DRHBA ANNOUNCES FINALISTS FOR 2021 AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE

Durham – March 22^nd , 2021 - The Durham Region Home Builders' Association (DRHBA) has released the finalists for their 2021 Awards of Excellence. DRHBA had over 100 entries in this year's awards, and the judges have worked hard to score all of the entries. 

These prestigious awards celebrate excellence in new homes, home renovations, innovative technology and construction, outstanding presentation, and marketing of projects within Durham Region.

Please join us as we take our Awards of Excellence virtual. DRHBA will be hosting the virtual gala on Thursday April 22^nd at 3 p.m. via YouTube. A link will be sent out prior to the event. Tuning in live will allow for you to have first access to the night's winners as well as to comment in real time. Free party boxes for the Awards are also available and will be delivered April 19^th. A limited number of party boxes are left! To sign up to receive a party box please email Katelyn Widdop at k.widdop@drhba.com.  Winners will be contacted by Katelyn Widdop to confirm a shipping address for the trophy after the Awards.

This year's finalists include:

Marketing Awards:

Excellence in Digital Marketing

            Brookfield Residential – Drawn Homes

            Highmark Homes with credit to COOLAID Studios – Triumph 4

            Upperview Homes – President

Excellence in Logo Design

            COOLAID Studios – Y Towns

            Holland Homes – McLaughlin Park

            Upperview Homes – President

Excellence in Print Ad/Direct Mail Piece

            Holland Homes Inc. – Homes and Land Print Ad

            Upperview Homes – President

Excellence in Sales Brochure Design

            COOLAID Studios – Y Towns

    Esquire Homes – Kings Landing

            Upperview Homes – President

Excellence in Signage

            COOLAID Studios – Towns of Folkstone

            Holland Homes Inc. – McLaughlin Park

            Upperview Homes – President

Excellence in Social Media

            Brookfield Residential with credit to COOLAID Studios – Dockside

            Tribute Communities – Tribute Communities Corporate

            Upperview Homes – President

Excellence in Website Design

            A&R Developments

            Esquire Homes

            Upperview Homes

On-Site Sales Presentation Awards:

Excellence in Interior Decorating – Model Home/Suite

            Minto Communities Ontario with credit to RN Design Limited – Winchester, Ivy Ridge

            Minto Communities Ontario with credit to RN Design Limited – Welton, Ivy Ridge

            Picture Homes Millennium with credit to Colours & Concepts Inc. – The Devon

Excellence in New Homes Sales Office – Large Volume

            Coughlan Homes – Enclave

            Esquire Homes – Appleview and North Glen Phase 4

            The Vogue Development Group – Vogue at Queens Common Sales Centre

Excellence in New Homes Sales Office – Small Volume

         To be announced at Awards

New Home Design – Custom Built Awards:

Excellence in Custom Built Bathroom Design

         Holland Homes Inc. – 28 Concession Street

         Wiltshire Homes Canada – Westshore

Excellence in Custom Built Kitchen Design

          FarSight Homes with credit to Colours & Concepts Inc, Green Apple Cabinets, Cassidy +  Company Residential Design Consultants – Amethyst

          Holland Homes Inc. – 28 Concession St.

          Wiltshire Homes Canada – Annland

Excellence in Custom Built Home (under 2500 sq. ft.)

            Andelwood Homes – Brooklin

            Kiya Developments – Church

Excellence in Custom Built Home (2501-3500 sq. ft.)

            Construct and Conserve Building Inc.

            Lavender Homes with credit to Broz Excavating, D.G. Biddle, Don and Son Limited, Goreski Roofing, Holland Homes, Manalco Contracting, Pollard Windows and Doors, Raywal Cabinets, Schleiss Development Company, Tranquility Home Comfort – Grandview Street North

            LCM Project Management and General Contracting – Hanover

Excellence in Custom Built Home (3501-4500 sq. ft.)

