Special Events - Canadian Home Builders` Association

A SSOCIATION INFORMATION | 2015-2016 CORPOR ATE SPONSORS
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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
Sophie Gowsell | Communications Assistant
sophie@chbacalgary.com
Jennifer Fong | Event Co-ordinator
jennifer@chbacalgary.com
Deb Mansfield | Executive Assistant
deb@chbacalgary.com
Laurina Milne | Show Manager, Homexpo
laurina@chbacalgary.com
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FEBRUARY 2016 • VOLUME 23 • ISSUE 17
A SSOCIATION INFORMATION
4 2015-2016 Corporate Sponsors
7 Message from the President, CHBA – Calgary Region
9 Message from the CEO, CHBA – Calgary Region
10 Hidden costs of infill
28 New and cancelled members
INDUSTRY NEWS
11 Albertitude needed
19 Windows and doors
21 Challenging times
24 First timers
E VENTS
12 Homexpo 2016
COVER FE ATURE
15 Adjusting to the
new economic reality
16 The resale story
17 Looking for some positives
© 2016 Source Media Group Corp. Material cannot
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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.
Cover photography by Don Molyneaux
A SSOCIATION E VENTS
14 It’s a wrap
30 Event Calendar 2015-2016
FE ATURE
27Creating
critical
conversations
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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
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PRESIDENT ’S MESSAGE | A SSOCIATION INFORMATION
By Wendy Jabusch
President, Canadian Home Buiders’ Association – Calgary Region
Offsite Levy Bylaw
and other changes
CHBA – Calgary Region working hard to keep new housing affordable
The 2016 New Years’ baby has barely started to crawl and
already we are seeing some big changes coming our way.
As you will note in the message from our
CEO, Donna Moore, we are onto the next
chapter in the possible amalgamation of
our Association with Urban Development
Institute – Calgary. I encourage everyone
to take part in this segment of the process
that will culminate in a vote of all members
of both organizations.
Another major change this year is
the new 2016 Offsite Levy Bylaw, which
received unanimous approval from city
council in January. Th is is an important
new bylaw that took effect February 1. It
sets levy rates for established communities
for the first time as well as increasing
the costs for developers in greenfield
development for water distribution,
collection, drainage, and transportation
over the next five years.
Previously, greenfield developers paid for
half of the costs for water and waste water,
with residents paying the rest through
their water bills. Infi ll developers were
not charged, and nothing was set aside
for upgrading or building new treatment
plants.
To simplify a very complex bylaw,
let me say that the process to come up
with a solution was fair, transparent
and collaborative, involving the city’s
Build Calgary team, our Association
representatives, UDI – Calgary
representatives, and other industry
spokespersons. We were active participants
in the process that took over a year to
put together, and we would like to thank
our many volunteers who brought their
expertise to the table.
We believe the end result will reflect that
the development industry now pays 100
per cent of proportional costs associated
with growth infrastructure, however, the
new levies represent a significant increase
over current payments for greenfield
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area developers, and the new levy adds
considerable cost to redevelopment
projects of all kinds.
While the industry is supportive of the
need for the city to recoup its investment in
growth-related infrastructure regardless of
where it occurs, we must also be cognizant
of the impact this may have on overall
affordability in the marketplace, especially
given the economic climate we find
ourselves in today.
Th is is particularly relevant in
established areas where projects already
suffer from increased uncertainty when
it comes to approvals, timing and on-site
infrastructure needs.
A SSOCIATION INFORMATION | PRESIDENT ’S MESSAGE
We have asked for a work plan to
be implemented that would see city
administration work with the industry over
the coming year to ensure the impacts of
the new levy are not negatively affecting
the ability of people to build and/or buy in
the future. It will also focus on reducing red
tape and other process improvements that
will help to eliminate some of the barriers
our builders currently encounter when
bringing their new product to the market.
The expectation is that administration will
report to council every six months with an
update on the progress of this work.
The phasing in of the new bylaw allows
for a longer period over which to pay the
levies for greenfield developers.
In 2015 greenfield developers paid
$286,700 to $342,500 per hectare. The new
rates just approved for new communities
are now $422,000 to $465,000 per hectare.
This is total levy charge, which includes
not only water, but transportation and
The phasing in of the new bylaw allows
for a longer period over which to pay the
levies for greenfield developers.
community services charges as well.
