger Clemmons and Eugene Gyorf. They joined 25 CHBA – Calgary Region builder members for the day as we put our boots on the ground and visited six-storey wood structures already underway. We had the pleasure of touring three very different projects at various stages of construction. There was plenty of opportunity to ask questions and our

members took great advantage of their full access to the experts on site. We heard a lot of good advice throughout the day and the central message was consistent; “six-storey isn’t just a four-storey building with two more floors. It’s a whole new process and integration is the key.” As always, CHBA – Calgary Region members are up to the challenge and are ready to take the lead once again in bringing innovative new projects to

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the Calgary market. With the addition of six-storey wood frame buildings to our approval process, our builders will have yet another option to meet the steadily increasing demand for safe, quality housing in a variety of forms throughout the city. Since then, a bill has been introduced in our provincial government to bring it province-wide. More on this is in the message from our CHBA – Alberta President Tally Hutchinson also in this magazine.

CHBA – ALBERTA | A SSOCIATION INFORMATION

By Tally Hutchinson

President, Canadian Home Builders’ Association – Alberta

Good news! Diversity a key to providing choice Something new could soon be coming province-wide in Alberta — six-storey wood-frame residential buildings. A private member’s bill introduced in November would change the Safety Codes Act to raise the allowable height of wood structures. We hope to see Bill 203 approved during the spring session of the legislature. The legislation was introduced by MLA George VanderBurg, who told the Legislature: “Bill 203 will ensure a commitment to safe, sound, and affordable structure development and will contribute to the growth and prosperity of municipalities and communities across Alberta.” Alberta is following a path already taken in British Columbia, which changed its building code in 2009 to allow the construction of six-storey wood-frame buildings. Almost 80 projects have been completed and another 200 are in the works.

Ontario builders got the green light starting January 1 and The City of Calgary has also announced it will grant permits. The 2015 National Building Code also permits the structures. The change in Alberta would allow builders to offer condo units at significant savings over using concrete or steel, with estimates of cost reductions ranging from 10 to 20 per cent. That’s important at a time when rising prices are making the dream of owning a home more difficult, especially for young singles and families who already struggle to save enough for a down payment. The use of wood — a renewable resource — may also appeal to buyers who want to limit their environmental impact. The approval of six-storey wood structures could also help municipalities reach higher density targets. The extra two storeys offer the potential to accommodate 33 per cent more units on the same footprint. Moving ahead on this path might require cities to make zoning allowances for taller structures. In Edmonton, the Blatchford Field redevelopment might be a good place to showcase this innovation while

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keeping the prices of units within reach of young people and families. Of course, one concern that arises with any new innovation is safety standards. The City of Calgary examined what was done in other jurisdictions before giving six-storey wood the green light. Officials were impressed by increases in the strength of wood beams and enhanced fire protection during the construction stage. “Once it’s built, there’s no difference between four-storey and six-storey,” said Marco Civitarese, the city’s chief building inspector, in an interview with the Calgary Herald. “You have the fire protection systems that a concrete building has.” That opinion is backed by research released by the University of the Fraser Valley in B.C. called Fire Outcomes in Residential Fires by General Construction Type. The co-author was Surrey Fire Chief Len Garis. The report studied 11,875 residential building fires in BC between 2008 and 2013. The study concluded fire alarms and automatic sprinklers matter more in safety than construction materials and wood frame construction is just as safe as any other building material. The study highlighted a sometimes overlooked fact about all homes — the increasing rarity of serious injuries or deaths from fire. Six-storey wood still has some hurdles to overcome before Alberta builders can add it to the choices available for home buyers. But we hope the province’s MLAs will take the steps to allow Alberta to soon catch up with other Canadian provinces.

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COVER FEATURE

What comes up... Must, um, well, you know the rest of the saying With the dramatic drop in oil prices late last year continuing into 2015, changes in the local economy — and real estate market — are inevitable. Exactly where the housing market is headed, however, compared to what was originally forecast, is really anyone’s guess. That is why Canadian Home Builders’ Association – Calgary Region brought in two experts to its 2015 Economic Forecast Dinner Meeting. Douglas Porter, Chief Economist for the Bank of Montreal, presented the outlook from a national perspective, while Felicia Mutheardy, CMHC’s Senior Market Analyst for the Calgary Region brought things home to the local level. Their comments have been summarized in the following article.