            RN Design Limited with credit to Colours & Concepts Inc.  –  Williamsberg Estate

            Construct and Conserve Building Inc. – Matin

            Holland Homes Inc. – 28 Concession St.

Excellence in Custom Built Homes (4501 sq. ft. and up)

           A&R Developments – 1427 Rougemount Drive

           A&R Developments – Luxury Homes in Whitby

           FarSight Homes with credit to Colours & Concepts Inc., Green Apple Cabinets, Cassidy + Company Residential Design Consultants – Amethyst

RenoMark Home Renovator Awards:

Excellence in Bathroom Renovation

            Accubuilt Construction Ltd. With credit Rocpal Custom Cabinets – Uxbridge Bathroom

           Lavender Homes with credit to Broz Excavating, D.G. Biddle, Don and Son Limited, Goreski Roofing, Holland Homes, Manalco Contracting, Pollard Windows and Doors, Raywal Cabinets, Schleiss Development Company, Tranquility Home Comfort – 931 Swiss Heights

            LCM Project Management and General Contracting – Chippewa Bathroom

Excellence in Kitchen Renovation

            Accubuilt Construction Ltd. With credit to Rocpal Custom Cabinets – Raglan Kitchen

            Paradisaic Building Group – Hill Street Kitchen

Excellence in Home Renovation/Addition ($100,001 - $250,000)

            Kraco Contracting – Parent Kitchen – Function, Storage and Style

            Trademark Homes – Cochrane

Excellence in Home Renovation/Addition ($250,001 – $500,000)

            Accubuilt Construction Ltd. – Raglan Addition

            Andelwood Homes – Solina

            LCM Project Management and General Contracting – Fairview Bungalow

Excellence in Home Renovation/Addition ($500,001 and Up)

            Accubuilt Construction Ltd. – Parkview Addition

            Tribute Communities with credit to Cassidy + Company Residential Design Consultants –  Westney Heritage

New Home Design – Production Built Awards:

Excellence in Mid-Rise Building Design

            To be announced at the Awards.

Excellence in Multi- Unit Suite Design

           To be announced at the Awards.

Excellence in High-Rise Building Design

            To be announced at the Awards.

Excellence in Production Built Bathroom Design

            Minto Communities Ontario with credit to RN Design Limited – Winchester, Ivy Ridge

            Trademark Homes with credit to Rocpal Custom Cabinets, Pollard Windows & Doors Inc, Don and Son Building Supplies Limited – Nash

            Upperview Homes – President

Excellence in Production Built Kitchen Design

            Geranium with credit to RN Design Limited and Colours & Concepts Inc. - The Chesterman

            Trademark Homes with credit to Rocpal Custom Cabinets – Nash

            Upperview Homes – President

Excellence in Semi-Detached or Townhome OVER 2000 sq. ft.

            Minto Communities Ontario with credit to RN Design Limited – Greenhaven

            Tribute Communities with credit to Cassidy + Company Residential Design Consultants – Findlay

Excellence in Semi-Detached or Townhome UNDER 2000 sq. ft.

            Delpark Homes with credit to Cassidy + Company Residential Design Consultants – The Avalon

           Tribute Communities with credit to Cassidy + Company Residential Design Consultants – Foster

Excellence in Single 2001 sq. ft. to 3000 sq. ft.

            Trademark Homes – Nash

            Tribute Communities with credit to Cassidy + Company Residential Design Consultants – Rosehampton

            Upperview Homes – President

Excellence in Single 3001 sq. ft. to 4000 sq. ft.

            Esquire Homes – Appleview

            Minto Communities Ontario with credit RN Design Limited – Kendalwood

            Tribute Communities with credit to Cassidy + Company Residential Design Consultants – Bolton

Outstanding Achievement Awards:

Excellence in Training and Development

            Brookfield Residential

            Enbridge Gas Inc.      

            Cassidy + Company Residential Design Consultants

Excellence in Workplace Safety  

            To be announced at the Awards.

Corporate Citizenship

            Brookfield Residential

            Enbridge Gas Inc.

