Ron Rapp, CEO | Twitter: @HAVANofficial
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GLOBAL ISSUES AND PIPELINES
The Coronavirus and Pipeline protests continued to take center stage in the media this past week. There is no doubt that these concerns pose a clear and present danger to our overall economy and will have an influence on our industry locally as well.
At the recent Buildex Conference and Trade show held at the Convention Center West in Vancouver the mood among trades, professionals, suppliers, and the builder and developers were cautiously optimistic.
In speaking to other vendors at the show, many expressed concerns, already feeling the pinch on the supply chain issues stemming from the quarantines of manufacturing and transport both in China and other regions. This is at present mostly anecdotal, and no one wants to openly say they cannot provide product, but the underlying concern is real, and when coupled with the disruption in domestic distribution with rail blockades erected by protesters sympathetic to the Wet'suwet'en First Nation protests against the natural gas pipeline set to transit their traditional territory, the issue of supply becomes even more serious.
This is how issues well outside the boundaries of our industry still influence our ability to do business. Hopefully the measures being undertaken here in Canada and around the world will contain the virus and the threat to the global supply chain. Over the weekend, it seems there has been some progress with the Hereditary Chiefs of the Wet'suwet'en, however, the situation is still fragile.
The
Bank of Canada
along with a number of other national banking institutions including the US Feds are contemplating lowering the interest rates to add stimulus to the economy, which saw record declines in stock markets in Canada, the US, and around the world. This will keep the cost of money down and potentially allow the recovery in the housing sector to continue as is discussed in the results of CMHC's winter
quarterly housing research report
.
The coronavirus, the protests, the Global and North American trade issues, and geo-politics around the world and here in North America are contributing to what hurts this industry the most – fear, and uncertainty. Nonetheless we must continue to project an air of confidence and pointedly pursue our elected officials at all levels to provide leadership and actions to bring these issues to positive conclusions.
If your business has been adversely affected by these and or other related issues please forward your stories to our attention here at HAVAN to
ron@havan.ca
,
or
mark@havan.ca
.
We want to hear from you. Thank you very much.
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STRATA INSURANCE HIKES
HAVAN has been in touch with numerous stakeholders concerning strata insurance hikes and has found a number of interesting things; reaching out to BILD GTA, CHBA National and despite Carol James assertions, other provinces and locals appear to not yet have felt the impact to the same order of magnitude we have – WHY?
We also see that the BC NDP are not really interested in getting into the residential strata insurance business, that not all strata are being hit with the highest levels of increases, that stratas can help offset increases by stepping up maintenance regimens, and we are being told this is going to be the “new normal”.
Our concern is that
strata fees form part of the equation
for mortgage qualification, and consumer buying power will be eroded - worse than by the B20 Stress test, offsetting any gains offered by the Finance Minister in the last two weeks.
Members actively involved in the design and construction of both high and low rise condos also need to do their part to raise the level of quality of materials and or workmanship in critical areas, off set the potential for collateral damage, and ensure maintenance can be affected in an easy and cost effective manner.
Last week, Liberal MLA and Municipal Affairs Critic Todd Stone from Kamloops introduced a
private members bill
to help out beleaguered condo owners and assist them in addressing this crisis which the NDP have agreed to review and possibly adopt. As well the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) is organizing a stakeholder round table meeting to provide information and seek possible remedies on or about March 17, 2020. I am sure that more will follow regarding this situation.
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OH CANADA
Last Friday February was the
10th anniversary
of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics Gold Metal Men’s Hockey game where Sidney Crosby scored the “Golden Goal” to give Team Canada the victory seconds into overtime over Team USA. At this sort of gloomy coronavirus time, and when there appears to be such significantly divisive issues that Canadians in all regions are dealing with, it is heartwarming to reflect on those 2010 games, and that particular hockey game when over
26.5 million
Canadians, over two thirds of the country, were watching and collectively rose up and cheered our Team Canada, and each other as Canadians!
Over the course of those two weeks, after some rocky times leading to the start; the untimely and tragic death of the Georgian luge competitor Nodar Kumaritashvili, and the mild temperatures and lack of snow on the North Shore venues, we all pulled together to stage a truly first class event that brought Canadians of all stripes together and allowed us to shine on the World Stage. Much or our success here in Vancouver over the last tens years can point directly to that event.