Well, as they said to Henny Penny, the sky isn’t falling ... but we’d be advised to put on our hard hats in case of some falling debris. That was the message that the Bank of Montreal’s chief economist Douglas Porter told those at our annual Economic Forecast Dinner Meeting in mid January. And with the erratic swings in the volatile oil prices for the last few months, it’s really anyone’s guess as to what will happen next.

“Alberta will grind out a little bit of growth — up to one per cent next year — so it will feel like a recession, but you’ve all seen it before.”

Dougals Porter

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In fact, by the time you read this, with our early deadlines, the whole scenario could have changed dramatically. “Oil will be a drag on the Canadian economy — and housing will slow a bit,” he told the sold-out crowd of 600, “but there will be no crash.” In spite of the negative press and comments such as the Conference Board of Canada’s remark that Alberta was headed for a recession, “I will not say recession,” Porter said. “Alberta will grind out a little bit of growth — up to one per cent next year — so it will feel like a recession, but you’ve all seen it before. Alberta is rarely down for more than a year — and I’d be not at all surprised to see that again.” The continued downward slide of oil prices will have an effect on our province, no doubt about it — and that, in turn, will affect the housing market. With energy sector layoffs and cancellations of some energy-related projects, the job growth will slow and net migration will be down — both important harbingers of what is likely to happen in the housing market as well. But it isn’t catastrophic — and in fact, more moderate starts and prices were forecast even before the oil prices plummeted, says the acting senior market analyst for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Calgary branch, who also took the podium at the dinner meeting last month. “We were expecting lower numbers this year and next anyway,” Felicia Mutheardy said. “An expected increase in mortgage rates and the elevated number of multi-family projects under construction now will mean that sector will not be as strong this year and next.”

COVER FEATURE

Regional outlook: The changing of the guard (y/y % chng)

2014

2015

EMPLOYMENT

RETAIL SALES

(-mnth ma)

2.6 7.9

1.7

1.1 0.9

2.3 2.1

4.7

4.5

-0.5

-0.6

-4

Felicia Mutheardy

December 2014

4.0 3.4 2.3

4 October 2014

0 3

1.6

1.6 0.5

NL -2.0 -4

-3

2015 BMO Capital Markets forecast

Calgary CMA Starts Final Housing Start Totals 2013

2.1 1.9

1.7

SN 0

2.6 2.5

-0.4

-2.1

BC ON MB

5.1

4.8

NB QC

7.6 5.6

BC PE

The CMHC is currently reviewing its latest forecast, which was late last fall before oil prices started slipping. Mutheardy indicated the revised forecast will be released in February, almost certainly lower than original expectations. “The fall forecast was based on oil at $80 to $90,” said Mutheardy. “There are downward risks since then.” Porter agreed that other factors are also influencing housing. “I am surprised at how strong it was last year,” he said of the housing market across Canada, particularly in the three cities where it was most dramatic — Calgary, Toronto and Vancouver. “You’ve had a terrific run for a decade with home price increases, but you won’t see that again as demographics and interest rates change.” Still, “I do not see a crash for the Canadian housing market,” he reiterated. But he called for 2015 sales on the resale market in Calgary to drop even further than the recent Calgary Real Estate Board forecast. CREB has said sales will slip from 25,545 in 2014 to 24,503 this year. “I see an even larger drop than four or five per cent,” he said, noting that it was also a reflection of the anticipated increase in listings on the resale side. Mutheardy noted that the rental market could benefit by that as well, with more inventory on the resale side perhaps going to rental, the large number of condos under construction which, when completed, might

MB ON

(-mnth ma)

