Central Alberta Homes Spring 2013

s pr i n g 2013 cen t r a l a lb er ta h o m es 3


spring 2013 | issue 03

market overview

11 Just the facts Central Alberta housing market to remain strong in 2013

feature

12 Estate homes High end market driven by healthy economy

events

15 Red Deer Home Show Everything for your home under one roof,

for one weekend only

community

16 An investment in lifestyle Malibu Communities focused on

developing sustainable quality neighbourhoods

18 Good neighbours Melcor committed to creating quality communities

industry news

23 Celebrating excellence in housing Local home building stars set to shine

bright at annual awards

interiors/exteriors

25 Ground rules Some tips on growing the perfect garden in Central Alberta

cover photo: bowood homes photo by andrea Wiseman@CHBACA1@chbaca1

12

18

departments

6 Message from the Executive Officer

9 Getting to Know…

30 Member List

15 25

contents

6 cen t r a l a lb er ta h o m es s pr i n g 2013

message from the executive officer

CANADIAN HOME BUILDERS’ ASSOCIATION – CENTRAL ALBERTA represents professionals in the housing industry. CHBA – Central Alberta has been in existence for over 55 years and is a network of professionals that manages industry issues to provide value to our members.

10, 7895 - 49th Avenue Red Deer, Alberta T4P 2B4Tel: 403.346.5321 Toll-free: 1.888.346.-5329Fax: 403.342.1301 Toll-free: 1.877.342.1301E-mail: [email protected]

Denie Olmstead | Executive Officer [email protected]

Joan Butler | Executive [email protected]

PUBLISHED By Source Media Group Corp. 207, 5809 Macleod Trail S.W. Calgary, Alberta T2H 0J9Tel: 403.532.3101, Fax: 403.532.3109 Toll free: 1.888.932.3101Email: [email protected]

AssOciAte PuBlisher | Jim Zang Art DirectOr | Jean Faye Rodriguez

GrAPhic DesiGners | Lama Azhari, Dave Macaulay, Megan Sereda

PrODuctiOn cO-OrDinAtOr | Colleen Leier

cOntriButOrs | John Burnham, Tess Flewelling, Treena Mielke, Mike Wizeman AccOuntinG | Donna Roberts

DirectOr Of sAles | Norma [email protected]

ADvertisinG sAles | Andrea [email protected]

Copyright 2013 by Source Media Group Corp. Material

cannot be reprinted in whole or in part without the express

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Corp. agrees to advertise on behalf of the advertiser

without responsibility for claims or misinformation made

by the advertiser and acts only as an advertising medium.

Source Media Group Corp reserves the right to refuse any

advertising at its sole discretion.

Central Alberta Homes is published quarterly and is

distributed to every member of the Canadian Home

Builers’ Association – Central Alberta, as well as on free

stands throughout the region.

RetuRn undeliveRable Canadian addResses to source Media Group Corp., 207 - 5809 Macleod trail s.W., Calgary, ab t2H 0J9. Publication Agreement # 41072011

Sincerely,

Denie OlmsteadExecutive Officer

CHBA – Central Alberta

Planting seedsSPRING IS A TIME of renewal and rejuvenation not just for mind, body and soul, but

for our homes as well. It’s a time when homeowers’ thoughts turn to spring cleaning,

gardening and home improvements — and folks who don’t own homes start thinking

about buying one.

And what better place to start the process than in Central Alberta Homes magazine,

the official publication of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association – Central Alberta?

We kick off the season with our annual Red Deer Home Show, and you can read

all about it in the article on page 15. From renovation and landscaping products and

ideas, to lighting and appliances, to furnishings

and professional services, there’s something for

everyone. Whether you take in one of the speakers

offering expert advice from the main stage, or just

want to chat with a few new home builders before

you start looking at show homes, the Home Show

will plant the seeds for any number of home-related

projects.

And, speaking of planting seeds, we haven’t

forgotten about the outside of your home either. Just

in time for the spring thaw — it seems the snow’s

never really gone for good until early April — we’ve

asked a couple of local gardening gurus the timeless question: “How does your garden

grow?” They share their opinions on what grows well in Central Alberta, as well as

some secrets on how to make the most of your garden plot, no matter the size.

Of course, the theme of our magazine is homes and we don’t disappoint this edition

with several stories on the local housing market. For example, who’s building $1 million

dollar homes? And where? Join Red Deer realtor Mike Wiseman as he looks at this

growing segment of the industry in a feature article on estate homes.

In addition to the increased demand for high-end homes, we’ve also got our regular

update from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, which shows the estate

market isn’t the only market on the rise in these parts. All economic indicators point to

a good year for members of the local home building business, which is good news not

just for their trades and suppliers but for consumers too as there are options aplenty.

you’ll find many of these housing options in Red Deer’s new communities, so we’ve

profiled a couple of them this time around. Both Melcor Developments and Malibu

Communities are very active in the region and offer a wide selection of lots and builders

to choose from, many with show homes on site.

