The 14th annual HAVAN Awards for Housing Excellence gala took place on Saturday night, April 22 at the JW Marriot Parq Hotel in Vancouver, with 550 guests in attendance to see 49 builders and designers awarded 54 prestigious HAVAN Awards. Special guests included the Minister Responsible for Housing, the Honourable Ravi Kahlon, Vincent Tong, Acting CEO for BC Housing, MP for Langley – Aldergrove, Tako van Popta, and Councilor Linda Annis from Surrey.
Other guests included Ben Nishi, and Michael Liu, Commercial and Regional Energy Solutions Managers from Presenting Sponsor Fortis BC, and from Patron Sponsor BC Housing, Michelle Hayes, Executive Director & Registrar, Licensing and Consumer Services, along with a number of other senior representatives from BC Housing. We were also pleased to host CHBA BC CEO Neil Moody, current CHBA BC president Cassidy DeVerre of 3rd Generation Homes, Kelowna, and HAVAN Chair Dave Deamer, from Polygon, and his wife Yudi.
The 2023 HAVAN Awards continues to see keen competition with the high caliber of projects entered in the HAVAN Awards increasing every year since its inception in 2010, including through the pandemic, and now in 2023.. All the winners and finalists are to be congratulated and should be very proud of their work, accomplishments, and contributions to housing in our region. This year, close to 400 entries were juried by a peer-reviewed panel of award-winning builders, renovators, and designers from across the country.
Guests celebrated members’ achievements on Saturday, and we saw some of the best works across the broad spectrum of housing from modest renovations to production high and low-rise projects, and high-end renovation and custom home projects from which many design cues, materials, and technologies flow into the mainstream. Awards were presented to a broad variety of archetypes from innovative laneway homes and infill housing solutions to luxurious ultra-modern houses and condos, plus a spectrum of multi-family developments that can inspire members and consumers looking to buy, build, design, or renovate their homes.
The numerous accolades earned by our members locally, provincially, nationally, and internationally certainly attest to our industry’s commitment to raising the bar and contributing to setting the highest industry standards. Minister Kahlon mentioned that in the many meetings, he has participated in with provincial counterparts, since assuming the Housing portfolio 6 months ago, he is always being asked about and complimented on, the initiatives and caliber of work being affected by the residential housing industry in BC.
Minister Kahlon addressed the audience with a speech that reinforced those themes and outlined the commitment of the province to work collaboratively with municipalities, and industry to address the need to increase supply and introduce changes to the status quo that will smooth the path through approvals and permits, support creative and innovative housing forms, explore technologies to improve efficiency, quality, performance, and resiliency, and bring changes to encourage young people to follow a career path into the trades and support changes to adapt housing and help mitigate the effects of climate change.
It was also noted this is a time of opportunity as we see local, provincial, and federal governments all aligned and focused on housing needs, seeking means to streamline processes, and dramatically increase the number of homes we build across all segments of the housing market. We are, currently, at an important crossroads for residential construction as all stakeholders try to find the means to address the challenges of climate change, shifting technologies, and adopting new techniques. The minister noted it is essential our Association is a key contributor to the ongoing consultations and helping to shape housing policies.
Guests enjoyed the savoury appies sponsored by MIRA Floors + Interiors, the popular 360-degree video booth, sponsored by Pacific Art Stone, which created a ‘wrap around’ live action video reel for up to four people, and the fun FortisBC-sponsored mirror photobooth, complete with captioned signs to pose with. In recognition of Earth Day, presenting sponsor FortisBC welcomed each guest with a beautifully presented potted plant, which also was a reminder of the important work everyone in our industry is undertaking in adopting BC’s Energy Step Code. To start the Awards show and again during half-time, guests were treated to the rockin’ live music by the Scott Riddell Band, compliments of Persaj Countertops. The after party complete with DJ, dancing, gourmet popcorn and a custom ramen bar, was compliments of Freedom Capital. It was an unforgettable evening with lots of laughs, celebration, and conversation.
A great deal of credit for what made this Awards event a successful and fun event must go to HAVAN’s Wendy McNeil, Justine Nadia, the entire HAVAN team, and the group of volunteers who contributed their time and efforts to the event and award presentations. HAVAN would also like to thank all our generous sponsors for their support of the HAVAN Awards, and for the 14th consecutive year, we were thrilled to have FortisBC as the Presenting Sponsor, with BC Housing as the Patron Sponsor. Other valued Sponsors include:
Gold Sponsor: McQuarrie Legal Services, Pacific Art Stone, Vicostone
Silver sponsors: E3 Eco Group, Trail Appliances
Bronze sponsors: Associa British Columbia Inc., Cantu Bathrooms & Hardware Ltd., Dick’s Lumber and Building Supplies, FloForm Countertops with Infinity Porcelain, MNP LLP
Print Sponsor: Minuteman Press Surrey
Audit Sponsor: 777 Eccounting Systems Inc.
Supporting Sponsors: BCIT, Federated Insurance Company of Canada
Legal Sponsor: Kuhn LLP
Gala Wine & AP Snacks Sponsor: Freedom Capital
Gala Red Carpet Sponsor: MIRA Floors + Interiors
Gala Entertainment Sponsor: Persaj Countertops
Media sponsors: Black Press Group, Boulevard Magazine, NextHome, Reno + Décor, Vancouver Sun and The Province, Western Living magazine, Glacier Media, and Build Magazine.
Amongst the winners, some notable mentions include:
- Interior Designer of the Year: Designs by KS with six nominations and five wins,
- Custom Builder of the Year: Smithwood Builders with eight nominations and two wins,
- Residential Renovator of the Year: My House Design/Build Team with 11 nominations, and three wins,
- Double Grand HAVAN Award winner, Miracon Development for Grand HAVAN Best Residential Community, Multi-Family, and Grand HAVAN Multi-Family Home Builder of the Year, totaling 8 nominations with four wins.
The complete list of winners is listed below and can be viewed online at https://havan.ca/awards/finalists/, and photos of the event will be posted on HAVAN’s FLICKR Account, noting images will continue to be added in the coming days.
HAVAN extends our congratulations to all the finalists, the Award recipients, and all our members who make our housing sector a premier example of what can be achieved in this space, and who set the bar for the industry in Canada, and beyond. Please give yourselves a round of applause!!
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.