2.9

REAL GDP

2014

2015 Calgary CMA Housing Starts

Single-detached

6,402 6,494

Single-family starts

5,651

Multiples

6,182 10,637

Multi-family starts

6,252

Total

12,584 17,131

Research Committee Forecast

11,903

Source: CHBA – Calgary Region Economic

Source: CMHC

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COVER FEATURE

also have units up for rent and the lower net migration taking pressure off demand. As for the big question of oil prices, Porter had this to say: “Oil will be a drag on growth in Canada (but it will still be a decent two per cent — okay but so much lower than the U.S.).” While he would not ‘forecast’ the price of oil, his ‘assumption’ is that it will stay at around $55 for the first half of this year. “With the U.S. in recovery, it will be a better 2016 — but oil will not be back to $100. The new normal will be in the $70 to $80 range — and that might take longer than 2016 to get there.” Other economic good news: “Global strength will hold steady, despite the risks, the U.S. recovery will strengthen as there is less of a fiscal drag on the economy and consumers continue to thrive. The housing recovery is still key. “And that’s good news for Canada — there’s a nice U.S. tailwind, although oil is a headwind.” Make sure those hardhats are fastened.

CMHC’s Calgary CMA Forecast Summary*

2013 2014f 2015f 2016f

Economy Employment Growth (%)

2.9

3.1

2.4

2.0

45,168

35,000

28,500

26,000

29,954

33,500

34,200

34,800

$437,306

$459,000

$472,000

$483,000

Single-detached Starts

6,402

6,494

6,400

6,300

Multi-family Starts

6,182

10,637

8,000

6,500

1.0%

1.4%

1.6%

1.8%

$1,224

$1,322

$1,330

$1,360

Net Migration Resale Market Total Sales Average Price New Home Market

Rental Market (October Survey) Vacancy Rate Average Two-bedroom Rent

*Will be revised in February to reflect current downward risks Source: CMHC, Statistics Canada, CREA

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2014-2015 CORPOR ATE SPONSORS | A SSOCIATION INFORMATION

Thank you! Corporate sponsors support CHBA – Calgary Region programs We’d like to thank our generous Corporate Sponsors for their ongoing support to help us bring value to your membership through the many ways we provide opportunities for you to grow, to learn, to play, and to connect.

Through their sponsorship, we are also able to continue with the valuable work we do representing the residential construction industry at the various levels of government and we are able to bring our message to the public.

The 2014-2015 Corporate Sponsors are:

BROOKFIELD RESIDENTIAL Founded in Calgary in 1979 (as Carma Developers), Brookfield Residential has grown to encompass 11 markets in Canada and the U.S., building masterplanned communities and homes, both single-family and multi-family. It is in six Calgary communities, with two more to come in 2015, including one in Airdrie. The company is well known for its philanthropic endeavours, including being one of the Founding Builders of the SAIT Trades and Technology Complex.

GRANT THORNTON LLP A leading Canadian accounting and business advisory firm, Grant Thornton LLP is Canada-wide with more than 4,000 people employed in the business. It is a member of Grant Thornton International Ltd. The company provides audit, tax and advisory services to private and public organizations.

JERTYNE INTERIOR SERVICES As one of the top insulation and drywall contracting companies in Calgary, Jertyne Interior Services prides itself on innovation. For example, last year it launched its in-house foam insulation department. In business for 18 years, Jertyne has a set of checkpoints, called the Jertyne Advantage, to ensure quality of work. CUSTOMERINSIGHT™ Founded in 2009 CustomerInsight™ is an industry leader in customer experience analytics and performance services. It works with Professional Home Builders Institute measuring customer satisfaction in order to monitor industry performance by surveying all new homeowners registered under the Alberta New Home Warranty Program. It also gives out the New Homebuyers Choice Awards yearly to top builders.

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A SSOCIATION INFORMATION | 2014-2015 CORPOR ATE SPONSORS

PROPHIT MANAGEMENT LTD. DRYWALL COMPANIES – CALGARY One of the leading commercial and residential insulation drywall companies in Calgary and area, it is the holding parent of a group of three companies — Viking Drywall Ltd., Elktone Interiors Ltd. and Elktone Contracting Ltd — all experienced in development, marketing, production, and financial services. It’s a unique blend of old-world integrity and work ethics and newworld efficiency.

SHANE HOMES Building homes in Calgary since 1979, Shane Homes is one of the city’s largest building companies, now in nine communities in and around Calgary, and it includes Creations by Shane and Wenzel Developments. Known for its philanthropy, the family-owned builder has built the Kinsmen Children’s Hospital Home Lotto grand prize houses for years, has sponsored events such as the Peanut Butter Classic Golf Tournament and Willow Park Classic, and is one of the Founding Builders of the SAIT Trades and Technology Complex.