Wrapping up the magazine, as always, is our membership list. Whatever you’re

looking for, if it’s home related, you should check here first.


Kevin WilkieVice President, CHBA – Central Alberta

On the job, on the ice, or on the ball

diamond, Kevin Wilkie gives it

everything he’s got. Which is good

news for his customers, who reap the ben-

efits of Kevin’s dedication to excellence in

everything he does.

The current 1st Vice President of the

Canadian Home Builders’ Association –

Central Alberta is also the Chair of both

the Home Show and Member Services

committees and a board member of the

Executive and Awards Committee.

His real job is Vice President of Sales with

True-Line Homes. “I oversee all of the sales

and marketing,” he says, “which includes

supervision of two full-time and five part-

time new home consultants as well as

creating all the marketing and branding for

the company.”

Who would have guessed that the son

of a Calgary fireman, whose favourite job

growing up was washing cars at Eastside

Dodge, would end up in the home building

industry? Not Kevin’s classmates at Red

Deer College, where he took two years of

Theatre and Film Technology, that’s for

sure. And, although he’s changed direction

professionally, he retains his love for going

to movies, concerts and even the odd road

trip to Las Vegas where he doesn’t mind

“losing a little money”.

So just how did a fine arts student find

his way into the home

building industry?

“I actually had

started a marketing

company in Red Deer

and the majority of

my work was with

home builders. I

starting working

on a condo project

for a company and

they asked if I’d

be interested in

working for them

doing part time

sales. This was

right before the

housing boom and

I got so busy selling

homes for them

that I had to commit full

time. That was about 10-years ago, and now

I get the best of both worlds. I still get to

come up with creative branding/marketing

ideas for all our True-Line projects and also

get to work closely with our sales staff and

customers to design custom homes for

people.”

Kevin loves calling Red Deer home. “I

Enjoy the small town feel of Red Deer, but

with some of the big city amenities. There

are also a lot of great people living here.

I have had the opportunity to meet and

associate with a lot of outstanding people.”

And he sees plenty of good things in the

area’s future. “Things are really starting to

pick up,” he says. “Red Deer is consistently

growing and all of us builders hope there

will be lots of land to build on in the future.”

For now, though, his advice to would-

be homebuyers: “Make sure you feel

comfortable with your builder and you

understand what is included in your home.

Nobody likes surprises.”

getting to know…

Above: Kevin and his nephew hit the ice on the lake at Invermere


Whether in business or home

building, there’s a lot to be said

for the importance of a solid

foundation. And, for 2013, the local housing

industry is counting on it.

In fact, in Red Deer, full-time job growth,

lower carrying costs and smaller ownership

premia create a sound housing bedrock.

Red Deer’s full-time job market improved

and the employment outlook is bright. At

the projected annual rate of 680 units in

2013, up nearly 20 per cent from last year’s

total of 568, total housing starts are nearing

the levels that are in line with household

formation.

“There are currently roughly 36,345

private dwellings occupied by residents,”

says Regine Durand, market analyst,

Prairie & Territories for Canada Mortgage

and Housing Corporation. “This can serve

as a proxy for the number of households.

Annual population growth is currently

at 1.8 per cent. Applying that rate to the

number of private dwellings gives a rough

estimate of 650 new households created

each year. This represents the number of

homes that need to be built each year to

house new households.”

CMHC expects a 16 per cent gain in single

detached starts in the City of Red Deer

2013, up from 326 to 380 starts. Three game

changers will shore up the gains: full-time

job gains, less resale supply and increased

lot selection. Full-time employment

growth of 4.5 per cent between 2011 and

2012 will keep bracing up demand, as will

the roughly 5,000 folks who are expected

to move to Red Deer in 2013. The recent six

per cent drop (Dec. 2012) in active resale

listings in the city will cue builders into

starting new projects, as some prospective

Just the facts

LocationSingle-family detached Multi-family Total

2011 2012 2011 2012 2011 2012

Camrose 63 52 26 20 89 72

Canmore 2 9 28 12 30 21

Clearwater (County) 42 61 0 0 42 61

Lacombe 66 82 39 127 105 209

Lacombe (Country) 60 57 0 0 60 57

Mountain View (Country) 41 76 0 0 41 76

Red Deer 295 326 260 242 555 526

Red Deer (Country) 62 107 0 8 62 115

Sylvan Lake 126 109 13 98 139 207

ToTaL 757 879 366 502 1,123 1,386

buyers turn to the new home market to

gratify their housing needs. The servicing

of roughly 200 R1 lots planned to be

completed in Vanier Woods by 2012 year-

end will also help bring construction up to

speed.

Multi-family starts in Red Deer proper

are forecast to increase by almost 24 per

cent in 2013, a reversal of last year, which

saw a 6.9 per cent decrease in multi-family

starts, rising from 242 last year, to 300 in

2013.