In the established areas, the formula
is based on approximately how many
occupants are expected to live in the unit
and the overall density of the project. This
varies from just over $6,000 for a singlefamily home to around $2,600 for each
one-bedroom apartment unit. Established
areas will transition to this new levy over
two years.
Please refer to the Information Bulletin
we sent out on January 15 for further
details.
The overall impact could mean an
increase in costs of about one per cent on
a $650,000 average single-family home
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by 2018, or a much larger percentage on a
smaller single-family house, townhouse or
apartment unit.
Keeping housing affordable is a top
priority of CHBAs all across Canada,
and the layering of costs by all levels of
government can compromise the ability of
first-time homebuyers in particular.
If you haven’t done so already, check
CHBA’s latest website dedicated to this
topic www.affordability.ca.
I will be heading to Ottawa in the near
future to take part in CHBA’s annual Day
on the Hill. It will be a chance to spread our
message to the new federal government.
Affordability is everyone’s issue.
CEO’S MESSAGE | A SSOCIATION INFORMATION
By Donna Moore
CEO, Canadian Home Buiders’ Association – Calgary Region
Membership engagement
The next step in the CHBA/UDI merger process
As we head into 2016 our hard work over the past two
years to examine the possibility of an amalgamation
between our Association and Urban Development Institute
– Calgary is moving forward.
I’m pleased to report that late last year
both our board and UDI – Calgary board
unanimously voted to move forward to the
next phase in the proposed amalgamation of
both our organizations.
This next phase, called Membership
Engagement, is tasked with providing more
details of the amalgamation to members of
both our Association and UDI – Calgary. We
are now in the midst of this phase, which
includes a town hall meeting, a webinar
and one-on-one discussions to address
and answer any concerns or questions as
we walk through the plan and discuss the
benefits of the amalgamation, as well as the
operational and organizational details.
I encourage everyone to be involved at
this stage. It’s your chance to ask questions
and be assured that you are informed
about the changes that will happen if the
amalgamation goes ahead — and whether it
does or not is up to you.
After we have met with members and
shared the plan, we will be asking our
members for the vote to proceed with the
amalgamation. We have organized an
electronic voting process that will take
place for a certain period to allow all of our
members to cast their votes.
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank
everyone from the two organizations
as well as MNP for their continued and
ongoing support as we work through this
detailed exercise. We have put in many
hours to ensure the process is thoroughly
examined and in the best interests of both
organizations.
Thank-you to our members for your
patience and support.
We look forward to speaking with you in
the upcoming weeks and sharing the details
of the next step in this process.
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As for other news, we are now just a
couple of months away from our biggest,
most exciting event of the year — our
annual SAM Awards Gala. We have had
incredible support from our members,
coming up with wonderful submissions in
all categories and we can’t wait to celebrate
the best-of-the-best.
The Gala takes place April 16 and tickets
are going fast. Be sure to order yours on our
website www.chbacalgary.com.
And you’ll want to attend another
great event this year. Our national CHBA
conference — the 73rd annual — will be
held close to home this year in beautiful
Kelowna, B.C. May 4 to 6. Register at
www.chba.ca.
Hope to see you there!
CHBA – C ALGARY REGION | A SSOCIATION INFORMATION
By Amie Blanchette
Director, Government Affairs, CHBA – Calgary Region
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CHBA – ALBERTA | INDUSTRY NEWS
By Tally Hutchinson
President, Canadian Home Builders’ Association – Alberta
Albertitude needed
To meet unique and challenging year ahead
A multitude of issues is making for a unique and challenging
environment for the residential construction industry and
the province as a whole.
On the positive side for Albertans with
a mortgage or considering buying a home,
the Bank of Canada has kept interest rates
at near-record lows for months. Although
major financial institutions have inched
mortgage rates up, they are still at near
record lows. That looks like a steal of a
deal compared to times when
rates topped 15 per cent. Any
increases in the near term seem
even more remote with the
Bank of Canada’s announcement
on December 8 that it is open to the
possibility of lowering interest rates even
more to stimulate the economy.
As well, the advantages of new homes
have never been clearer. Each generation
of homes is more energy efficient, thanks
to building codes that continually push up
standards. Besides lowering greenhouse
gas emissions and fighting climate change,
the energy efficiency of new homes will pay
off for years to come through lower bills for
natural gas and electricity.