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STERLING HOMES Sterling Homes is under the Sterling Group of Companies, which also includes Pacesetter by Sterling Homes — all under the Qualico Group. The builder has been active in Calgary and its surrounding areas, including Chestermere and Okotoks where it built the Drake Landing Solar Community, which has attracted world-wide attention. The company is known for its safety practices, which have been acknowledged with awards. Qualico is also one of the Founding Builders of the SAIT Trades and Technology Complex and Sterling has been involved in many charitable endeavours.

EVENTS C ALENDAR FEBRUARY 2015*

Builder Breakfast Glenmore Inn

CHBA – Calgary Region / Crestcom Training Session: “Lead your team through change” CHBA – Calgary Region Boardroom

MARCH 2015*

TO MARCH 6: 71st CHBA National Conference, Halifax, Nova Scotia

Builder Breakfast Glenmore Inn

CHBA – Calgary Region / Crestcom Training Session: “How to create consensus” CHBA – Calgary Region Boardroom

TO BE DATED Young Guns Special Event

APRIL 2015*

2014 SAM Awards Gala Dinner & Ceremonies Telus Calgary Convention Centre

Builder Breakfast Glenmore Inn

CHBA – Calgary Region / Crestcom Training Session: “How to be an effective problem solver” CHBA – Calgary Region Boardroom

For more information visit www.chbacalgary.com *Subject to change PROFILE

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INDUSTRY EVENTS | HOME XPO

Homexpo Redesigned show a resounding success

The 48th annual Canadian Home Builders’ Association – Calgary Region Homexpo kicked off without a hitch in January, marking the launch of the new and improved show. Back in-house for the first time in 25 years, rather than hiring a private event manager, the first home renovation and décor show of the year drew crowds numbering in the thousands. In a new location and highlighted by an improved marketing campaign, the hard work of the CHBA – Calgary Region staff could be seen at the turnstiles and on the exhibition floor. Two of the most respected and popular television personalities in Canada and the USA, Scott McGillivray and Sarah Richardson, were a hit on the Canyon Plumbing & Heating Ltd. Stage as they shared a wealth of home renovation and design information with the standing-roomonly crowds. Richardson’s book signing after her presentations was a value-added experience for attendees and her lineup of fans seemed to go on forever. The Destination Renovation RenoMark™ booth was great for those looking for reliable, professional advice and contacts — and it was an opportunity for us to showcase our members and the RenoMark™ program. A new area of the show was the Condo Showcase. Consumers were able to explore a number of multi-family projects in Calgary and area, talk one-on-one with the builders and sales people, and find out all they needed to know to make the right home-buying decision, all in one convenient spot, rather than having to travel the city to find the show homes. A special thank you to all of the CHBA – Calgary Region members who supported the show as exhibitors and the volunteers who helped to make the show possible. We hope to see you again next year.

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Canyon Plumbing and Heating president, Jason Chupik

HOME XPO | INDUSTRY EVENTS

Scott McGillivray

Sarah Richardson

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Donna Moore, CEO of CHBA – Calgary Region cuts the ribbon at the launch of NewHomeListingService.ca

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A SSOCIATION EVENTS

Busy send off to 2014 Numerous events close-out a pretty good final quarter SEPTEMBER SAFETY BARBECUES

OCTOBER DINNER MEETING

One of our most important events, this year’s edition of our Safety Barbecues went to our new neighbourhoods — but had to be rescheduled due to SNOWMAGEDDON in early September. They were still popular as trades and suppliers working in the fields came out to Redstone, Legacy, Mahogany, and Airdrie to see all the latest in safety while enjoying the free barbecue.

Featuring our keynote speaker, an NAHB favourite, Jeff Shore from Shore Consulting, showing everyone How to be a Bold Leader, we had 195 members participate and enjoy a Mediterranean buffet.

Thank You sponsor!

SALES RALLY: BE BOLD AND WIN THE SALE

OCTOBER BUILDER BREAKFAST

This all-day workshop at the Red & White Club followed the dinner meeting with Jeff Shore, Shore Consulting, leading people through a day of being bold. The morning focused on sales teams and the afternoon was specific for sales leaders. Total attendance was 180.