... in Red Deer, full-time job growth, lower carrying costs and smaller ownership premia create a sound housing bedrock. Red Deer’s full-time job market improved and the employment outlook is bright.

market overview

Central Alberta housing market to remain strong in 2013


When you hear talk about

“estate homes” — you

might envision hillside

mansions in Calgary, or

perhaps something with a river valley view

in Edmonton. But Red Deer and Central

Alberta have their fair share of custom

estate homes as well. Which, if you look at

the numbers, and the background of this

area of the province that is seeing such

noticeable positive growth, perhaps should

come as no surprise.

Central Alberta is immersed in the

driving economies of our province,

with a heavy influence from the oil

and gas, agriculture, and health care

sectors. Its central location makes it

an ideal location for service-based

industries that help support these

industries, regardless of which corner

of the province they are located.

According to Canada Mortgage and

Housing Corporation (CMHC) statistics,

Red Deer saw an increase in estate home

starts for 2012, with approximately eight

estate homes (defined as costing one million

dollars plus) being absorbed (homes that

were completed, and either sold or were

rented out) in 2012. The numbers outside

the City of Red Deer, although difficult

to track, are notably higher due to some

desirable acreage lots surrounding premiere

recreational areas such as Sylvan Lake, the

Red Deer and Blindman Rivers, and Buffalo

Lake. The country residential market is

where you will find the majority of estate

home sales in Central Alberta.

So, if you were looking for an estate home

in Central Alberta, who should you chat

Estate homesHigh-end market driven by healthy economy

StORy By MIKE WISEMAn | PHOtOS By AnDREA WISEMAn

feature

with? Well, there are a number of builders

in the area that will work with you to create

your own custom dream home — with a

few companies who have the reputation for

building quality estate homes consistently

in the area.

Terry Loewen, CEO and Co-Owner of

Platinum Homes, estimates that their

company completed between five and 10

estate homes in Central Alberta in 2012.

The prices for their builds range from just

over $1 million to upwards of $3.5 million.

Their show home, located in Red Deer’s

newest development — Vanier Woods East,

is an incredible 2,844-plus square-foot, two-

storey home that is fully automated, very

modern, with a master suite that will take

your breath away. Although the show home

sold for just under the list price, Loewen

says that if it were to have been built on a

larger lot, it easily would have breached the

$1 million mark. The Platinum show home

bowood homes


There are a number of builders in the area that will work with you to create your own custom dream home.

is currently the largest and highest in value

in Red Deer at the moment.

Another name you should remember

when looking at estate homes in Central

Alberta is Bowood Homes. Recipient of a

number of awards from the CHBA Central

Alberta — including Best New Estate

Home $750,000 to $999,999, as well as

Best New Estate Home over $1,500,000 for

2012, you can argue that they may be the

most well-versed small volume builder

in the estate home niche. Susan Knopp,

Architectural Designer at Bowood Homes,

says that in 2012 their company built one

estate home in Red Deer and another

five elsewhere in Central Alberta. Typical

clientele include individuals from the oil

and gas sector (both local and from the

larger centres in the province) as well as

the health care profession. Interestingly,

the numbers for 2013 are looking even

better — as Bowood reports more clients

in place than at this time last year.

Given the positive economic indicators

that currently exist in the market, it should

come as no surprise that this is the case.

Job opportunities are still on the rise, there

is currently a noticeable influx of workers

migrating to the province, with numerous

large-scale projects painting a positive

picture for the next couple of years. All of

this ultimately equates to a higher level of

consumer confidence, meaning an obvious

uptick in the average sale values in the area,

including the estate home market.

So what about the resale market?

According to Cam Cook, Sales Associate at

Larkaun Homes, purchasers in this price

bracket typically aren’t looking to move

in to “someone else’s dream home.” What

this equates to is a very low percentage of

estate home resales for the Central Alberta

region. As far as specific numbers, MLS

data indicated that there were nineteen

$1 million-plus listings in Central Alberta

in 2012. Of those 19, only six equated

to a sale in all of Central Alberta. Of

those six sales, none were in the City of

Red Deer (all were country residential

acreages). Prices on resale estate homes

ranged from $1,175,000 to $1,630,000.

larkaun show home


feature

So what does it all mean? It means that

when a qualified buyer is in the market for

an estate home, the majority of the time

these buyers are building to suit their own

personal tastes. At the end of the day, if

a buyer is in that price range, they want

to be in control of the fine touches to the

home — they don’t want to be limited by the

finishings in a pre-built home.

The estate home market in Central

Alberta is growing — driven by strong

economic stability in the region and

a positive outlook for the near future.

It appears to be a bright future for the

estate home market in Central Alberta

— a market that has only recently

emerged but shows no sign of slowing

down over the next few years.

It appears to be a bright future for the estate home market in Central Alberta.

all photos are of platinum show home


events

Red Deer Home ShowEverything for your home under one roof, for one weekend only

By J IM ZAnG

“Everyone should attend the home show!”

So says Kevin Wilkie, committee

chairman for the CHBA – Central

Alberta’s 34th annual Red Deer Home Show,

held March 8 to 10 at Westerner Park.