Trade of the Year

            MV Drywall

            The Fireside Group Inc.

Supplier of the Year

            To be announced at the Awards.

Renovator of the Year

            To be announced at the Awards.

Green Builder of the Year

            Brookfield Residential

            Minto Communities with credit to RN Design Limited

Community of the Year

            Coughlan Homes – Enclave 

            Geranium with credit to RN Design Limited and Colours & Concepts Inc. - Courts of Canterbury

            Minto Communities Ontario with credit to RN Design Limited – Ivy Ridge

Builder of the Year – Large Volume

            Coughlan Homes

            Minto Communities Ontario with credit to RN Design Limited

            Tribute Communities

Builder of the Year – Small Volume

             Esquire Homes with credit to Hunt Design Associates

             Geranium with credit to RN Design Limited and Colours & Concepts Inc.

             Upperview Homes

The Durham Region Home Builders' Association is a non-profit association composed of home builders, renovators, trade contractors, suppliers, and related professionals.  They have been an active voice for the residential construction industry in Durham Region for over 60 years.  For more information, visit www.drhba.com.

For more information, contact Katelyn Widdop at 905-579-8080 ext. 1 or k.widdop@drhba.com.

For a pdf version of the above click here!

The Region of Durham is currently undergoing a Municipal Comprehensive Review (MCR), and there are opportunities for engagement.

Proposed Policy Directions (Stage 3-Direct) - survey responses and comments accepted until June 30, 2021

On March 2, 2021, the Planning & Economic Development Committee received the Proposed Policy Directions (Report #2021-P-7). The Proposed Policy Directions present potential additions and changes to land use planning policies, and public input is being requested. The proposed directions are not intended to be exhaustive but introduce certain directions where further input is being sought before draft policies are introduced within a proposed new Regional Official Plan. For additional details, please review the full report here

Comments on the Proposed Policy Directions are being requested by June 30, 2021 (a 120-day commenting period).

The Proposed Policy Directions were developed and informed based on best practice reviews, research, public engagement and feedback received during Stages 1 (“Discover”) and 2 (“Discuss”) of the Envision Durham process. They are also intended to respond to submissions received through Stage 2, a summary of which can be viewed here.

To solicit feedback on the Proposed Policy Directions, an online survey was developed to help facilitate input. Each proposed policy direction has been highlighted by report section, with a corresponding “poll” survey, and specific comments can be provided directly into the survey for each proposed direction. For additional details, please visit the survey here.

Comments may also be submitted via email to EnvisionDurham@durham.ca or sent to the attention of: Envision Durham, c/o The Regional Municipality of Durham, Planning and Economic Development Department, 605 Rossland Road East, PO Box 623, Whitby, Ontario, L1N 6A3.

Growth Management Study (Stage 3-Direct) - Settlement Area Boundary Expansion requests (submissions accepted until May 31, 2021)

As a key component of Envision Durham, a Growth Management Study (GMS) is being completed in two phases. The first phase of the GMS focuses on the completion of a Land Needs Assessment (LNA). The LNA is a comprehensive review and calculation of the Region’s land base, including existing urban areas, to determine how the Growth Plan population and employment forecasts can be accommodated and how much, if any, additional urban land is required. The second phase of the GMS, if required, will focus on determining the most appropriate location for Urban Boundary expansions.

Any required Settlement Area boundary expansion will be considered through the GMS (Phase 2), after the completion of the LNA. The LNA, which determines the amount of urban land required to accommodate the 2051 growth forecasts, is currently underway.

To inform this work, a 90-day submission window for new and/or amended requests for Settlement Area boundary expansions will allow proponents the opportunity to respond to or address the criteria identified within Settlement Area Boundary Expansion section and Appendix C: Settlement Area Boundary Expansion – Evaluation Criteria of the Proposed Policy Directions report released March 2, 2021.