Changing How You’ve Always Done It Darrell Paul, Qualistat Building Performance Consultants, explored new methodologies in consideration of tighter building envelopes and insulation, and why changing the way things have always been done works. One of our most popular sessions with 255 in attendance.

Thank You sponsor!

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Thank You sponsor!

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A SSOCIATION EVENTS

CHBA – CALGARY REGION HOLIDAY MIX N MINGLE

NOVEMBER YOUNG GUN’S COMMITTEE MENTORSHIP LUNCHEON

A fun night of camaraderie and conversations as 275 members and guests enjoyed the spirit of the season.

Thanks to the mentors who shared their wisdom, and committee members who facilitated the lively discussions: Justin Bobier – Crystal Creek Homes – Mentor (Stephane Fortin – DME Marketing – Young Gun)

Thank You sponsor!

Alex Chupik – Canyon Plumbing & Heating – Mentor (Murray Danyluk – Stepper Custom Homes – Young Gun) Glenn Edwards – Carolina Homes – Mentor (Keith Kucharski – Artistic Stairs – Young Gun) Dave Gladney – Morrison Homes – Mentor (Paula Overguard – Shane Homes – Young Gun) Peter Mauro – New Casa Company Ltd. – Mentor (Kevin Kremer – Grant Thornton – Young Gun) Jim Stinson – Astoria Homes – Mentor (Deanne Lord-Hunter – Canyon Plumbing and Heating – Young Gun) Howard Tse – Cedarglen Homes – Mentor (Anna Kaufman – Sterling Homes – Young Gun) Ingo Viehweger – Travelers Insurance Company Canada – Mentor (Paula Strilchuk – Genesis Builders Group – Young Gun) Cal Wenzel – Shane Homes – Mentor (Melanie Gowans – Wall-2-Wall Media – Young Gun)

CHBA – CALGARY REGION CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PARTY Once again, a full house of excited little ones with sugar plums dancing in their heads as Santa made an early stop at Heritage Pointe Golf Club to hand out treasures. Activities and kid-sized snacks made for an enjoyable day.

Thank You sponsors!

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A SSOCIATION INFORMATION | LUNCH WORKSHOPS

Professional Development Lunches CHBA – Calgary partners with Crestcom International on new workshop series A big part of CHBA – Calgary Region’s commitment to our members is to provide opportunities for your companies and yourselves to grow, learn and enhance your businesses, so we are pleased to announce a new series of professional development lunches throughout the spring. With our new partnership with Crestcom International, we will be hosting condensed lunch workshops on the last Friday of each month from Feb. 27 through to May.

Crestcom is one of the world’s most recognized business training programs for management and leadership, so these workshops will help business leaders

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maximize their company’s potential. Course topics include: Leading teams through change; Creating consensus; Effective problem solving; and Time management. Held in the CHBA – Calgary Region boardroom, class sizes are limited to 20 and cost a fraction of what the regular Crestcom program would be, so we expect them to sell out quickly. Look for more on our website www.chbacalgary.com.

CMHC | INDUSTRY NEWS

By Anand Mishra

Senior Research Advisor, CMHC, Prairies & Territories

State of the nation Canadian Housing Observer offers insights into key trends Housing is a major contributor to quality of life. Suitable, affordable, and sustainable housing is a cornerstone of a vibrant community. It is a foundation for healthy living and a building block for success in many other areas — education, the labour market, personal relationships, and community engagement. Housing is also an important contributor to Canada’s economy. In 2013, it accounted for about 17 per cent of total GDP, through housing construction, purchase, resale, renovation and the related spending on goods and services. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Canadian Housing Observer provides an in-depth annual review on the state of housing in Canada. The analysis contained in the Observer, combined with its detailed online data resources, offers unique insights into key housing trends and issues, including those that influence housing finance and housing markets in Canada. Among the highlights in the 2014 Observer: Canada’s population continues to age, contributing to declining household sizes and changes in household composition. The median age of Canadians in 2013 was 40, compared to 26 in 1971. From 1971 to 2011, couples with children were the slowest-growing type of household in Canada. One-person households