“It’s great place to get all your information

on new homes, renovations, trades,

landscaping ideas, household products and

much more,” says Wilkie. “There are a lot

of great companies with people there to

answer all your questions and also local

experts offering seminars. There are always

interesting and new household products. In

fact, i don’t think I ever attended and didn’t

go home without excellent information and

purchasing some great new product.”

In addition to hundreds of exhibitors —

featuring everything from new homes and

Fast FactsShow times Friday, March 8, noon – 8p.m. Saturday, March 9, 10a.m. – 6p.m. Sunday, March 10, 10a.m. – 5p.m.

Where Westerner Park

Admission Adults $10 Students $8 (with valid ID) Seniors $8 (55+) Children free (under 12, with adult)Parking $4 per day

Exhibitors & Sponsors Visit www.reddeerhomeshow.cafor a complete list

condos, to building and gardening supplies,

to appliances, cooking and cleaning utensils

— this year’s show offers informative

seminars on several topics.

Last year, more than 10,000 people

attended the Home Show, making it one of

the regions most popular events. Indeed,

when one takes the population of Red Deer

into account, that’s more than 10 per cent

of the entire population and just about one

in every six or seven adults — attendance

figures which shows in larger centres can

only dream of.

So, whether you’re looking for a new

home, ideas to improve your current abode,

or just a fun, inexpensive way to pass some

time, drop by the Red Deer Home Show.

There’s something for everyone.

if you’re into environmentally friendly design,

and you like him on tV on shows like

green Force and room to grow, then you’ll

absolutely love carson arthur in person.

arthur, known for addressing outdoor

design challenges with a keen sense of style

and passion for eco-consciousness, will be

giving two presentations on saturday march 9. the topics are:

• Show me the Money focuses on environmental changes that

people can make to their outdoor spaces which will improve

their home value.

• The New Low-Maintenance considers how landscape design is

changing our homes and if it is for the better, while mentioning

some of the current top trends.

Carson Arthur brings his green thumb — and ideas — to Red Deer

Star power

16 cen t r a l a lb er ta h o m es s pr i n g 201316 cen t r a l a lb er ta h o m es Fa l l 2012

“there is such a wide range of

choices within those parameters that they can make the home uniquely their own.”

community profile

An investment in lifestyleMalibu Communities focused on developing sustainable quality neighbourhoods

StORy AnD PHOtOS By JOHn BuRnHAM

Developing neighbourhoods that

will protect both a homeowner’s

investment and lifestyle is the goal

of Malibu Communities.

“The company was established in 2002

to support the smaller communities in and

around Central Alberta,” says founder Hugh

MacBeth.

It’s their business philosophy that turns

Hugh’s vision into reality. Operations

Manager Audrey Corry’s belief is that

“every relationship should be a win-win. My

approach is ‘let’s all work together and build

dreams together.’ ”

Typically, building a home is the largest

investment an individual will ever make,

Hence, it’s best to make that investment in

a community with architectural controls

and other sustainable amenities that will

enhance the value of the home.

Malibu Communities is a project

manager, explains Corry. They don’t

build the houses. What they do is create

a physical environment consistent with

the character of the existing community

and then market developed lots to quality

builders. They will work with any size

builder — from developers of subdivisions

to individuals — who will adhere to their

quality standards.

“We have a lot of conversations with the

municipal officials regarding what is going

on there so that what we do is consistent

with, and adds value to, the larger

community,” says Corry. “We want to be a

proud part of the community, so we work

closely to make certain that what we are

doing there benefits everyone. The people

who live there are the ones who are going to

be affected, that’s why it is important that

we keep our standards to the level that they

should be.”

The standard approach used by Malibu

Communities is to specify such things as

the amount of brick or stone to be used

on the front exterior of the house and

then leave the choice of what type of brick

or stone to the client. They also require

that designs with approximately identical

exteriors not be repeated more often than

every sixth house on either side of the

street.

Marketing and Administration Manager

Erika Pearle puts it this way: “We don’t want

to be so restrictive that people can’t get a

house that they just love. It’s their house.

We have necessary guidelines, but there is

such a wide range of choices within those

parameters that they can make the home

uniquely their own.”

Malibu Communities’ Springbrook, in

the hamlet of Springbrook, Alberta is a

master planned community designed with

creative old fashioned charm. Down to each

intricate detail, such as specialized street

lighting, Springbrook offers a small town

Springbrook 01


community profile

lifestyle without isolation. There is a general

store, a liquor store and one restaurant,

each one serving as a place where people

meet and greet and enjoy the company

of one another. But, a few minutes south

is the huge, new, multiplex in Penhold.

Immediately to the west is the regional

airport. A short hop north is the huge

shopping complex at the south end of Red

Deer. The hamlet is even served by Red Deer

Transit, so it would still be possible to enjoy

the postcard-picture-perfect storybook

charm of Springbrook if one did not own a

car. The final plus for Springbrook is that

factors such as the tax structure make it

a prime candidate for being the most cost-

effective real estate investment in Central

Alberta today. About 90 per cent of the

lots are single-family residential with the

remainder being multi-family residential.