Submissions:

New and/or amended requests for Settlement Area boundary expansions are now being accepted (during a 90-day submission window). The final date to submit a Settlement Area boundary expansion request for consideration through Envision Durham will be May 31, 2021.

When making a submission, stakeholders should:

• Include any supporting documentation, having regard for the criteria outlined in the Settlement Area Boundary Expansion section and Appendix C: Settlement Area Boundary Expansion – Evaluation Criteria of the Proposed Policy Directions report, including clear mapping of the subject property and a description of the proposed land use and built form that is to be considered, including unit count by dwelling type and non-residential floor space, if possible.
• Direct the request in an electronic format to EnvisionDurham@durham.ca.

On March 1, 2021 at the Finance and Administration Committee meeting, Oshawa hosted a public meeting on their development charge bylaw amendment.

Their consultant, Watson & Associates, made a presentation at the meeting.

The net result of the amendment is an increase of:

• $1,020 for single and semi-detached
• $1,283 for duplex (for 2 units)
• $641 for apartments 2 or more bedrooms
• $395 for apartments bachelor and 1 bedroom
• $824 for townhouse dwelling
• $352 for lodging house (per unit)

The changes and new amounts can be viewed here:

The bylaw was amended to reflect the recent amendments to the Development Charges Act made through the More Homes, More Choice Act and the COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act, including:

• Changes to the D.C. recoverable costs, i.e. removable of the 10% statutory deduction for soft services;
• Creation of a class of service for Growth-Related Studies; 
• Changes to DC collection policies for installment payments and charges determined at the time of application for Site Plan or Zoning By-law Amendment; and
• Changes to the statutory exemptions for residential intensification.

The amended bylaw will be brought to council on March 29, 2021.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Stacey.

Enbridge & Building Knowledge Canada are hosting webinars to help builders and HVAC contractors with the commissioning and verification of their furnaces.  These webinars will help inform you of the coming changes and shorten the learning curve.

At the Builder Set Up & Commissioning Verification Process Training, you will learn the new process coming April 1, 2021, including:

• New setup and commissioning process
• New form and how to access/order
• How to avoid commissioning related B-Tags going forward

There are three training sessions being offered:

• March 10, 2021 - 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. - Register
• March 18, 2021 - 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. - Register
• March 25, 2021 - 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. - Register

For more information, click here.

With the recent changes at Tarion as a result of the launch of the Home Construction Regulatory Authority (HCRA), Tarion is hosting Q&A sessions during which you can ask questions to better understand these new changes.

Below are the links to register/join one of these sessions.  Upon registration, you will receive an email with the link to the session you have registered for.  You can register right up until the session starts.

Builder Question & Answer Session - Recent Changes

March 5, 2021 - 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. - Register

March 12, 2021 - 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. - Register

March 19, 2021 - 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. - Register

Please be aware that any specific HCRA question will need to be addressed by the HCRA at info@hcraontario.ca.

Recently Tarion has received a number of questions related to Unavoidable Delays, and in an effort to assist you, Tarion is hosting two webinars on information related to understanding unavoidable delays.

Each webinar will feature a short presentation and a question and answer session.

Please see the links below to register for these upcoming sessions.  Upon registration, you will receive a confirmation email with the link to the webcast you have registered for.

Builder Information Session: Unavoidable Delays

March 9, 2021 - 2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. - Register

March 12, 2021 - 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Register

Tarion is working with our industry partners to find solutions to address the increasing concerns for the safety of homeowners and builders.  Remember, you can visit Tarion's website for all of our COVID-19 resources for builders.

If you have a COVID-19 related questions that isn't answered by their available -resources, you can reach out to their COVID-19 response team by emailing COVID19@tarion.com or by calling - 1-877-982-7466.

On Friday, February 26, 2021, OHBA hosted a technical committee meeting that featured a presentation by Michael Lio of buildABILITY: "Guidance for the OBC 2022 Requirements for Stairs, Guards and Handrails."

Amendments to the stairs, guards and handrails provisions will come into force on January 1, 2022.