were the fastest growing household type, and became almost as numerous as couples with children. Seniors, immigrants and Aboriginal people continue to be important influences on housing demand. Household growth between 2006 and 2011 was strongest among the 60-64 age group, the leading edge of the baby boom. The rise in the national homeownership rate — from 68.4 per cent in 2006 to 69.0 per cent in 2011 — reflected population aging, increases in the probability of homeownership under age 40 and over age 69, historically low mortgage rates, and the appeal of condominium tenure. Although the majority of immigrants arriving between 2006 and 2011 continued to settle in Canada’s largest metropolitan areas increasing percentages are settling in

smaller cities and communities. In addition to the feature article on recent trends in housing conditions and core housing need, the Observer chapters provide a detailed examination of demographic influences on housing demand, housing finance, housing markets, sustainable housing, as well as key developments in newcomers’ housing. The Observer also enables readers to access a wide array of online statistical information on housing conditions from national, regional and local perspectives. The online publication and data are available at www.cmhc.ca/ observer.

The analysis contained in the Observer offers unique insights into key housing trends and issues, including those that influence housing finance and housing markets in Canada.

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A SSOCIATION INFORMATION | NE W AND C ANCELLED MEMBERS NEW MEMBERS

n SEPTEMBER 2014

n AUGUST 2014

Calgary Cabinets Depot Supplier/Manufacturer/Trade Rep: David Li

exp Services Inc. Service/Professional Rep: Sathya Ramachandran

Sable Developments Inc. Developer Rep: Lara Grimm

Rocky View Capital Corp. Developer Rep: Robert McKercher

TANAS Concrete Industries Ltd. Supplier/Manufacturer/Trade Rep: Peter Tanasiychuk

Cameron Stephens Mortgage Capital Inc. Service/Professional Rep: Alex Tye Peak One Homes Ltd. Builder Rep: Manish Bindal Rush Roofing & Contracting Corp. Supplier/Manufacturer/Trade Rep: Rob Maker n OCTOBER 2014 Addison Fleet Service/Professional Rep: Susan Elgert BottomLine Marketing Service/Professional Rep: Lisa Genovese Grosvenor Americas Developer Rep: Meagen LaFave K. Hickerson Contracting Ltd. Builder Rep: Kelvin Hickerson n NOVEMBER 2014 Bedrock Natural Stone Supplier/Manufacturer/ Trade Rep: Bruce Antoniuk Castellano Custom Homes Inc. Builder Rep: Sam Iaquinta New Home Listing Service Developer Service/Professional Rep: Milo Anderson Royal Building Solutions Supplier/Manufacturer/Trade Rep: Jackie Rainforth Total Concept Wiring Ltd. Supplier/Manufacturer/Trade Rep: Connie Drake Trilink Builders Ltd. Renovator Rep: Paul Nagel

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CIT Y OF C ALGARY | INDUSTRY NEWS

By Vanessa Gash

Safety Codes Officer – Residential Building Regulations Division Development and Building Approvals, The City of Calgary

Going high tech Tablets help streamline the inspection process The strength of technology is in its adaptation and application to everyday processes, often with the added benefits of increasing efficiency and decreasing costs. As part of its eServices initiative, The City of Calgary is continually embracing new technologies across departments. In the Planning and Development department, Residential ePermit is the largest online initiative to date, allowing customers to apply, upload and track the progress of their permit application online. The City started this project by adding its largest volume permit application to the web - the Single Construction Permit (SCP), and worked closely with members of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association – Calgary Region to help develop and test the new online tool. In its first year, over 3,500 SCPs have been submitted online, helping to reduce time and resources for industry and The City. In December of 2013 The City began conducting field inspections with tablets, rather than the traditional laptop system. A small group of inspectors tested the tablets in the field, and quickly determined that there were significant advantages over the traditional system. This was coupled with a positive response from industry, enabling tablets to be adopted for all inspections — residential and commercial — less than a year later. The advantages of this new system are numerous and significant. Prior to 2014, field inspectors’ vehicles were equipped with a laptop and printer.

