The Canadian Home Builders Association – Alberta division - helps to better the housing industry in our province through work on these codes and standards as well as maintaining government relations. The CHBA also educates in areas of safety, energy efficiency and much more. In a year when residential construction is at a premium, and even more demands are being placed on builders to provide higher numbers of homes, the CHBA strives to increase the public’s awareness of and respect for the industry and its partners.

The current CHBA Alberta President, Allan Klassen, says that the industry has been seeing incredible growth and with this growth there will be challenges to face. “The growth over the last ten years has been tremendous and over the last 24 months growth has been stupendous,” says Klassen. “Those issues and challenges that we are seeing now will continue into the future.” He also says that he believes that Alberta will remain a vibrant and prosperous province which will lead to other issues such as keeping up with the demand for housing while keeping housing affordable. “The cost of housing has gone up by about 40 per cent in the last year, and about 110 per cent in the last ten years and the industry needs to keep finding new and innovative ways of building,” says Klassen. “We have set such a quality benchmark in housing that it’s a never-ending challenge to maintain this level of quality.” 

In addition to ensuring quality within the building industry, the AHBA also rewards builders and individuals for exemplary work and accomplishments at the prestigious yearly Alberta Awards of Excellence in Housing. This year 150 select entries were submitted for awards from all across the province, and at the 2006 Ceremony 27 awards were given for excellence in quality, innovation, design, construction and energy efficiency. Out of those 27 awards, 15 were won by Calgary and area builders; something that our local builders can definitely be proud of.

Although many companies were nominated, and many received awards, Morrison Homes would have to be considered the big winner this year. The company received awards for Single Family Home under $175,000 and Single Family Home $210,000 - $249,000 and also the Alberta New Home Warranty Program Customer Choice Award for Single Family – Extra-Large Volume Builders. Morrison Homes once again won Builder of the Year for the fifth year in a row and this year the company had the distinction of winning the first ever Ralph Scurfield Award, presented by long-time platinum sponsor of the Awards of Excellence, RBC  Royal Bank. Ralph Scurfield was considered a leader and Alberta pioneer in the residential industry and the award is a considerable honor.

Also receiving more than one Award, Shane Homes received Awards for Single Family Home $315,000 - $374,999 and for Single Family Home $500,000 - $749,999. As well, they were one of the Runners-up for the Awards of Excellence in Housing. The other Runner-up for the Awards of Excellence in Housing was Sterling Homes (Sterling Group of Companies) who also won for Innovation for their Celestial. Klassen, who is also President and Managing Partner of Albi Homes, was also pleased with Albi’s Design Award for Single Family Home $250,000 - $314,999. “I think we’re proud of all our housing as we’ve been building award-winning homes for 24 years in Calgary,” says Klassen. “These awards are a reflection of our people and their passion.”

These Awards also serve to remind industry members and the public that the housing industry is an important one, and that every day - new and better advancements are being made in the construction of residential homes. With our province and our city seeing an influx of new residents that increases daily, it’s a good thing that the CHBA is around to help make those transitions smoother, and to help ensure that every home is a safe, efficient and beautiful home.  NL

2006 CANADIAN HOME BUILDERS’ ASSOCIATION
Alberta Awards of Excellence in Housing

RALPH SCURFIELD BUILDER OF THE YEAR AWARD
Morrison Homes
Runner-up: Sterling Group, Shane Homes

INNOVATION
Sterling Group of  Companies for the Celestial model

ENERGY EFFICIENCY
True-Line Contracting (Red Deer) for the Poettcker residence

MULTI-FAMILY WOOD FRAME
Riverdale Homes (Canmore) for The Portal

MULTI-FAMILY CONCRETE
Vinterra Properties (Edmonton) for Unit 604

MULTI-FAMILY DUPLEX, VILLA OR TOWNHOUSE UNDER $250,000
Pacesetter Homes (Edmonton) for the Ashton A

MULTI-FAMILY DUPLEX, VILLA OR TOWNHOUSE OVER $250,000
Genesis Marketing Group for Garrison Green duplex

MULTI-FAMILY OVERALL COMPLEX
Statesman Corp. for The WedgeWoods of New Discovery

SINGLE-FAMILY UNDER $175,000
Morrison Homes for The Grayson  residence

SINGLE-FAMILY $175,000–$209,900
Challenger Homes (Edmonton) for The Charlesberg

SINGLE-FAMILY $210,000–$249,000
Morrison Homes for the Horsey residence

SINGLE-FAMILY $250,000–$314,999
Albi Homes for the McCormick residence

SINGLE-FAMILY $315,000–$374,999
Shane Homes for the Saunders residence

SINGLE-FAMILY $375,000–$499,000
Diamond Key Homes (Red Deer) for the Gallatin model

Single-family $500,000–$749,999
Shane Homes for the Cameron residence

SINGLE-FAMILY $750,000 AND UP
Darren’s Homes (Edmonton) for The Sevilla
*Prices refer to actual house-only cost.

Alberta New Home Warranty Program Customer Choice Awards
MULTI-FAMILY SMALL VOLUME (UP TO 60 HOMES)
Cedarglen Homes

MULTI-FAMILY LARGE VOLUME
Hawthorne Homes

SINGLE-FAMILY SMALL VOLUME (UP TO 30 HOMES)
Heredity Homes (St. Albert)

SINGLE-FAMILY MID-VOLUME 31–150 HOMES)
Avalon Master Builder (Red Deer)

SINGLE-FAMILY LARGE VOLUME (151–300 HOMES)
NuVista Homes

SINGLE-FAMILY EXTRA-LARGE VOLUME
Morrison Homes

Awards of Merit
CRHBA: Jaymack Custom Homes for The Versailles