Conversely, carbon taxes coming to
Alberta starting in 2017 will raise energy
costs for all energy consumers — and that
includes higher costs for home heating, hot
water and electricity. This will put strain
on already stretched household budgets at
a time when many Albertans are worried
about whether their job will be there in six
months’ time as oil prices appear to be a
long way from recovery.
In December, the federal government
announced changes to mortgage rules
that are aimed at slowing price increases
in Toronto and Vancouver by requiring
higher down payments on mortgages over
$500,000. This change will have negative
impacts in Alberta, which does not need
a “cool down” at this time. Using nationwide tools to solve regional issues is not
productive.
Yet, even with all the negative economic
news and sagging energy prices, Alberta
continues to grow. Albertans are starting, or
expanding, their families and there is still
interprovincial and international migration
taking place. This is both a benefit and a
challenge in a tough economy, as pressures
to spend on infrastructure will remain in
place.
We are in a very dynamic environment
when it comes to housing right now. The
actions of government and impact of low
energy prices are changing things
in a way that would have been very
difficult to foresee even a year
ago. All of this is taking place
alongside reviews of major
legislation that will impact
the residential construction industry
and indeed every Albertan. The Municipal
Government Act review will continue to be
a major focus for CHBA – Alberta over the
coming year as legislation is drafted and
debated. Your Association has been, and
will be, front and centre in a discussion that
has consequences in the billions of dollars.
Alberta needs to get this Act right, and we
will play our part in that process.
We are in a very dynamic environment when
it comes to housing right now. The actions of
government and impact of low energy prices are
changing things in a way that would have been
very difficult to foresee even a year ago.
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EVENTS | Homexpo 2016
Renovation, design and décor
tips straight from the experts
January kicked-off with another successful Canadian
Home Builders’ Association – Calgary Region
Homexpo. For the 49th year, Homexpo made a
mark on Calgary as the first home show of 2016.
The three-day show had tens of thousands
of people enter the BMO Centre, Stampede
Park, looking for inspiration, new innovation
and expert opinions — and that is exactly
what they received. Attendees had more
than 250 exhibits to choose from, several
different seminars to attend and countless
opportunities to talk to the experts.
Two of Canada’s most respected and
popular designers, Sarah Richardson and
Tommy Smythe, hosts of Sarah’s House series
on HGTV, were a hit on the Canyon Plumbing
& Heating Ltd. Stage as they shared a wealth
of home renovation and design information
with the standing-room-only crowds. Three
lucky people had the opportunity to get oneon-one consultations with Sarah and Tommy
before a show and received priceless advice
that many can only dream of. Richardson also
spent time with fans after her shows signing
her newest book, At Home: Sarah Style.
This year three entry-level seminars were
offered to show attendees. For those in the
market for a new home, whether upgrading
to a larger space or buying for the first-time,
Homexpo offered Condominium Living and
the Law and New Home Buying 101. These
seminars informed listeners of what to expect
and be aware of when purchasing a new home
or condominium.
For those who weren’t in the market for
a new home in 2016, but had lofty goals for
big, or small, home renovations, Homexpo
offered Renovation 101 and Get It In Writing!
These education seminars gave attendees
the ins and outs of home renovation and
the importance of having a signed contract
and hiring a reputable contractor.
The education and innovative
opportunities at this year’s Homexpo
went beyond expectations and have people
looking forward to Homexpo 2017.
A special thank you to all of the
CHBA – Calgary Region members who
supported the show as exhibitors and/or
sponsors, and the volunteers who helped
make the show possible. We look forward
to seeing you all again next year.
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| EVENTS
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A SSOCIATION EVENTS | It’s a wrap
CHBA – Calgary events close out 2015
RENOVATION AND INFILL TOUR
OCTOBERFEST
At the beginning of October CHBA – Calgary
Region members and RenoMark™ companies
participated in the hugely successful Tour of
infills and renovations across the city and
the surrounding area. Approximately 150
members of the public visited each site.
Members and their guests were invited to
Minhas Brewery for a networking event put
on by our own Young Guns committee. All
ages showed up to watch a Calgary Flames
game on their big-screen TV, to enjoy a brew
tour and to network with industry peers in a
relaxed, speaker-free environment.
OCTOBER DINNER MEETING
Marc Henry, principal at ThinkHQ, and Dan
Evans, partner at Evans Hunt, presented
“Keeping up with the Pace of Change,”
updating members on our successful Smarter
Growth Initiative in partnership with UDI –
Calgary. Attendees learned about the state of
the market in Calgary and how city policy is
impacting growth.
