Calgary's homebuilders and developers are passionate about what they do and as a result Calgary boasts some of the most innovative and well-built homes in the world. 

But not only do the homebuilders and developers in this city create fantastic homes and desirable amenity rich communities with the well-being of future generations in mind, they also enhance individual lives by creating vibrant and vital opportunities for the less fortunate in our city.

Take for example Cardel Homes – they give back ten per cent of their profits to the community. “Generally we have about 20 different initiatives on the go at any one time,” says Heather Dougall-Hall, marketing and event manager for Cardel Homes. “We just finished Bras for a Cause with 98 Vibe where women donate their bras to the radio station and for every bra donated we donate a dollar to the breast cancer support clinic – to a total this year of $25,000.”

Cardel also just wrapped up the Gerry Forbes Neighborhood Takeover—a contest in which contestants competed to collect the most items—things like socks for the Mustard Seed, and blankets for the drop in center. The winner got to choose new improvements to their community compliments of Cardel Homes. “The response was really amazing. What happened was people entered for the prizes and they realized within probably about an hour that this was bigger than that.”

Trico Homes is another big giving back player. “Our company vision is to enhance our customers lives while we are enriching the community,” says Richard Gotfried, vice president of corporate communications for Trico. “A lot of our community involvement stems from our corporate visions and we try to look toward long term partnerships.” Trico has a ten-year commitment with the Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta. “We are the patrons of the charity motorcycle ride Trico Homes Ride for a Lifetime. This year will be our fifth anniversary and we hope to break the million and a quarter dollar mark in terms of fundraising, which goes directly toward cancer research.”

Stepper Homes also Revvs up for the Kids in support of the Kids Cancer Care. “It is very important with Stepper to be involved in the community,” says Stacey Wells, marketing director at Stepper.
This year Stepper’s Steps for Fitness, a five kilometre company run in September, raised 20,000 for Camp Chestermere. The staff at Stepper is very involved in the process of giving back and Wells says that once a month employees volunteer to prep and serve dinner at the Mustard Seed. “It’s a lot of fun.”

According to Linda Marek , corporate brand manager at Jayman MasterBUILT, the staff at Jayman also really enjoy participating in events. This year she says they did something a little different in honour of one of Jayman’s employees that passed away last year from cancer. “Six employees shaved their heads and we raised almost 25,000 for breast cancer.”
Marek explains that in 2007 instead of doing a variety of projects, Jayman MasterBUILT has decided to make one major donation, which was announced on December 7th, 2006. The $1 million donation will help fund Multiple Sclerosis research and education programs at the Calgary Health Region and University of Calgary

Shane Homes is another builder that takes pride not only in building homes but also in building communities. Charitable involvement includes: title sponsorship of the Willow Park Charity Golf Classic, and a partnership with Ernest Manning High School that creates a hands-on learning environment for students. “The one that we are most proud of is our long term involvement with the Alberta Children’s Hospital. We have been providing the grand prize homes for the Kinsmen Children’s Hospital Home Lottery for 15 years,” says Shane Wenzel, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Shane Homes. “As well, through the Cal Wenzel family foundation, we have started to carve out our own little niche with recreation centers here in Calgary Recently, we made a $225,000 donation to the Arres Recreational and Wellness Centre in Airdrie.”

In addition to the builders' contributions on an individual level, the Calgary Regional Home Builders Association (CRHBA), which represents single and multifamily builders, renovators, land developers and trades and suppliers in the city, encourages various initiatives that benefit the community and the environment. Initiatives like the Smoke Detector program, in co-ordination with the Calgary Fire Department, provide a that can literally mean the difference between life and death.

The charitable arm of the CRHBA, the Calgary Home Builders Foundation also offers ample opportunity for homebuilders to share in the giving. "The foundation has been in existence for about 19 years and its mandate is to provide shelter to those in need," says foundation president Bill McFarlane. Members of the homebuilding association are called upon to provide materials, labour, cash donations and time.

Over the years the foundation has constructed numerous projects that benefit the less fortunate. "The foundation started out modestly with Inn from the Cold in Ogden - a 12 unit transitional housing structure for homeless families, the Safe Haven project in Bridgeland - a home for runaway teen girls and the Children's Cottage," says McFarlane. Today the Foundation is avidly planning the 20 million dollar Inglewood Project, a 113 unit affordable housing project that will accommodate working poor, low-income seniors, those with mental disabilities and the brain injured. On February 10th, 2007 the Foundation will be holding its Warm Hearts, Warm Homes Gala Ball at the Westin Hotel. All proceeds will go directly toward the Inglewood Project.

Habitat for Humanity provides yet another sphere where homebuilders can get involved. This stellar organization offers an opportunity for donors, volunteers and the community to provide simple, decent, affordable homes for Calgary low-income families.

“We have just completed a single family home in Evanston sponsored by the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede. They partnered with NuVista Homes, Qualico Communities and Cohos Evamy Architects,” says Suzanne Farshori, public affairs coordinator for Habitat. NL