In those two weeks the pride and positive energy that permeated Vancouver and Whistler was unbelievable and I still get goose bumps and a tear in my eye when I recall being packed in the main square in Whistler listening to Bedouin Soundclash when they interrupted their set so we all could watch Alexandre Bilodeau win the First Gold Metal on Canadian Soil for himself, his family, and Canada. The whole crowd was so full of joy and pride and broke out into unrestrained Oh Canada for which the band joined in!!
That pride in country and community was so uplifting and
we still enjoy many legacies those games left with us
,
and the many, many times that Oh Canada was proudly and spontaneous sung at the venues, the Village Stroll in Whistler,
UBC
, and Robson Street in Vancouver should all remind us of what we can do if we pull together for a common good. Cheers – and if John Furlong wants to try to do it again in 2030 – bring it on!
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SHORT BITES
ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance)
In real terms, on the part of lending institutions,
Goldman Sachs
has announced it will not handle IPO’s for companies with “all male” Boards of Directors
Bill 10
,
introduced by Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs Selina Robinson, encompasses some significant property tax changes for small businesses to offset what are becoming prohibitive increases in taxes related to escalation in property values. Also included in the bill are provisions to ensure a more timely and equitable application of late comer charges by development applicants who happen to be the “first ones in” for some areas. This issue was recommended in DAPR – great to see action stemming from this report.
On the 24
th
Anniversary of his election to the legislature, this past Saturday
Rich Coleman
announced that he will not being running in any forthcoming provincial election. After 24 years of service, both in and out of Government, and having served as Minister of the Crown in several portfolios including several years as Minister of Housing, Mr. Coleman will withdraw from public service. HAVAN wishes Mr. Coleman all the best in his future endeavours, and extends our appreciation for his service, and for being available and receptive to our Association on numerous matters over the years, not the least of which was to participate in our Legends of Housing panel in 2019. Good Luck Mr. Coleman.
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OVATION FINALISTS TO BE ANNOUNCED THIS WEDNESDAY!
Finalists will be announced at the HAVAN Ovation Awards Finalists Soiree, Wednesday, March 4, from 5 – 8:30pm at the Permanent, Vancouver.
This is a marquee year of growth for this prestigious local housing awards program with 426 entries. Ovation Award entrants and sponsors, you should have received your ticket registration link in your inbox. If you haven’t, please contact Wendy McNeil (
wendy@havan.ca) or Justine Nadia (
justine@havan.ca).
Registrations to this event are reserved for entrants and sponsors due to the venue's limited capacity combined with the high volume of builder entrants, however, advance tickets for the May 9 Awards Gala (available to all members) will go on sale following the Soiree.
Still want to get into the Soiree? Become a sponsor! We’re still looking for a Sweet Treat Sponsor, Red Carpet Sponsor (perfect opportunity for flooring suppliers!) and After Party Sponsors. Contact
Wendy@havan.ca for details.
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U40 MENTORSHIP BREAKFAST: KATHY YUEN MARCH 10
LIMITED SEATS REMAIN!
Connecting up-and-coming members of the association with industry leaders, the next U40 Mentorship Breakfast on Tuesday,
March 10
features
Kathy Yuen of Phase One Design
.
Kathy is an Architectural Technologist and Principal of Phase One Design. Her award-winning design firm has been working with homeowners for 11 years and has helped over 500 clients successfully design and plan their new custom home projects. She is also a force on social media, driving her personal brand. There is a lot to learn from Kathy! Her energy alone is a driving force!
Seats are limited and booking quickly! First come first serve.
Attend these sessions to stay motivated and encouraged, connect with leaders and fellow up-and-comers in the industry, and build your network! Coffee and hot breakfast included. Limited seats. Under-40 members only.
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HAVAN WOMEN'S COUNCIL INDUSTRY TOUR MARCH 11
HAVAN is excited to announce our second Women’s Council Industry Tour hosted by
Pacific Rim Cabinets Ltd
.
on Wednesday, March 11th from 1:00pm -3:00pm. This exciting tour will take attendees from raw material to finished product on their tour of an established millwork and cabinetry facility.
The event includes a guided tour of the production facility and networking social co-hosted by
Pacific Rim Cabinets
and Katerina and Silvie of
Designs by KS
. Come join the tour and learn about the cabinetry and millwork industry, and network with employers and employees alike! Open your mind. A few spaces remain.