JEFF FIELDING LUNCHEON
In November, Jeff Fielding, city manager,
discussed with members the main city
initiatives that impact our industry and
where we are at today.
Thanks to sponsor
Thanks to sponsors
NOVEMBER BUILDER BREAKFAST
OCTOBER BUILDER BREAKFAST
The October Builder Breakfast featured
keynote speaker, Andrej Simjanov, director
of Mission Green Buildings. Attendees
were educated on the NECB 2011, the new
mandatory energy code.
The November Builder Breakfast featured
Dean Taylor and Richard Burk from The City
of Calgary, informing members about the
newly-enhanced Residential ePermit System
and important information on temporary
heat requirements.
Thanks to sponsor
Thanks to sponsor
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UDI – CALGARY AND CHBA
– CALGARY REGION JOINT
CHRISTMAS PARTY
This year, our members celebrated the holiday
season with real impact. CHBA – Calgary
Region and UDI – Calgary partnered to
present a stunning networking celebration,
supporting Silvera for Seniors. Almost 600
industry leaders, members and special
guests came together to celebrate the
holiday season.
Thanks to the many sponsors from both
our Association and UDI – Calgary.
CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PARTY
In December, members and their families
joined together at the winter wonderland
of Symons Valley Ranch for a day of crafts,
goodies and, of course, a visit from the man
in red himself, Santa.
Thank-you to the
multiple sponsors
| COVER FEATURE
Adjusting to the new
economic reality
Richard Cho, Principal, CMHC Calgary
market analysis, tells it like it is
The message wasn’t surprising, but the fact it was from
the principal of market analysis for Canada Mortgage
and Housing Corporation’s Calgary region hit home. In
fact, it hit the home building industry hard.
“We do not see an economic push to turn
things around in the housing market,”
Richard Cho told the room full of more
than 550 members of the Canadian Home
Builders’ Association – Calgary Region,
Urban Development Institute – Calgary
and invited guests, including several area
councillors, at the January Economic
Forecast Dinner Meeting.
Indeed, with oil prices continuing
to spiral down, the Canadian dollar
falling, the layoffs and cancellations of
projects in the oil and gas sector, rising
unemployment, and the shaky consumer
confidence, Cho said the economic signs all
point to “a weak 2016, with 2017 stronger
as oil prices stabilize.”
That, in turn, has brought housing
sales to lower levels in 2015 — and that is
expected to continue this year as well, he
said. Buying a home is not top of mind and
migration has slowed.
“This year expect to hear more words
like, layoffs, downsizing and reorganization” — words that do not promote
spontaneous purchases, especially on big
ticket items like a new home.
The single-family segment of the market
can respond more quickly to a slower
economy — and that happened in 2015,
Cho said. “Sales were below historical
levels, but of those completed absorption
was 90 per cent.”
Richard Cho joined CMHC in 2008 as a Market Analyst and was promoted to
Principal of Market Analysis for Calgary in 2009. Richard is the Corporation’s
spokesperson for Calgary, providing commentary on various economic and housing
related issues. Richard holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts degree in
Economics from the University of Calgary.
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COVER FEATURE | The market segment that took the hardest hit in
2015 was the luxury market, while lower-priced homes
remained stable. He is forecasting 4,000 single-family
starts this year and 4,100 in 2017. That compares to
4,138 in 2015, far below the 6,494 in 2014.
The multi-family sector fared better last year
with 8,895 starts, but the concern is with the
large number of units now under construction as
this segment of the market is slower to respond
to economic changes. Units under construction
have been rising and are now close to a record high.
“Multi-family absorption rate prior to 2015 was close
to 95, almost 100 per cent. In the last few months
the absorption rate has lowered to 80 per cent.”
Of the approximately 9,000 units under construction
now, 2,000 are rental units.
The rising inventory in this sector will also be
impacted by more units in the resale inventory and a
rising vacancy rate on the rental market side. “This will put pressure on
the market as the units under construction come on stream.”
But that may change, he said. “We could still see a strong start
to the multi-family sector if some of the close to 4,000 permits
approved by the city turn into starts.”
Overall, the 8,895 multi-family starts in
2015 will go down to 6,000 this year and
6,100 in 2017.