Currently, Serge’s Homes, Mason Martin

Homes, Falcon Homes, and Scarlett Built

Homes are working in Springbrook.

Malibu Communities’ Valley Ridge

Estates, in the town of Blackfalds, was

designed to continue the social bond

existing there. Blackfalds is a friendly town

of young families (currently, 85 per cent

of the population consists of people under

the age of 40) that need mobility. The town

is currently building a new field house

in Valley Ridge Estates with a swimming

pool and facilities for various indoor sports

and recreational activities. Schools are

close at hand, there are four parks, and

there is direct access to three highways.

Construction of single and multi-family

structures is currently being carried on

by Paradise Homes Corporation, Serge’s

Homes, Mason Martin Homes, and Falcon

Homes.

Hazelwood Estates, in Innisfail, is a

luxury community with exceptional

recreational amenities. In Hazelwood

Estates, one can take canoe ride on Dodds

Lake, go next door for a round of golf at

the 27 hole Innisfail Golf and Country

Club, enjoy the ski hill or hike along trails

equipped with game watching platforms.

The town of Innisfail features a new

library, three schools, a pathway system

and a swimming pool with adjacent water

park. Bomaier Developments, Mason

Martin Homes, and Stevenson Homes are

currently building single-family premium

or executive style homes dictated by

Hazelwood’s larger lot sizes.

Meadowlands By The Park, in Stettler,

is Malibu Communities’ latest addition

to its selection of subdivisions. Malibu

Communities has recently taken over

managing this promising project and

is looking forward to overseeing the

development.

For more information please visit

www.malibucommunities.com

“We don’t want to be so restrictive that people can’t get a house that they just love.”

Audrey Corry (left) and Erika Pearle

Hazelwood

Valley Ridge

18 cen t r a l a lb er ta h o m es s pr i n g 201318 cen t r a l a lb er ta h o m es Fa l l 2012

“there is such a wide range of choices with in those parameters that they can make the home uniquely

their own.”

community profile

Good neighboursMelcor committed to creating quality communities

By J IM ZAnG

With a well-deserved reputation

for developing quality

communities everywhere they

go, Melcor Developments pretty much

has their choice of where they want to do

business. And, for Melcor, that choice is

Central Alberta.

Oh sure, they still have projects

ongoing in Calgary and Edmonton, but,

even for a true giant in the industry

like Melcor, there’s just no substitute

for the ‘feel’ of the small town lifestyle

offered in places like Red Deer. Where

communities truly are communities,

and neighbours know each other.

“Melcor has been active in Red Deer since

the 1970s,” says Gregg Broks, development

manager for the Red Deer region, “first

building houses and now developing

master planned communities. Melcor is

committed to creating vibrant, innovative

and sustainable neighbourhoods.”

Curently, Melcor has three different

local communities — Vanier Woods East,

Southbrook and Clearview Ridge — at

various stages of development. In the case

of Vanier Woods East, the neighbourhood

encompasses a total of 145 acres, bounded

by 19th Street to the south and 22nd Street

to the north. The future 20th Avenue is

directly east of the community. Easy access

to 19 Street and 30 Avenue means you can

be at the Collicut Centre or Westerner Park

in just a few minutes. Plus, says Broks, Red

Deer Transit has plans to extend service

into this area, with stops along Viscount

Drive and Van Slyke Way that could start as

early as 2014.

Melcor is proud to create communities

that have unique identity and a sense

of place, says Broks. “As you drive into

the neighbourhood, you will notice the

decorative street light pendants and

masonry way-finding. Vanier Woods East

was the first community where Melcor

made a co-ordinated effort to have our large

builder group showcase their products.”

there’s just no substitute for the ‘feel’ of the small town lifestyle offered in places like Red Deer. Where communities truly are communities...


community profile

And the effort was definitely worth it

as the community features the largest

show home parade in Red Deer, with

14 homes included. There will be 668

single family homes constructed in the

neighbourhood at build-out, says Broks,

including duplexes, with an additional 170

units of townhouses and apartments. The

show home parade on Viscount and Voisin

will be open until September when a new

parade will open to showcase homes on

Veronica Close.

“Melcor has prepared a master plan

that provides housing at all levels of

affordability. One and two bedroom

apartments, townhouses (with and

without garages) in the $240,000 to

$300,000 range, duplexes in the $320,000

to $360,000 range, narrow lot homes with

no front garage selling for under $350,000

and narrow lot homes with front garage

for under $400,000. For the move up and

executive home buyers, we have lots that

will accommodate walkouts and triple

garages.”

More than 250 homes in the neighbourhood

back onto green space, providing convenient

park access at all levels of affordability. In

fact, fully 16.5 per cent of the neighbourhood

is set aside for open space, including the

linear trails, constructed wetland, natural

tree stands, and central park areas. There’s

also access to the City’s regional trail

system that follows the AltaLink ROW.

