2012 News Index

2012 CHBA National SAM Award Finalists Announced
OTTAWA – The Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) is pleased to announce the finalists for the 2012 CHBA National SAM Awards, presented by Schlage and Trane.

Skills/Compétences Canada, Lowe’s Renew Toolbox for Education Grant Program
Annual program helps high school students and educators in Ontario and Alberta improve curriculum, facilities and surrounding communities.

New Home Sales Fall Victim to New Lending Restrictions
GTA new home sales decline for the third consecutive month.

Canadian Resale Housing Activity Stable in October
National home sales activity and average price were little changed in October 2012.

Got a Great Home Energy Efficiency Solution?
Submissions for 2013 Scotiabank EcoLiving Awards in Business Leadership, Innovation and Student Leadership now open through February 13, 2012.

Ontario College of Trades a Barrier to Jobs
The direction being taken by the Ontario College of Trades will lead to an over-regulation of hundreds of thousands of skilled trades and create a barrier to employment.

Growing Pains: CBC Radio Series on Development in Sudbury
Of interest to builders across the country, this exceptional four-part CBC radio series can be accessed online.

New Lending Restrictions Impact Home Sales
GTA sales of new homes and condominiums remained low in September.

Weyerhaeuser Mill Celebrates 10 Years in Kenora
To celebrate its 10th anniversary, the mill hosted a public open house, including tours of the facility, on Sunday, October 21, 2012. All members of the local community were welcome to attend.

JELD-WEN Donates to the David Suzuki Foundation

Waterloo Region HBA Named OHBA’s 2012 Local Association of the Year
The award is presented to the local home builders’ association that has made significant contributions to the residential construction industry and raised awareness of the association within their community.

Canadian Home Sales Down In August
CREA has lowered its forecast for Canadian home sales this year and next.

GTA: New Home Sales Slip in August
The 1,242 homes sold in August 2012 add up to the lowest monthly sales since 2009 and the lowest August on record.

Ontario Home Builders’ Association Announces Leith Moore as Incoming President
Leith Moore will be elected President of OHBA for 2012 - 2013 at the organization’s Annual Meeting of Members on September 24, 2012 in Collingwood.

GTA Low-Rise Market Suffers From Low Supply
New home buyers in the GTA purchased 2,266 new homes and condominiums this July, the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) reported.

CMHC Reports Key Factors and Their Effects on Housing Starts
In their Third Quarter 2012 Housing Market Report, CMHC reported nine key factors affecting housing starts

MLS HPI Provides Better Gauge of Canadian Home Price Trends

Sudbury & District HBA Launch Residential Awards of Excellence
Thirteen awards will be presented on October 19th

CHBA – Alberta to Celebrate 50th Anniversary at Annual Conference
Conference will be held September 20 - 23 at The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge

CREA Updates Resale Housing Forecast
National resale housing activity is now forecast to reach 475,800 units in 2012, up 3.8 per cent from 2011. Sales for 2013 are now forecast to decline by 1.1 per cent to 470,200 units.

CREA and NAR Enter into Exclusive Partnership Agreement
The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) has entered into an exclusive partnership agreement with the National Association of REALTORS (NAR).

Waterloo Region Home Builders’ Association Announces 39th President
Brian Campbell has been an attending member of WRHBA since 1988.

Stability is the Word for the GTA's Housing Market
The 4,819 new homes sold in the GTA in April represent moderate and positive growth, despite dipping slightly from the record-breaking sales witnessed in 2011.

Home Price Trends Continue To Diverge In April
Moderation in overall price gains in recent months masks diverging trends among the major Canadian markets.

Hamilton-Halton Home Builders’ Association Supports Affordable Housing at Halton Region Council

Inaugural Stephen Dupuis Community Building Award
The Mikey Network, a charity founded by friends and colleagues of the late Michael Salem of the Heron Group of Companies and Heathwood Homes, was honoured with the inaugural Stephen Dupuis Community Building Award at the 32nd annual BILD Awards.

Excellence in Education Award for Promotion of Sustainable Practices
CMHC’s Ontario Regional Business Centre is accepting nominations for its 2012 Excellence in Education Award for Promotion of Sustainable Practices by Ontario educators.