The resale story
Sales and prices start reflecting economy
BY MID-2015, SALES activity and prices
of homes across the various resale markets
started to reflect the prolonged economic
slump due to the persistently low oil prices,
Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB) reported
in its housing market forecast mid-January.
And benchmark prices, which had remained
resilient, started to show strain as the year
progressed.
“As we move into the second year of this
environment, we expect to see additional
housing supply pressure and further price
declines,” Ann-Marie Lurie, CREB’s chief
economist, said in a news release. “Weakness
in the energy sector is overshadowing all
aspects of our economy and with more people
looking for work and fewer opportunities, we
could see some families making adjustments
to their housing situation.”
Prices in 2015 had been fairly resilient
in the first six months, with the average
benchmark price of all sales at $454,267 by
year end, 1.11 per cent above the previous
year. (The annual average benchmark price,
which CREB deems a better indicator of the
market, compares changes in price for the
same type of home.) By the end of this year,
it’s expected the benchmark average will
drop a further 3.44 per cent for all resales to
$438,652.
On the detached side, the average
benchmark price was $514,050, 1.35 per
cent above 2014 levels. That should drop to
$497,600 this year, down 3.2 per cent.
The luxury high-end market was the
weakest, and that is expected to continue.
“In the case of homes priced over $1 million,
months of supply hit levels not seen since
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F E B R U A R Y 2 0 16
2008 — thus creating downward pressure
on prices,” CREB reported.
For attached homes, the inventory
continued to rise through 2015, with the
average benchmark still 1.84 per cent
above 2014 by year’s end. But as prices slid
throughout last year and into 2016, CREB
forecasts the benchmark to decline by 3.5
per cent by year end to $342,101.
The apartment side is the weakest,
especially with the near-record levels of
multi-family homes now under construction
and coming on market. Benchmark average
declined by 0.82 per cent in 2015 and they
are expected to drop further by 4.2 per cent
to $279,936 this year.
Overall, CREB had 18,830 total sales last
year, down 26.28 per cent, and is expecting
18, 416 this year.
| COVER FEATURE
Looking for some positives
RBC economist ‘keeps it real’
for CHBA – Calgary members
Like the oil and gas sector, the residential
construction industry could use some
positive news in this climate where
headlines continue to shout bust and
bubble bursting — but Paul Ferley
wasn’t about to give it to the 550 people
who came to our Economic Forecast
Dinner Meeting in early January.
In fact, the assistant chief economist
for RBC said he was using his eraser the
morning before his speech to change
numbers as the economic news kept coming
in — and it was almost entirely negative.
“Alberta is facing challenging times,
no question,” Ferley said. “It’s a very fluid
situation, and we’re still revising our
outlook, particularly looking at Alberta.”
The environment was not just about
supply and demand, he said, but “sentiment
plays a very big role — and it’s clearly very
negative.”
Even so, he emphasized that Canada was
not in a housing bubble and it was too early
to call it a recession.
“Our forecast assumes that a
strengthening U.S. economy and weakening
Canadian dollar, which have intensified in
the face of lower oil prices, will eventually
result in sustained export growth.”
As for Alberta, its reliance on the energy
sector puts it in the weakest position, with
the cutbacks in energy investment the
strongest factor to affect the economy and
the housing industry.
“If oil prices find a floor, we could return
Paul Ferley
to positive growth — two- to two-and-ahalf per cent — by 2017.”
And that, in turn, will help to see
a recovery in housing sales. “We had
assumed we’d have 29,000 starts in Alberta
this year, but now revised that to 20,000.
“If oil recovers and stabilizes, the housing
sector will recover as well, but not rapidly.”
But if there is no growth in the GDP, the
construction industry will be weaker as well.
He expects the resale market to fall five
to 10 per cent this year with prices down
three to five per cent.
“If there are some positives in the environment, prices will flatten out in 2017.”
NOTE that the slides used for the two
presentations are available to all who want
copies and who attended this meeting.
Email info@chbacalgary.com
Paul Ferley, Assistant Chief Economist
BIOGRAPHY: As Assistant Chief Economist, Paul is responsible for the analysis and
forecasting of macroeconomic and financial market developments in Canada, the United
States and key overseas economies and is a regular contributor to a number of RBC
publications.
A graduate of Queen’s University and the University of Manitoba, Paul joined the
Economics Department of RBC in 2007 after working for 20 years at another major financial
institution where he was responsible for generating the macroeconomic outlook for the
United States, Canada and Canadian regional economies. Paul started his professional
career as an economist in the Research Department at the Bank of Canada.