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Connect with Consumers via HAVAN
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HOME BUYING 101 FORUM
Are you are sitting on an inventory of homes and looking for buyers? Are you in the business of transforming old homes to brand new homes? A mortgage specialist or a realtor? If your target audience is home buyers, this one is for you!
HAVAN's Home Buying 101 Forum is moving to
Surrey Central
. As noted in this
Daily Hive Townline article
, Surrey is poised to be Metro Vancouver's new geographical cosmopolitan centre, and we want to connect our members where buyers are looking to purchase their first home, (or second investment property.)
Date: Tuesday,
March 24
, 2020
Time: 4pm - 8pm
Tabletop (limited space -
only 8 spots remaining
): $599.00
Expected attendees - 200 in person, 200+ online (live feed).
Extensive media coverage with Black Press, Next Home, Epoch Times, Post Media, paid online campaign etc.
Marketplace space is limited. Book your tabletop with
Sonali@havan.ca
today!
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BULK BUY WITH HAVAN'S ONLINE DIGITAL HOME HUB
HAVAN has negotiated a bulk member buy with Glacier Media to target Metro Vancouver first-time home buyers and people looking to build and renovate their homes. If you are looking to add digital strategies to your marketing mix, this is a smoking deal!
Sponsored by Fortis BC and Associa, the online HUB will reach buyers online with programmatic display ads and social ads ($2,000 spend) for a total 1.3M impressions, and via seven municipality newspapers: Vancouver Courier, North Shore News, Burnaby Now, New Westminster Record, Richmond News, Delta Optimist, Tri-City News including community display ads (500,000 impressions).
Value
= $7,500.00
HAVAN's Bulk per-member Rate:
$2,100.00 (ie you pay $700.00/mo. March - May).
Only 6 spots remaining.
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COMMUNITY HOME SHOWS WITH EVERGREEN: CONTACT 2020
HAVAN is looking for members participating in the Evergreen Community Home Shows to help distribute HAVAN CONTACT 2020 Directories and to participate in an Expert Panel Discussion (Tri Cities only). A great give away to help engage with homeowners, HAVAN's Contact 2020 Directory is a valuable consumer resource and endorsement for your business!
SHOW DETAILS:
TriCities: March 27, 28, 29 (Ask the Expert Panel Opportunity)
Contact
Dawn@havan.ca
or
Sonali@havan.ca
to discuss these local opportunities.
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IN-CLASSROOM HAVAN COURSES:
Member Rates apply to your staff
Stay up-to-date on the latest course offerings by reading your
HAVAN Education Update
,
delivered to your inbox every Thursday.
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HOLISTIC APPROACH TOWARDS IMPROVING AIRTIGHTNESS
PART 4: PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
Over 50% Tickets Sold
WHEN: Tuesday,
March 10
WHERE: Sheraton Vancouver Guildford Hotel, 15269 - 104 Avenue, Surrey
TIME: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
COST:
$50+GST
CPDs: 8.0
In partnership with FortisBC’s BUILT BETTER program, HAVAN and CHBA Fraser Valley are presenting the final full-day session of this four-part series,
A Holistic Approach to Improving Air Tightness
. In the previous three session, participants were exposed to holistic long-term airtightness solutions for roofs, decks, above grade walls, below grade assemblies, windows and doors, and in this seminar, the learning lessons will be put to the test. Led by Hamid Heidarali of Hamid Design Build, this highly interactive and hands-on workshop is designed to bring together builders and their teams (site staff, designers, trades, consultants).
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SOLAR TECHNOLOGY AND INSTALLATION WORKSHOP
Seating limited to 10 spots for this hands-on course
WHEN: Thursday,
March 19
WHERE: Stardust Solar Technologies#119, 5589 Byrne Road, Burnaby
TIME: 8:30 am - 12:30 pm
COST:
$99+GST; Non-Members $159.00+GST
CPDs: 4.0 (pending)
HAVAN-member Stardust Solar Technologies will be leading this repeat session, where attendees will be introduced to solar technology and gain a better understanding of its viability in the region, best practices, and how to communicate ROI to homeowners. For half the session, builders will participate in a hands-on installation on a 4/12-pitch, asphalt-shingled roof. This session has been customized for HAVAN members to give builders a preview of Stardust Solar Technologies’ 5-day certification course.
