On June 12th The Canadian Home Builders’ Association Central Interior (CHBA Central Interior) was presented with the Community Service Award for their donations and work in building the Y Lottery Dream Home in the first ever virtual edition of the 2020 Association Leadership Awards. The award recognizes a local or provincial Home Builders’ Association (HBA) for its community service or charitable projects that demonstrate a commitment to the housing industry and to improving the quality of life for those in its community.

Building Better Lives for those in Kamloops, BC

For the past 30 years, CHBA Central Interior has partnered with Thompson Rivers University (TRU) for a project called The Training House. This project goes beyond traditional classroom education by offering hands-on, real world training for students in the skilled trades program at the University. It is this longstanding partnership and project for which CHBA Central Interior earned its national award.

Each year, students enrolled in the trades program at the University get first-hand experience building a real home under the supervision of a TRU instructor and a licenced builder member with CHBA Central Interior. Students get exposure to many facets of a real job site like coping with bad weather, dealing with delays and more, meaning they’re earning valuable experience they can tout when entering the real job market. And here’s the kicker – the aptly-named Training House is completed and sold to the Kamloops YMCA/YWCA for its Dream Home Lottery fundraiser!

CHBA Central Interior has experienced rewarding full circle moments through the program. Since its inception in 1991 more than 300 students have taken part in building homes through The Training House and have graduated on to rewarding careers in the residential construction industry, many of whom are now working members of the HBA today.

Building the 2020 Y Dream Home

This year, the students and CHBA Central Interior builders worked hard to bring to life the YMCA lottery fundraiser grand prize, the “Y Dream Home” in Kamloops, British Columbia. CHBA Central Interior worked hard throughout the year sourcing support from countless sponsors for building materials and finishes to ensure the project was a huge hit and one that students, builders, and the community can be proud of. The finished result of this year’s Training House is a beautiful four-bedroom, environmentally built home valued at $696,800 revealed to Kamloops local resident winner Nicole Larson on July 8th, 2020.

Watch the 2020 Y Dream Home Virtual Tour

https://youtu.be/u01YRiHZqB0

Canadian Home Builders Central Interior, 2020 Y Dream Home Virtual Tour

CHBA Central Interior and TRU’s Training House program was also recognized at this years CHBA-British Columbia’s Georgie Awards for Best Public-Private partnership. A big congratulations to CHBA Central Interior for their leadership and dedication to the community and the future of our industry.

For more photos, and to see past Training House projects by CHBA-CI and TRU students, click here.

Find out how other CHBA members are contributing to #CdnBuilt communities by following the hashtag on social media. For other stories, visit the Giving back section of our blog.

If your HBA or company has given back to your community, we’d like to share your story! Contact communications@chba.ca