Paul is a member of the Economic Policy Committee of the Canadian Chamber of
Commerce and former member on the Editorial Board of Canadian Public Policy/Analyse de
politiques. Paul is also Past President and Director of the Toronto Association of Business
and Economics (TABE).
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CIT Y OF C ALGARY | INDUSTRY NEWS
By Vanessa Gash
Safety Codes Officer – Inspections and Permit Services, City of Calgary
Windows and doors
New NAFS standards in Alberta’s building code
Do you sell, build or install windows, doors or skylights?
There are important rule changes for how these are tested
and rated in the Alberta Building Code (ABC) 2014.
This new standard, which ensures adequate
performance of windows, doors and
skylights, is named the AAMA/WDMA/CSA
101/I.S.2/A440 NAFS: “North American
Fenestration Standard/Specification for
Windows, Doors, and Skylights.” This is
referred to as the NAFS. This standard
replaces the previous CAN/CSA-A440.
NAFS is a harmonized version of
American and Canadian standards.
Unfortunately, due to variations in climate
and environmental conditions in Canada
versus the United States, not all items could
be harmonized. For Canada’s additional
requirements around air leakage, operating
force and water test pressure, we also use
CSA A440S1: “Canadian Supplement to
AAMA/WDMA/CSA 101/I.S.2/A440, NAFS
– North American Fenestration Standard/
Specification for Windows, Doors, and
Skylights.” For simplicity, this document is
referred to as the Canadian Supplement.
Some of the key changes in the new
standards are as follows:
• NAFS and the Canadian Supplement
evaluate products on different criteria
than the previous CAN A440 Standard.
• This more stringent standard does not
allow the use of previous testing values.
• New labelled units may only be based on
the exact tested size or smaller, including
framing and locking configurations.
Testing may not be applied to larger units.
• Doors are now included in the standards.
• NAFS applies primarily to new and
replacement fi xed windows, operable
windows, skylights and doors covered in
Part 9 of the ABC.
• Sloped glazing, storefronts, commercial
entrances, folding doors, sunrooms,
revolving doors and commercial steel
doors as found in Part 3 of the ABC are not
covered by NAFS.
Compliance may be achieved by following
the prescriptive elements of NAFS and the
Canadian Supplement and then providing
the appropriate labelled window, skylight
or door units. Items that are included in
the scope of NAFS must either comply
with this standard or alternatively provide
engineering. The designer or builder may
choose to do this if they deem it necessary
or more appropriate. Any items that are
not in the scope of NAFS must comply with
Part 5 of the ABC and provide engineering
calculations.
Although the ABC does not mandate
one specific type of label, it does specify
required information. Every tested window
must be permanently etched or marked
with the manufacturer’s name, series and
product model. This must be visible when
the window is installed. The remainder of
the information must be factory-applied
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but is permitted to be in sticker form that is
able to be removed on-site after inspection.
Since the labels are not permitted to be
field-applied, it is critical that the builder
does not remove the labels until inspections
are complete.
The removable information includes
three items:
• The performance rating
• Primary designator (class size and type)
• Secondary designator (positive design
pressure, negative design pressure, water
penetration resistance
test pressure,
and Canadian
air infiltration/
exfiltration).
Code-required
labels are a
declaration by the
manufacturer.
Although they
may choose to
provide third party
verification, this is
not required by the ABC.
Fenestrationcanada.ca provides a
wealth of information and includes many
useful industry tools, such as online
calculators and labeling guidelines. For
more information on building permits and
the Alberta Building Code, visit the City
of Calgary website at calgary.ca/pd. If you
have site-specific questions, please call 311
and ask to speak with the building code
Technical Assistance Centre.
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PHBI | INDUSTRY NEWS
By Joe Connelly
PHBI Executive Director
Challenging times
How PHBI is helping
It’s a tough market out there. It seems that higher taxes, a
lower dollar and slower show home traffic are all contributing
to create the perfect storm in residential construction.
Back in October, Todd Hirsch from ATB
commented, “Housing starts are stable, yet
weakening consumer demand will likely
weigh on residential prices and construction
in the coming months …”
Jump ahead a few months and that
weakening consumer demand has
weighed in on both prices and the pace of
construction.
