New Homes
New Homes
Winnipeg dazzles Canada's homebuilders
Last week, I hosted 25 executive officers of various home builder associations from across Canada at a three-day workshop. It was a chance to share ideas, technical information, work with volunteer boards and government officials and, of course, socialize.
To my surprise, about half of the group had never been to Winnipeg before. Our city has 25 new converts as it dazzled all in attendance.
Our first observations, naturally enough, were based on a brief tour of new and existing houses. Many were surprised that so many of our homes had full basements, something that we often take for granted. Stucco is more prevalent in the Prairies and all were impressed with its fire-resistant and energy-saving qualities.
Our lot sizes are bigger on average than in many parts of Canada and no one expected the number of large trees that we are able to maintain in even the most populated areas. As I said, what we often just assume as a way of life is considered unique and special in other parts of Canada.
Everyone was housed at the Inn at the Forks, with classroom-setting workshops there, too. To say the location dazzled would be an understatement.
Traditionally, our organization has flown in speakers from across the continent to speak about issues that are pertinent to this major Canadian industry. Not in Winnipeg. I said that no matter the topic, I could find experts right here that were as good as anyone anywhere in North America.
A national survey decided the topics and I chose the presenters. Priti Shah on board governance, Sylvia Yaeger on work/life balance, Laurie Finley on social media and the tag-team combination of Jennifer Howard, Justin Swandel and Deepak Joshi talking about government relations surpassed anything that had been presented before.
Many delegates commented that this was the best program ever because it consisted of real people talking about how and why things work in Manitoba, rather than some theoretical lecture.
So, as we venture into this Canada Day long weekend, let us not just celebrate the fact that we live in the greatest country in the world, but let's also recognize that we are indeed privileged to live in the finest province and city within that great country.
Mike Moore is president of the Manitoba Home Builders' Association.
New Homes
Good renovators rely on word of mouth
Finding the right renovator is key to getting the results you want. The sooner you get a professional involved, the more you can benefit from their knowledge and expertise.
With a little legwork, you should have no trouble finding the company that is best suited to your project.
Look first to names listed within the Manitoba Home Builders' Association. Membership in the MHBA is a solid indication of professionalism. Members have access to training and the latest information on all aspects of renovation.
They also agree to adhere voluntarily to the RenoMark Code of Ethics, which sets out a framework for fair and honest business practices.
Although the MHBA cannot make recommendations about a specific company, there is a comprehensive a list of members who may be suitable for your project online at www.homebuilders.mb.ca From there, you can check the websites of individual renovator members.
All MHBA renovators belong to the RenoMark program. At www.renomark.com one can find out what puts these renovators a cut above the rest.
Ask around for recommendations. Many renovators do little, if any, advertising. They often don't have to, as the "word" travels from one client to the next. Most people are happy to talk about their own renovation experiences and tell you what they think about their contractors. Ask friends, family, co-workers and neighbours who have had work done recently. Look around your neighbourhood for projects in progress and talk with the homeowners.
Visit home shows to meet renovators. Home shows can provide a great opportunity to check out local contractors. The annual Kitchen Bath and Renovation Show features the Ask a Renovator booth, where visitors book private 15-minute appointments to talk further about their planned renovation projects.
Check advertising by renovation companies. You can also look in newspapers for advertisements, review flyers that come to your door, check building material stores for business cards or brochures, and browse the Yellow Pages. Making certain that your renovator adheres to the RenoMark Code of Ethics is key to a successful project.
Investing a little time in finding the right renovator is well worth it. When you begin with a list of professional renovators, the next steps are easy --SEmD interviewing, checking credentials and hiring the company that's right for your project.
Mike Moore is president of the Manitoba Home Builders' Association.
New Homes
Construction sector acting to fill skills gap
Real Jobs, Real Money.
That was the title of a promotional piece and seminar hosted by the Nova Scotia Homes Builders' Association. The purpose was to let young people know there are numerous good jobs for people who want to work in residential construction.
The Labour Market Indicator statistics for Manitoba recently forecast a pending shortfall of 12,400 workers in construction within the next six years. The combination of growth in the industry and retirements will mean we will encounter employment needs like never before.
Personally, I think the shortages are already here, never mind six years from now. After all, just look at what is happening throughout Manitoba.
New housing starts in 2010 were their highest in the past 23 years.
Current and future Manitoba Hydro projects indicate tremendous opportunity. The airport terminal rebuild, the new Bombers stadium, the Canadian Museum of Human Rights, CentrePort, Ikea, roads, bridges and other large projects are happening right now.
The Our Winnipeg report calls for a population increase of 180,000 during the next 25 years. The infrastructure work to accommodate that growth will be huge.
The Manitoba Construction Sector Council is an agency that is addressing the needs of the industry in a positive manner. It is committed to the welfare of the construction industry and ensuring that the current and future workforce is professionally trained and prepared to tackle the needs of the industry.
During this past year, representatives of the MCSC visited more than a dozen high schools and spoke about careers in construction. On May 11, more than 1,300 students and 150 teachers descended upon the Red River Exhibition grounds to attend the Construction Career Expo and learned in a hands-on manner about various trades, skills and job opportunities.
The Pre-Employment Construction Training Program has been operating for three years and is designed to recruit and train individuals for general and specific skills that would enable them to start work immediately. Their advanced skill set and safety training would automatically place them a cut above most. Four more sessions are already scheduled for the coming year.
Building Supervisors for Tomorrow has proven to be one of the more popular courses for existing employees, preparing them for long-term supervisory roles within their respective companies.
The Manitoba Construction Sector Council is preparing tomorrow's employees today.
Mike Moore is president of the Manitoba Home Builders' Association.
