By Miles Kohan
CHBA President
There’s a lot to look forward to with fall now upon us. At the national level of CHBA, there are many things that you can take advantage of with your membership. Whether you’re new to our association or have been a member for many years, the value of your membership really depends on what you choose to get out of it. For me, taking on the national presidency for a year will be my most exciting challenge yet. I’m looking forward to meeting many of you in my travels across the country, and hearing about your experiences. And I know firsthand, the more I put into the association, the more I get out of it, so I know just how rewarding this year will be.
Home Building Week
I’m particularly looking forward to CHBA’s Home Building Week in Canada: An annual event for industry leaders that combines the national committee and council meetings with the two-and-a-half-day conference. This year, we’re welcoming you all to my home province of Alberta, with the event taking place at the historic Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. We’ve timed it for February to take advantage of peak skiing season for those who want to extend their stay. The conference is a fantastic opportunity to meet others in the industry, and just as much business happens at meals and social events as it does during the many informative and invigorating sessions. You can read more about it at chba.ca/homebuildingweek.
“Remember to check in with your association at the local, provincial and national levels to see what they can offer you and how you can take advantage of your membership this year.”
The capstone of Home Building Week in Canada is the awards gala for the CHBA National Awards for Housing Excellence. I’ve been involved in the awards for many years, providing input on categories and entry requirements, entering the awards on behalf of my company, and volunteering as a judge. Over the years, the number of categories you can enter has expanded and evolved to capture the many facets of our industry. Whether you’re a renovator, spec or custom builder, or developer, there are categories for you to enter. We’ve had winners from big cities and small towns, and the caliber of projects entered each year is always impressive – being named a finalist or winner at the national level is an amazing honour. CHBA shares projects on social media all year round from entrants, boosting your visibility and providing you with a marketing advantage even if you don’t win. The entry period for the 2023 awards season is open now until Oct. 17. Visit chba.ca/ housingawards for more information.
Canada’s Top Homes and Design Trends
To further promote the association, CHBA is launching an exciting new publication late this fall. Canada’s Top Homes and Design Trends will be a coffee table magazine chock full of images of beautiful homes, design inspiration, industry stories and educational articles that will enlighten consumers on the benefits of working with CHBA members. This additional piece of membership value will be a great addition to your show home, sales centre or office, demonstrating what working with a CHBA member can mean to your customers. Featuring every finalist and winner of the 2022 CHBA National Awards for Housing Excellence, it will showcase fresh designs and interesting projects from members from across the country – true inspiration for members and customers alike. Brought to you by CHBA in collaboration with the publishers of nexthome. ca, producers of CHBA’s Building Excellence Magazine and Canada’s largest network of new home publications, New Home + Condo Guides, Canada’s Top Homes and Design Trends will be mailed to members, as well as promoted to the public nationally and regionally.
I hope you all had an enjoyable and productive summer and are looking forward to a new season of association events as much as I am. As things get busy, remember to check in with your association at the local, provincial and national levels to see what they can offer you and how you can take advantage of your membership this year.