Fortunately, we seem to be reaching the
bottom and the situation is improving, as
noted by Todd and other economists, but
it will be a slow road back to recovery.
Almost every Albertan with any history
will tell you — we have been through this
before and we will pull together and push
through one more time. Like the pioneer
towns of old where the entire
community would show up
to raise the barn, out of these
trying times, good things do
get created.
Back in 1987 (the year
of Black Monday), the
economy was also having
some challenges. Back then,
a group of major builders
came together and had
a discussion about what
to do about the present
situation. From that group
came the initial ideas for the
Master Builder Education
Program. Education is paramount in both
good times and bad.
Similarly, PHBI has been busy
collaborating within the industry on how to
help out with the current economy. Here are
three initiatives we would like the industry
to know about.
The Canada Alberta Job Grants
The grants are back for 2016 and are now
available for even more courses. The CAJG
will support two-thirds of the cost of your
tuition and through a new program with
CHBA – Alberta, it is easier than ever
before to qualify and register. Please check
the CHBA – Alberta or PHBI websites for
further details.
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On-Line Courses
Over the past year, PHBI has been
working hard to get as many courses
as possible online ASAP (As Soon As
Programmed). Online education works with
your schedule and allows for flexibility on
when to learn, but also how much to learn
at any one sitting. In 2016, PHBI expects to
add at least five more courses to the present
curriculum of nine. Again, please check
PHBI.ca for further details.
New Market Opportunities
In order for PHBI to remain competitive in
these challenging times, it is imperative we
secure new revenue streams. This ambitious
project would see our online courses (which
consistently garner excellent ratings) sold
into other markets to generate new income,
thereby ensuring the long-term viability of
your educational institution — PHBI. We
have explored the opportunity of providing
our online offerings to
other markets and we have
had some early successes in
Ontario, which will be the
subject of a future Profile
article.
PHBI is recognized
throughout the province as
your educational provider
and we are committed to
working with our partners
through these challenging
times. Please contact us at
askphbi@phbi.ca.
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By Fatima Barros
Regional Vice-President, Prairie and Territories
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
First timers
Homebuyers talk about their mortgage experience
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation has recently
released its latest First-Time Homebuyers Survey.
Some of the highlights:
• Compared to other homebuyers, First-Time Buyers are of a
younger age, have lower household incomes, and similar levels
of education.
• The majority of First-Time Buyers used online resources to
gather information about mortgages, among which the most
popular are mortgage professional and real estate agent web
sites, as well as online mortgage calculators.
• The use of social media to look for mortgage information is
still more prevalent among First-Time Buyers than among
other mortgage consumers, with Facebook, forums and blogs
being the most commonly used platforms.
• More than half of First-Time Buyers used a mortgage broker
to arrange their mortgage.
• Mortgage brokers play a significant role in First-Time Buyers
switching lenders. Among First-Time Buyers who switched
financial institutions, nearly three-quarters used a broker. • A large portion of First-Time Buyers are satisfied with their
mortgage professional.
• A high majority of First-Time Buyers reported receiving advice
from their mortgage professional, and less than half received
other financial product offers (i.e. mortgage life insurance,
lines of credit, RRSP).
• Providing advice on long-term mortgage strategies can greatly
increase satisfaction and the likelihood of repeat business.
• Similar to other homebuyers, less than half of First-Time
Buyers received some form of post transaction follow-up
contact from their mortgage professional. Over half of FirstTime Buyers have concerns and feel uncertainty during the
home buying process.
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CMHC | INDUSTRY NEWS
The full survey can be seen here: www.cmhc.ca/FirstTimeBuyers
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| FEATURE
Creating critical
conversations
Smarter Growth Initiative has tools to help
Smarter Growth Initiative (SGI)
is dedicated to encouraging
critical conversations about
urban planning and development
among all Calgarians.
Our books and videos are meant to ignite
discussion with easy-to-understand
information that helps to align
stakeholders on the basics.
The review of the Standard Development
Agreement (or Off-Site Levy Bylaw) has
brought infrastructure investment into
the fore of the news and likely has some
people around you talking. Funding
infrastructure is a complex issue and a
chronic problem that many Calgarians
truly care about.
So, when the topic of infrastructure
comes up, you can refer your friends,
family and colleagues to our latest book,
“Who Pays for What” which illustrates
how we’ve been paying for residential
infrastructure, and what new revenue
streams could be considered for the
future. The book also helps to dispel
myths — for example, do Calgarians
know that developers pay for 100 per
cent of infrastructure costs within new
communities, or do they think their tax
dollars are paying for growth?