Part of the amendments to the code include new definitions for flight, run and tapered tread.  These new definitions are:

• Flight - a series of steps between landings
• Run - the horizontal distance between two adjacent tread nosings on a stair.
• Tapered Tread - a tread with non-parallel edges that increases or decreases its run uniformly over its width.

Key Changes

Spiral Stairs

In Section 9.8.3.1 is the introduction of (c) spiral stairs, added as a permission.  This is in addition to the previous (a) straight flights and (b) curved flights.  This addition comes with requirements, as outlined in 9.8.4.5A. Spiral Stairs:

a)      handrails on both sides, the outer handrail being not less than 1,070 mm high,

b)      a clear width not less than 660 mm between handrails,

c)      risers that are not more than 240 mm high,

d)     treads that,

 i.         are a minimum of 190 mm deep at a point 300 mm from the centre line of the inside handrail,

 ii.      have a consistent angle and uniform dimension, and

 iii.      turn in the same direction, and

e)      a clear height not less than 1,980 mm.

In addition,

2.  Spiral stairs conforming to Sentence (1) are permitted to be used as the only means of egress where they serve not more than 3 persons.

3.  Except as permitted by Sentence (2), spiral stairs shall not serve as an exit.

Runs

In the new code that will come into effect in January of 2022, the minimum run for rectangular treads has increased from 210 mm (8 1/4") to 255 mm (10").

This change has been a long time in the making, as the code change request was made in 1992, and was introduced in the NBCC in 2015.

Prior to implementing these changes, the National Research Council's Joint Task Group on Step Geometry did a substantial amount of research, and consulted many data sources, including:

• Most recent data available
• Canadian data and research
• International data and research
• Common practice

Canada already has some of the steepest stairs worldwide, with a max stair steepness of 44°, compared to the UK at 42°, the US and Australia at 38°.

When looking into fall injuries, the National Research Council's Assessment of Health Burdens found that:

• 21%  of all unintentional falls resulting in severe injuries are stair-related falls
• 82% of stair falls occur in residential settings.

In 2012, residential stair incidents included:

• 314 deaths
• 8,822 hospitalizations (including 820 brain injuries)
• 97,045 ER visits with no hospital admission
• $476 million in direct healthcare spending

It is noted that step geometry is the most critical factor relating to falls.  The research shows that shorter runs result in loss of balance, slipping off steps and missteps by tripping, overstepping, heel scuff, crabbing and foot overhang, while larger runs offer more space for better foot placement and larger foot sizes, and create greater margins of stability.  Canadian studies have shown that there is no direct correlation between fall incidence and rise (between 7" and 8"), but there is a direct correlation between fall incidence and run.  The new rise dimensions are estimated to reduce falls by 64%.

The new dimensions for runs will have an impact on the floor area.  The change will require an additional 6.3 square feet for 8-foot ceilings and 7.3 square feet for 9-foot ceilings.  It is estimated that over 118,000 starts, the economic impact will be $267 million for 8-foot ceilings and $290 million for 9-foot ceilings.

Tapered Treads

Section 9.8.4.3 - Dimensions for Tapered Treads has also been amended, and now reads as follows:

1.      tapered treads shall have a run that,

b.  complies with the dimensions for rectangular treads specified in Table 9.8.4.1. (i.e. 255 mm) when measured at a point 300 mm from the centre line of the inside handrail.

4.   Tapered treads in a flight shall have a uniform run in accordance with the tolerances described in Sentence (3) when measured at a point 300 mm from the centre line of the inside handrail.

a.      5 mm between adjacent treads, and

b.      10 mm between the deepest and shallowest treads in a flight.

Section 9.8.4.4A. Uniformity of Runs in Flights with Mixed Treads within a House or Dwelling Unit has been amended to as follows:

1.    where a flight consists of both tapered treads and rectangular treads, all the treads shall have a uniform run when measured at a point 300 mm from the centre line of the inside handrail.