After completing their review, inspectors input the information into the inspection database via laptop; printed a report; and left it at each job site. This method was effective, but limited by access to the mobile internet; City files and scanned documents were cumbersome and impractical to retrieve. As well, contractors were required to have the hard copy of approved drawings onsite for inspector comparison. When these documents were unavailable, the inspector could not complete the inspection and often required a re-inspection fee to return when documents were available. Inspectors now visit sites with all the information they need to complete an inspection. The tablets have a user friendly interface, Internet access, and their compact size contributes to greater efficiency. The field inspector now has access to electronic permit

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documents from The City’s database; they can verify any applications for revision, or pull up specific product and supplier data if required. Digital drawings allow zooming and mark-up capabilities for clearer correspondence with builders. Inspection reports are then emailed directly to the site supervisor. This reduces paper and enables swift communication between builder and inspector. Technology is constantly evolving, and our processes with it. Incorporating this technology into the inspection and Residential ePermit processes has increased efficiency, convenience, customer satisfaction and decreased our environmental footprint. So what’s next? Residential ePermit is now working towards bringing Development Permits online for new home construction projects within developed communities. Onward.

CANCELLED MEMBERS n AUGUST 2014 ITW Construction Products JMB Waste Management Renovation Design Centre Inc. Sunridge Nissan Thermal Creek Ltd.

n SEPTEMBER 2014 Artistique Homes Ltd. Detailed Home Remodeling GEEP Alberta Inc. Sovereign Custom Homes Ltd.

Starline Windows Ltd. Wild Oak Custom Homes

n OCTOBER 2014 Carpenter Homes Décor Construction Ltd. Ekko Cabinetry Ltd. MagNet Media Inc. Okotoks Rentals Ltd. Pferdkraft Inc. Unicrete Products Ltd. Willis

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PHBI | INDUSTRY NEWS

By Joe Connelly

PHBI Executive Director

Now is the time! If you were ever going to “UP” your education — 2015 is the year! The Residential Construction Site Manager (RCSM) Program is the first Alberta Occupational Certification specifically designed for the residential construction industry. Like PHBI itself, the RCSM Program was created by the industry, for the industry. It includes online, classroom and field training and, ultimately, leads to government certification. Residential construction is becoming increasingly sophisticated and the materials and their application somewhat complex. The RCSM Program utilizes the latest materials and techniques to ensure graduates return to the work site with a higher level of site management competencies including both technical and soft skills. Our facilitators are subject matter experts who are active in the industry and work diligently to ensure they are at the forefront of their respective area of expertise. The RCSM Certification Program will enhance your knowledge and requisite skills for managing residential housing construction. We give you practical training

which you can apply immediately back on the job site. This year, course offerings are better than ever thanks to a significant financial contribution by the federal government (and their Economic Action Plan) and, of course, the Government of Alberta. The RCSM Certification Program was created with the input of over 250 industry and subject-matter experts. It incorporates the latest construction techniques, 3D house modeling and dynamic teaching methods. It incorporates onsite training for managers in a safe coaching environment and the provincial designation adds a new level of professionalism to the industry and allows builders to distinguish themselves from their peers. If you are interested in education in the residential construction industry and seek to distinguish yourself from your peers now is the time to acquire your RCSM designation. It is no secret that we need more skilled workers here in Alberta. The Canada Alberta Job

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“These grants are invaluable for an industry that needs to both attract and retain skilled workers” Jim Rivait, C.E.O. CHBA - Alberta

Grant Program provides employers with funds to send an existing or new employee to training that leads directly to available jobs. The government will provide twothirds of the eligible training costs to a maximum of $10,000 per individual to a total of $300,000 per company per year. Under this new program, employers will be able to identify the training that is best suited to meet their needs. To qualify, training must be at least 25 hours in length, delivered by a third party and completed within 52 weeks. PHBI would be pleased to be one of your third party educational partners. Jim Rivait and his team at CHBA – Alberta have been doing a great job of assembling all the information for our industry. To take advantage of this opportunity in 2015, more information can be found at chbaalberta.ca/jobgrants. General information about the program can also be found at AlbertaCanada.com/jobgrant. When you can acquire quality education at deeply discounted rates, then you know — this is your time to UP your education.

INDUSTRY NEWS | WORKERS’ COMPENSATION BOARD

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PROFILE

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