SAG, Golden Globes, Emmy’s, Tony’s, the Oscars, and a bunch of other awards have all been handed out over the last few weeks, but all are overshadowed by the highly coveted HAVAN Awards for Housing Excellence presented by FortisBC with Patron Sponsor BC Housing, now in its 15th year. Last Wednesday, HAVAN hosted the 2024 HAVAN Awards Finalist Reveal at The Gallery Also at the Kent.
The sold-out event was attended by 200+ awards entrants and guests who were treated to Midland Margaritas (the first 100 guests to arrive received a complimentary beverage,) the Riz Sushi Live Chef Station, sponsored by Trail Appliances, and other delicious appetizers as they anxiously awaited to see if their entry was chosen as one of 154 finalists competing in 60 awards categories.
The finalists were chosen from a pool of over 455 entries – a record year for the awards, and judged by an impartial panel of industry professionals and peers from outside our region across Canada. Judges provided their evaluations independently, on a common set of questions pertinent to each category. The four highest-scoring submissions within each category are recognized as the finalists, noting the Grand HAVAN Awards have an added layer of criteria relating to the entrants’ business practices, with a weighted formula to determine their outcomes.
The entry submissions by our member builders, renovators, and designers represent some of the best efforts in good planning, design, exacting specification, and expert execution while meeting their client’s expectations. Finalists typically reflect the latest trends in advanced planning, trend-setting design, and decor, while meeting and exceeding code requirements with the latest high-performance building solutions, and industry-leading building science technology, all while working to accommodate client’s tastes, needs, and housing selection.
WHY ENTER THE AWARDS?
BRAND ENDORSEMENT
For many members, the awards are a key to their membership and cornerstone of their sales and marketing efforts. The brand endorsement from HAVAN’s trusted Awards logo provides an added layer of confidence for potential clients, and the award-winning work becomes a calling card and inspiration to new clients too.
MEDIA COVERAGE
The awards benefit custom builders, renovators, designers, as well as production builders, too. Over the last 15 years, the awards have gained both relevance and credibility. Showcased in more than 19 features in 2023, including in the Vancouver Sun, Western Living, Boulevard Magazine, RENO + DECOR magazine, NEXTHOME etc, the HAVAN Awards is an effective means to build connection and awareness with homeowners and homebuyers.
The presence in social media is also very strong and HAVAN integrates award finalists and winners into its online, digital, and print content throughout the year to help you build connections with consumers. The HAVAN Awards recipients are also featured in our podcast Measure Twice, Cut Once, providing province-wide access and exposure via all major podcast platforms plus our YouTube channel with episodes averaging between 8,000 and 13,000 views.
EVOLVING CATEGORIES
As governments work on advancing housing solutions, the awards introduce categories like ‘Best Multiplex Development,’ ‘Best Multiplex Unit,’ (new for 2024) and ‘Best New Small-Scale Home’ to showcase the latest in new housing solutions and enable people to connect and source experienced professionals. Recognizing these policies and regulations are in flux, our messaging to the consumer in media coverage emphasizes the importance of working with experienced professionals who stay abreast of the latest housing regulations and code requirements.
As the awards showcase the great work of members, they also reflect the shift in our housing market, and moving forward the awards will continue to respond to new land use policies, high-performance requirements, lowering of carbon footprints, and a host of new technology and home automation. With new infill opportunities in the multi-plex, laneway home, ADU, legal suite, the proposed archetypical designs from the province, and the feds driving a possible Vancouver Special 2.0, we look forward to promoting the innovation and creativity that members are bringing to these housing genres.
For more on Why the HAVAN Awards please follow this link.
AND THE WINNERS ARE?
The focus now shifts to the HAVAN Awards Gala to be held at the JW Marriot Parq Hotel Vancouver on May 4, 2024, where upwards of 600 finalists, sponsors, members, and special guests will gather for a black-tie event to enjoy a great reception, dinner, and entertainment, and of course, celebrate the work and achievements of our industry as the winners are announced.
If you have never attended a HAVAN Awards Gala, please join us and see first-hand the strength and capabilities of our membership. The opportunity for next year is available to all members, and I highly recommend reviewing your projects being undertaken or finishing now as potential candidates for the 2025 HAVAN Awards for Housing Excellence. Call for Entries 2025 will open in October this year.
GALA TICKETS & SPECIAL PARQ HOTEL ROOM RATES
Tickets to the GALA are available now, and will sell out, as this event does every year – so please, register early, and avoid disappointment. Special hotel room rates are also available via this link.
The month of May will also see the Provincial Georgie Awards winners announced, and the CHBA National Awards (22 members are recognized as finalists in 48 categories) with many HAVAN members having qualified as finalists for all three levels. We wish all members in the running the best of luck, and to all our 2024 HAVAN Awards Finalists – “May the 4th be with You.”
Thank you to all our sponsors. View the complete list of sponsors here.
To view all Finalists Reveal Party images, click here.
To view the list of finalists, and see images of their projects, click here.
HAVAN continues to work with CHBA BC and CHBA to advocate for all levels of government to work together to address the challenges of the housing industry including zoning restrictions, density limits, and NIMBYism.
Looking to stay up-to-date on Metro Vancouver’s residential housing industry? Sign up for Ron’s weekly Monday Morning Briefing and other HAVAN emails here.
QUICK BITES …
- In the first of many media articles, please see this piece in the Vancouver Sun covering the 2024 HAVAN Awards Finalists, including comments from yours truly.
- Good opinion piece here in Storeys regarding the adverse effects of delays and taxation on delivery of housing supply – preaching the choir, but the more often this message is reinforced the more credibility and leverage it gains.
- As noted in the Daily Hive – what a difference a new council makes as Port Moody shifts to a “transit development-oriented city.” During the term of the last “anti-everything” council, we often criticized Port Moody for turning away from capitalizing on their windfall of having two Skytrain stations within their boundaries. Now, in conjunction with long-stalled developers, the potential is on the table for a significant contribution to new housing across all genres together with many community amenities.
- From HAVAN member Federated Insurance, please see this white paper on Natural Hazards: Preparing your business for extreme weather events and earthquakes. As we prepare to face another season of potential weather and wildfire events please determine your coverage limits, exposure, and conditions.
- BIV echoes the comments offered in previous MMBs regarding the challenges presented to municipalities by the new housing legislation from the province – unintended consequences – ones that are not great for our sector …
- All housing awards programs across Canada depend on the generosity of volunteers from within the industry for peer-review judging. Currently, BILD Toronto has a critical need for Awards judges; particularly marketers (advertising agencies) and architects. Interested parties can reach out to Tiffany Kohl tkohl@bildgta.ca
Moving forward, to assist our HBA community, and to provide members with unique behind-the-scenes experiences on how different awards programs work (which may assist you in preparing your future submissions), you are invited to include your name (and/or others on your team) who would be interested in being a judge. The timing, commitments, categories and platforms will vary depending on the program but this list will be given to HBAs who request it, and then they will reach out individually based on who they need. HAVAN members are invited to add your name to the list here. Please sign up by April 1. Thank you.
- HAVAN’s AGM is scheduled for Wednesday, April 3, online, noon – 1pm. Details, PROXY Form, and registration here:
AGENDA:-
Approval of the October 4 Annual Election Meeting minutes
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Presentation and approval of HAVAN’s Audited Financial Statements (to be sent to members)
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Approval of the auditors
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Presentation of the BCIT Scholarships
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