The neighbourhood is also well situated

to take advantage of existing schools

in nearby Lancaster and Lonsdale. St

Francis of Assisi and Mattie McCullough

are primary schools in the area. A grocery

store and other retail services are planned

for the community to the immediate north

and should be open in 2015 or so. There is

a church planned for the community, says

Broks, with further details to be announced

in the near future.

Phases 2, 3 and 4A are selling right now,

while the final phase, 4B, which will offer

affordable housing with rear lane parking, is

expected to have lots available for building

permits in October 2013. Lots range in

size from 40 to 70 feet wide for R1 (single-

family homes) construction, with 367 lots in

inventory. 104 lots are zoned R1A for duplex

development, 125 for smaller homes with

front garages and 72 for narrow lots with

rear parking.

Consumers don’t purchase the lots

directly, says Broks, but through their

chosen builder. And there’s plenty to choose

from. “Melcor sells exclusively to our 21

member builder group. Builders will sell

homes ranging from $240,000 to above

$1,000,000.”

The list of quality home builders

includes Abbey, Asset, Avalon, Bella

Rosa, Cambridge, Canada West, Deer

Run, Executive, Falcon, Fanta, Landmark,

Larkaun, Levi Rio, Mason Martin,

McGonigal, Pegasus, Platinum, Pointe 5,

Sorento, Ted Olson, True-Line, and Unique

Elevations.

Melcor expects full build-out to occur in

2015, says Broks, while parks and amenities

should be complete by the end of 2013.

The next Melcor projects will start to come

out of the ground this spring, says Broks.

The last remaining quarter in south east

Red Deer will be called Laredo. This prairie

themed community is located north of

Vanier Woods East. Melcor is also preparing

to open The Vista in Ryder’s Ridge in

Sylvan Lake. The Vista will be an inspired

lake community designed with timeless

architectural elegance and offering an

impressive vantage point to appreciate

Sylvan Lake.

the Vista will be an inspired lake community designed with timeless architectural elegance and offering an impressive vantage point to appreciate Sylvan Lake.

Show home grand opening BBQ


It’s the biggest night of the year for

members of the Canadian Home

Builders’ Association – Central Alberta

region, and for good reason.

In fact, it’s a pretty big night for anyone

interested in the local home building

industry — consumers included — as

the winners of the annual Awards of

Excellence in Housing are revealed.

Because, if you’re looking for a new

home or renovation, why not start your

search with the best of the best?

Last year’s event saw more than 500

people attend the gala celebration,

and a huge crowd is expected to enjoy

themselves again this year, May 4 at

the Sheraton Red Deer Hotel, Trade and

Conference Centre, with a live band

and a casino providing just some of the

entertainment planned for the evening.

Pam Cameron, Awards Committee Chair

and CHBA – Central Alberta Board Member,

tells Central Alberta Homes, “Customer

surveys are a large part of the scoring

system for the home builders. Knowing

that customers have already built with

a builder or purchased a pre-built home

and are very happy with the service they

received, this speaks volumes about that

home builder.”

“The Awards of Excellence in Housing

means customers can have their dream

home built with confidence, knowing there

is an association in place watching over

the builders and encouraging them to take

pride in their workmanship,” she adds.

The big winners for last year, receiving

the builder of the year awards were, for

small volume, Bowood Homes and, for large

volume, Mason Martin Homes. Homestead

Custom Carpentry took home the trophy for

Celebrating excellence in housing Local home building stars set to shine bright at annual awards

Renovator of the year.

So be sure to stay tuned, it’s sure to be a

great night for home builders and buyers

alike — and we’ll cover it all in our next

edition.

Winners will be honoured in more than

25 different categories as follows:

SingLe FaMiLy wiTh oR wiThouT aTTaCheD gaRage • Best Single Family: under $224,999

• Best Single Family: $225,000 – $259,999








SingLe FaMiLy — eSTaTe hoMe • Best Estate Home: $750,000 plus

MuLTi-FaMiLy: apaRTMenT STyLe • Best Multi Family: Under $199,999

• Best Multi Family: Over $200,000

BeST MuLTi FaMiLy: Town houSe/ DupLex STyLe • Best Multi Family: Under $199,999

• Best Multi Family: Over $200,000

RenoVaTion awaRDS • Best Renovation under $99,999

• Best Renovation over $100,000

paRTneR awaRDS • Supplier of the Year — Small Category

• Supplier of the Year — Large Category

• Service Professional of the Year

— Small Category

• Service Professional of the Year

— Large Category

• Trade of the Year — Small Category

• Trade of the Year — Large Category

oTheR awaRDS • Safety Leadership Award

• Excellence in Interior Design Award

BeST oF The yeaR• Renovator of the Year

• Builder of the Year — Small Volume

• Builder of the Year — Large Volume

CHBA – Central Alberta Members: Please visit

www.awards/chbaca.ca to register and enter

your company’s achievements in any and all of

the award categories you are eligible for.