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BC HOUSING LICENSING AND CONSUMER SERVICES
Builders' Breakfast Series
WHEN: Thursday,
March 26
WHERE: Trev Deeley Conference Centre, 1875 Boundary Road, Vancouver
TIME: 7:30 am - 9:30 am
COST:
$85+GST; Non-Members $139.95+GST
CPDs: 2.0 (pending)
The March Builders' Breakfast Series Seminar will be presented by BC Housing, who will be sharing important information on three topics builders in British Columbia need to know:
1.
Aiding and Abetting Unlicensed Builders
2.
What Builders Should Know About De-enrollments
3.
Customer Service and Home Warranty Insurance
Wendy Acheson, Vice-President and Registrar, Licensing and Consumer Services, will be moderating the seminar.
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THIS WEEK'S FEATURED ELEARN COURSE (elearn.havan.ca)
Building a Certified Passive House:
Challenges and Solutions of an Urban Build
CPDs: 2.0
HAVAN members, Nick Bray Architecture, JDL Homes, and Project Mint Developments are building an exemplar Certified Passive house (a near NetZero Energy and Step 5-compliant) in Vancouver, and in this course, they will share the real challenges and solutions in building this high-performance home.
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Member News & HAVAN Heroes
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Got News?
Take advantage of our audience and leverage your membership via HAVAN's channels. We're always on the lookout to highlight members connecting with and supporting the communities where you build. In our eyes, you are real HAVAN Heroes. Send your press releases to
dawn@havan.ca
and we'll help share, tweet and re-purpose your news. @HAVANofficial
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ICF TRAINING STANDARD BUILDING SUPPLIES/PACIFIC ICF MARCH 5
Location:
4940 Still Creek Ave. Burnaby B.C.
Time/Cost/CPDs:
8 hours, $210.00, 7 informal CPD credits
.
7 informal CPD points available upon completion of this generic ICF training course, we will introduce attendees to: Rigid insulations, Hydronic insulating panels, Step Code, NBC 9.36, ICF Estimating, ICF design guides, and ICF installation information taught in this course is applicable for use with any ICF.
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TEN FOOT WALL CHALLENGE WITH MURRAY FRANK MARCH 6-8
Held at the new Building It Right (BIR) Centre of Excellence in Port Coquitlam, this course will be partial classroom learning but will also be physical hands on tools training. Three-day seminar. March 6- 8, 2020, 8 AM - 4:15 PM. Limited to 20 students.
Details and to Register
.
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Tech Committee: Tuesday 10 March, 5pm, location tba, Contact Mark@havan.ca
E&T Committee
:
Wednesday, March 11, 8:30am - 10:30am, @ HAVAN Office. Contact Wendy@havan.ca
Golf Committee
: Wednesday, March 11, 3:00pm - 4:30pm, Riverway Golf Club, Burnaby. First, we hit some balls, then we get down to business. Contact Dawn@havan.ca
U40 Committee:
Thursday, March 12, 8:15-10:00AM – The Ensuite, Burnaby, Contact Vanessa@havan.ca
Reno Council
: Tuesday, March 31, 5:30pm - 8:30pm, Joey Burnaby. Contact
Sonali@havan.ca
Open to business owner/operator members
.
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Spotlight on HAVAN Members
A casual and friendly way to share a little bit about you and your life, HAVAN's Spotlights are a great way to connect, in a friendly, transparent way! We share spotlights via our blog post and via our social channels to help you gain exposure. Check out Lucila Diaz's
spotlight
.
Founder & Creative Director at Harmony Sense Interiors, it sounds like Lucila enjoys a good puzzle! Thanks for sharing Lucila. If you would like to be featured in your own Spotlight, email
dawn@havan.ca
for details.
Let's get connected! Together we are stronger! @HAVANofficial
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HAVAN is a symbol of integrity and trust. Consumers turn to HAVAN to source builders, renovators, products and services to build their homes which help shape the communities where people want to live. As Canada's second largest, fastest growing home builder association, HAVAN attracts the industry's best, providing leading advocacy initiatives, education and resources to help our member companies thrive. A not-for-profit association, HAVAN is proudly affiliated with both the provincial CHBA BC, and national CHBA offices. Together, we are building excellence.
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