2.      where tapered treads are located at the bottom of a mixed-tread flight of the run of the tapered treads when measured at a point 300 mm from the centre line of the inside handrail is permitted to exceed the run of the rectangular treads.

Section 9.8.3.1. Straight and Curved Runs in Stairs has been amended to read:

2. (b) flights with a mix of rectangular and tapered treads provided all tapered treads within a flight turn in the same direction.

Handrails

Section 9.8.7.1. Required Handrails has been amended to:

5.  Except for stairs with winders, where a flight of stairs within a house or an individual dwelling unit consists of tapered treads, or a mix of tapered treads and rectangular treads, one handrail shall be installed along the narrow end of the treads.

Section 9.8.7.4. Height of Handrails has been amended to:

Handrails shall be 865 mm to 1070 mm high (from 965 mm).

Section 9.8.7.5. Ergonomic Design has been amended to:

1.  The clearance between a handrail and any surface behind it shall be not less than,

(a) 60 mm, if the surface behind the handrail is rough or abrasive, or

(b) 50 mm, in all other cases.

Jerry Coughlan, the founder of Coughlan Homes and Deer Creek Golf & Banquet Facility, has passed away.

Jerry founded Coughlan Homes in 1958 with on developing affordable, quality homes in the east end of Toronto, and built the first of what would become many houses in East York.  After realizing the potential for development in surrounding areas, Jerry focused his efforts further east into Scarborough, Pickering and then Ajax.

Through Jerry's hard work and a focused ambition, Coughlan Homes became an established community builder and as Jerry demonstrated his commitment to quality and craftsmanship, along with a keen eye for detail, the company earned a strong reputation that continues to this day.

Jerry enjoyed many sports and initially entered the golf business with a partnership in Glen Cedars Golf Club.  He later assembled land to build Deer Creek Golf Club and Salem Ridge Golf & Academy - his vision fulfilled.

From his early years in business, Jerry recognized the importance of the community within which his businesses operated.  Jerry was known for his generous contributions to Durham charities, including Lakeridge Health, Grandview Kids and The Salvation Army.  Most recently, Jerry's contributions paved the way for the Jerry Coughlan Health & Wellness Centre - a four-storey outpatient medical and community health centre in Pickering, designed to provide a range of health care services to those within the surrounding community.

Jerry's legacy will be remembered for generations as the communities he built continue to flourish, and the companies he founded continue to grow, providing employment and philanthropic contributions to the surrounding community.

Jerry will be greatly missed by his family, friends and those who knew him well. 

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to McEachnie Funeral Home in Ajax.  Please visit their website for information on the funeral services.

The City of Pickering is concluding Phase 1 of the Comprehensive Zoning By-law Review, as such staff have prepared a report to Council presenting the key findings and recommendations from the 8 discussion papers completed withing Phase 1 and comments received from the public and stakeholders.  In addition, the City's consultant, WSP, will present an overview of the discussion papers.

The meeting will take place on Monday, March 22, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.

View more information on the meeting here.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to Tanjot Bal or Deborah Wylie at the City of Pickering.

The Town of Whitby released their Development Charge Background Study today.

The background study is proposing a 66% increase on single detached homes, from $23,868 to $40,544, a difference of $16,126.

Previously, the Town of Whitby has proposed a new rate of $43,366, however, DRHBA is working with a stakeholder group and consults and their initial work has decreased the proposed increase by $2,822.  This stakeholder group will continue to work with municipal staff and Whitby's consultants, Hemson, to further reduce the charge.

The mandatory public meeting has been scheduled for Monday, March 8, 2021 at 5:30 p.m.  It can be viewed at www.whitby.ca/livestream.

Correspondence can be submitted to the meeting by emailing clerk@whitby.ca no later than noon on Friday, March 5, 2021.

If you wish to make a delegation at the meeting, you will need to complete a Delegation Request Form online by noon on March 8, 2021.

The new development charge bylaw will be brought to council in April, and if passed, will come into effect in May, 2021.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact Stacey.