The Water in the City Conference is taking place September 16 - 20th at the Victoria Conference Centre. It will examine community water issues, and outline best practices and emerging technologies. The program includes Nature's Revenue Streams presented by CHBA member Patrick Lucey. Patrick is a widely recognized authority on implementing Smart Municipal Development to restore aquatic systems while saving money for the developer and reducing infrastructure costs for the community. In addition, consultant Scott Murdoch presents a "Developer's Toolkit to Stormwater Management Techniques," providing info on technologies for stormwater remediation. For more info go to www.waterinthecity.ca or call Kate at
(250) 472-7644.

The Commercial Division of the Victoria Real Estate Board invites CHBA members to participate in the 15th Annual Commercial Building Awards competition. The competition is open to building, development or renovation projects located within the CRD. For more information, please call Lynne Petelski at the Victoria Real Estate Board at 920-4650 or email lpetelski@vreb.org. Deadline for receipt of all nominations is 4:30 pm, Friday, July 28, 2006

CHBA-Victoria's recreational hockey team is signing up recruits. This is going to be novice level, co-ed hockey, so don't be shy. Cost is $280 per player. Those expressing interest so far are Bob Whelan, Warren Ricketts, Casey Edge, Dan Johnson, and Sean Dhillon, plus Chris Ricketts has volunteered as timekeeper. We need at least 5 more players to form the team! We'll also need a team name. Send your suggestions to info@chbavictoria.com and the winner will get the first two tickets to see the Salmon Kings in the Fall. For more info on the hockey league, go to www.victoriahockey101.com 

CHBA – Victoria member, Lumberworld, is back in business, after a devastating fire. Congratulations Lumberworld on getting back on your feet so quickly! 

CHBA-Victoria office staff, led by Debra Dahlgren, Team Leader, came in 16th out of 108 entrants in the Mini Category of Bike to Work Week. We hope everyone will join us next year!   

The BC Labour Market Information Committee and the Construction Sector Council are working together to develop a better understanding of the construction labour market in BC over the next decade and have put together a short survey.  This project focuses on estimating residential construction/trade occupation requirements. As a reward for completing this survey each member will be entered into a draw to win a $250 Home Hardware Gift Card. Surveys must be completed by 4:30pm PDT on July 31, 2006. The survey is available on the CHBA BC website at www.chbabc.org

·        New applicants:
Karim Nathoo, Aerus Electrolux Canada and John Upward, John’s GardenScapes Ltd.

Thank you to all of the members who have already paid their 2006/2007 membership dues, our membership numbers have increased again this year – we must be doing something right!! If that renewal invoice is still sitting on your desk, please call the office with your credit card number or write a cheque and get it in the mail to us quickly – we don’t want you to miss any of the membership benefits over the summer!!!

Cash rebates for builders constructing energy efficient houses and apartments, sponsored by BC Hydro Power Smart, Terasen Gas and British Columbia Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources. The new incentive menu offers builders and developers a range of options to make their new homes more efficient and environmentally-friendly.

Contact: Doug Overholt, DL Overholt Management Services Client Services for BC Hydro Power Smart and Terasen Gas, email: dlomgmt@telus.net or phone: 604.929.7408

Both the provincial Georgie Awards™ and National SAM Awards are calling for entries!

For more information on the 15th Annual Georgie™ Awards Call for Entry, visit www.chbabc.org. Deadline for entries is October 17, 2006.

For more information regarding the National SAM Awards visit www.chba.ca/SAMS. Deadline for entries is November 3, 2006.

Speaking of awards, CONGRATULATIONS to Cottage Grove Contracting Ltd. for receiving the Development/Construction Award and to Homewood Constructors Ltd. for receiving the Business/Industry Award. These awards were presented at Council during Environment Week in June.

For more information go to www.gov.saanich.bc.ca/resident/environment/naturalenv.html

CHBA-Victoria member, Habitat for Humanity, would like to start a “Women Build” project in Victoria.

For more information go to www.habitat.ca/womenbuildprogramc10.php, then call Habitat's Executive Director Jack Shore at 598-4760.

Also, don't forget you can contribute to affordable housing for families by using Habitat's ReStore at 2100 Douglas Street. ReStores are building supply stores that accept and resell quality new and used building materials.

The Homeowner Protection Office (HPO) is a provincial Crown corporation established to protect buyers of new homes from undue risk and assist the residential construction industry to mitigate that risk.

The HPO licenses residential builders and building envelope renovators province-wide, and is a free information centre for up-to-date research and education for consumers and the residential construction industry.

A public registry of licensed builders is available on the HPO website along with the Buying a New Home Guide, maintenance bulletins for multi-unit homes, and green building and energy programs for consumers.

The HPO partners with the residential construction sector to provide research and education in the areas of building science and best practices. The HPO website provides the residential construction industry with an on-line resource guide to the building code changes, Builder Insight – bulletins on emerging technical issues, green building and energy programs, education and reference resources, research reports and upcoming Building Smart education seminars.

Visit the HPO website at www.hpo.bc.ca to obtain the free information resources.

The new HomeDesign Show at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre is filling up with exhibitors. Gold sponsors include Terasen Gas and Hourigan's Carpets and Linos. Don't miss the chance to display your product or service at this new exciting venue!  

Call For Exhibitors

Enjoy the benefits of membership, save $100 on booth apace AND
participate in the first-ever

HomeDesign Show

Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre
October 13, 14 & 15, 2006

featuring

Steven Sabados & Chris Hyndman
hosts of HGTV’s ‘Design Rivals’

Call now to book your booth!
Ph: 383-5044 or email info@chbavictoria.com