Made public last month by the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA), Calgary and Red Deer nearly shut out Edmonton, and are in the running for a full half — 11 of 22 — of categories in the coveted contest. Ontario and B.C. companies sealed the lion’s share of the remaining nominations, while Calgary’s greatest rival received just one nod — a nomination for Best Direct Mail promo, for Christensen Developments.

Local builders won’t have far to travel, as the awards will be presented right here in Alberta at the annual CHBA National Conference, slated for Feb. 25 in Lake Louise.

Jayman Masterbuilt
Jayman MasterBuilt may have changed names and turned 25 last year, but the builder’s success in the industry and recognition for home design is nothing new. The construction giant heads into the Lake Louise conference with three SAM nominations, a pair for single-family design and one in the single-attached category for its Newbury in Garrison Woods, the Ashton model.

“We are always a bit surprised — there are a lot of good homes, and not just in Calgary, but across Canada,” says David Bengert, Jayman’s corporate manager of purchasing and estimating, whose own digs, the Charleston, are in the running against another custom Jayman showhome, the Shiraz. Following its BuiltGreen model, the builder took pains to ensure the homes were as green as they are stylish — particularly the Charleston, says Bengert, which is larger than its predecessor but is slated to cut energy use by a third.

Shane Homes
Shane Homes and Creations by Shane are up for two national SAMs for design, one for a custom Shane bi-level, the 1,860-square-foot Brianna, and a second for its Drake Landing Creations’ two-storey showhome in Okotoks, the 1,480-square-foot Napoli.

Shane’s Senior Vice-President of Sales and Marketing, Shane Wenzel acknowledges how tough the competition was this year across Canada. “When you consider the hundreds of builders competing and the numbers of homes they’re up against, it’s impressive. We’re so happy to be one of so few builders in Calgary to be nominated at this level.”

Wenzel says shrinking lot sizes have likely gone far in forcing Calgary builders to be innovative, especially in designing production or showhomes, and credits this challenge with why the city fares so well in provincial and national competitions time and again.

Albi Homes
Albi Homes saw the most nods, netting four nominations in three categories. The Calgary mainstay’s Breckenridge in Spring Willow has two chances to bring home hardware, one for Best Sales Centre and a second, sought-after design nod for a production home. The palatial, innovative abode will duke it out against another Albi model home in the same category — its Montecino, the Heritage Pointe showhome recently purchased for $1.5 million. Albi also garnered a nomination for its Barrington showhome, which pits the Valley Ridge model up against Jayman Masterbuilt’s Cranston showhome, the Shiraz.

Albi’s Jason Mauro couldn’t be more pleased at the kudos, and lauds the competition. “We’re delighted and honoured to be recognized by our peers. I feel our product line for showhomes is the best it’s ever been and that’s true across the city.

“I am always surprised because there are so many beautiful homes right across the country,” adds the director of product development for Albi.

ProCura Real Estate Services
ProCura Real Estate’s groundbreaking Emerald Stone highrise — the first of its kind in the Beltline area — also got some recognition by becoming a finalist for Multi Family: Low and High-rise Condominiums or Apartments in the SAMs.

Robert Moroto, sales manager for ProCura was all smiles at the news. “We’re quite surprised — we knew there were a lot of great projects Canada, ” says Moroto, adding another shock was being the only Alberta development in the running.

Moroto, who also lives in the 22-storey, 162-suite building boasting a fitness room, owners lounge, and golf simulator with 30 courses among its amenities, says Emerald Stone was really a landmark creation. “It was a first, a pilot project to see if the Beltline could absorb a highrise. And now you look at it — places are selling in there in four days, often for up to $21,000 over the asking price.”


Morrison Mountain Homes and Knightsbridge Homes
Morrison Mountain Homes also summits to the top of the national competition this year, with two finalist spots, both for single-family custom designs — one in the under 2,000-square-foot category, and another in the larger, 2,000 to 3,500 square-foot custom design running.

The multiple CRHBA SAM Builder of the Year will go head-to-head with both Jayman and Shane in the smaller custom home category, while the longtime Calgary builder takes on Knightsbridge Homes for one of its custom masterpieces in the larger home division.

Statesman Group of Companies
Statesman also received a National SAM nod for one of its top multi-family home sellers. Calgary’s Cory Baiton, who took home awards for Rookie of the Year in her division and Multi-family Sales Person of the Year from last year’s local SAMs is also in the running to close the American Standard Award of Sales Excellence in Lake Louise in February.


Apex Limited Partnership
It’s appropriate that a multi-family project called The National would net a nomination in the National SAMs. Apex Limited Partnership’s The National Condominiums sales centre in Inglewood is up against not only Albi Homes’ Spring Willow office locally, but also some stellar sales hubs across the country.

Congrats to all those nominated, and keep up the great work, Calgary!