A 'perfect storm' of challenges faces the new president of the 260-member Central Okanagan branch of the Canadian Home Builders' Association.
Housing has become unaffordable for many in Kelowna, there's shortage of construction materials, a labour and trades shortage, upcoming changes to the BC Building Code, increasing municipal fees, climate change concerns and a booming population demanding stylish, comfortable and affordable homes.
"Our challenge will be to provide our clients with innovative new construction techniques and materials to provide affordable housing models," said Darren Witt, the owner of Bercum Builders in Kelowna and Vernon.
Witt moved up from vice-president to president of the Central Okanagan branch of the Canadian Home Builders' Association at the group's virtual annual general meeting this week.
"The way we built homes five years ago will be vastly different than the way we'll build in the next five years," said Witt.
"And I believe our builders are up to the challenge."
Affordability means different things to different people.
To some it means a new or existing apartment or condominium, to others a townhouse, modest single-family home, typical family home or luxury, custom house.
The new home building industry is integral to the process because it adds all housing types to a market of existing homes to create a diverse inventory of homes at all price points.
"Our region is growing and climate change is redefining the way we build homes," added Witt.
"Our goal is to collaborate with city staff and educate elected officials about the effects these issues have on our industry and housing affordability overall."
Residential construction is one of the Central Okanagan's biggest economic drivers, employing over 12,500 and pumping $1.5 billion into the economy annually.
Membership of the Central Okanagan branch of the Canadian Home Builders' Association is made up not just of builders of new residential, land developers, but renovators, interior designers, building materials suppliers and trades companies, banks and insurance companies and service professionals.
The 2021-22 board is made up of:
- President: Darren Witt, Bercum Builders
- Past-president: Cassidy deVeer, 3rd Generation Homes (and a new vice-president of the BC branch of the Canadian Home Builders' Association
- Vice-president: Krista Paine, Ian Paine Construction & Design
- Sandy Morris, Sandmor Construction
- Ranvir Nahal, Sunterra Custom Homes
- Jacob Kuiken, Everton Ridge Homes
- Michael Chatham, Chatham Homes on the Hill
- Chuck Cullen, Team Construction
- Kendra Dunn, Isabey Interiors
- Andrea Eichberger, Csek Creative
- Sherri Paiement, Telus
- Mark Danielson, Pushor Mitchell Lawyers
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