Helping your community and network
understand the basics of infrastructure
investment in Calgary means more
meaningful conversations and likely
better solutions.
You can order books to be delivered to
you free of charge at smartergrowth.ca.
Yes, In My Backyard!
We learned in the 2015 ThinkHQ survey
that 48 per cent of participants felt
that redevelopment benefits the entire
community. Yet, in the same survey, 52
per cent opposed an increase in housing
density in their neighbourhood.
The latest SGI video, “From NIMBY
to YIMBY” explores the city’s goals
for redevelopment as we welcome
approximately 600,000 new people to
Calgary by 2041. The animated short offers
real-life examples to counter concerns about
crowding or increased
traffic volume. It also illuminates
the life cycle of a community, showing why
more neighbours bring vitality that reaches
far beyond new buildings.
You can view and share “From NIMBY
to YIMBY” on our YouTube channel or at
smartergrowth.ca.
We hope that with the help of our
publications, you can encourage those in your
network to engage in informed (and lively!)
conversations about the future of Calgary.
We have a great city to build!
Learn more at smartergrowth.ca
Our books and videos ignite discussion with easy-to-understand
information that helps to align stakeholders on the basics.
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A SSOCIATION INFORMATION | NE W AND C ANCELLED MEMBERS
NEW MEMBERS
n NOVEMBER
Canadian Pros
Supplier/Manufacturer/Trade
Rep: Marco Arias
Lumon Canada
Supplier/Manufacturer/Trade
Rep: Andrew Harrington
Manulift EMI Ltd.
Supplier/Manufacturer/Trade
Rep: Michael Alexander
MBL Construction Inc.
Renovator
Rep: Jason Law
Paragon Custom Homes
Builder
Rep: Mike Bhullar
Platformer Solutions
Supplier/Manufacturer/Trade
Rep: Shane Larson
Rockwood Custom Homes
Builder
Rep: Matthew Llewellyn
CANCELLED MEMBERS
n NOVEMBER
STAK Projects Inc.
Builder
Rep: Bruce Elvins
Umbrella Construction Inc.
Renovator
Rep: Matthew Ashley
Wizard Screens of Calgary Inc.
Service Professional
Rep: Brenda Stapleton
n DECEMBER
Certified Residential
& Commercial Systems
Supplier/Manufacturer/Trade
Rep: Elaine Coates
Fresh Developments Corp.
Builder
Rep: Michael Gouveia
Ultima Custom Homes Inc.
Builder
Rep: Joe Oliverio
William Blake Homes Ltd.
Renovator
Rep: Betty Ste. Marie
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Calgary Drywall Experts
Corefront Custom Homes & Renovation
Delta Membrane Systems Ltd.
Foothills Renovation Services
Granite Worx Inc.
Homes by Bellia Inc.
MC Commercial
Mikiki Developments
Prime Developments
Timbercraft Renovations Inc.
n DECEMBER
Mouldings Canada Ltd.
Sears Commercial
Artisan Homes
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EVENTS
Luncheons
Builder Breakfasts
(Glenmore Inn)
November 18, 2015
September 24, 2015
October 29, 2015
November 26, 2015
January 28, 2016
February 25, 2016
Jeff Fiedling Luncheon
February 24, 2016
Amalgamation Town Hall
March 9, 2016
Ken King Luncheon
Dinner Meetings
Conferences
(Coast Plaza Hotel)
October 7, 2015
January 13, 2016
May 11, 2016
March 31, 2016
April 28, 2016
May 26, 2016
June 23, 2016
September 17-20, 2015
2015 - 2016
EVENTS
CHBA – AB Conference
May 4-6, 2016
*June 8, 2016 AGM*
CHBA National Conference
Special Events
Miscellaneous
December 20, 2015
October 3, 2015
Children’s Christmas Party
Renovation and Infill Tour
January 15-17, 2016
October 22, 2015
Homexpo
Young Guns – Octoberfest
April 16, 2016
SAM Awards Gala
June 2-4, 2016
Fairmont Golf Classic
SUBJECT TO CHANGE
December 9, 2015
UDI – Calgary & CHBA – Calgary
Region Christmas Reception
**Please check the website at www.chbacalgary.com/regional-events before events.**
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