Winners will be honoured in more than 25 different categories...

industry news


Ground rulesSome tips on growing the perfect garden in Central Alberta

interiors/exteriors

The idea of growing their own

vegetables is appealing to many

Central Albertans who like the

thought of slicing off some fresh lettuce,

pulling up a few radishes and green onions

and tossing them together for a salad while

the barbecue is heating up.

Growing a vegetable garden can be a fairly

simple and successful undertaking simply

by following a few basic ground rules.

First and foremost, find a bright, sunny

location.

Alfred Prins, horticulturist for Parkland

Nurseries says a hot, sunny location

is crucial for a vegetable garden, no

matter what the size, to survive.

Jane Reksten, manager, botanic

gardens and wetland treatment

facility at Olds College agrees.

“Most veggies require full sun (six

to eight hours a day),” she says.

Prins notes that tomatoes, beans,

corn, cucumbers, pumpkins, mellons

and squash should be planted in the

sunniest part of the garden, while cabbage,

cauliflower, lettuce, carrots and potatoes

will thrive in a slightly cooler spot.

“Root crops need to have at least

a half day of direct sun,” he says. “Be

mindful that taller vegetables like

corn are not blocking the sun. Plant

on the north side of the garden and

something like sunflowers to the west.”

As much as location will make

a huge difference to the success of

a vegetable garden, the type of soil

is also of primary importance.

“Good garden loam, amended with

some compost which can be easily dug to

a depth of 18–24 inches works well,” says

Reksten. “This is especially important for

root vegetables so they can grow deep.”

Prins suggests adding a generous

amount of peat moss or well-composted

mulch to hard packed soil. “Mix it

well, but remember not to rototil too

often because it grounds the soil too

fine. It’s better to hand shovel.”

Prins also advises gardeners to water

with care. Knowing when to water separates

good gardeners from the rest, he says.

Once the location has been determined

and the soil primed and ready, it’s time to

plant. This can be done as early as April.

Reksten says dropping seeds into

ground that has barely thawed out is

fine, provided those seeds are for cold

hardy plants such as lettuce, peas,

Swiss chard, carrots and beets.

“The seed lines of these veggies can take

a bit of frost if they geminate and start to

grow before our last frost free day.”

Other seeds such as beans and squash

should not be planted until the ground has

thoroughly warmed up and the risk of frost

has diminished.

Small plants such as tomatoes,

cauliflower and broccoli may do better if

started in a greenhouse and put into the

garden as transplants.

For the novice gardener, Reksten suggests

trying a sampler garden.

“Plant a row of each kind of vegetable,

until you find out what you enjoy eating the

most. Stagger your seeding dates and try

different varieties of each kind of veggie

as well — experiment until you find what

works for you.”

Central Alberta gardeners usually find

vegetable gardens containing carrots,

parsnips, lettuce, Swiss chard, beets,

potatoes, kale, peas (snap, snow, shelling

types), beans (bush and pole types) do well

in this climate.

Tomatoes grow well, too, especially in

containers or raised beds.

Lettuce, Reksten’s own favourite

vegetable, is available in a number of

different varieties.

“I eat lots of salads in the summer and

I plant several different kinds (of lettuce)

such as oak leaf, butter crunch, and leaf so I

can enjoy the harvest for as long as possible.

you can even grow lettuce in a container if

you want,” she adds.

Growing a vegetable garden is good for

you, says Prins.

“It is not without work. It certainly isn’t

maintenance free, but that being said the

exercise is good for you, and the vegetables

are healthy. It’s also very therapeutic. It’s

good for the heart, good for the back and

good for the soul.”

Jane reksten, manager, botanic gardens and wetland treatment facility at olds college checks out a healthy crop of cucumbers, ready for the picking at the college greenhouse.

StORy AnD PHOtOS By tREEnA MIELKE

Advertising FeAtureBusiness PrOFiLe

All successful businesses start with a solid foundation, and when it comes to Knelsen Rock Products, it all starts with good quality

concrete. Knelsen has been supplying the Red Deer area with redi-mix concrete since the early part of 2006. Originally estab-lished in 1973 by Raymond Knelsen in Grande Prairie, it has expanded to serve customers in LaCrete, Cold Lake, High Level and Calgary, by providing a solid and reliable product, combined with a continuous focus on customer satisfaction.

During the peak season of April thru november, Knelsen often employs more than 500 people, with many being skilled machine operators and truck drivers, who deliver quality tested products to new

Knelsen Rock Products Ltd.40 years of solid customer service and concrete results

residential construction and commercial applications.

Knelsen’s delivers on time and to strict specifications for projects such as base-ments, garage ffloors and decorative drive-ways, and can even be

seen pouring curbs and sidewalks for the City of Red Deer.