2012 CARE Awards “Call For Entry” Announced
The entry deadline for the 2012 CARE Awards is Monday, June 11, 4:00 pm, when all entries must be received at the CHBA-Victoria office.

IHSA launches Certificate of Recognition Program (COR)
As a nationally recognized health and safety certification program, COR provides employers with an effective health and safety management system to eliminate incidents, injuries and illnesses.

Manitoba to See Steady Gains in Construction Employment
Construction will continue to be a leading industry in Manitoba over the next decade with the new residential home building and electrical utility sectors reaching record high employment levels.

Signs of Stability in the GTA New Housing Market
The GTA new housing market is easing back into stability in early 2012.

Hammer Heads are Key to Resolving Skilled Labour Shortage
Addressing the shortage of skilled labour we are facing will require a varied and multi-faceted approach. Toronto’s Hammer Heads program is a fundamental piece of that effort.

Home Prices Up In February But Gains Slowing
Year-over-year comparisons continued shrinking, providing further evidence that Canadian home price growth may be topping out.  

REW.ca Real Estate Survey Shows Consumers Split on Buying a Home This Spring 
VANCOUVER –The REW.ca Real Estate Consumer Confidence Survey reveals a close split on whether this spring is a good time to buy in Vancouver Lower Mainland.

First Occupational Designation in the Residential Construction Industry in Canada
In the fall of 2011, the Government of Alberta designated RCSM as an occupation under the Apprenticeship and Industry Training Act.

National Kitchen & Bath Association Market Report
When it comes to kitchen and bath remodels, optimism is high and undeterred for the start of 2012.

Remembering Marg Forbes: A Life of Courage, Ambition and Integrity
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Ms. Margaret Forbes, our colleague, our teacher and the Chief Financial Officer of the Saskatoon & Region Home Builders’ Association and the Canadian Home Builders’ Association – Saskatchewan and all our affiliates.

Vancouver Real Estate Consumer Survey Released
REW.ca Real Estate Consumer Q4 2011 Survey shows importance of liveability and home size compromises in Vancouver Lower Mainland communities.

BTY Group Releases Market Intelligence Report for 2012
Report forecasts steady workloads with low escalation

2011 - Year of the Condo as GTA Market Shifts
More than 28,000 new condominium units were sold in the Greater Toronto Area in 2011, setting a new record for the market’s high-rise sector.

Safety First
Canadian Home Builders’ Association — Lethbridge Region (CHBA-LR) has worked with Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) to understand the challenges to safety in their region.

Public Consultation on Changes to LEED Canada for Homes Energy Requirements
The Canada Green Building Council is responding by seeking feedback on a proposed change aimed at ensuring the rating system continues to advance green home construction across the country.

International Code Council, Canadian Building Officials Develop Training Courses
The underlying goal to develop and provide standardized training and certification across Canada has got a solid start with seven training courses and 10 certification exams available to all Canadian building officials through their provincial Chapters.

Migrating Landscapes Comes to Toronto
The Canadian Entry to the 2012 Venice Biennale in Architecture opens Lambert Galleria in Brookfield Place from February 6 to February 24, 2012. BILD is a proud strategic partner of the event.

EIFS Council Holds Largest Certification Event in North America
Following similar events across Canada, more than 180 EIFS industry personnel participated in recent Toronto EIFS Quality Assurance Program review and exam sessions.

CFIB Nation-wide Comparison of Workers’ Compensation Boards
Workers’ compensation boards under the microscope: first-ever comparative study reveals inconsistencies, failures and successes

Canadian Ambassador Joins Ontario Builders on Humanitarian Build in the Dominican Republic
Thanks to almost 200 Ontario home builders and their families, six needy families in the Dominican Republic have moved into their solid, safe and clean modest new homes.

GTA Realtors Report Mid-Month Resale Housing Market Figures
Greater Toronto Realtors reported a six per cent increase in 2012, compared to the first 14 days of January 2011.

Canadian Home Sales Edge Higher in December
National resale housing activity posted an increase from November to December 2011.

GTA High-rise Market Soars to New Heights
The Greater Toronto Area new homes market in the GTA broke two records in November, raising the bar for both high-rise sales and total new home sales.

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