Inside the Red Deer location is the latest in quality control technology and state of the art automated equipment that both measures and monitors every single batch of concrete. With a wide

With a wide range of products and services, Knelsen is your one stop for everything concrete... Darrell Selent,

Plant Manager

StORy By tESS FLEWELL InG | PHOtOS By JOCK MACKEnZIE


Advertising FeAture

range of products and services, Knelsen is your one stop for everything concrete; including natural round rock for exposed aggregate driveways and an in-house colour machine. this allows Knelsen to

offer specialized mixes to their customers that continue to perform even in less than ideal circumstances, while still ensuring customers receive a top of the line product. Knelsen cus-tomers can rest assured that nothing goes to waste, thanks to their environmental washout plant. All left over wash

water goes through a three-stage cleaner to make it reusable. Left over concrete is poured into forms to create new barrier blocks for use around Red Deer.

Knelsen also prides itself on employ-ing a strong work force to help deliver on their core values of integrity, quality and customer service. At this company, people make the difference; from the labourer to the truck driver to the dispatcher, each employee is a special part of the highly dedicated team. “People are our most valuable asset” states Darrell Selent, Plant Manager at the Red Deer location. “Each employee becomes the face of the company, interacting with customers every single day. We put your best face forward

Knelsen also prides itself on employing a strong work force to help deliver on their core values of integrity, quality and customer service.

and in our case it is a smiling one.” Knelsen employees take great pride in being a part of a large Alberta based company that is focussed on family values.

“Raymond Knelsen built this company on integrity and never tried to take short cuts, and we follow his example, knowing you will never get in trouble for doing the right thing,” says Selent. With integrity and cus-tomer service being a part of day to day activities at Knelsen, it is no surprise that they are a large part of the community. Or, whether it is donating products to Habitat for Humanity’s local house build orsupporting Red Deer Minor Hockey, thatKnelsen Rock Products Ltd. is always doing the right thing. n

Quality Control Technician Derald Lundberg inspects the product Darrell Selent and Craig Reid on the plant ffloor



member list

aabbey master builder ltd.acadia stone (central stoneworks ltd)alfano homesall Weather Windowsallrose exteriorsammonite Developments inc.aries/airf lo heating & air conditioningartistic stairs ltdasset builders corp.atco gasaudio integrationsavalon central alberta

bb&b cowie insulation ltd ben’s glass & marblebildex construction ltdbomaier Developments ltd.bowood incbruins plumbing & heatingburnco rock productsbusse homes ltdbuylo homes ltd

ccanada mortgage & housing corpcanadian closet & storage co.candel homescan-air heating and air conditioning ltd.carolina homes inccarpet colour centrecentral alberta co-op ltd.central alberta Flooring/hotck holdings ltd.central alberta realtors associationcentral alberta tile onechristenson Developments

city of red Deer (inspections Dept)cKgY Fm/ciZZ Fmclearview glass service ltd.coast Wholesale appliances lpcolbray homes ltdcommunications group red Deer ltdcomplete Flooring solutions incconsolidated gypsum supply ltdcottonwood meadows (chW land management ltd.)counterscapescunningham electric ltd

dDeer run homes (1990) ltdDominion lending centres regional mortgage groupDoormasters incDurabuilt Windows & DoorsDynovac industries inc

eeagle ridge homes corpemco corp.executive builders group

fFalcon homes ltdFanta homes ltdFargey’s paint & WallcoveringFindmynewhouseFresh renovations

ggeneral appliances lacombe ltd.gienow Windows & Doorsgilmar constructionglobal overhead Doors ltdgoodmen roofing ltd.g&r builders innisfail ltdgreat canadian roofing & siding (red Deer) ltd.

hhabitat for humanity - red Deerharbour spasharvard broadcasting (100.7 Fm the river)havan built custom homes henry’s eavestroughing ltdheywood holmes & partnershome building centrehome renewalshomestead custom carpentry inc.howard & company real estate appraisers inc.huntwood custom cabinets ltd

iinland concrete ltd

jJade stone ( red Deer) ltd.JelD-Wen Windows & DoorsJim pattison broadcast groupJorgenson homes ltd

kKcb cabinetsKnelsen rock products ltd

llaebon homeslafarge canada inclakeside rona building centrelandmark homes (red Deer) inclarkaun homes ltdlevi-rio custom home builders ltd

mmalibu communitiesmarshall construction co. inc.mason martin homesmcgonigal signature homes inc.m.c home ltd.mcKee homes ltdmelcor Developments ltd mr. Fireplace

nnational home Warranty northland construction supplies

oolds collegeoriel Windows & Doors

pparadise homes corp. parkland community planning servicesparkland Drywalling ltdphoenix insurance group of red Deer incplatinum homes & Developments

professional home builders institute of albertaproform precast products inc.progressive home Warranty solutions incply gem

rrainy creek Developmentsrealty investments corporationred Deer advocatered Deer countyred Deer college red Deer electricred Deer expressred Deer Fasteners & toolsred Deer lightingred Deer overdoorriser homes ltdrbc royal bank rona revy inc.royal lepage network realty corp

sserge’s homes ltdservus credit Union ltdsiderman ltdsigns nowsml games & hot tubssnell & oslund surveys (1979) ltdsoderquist appraisals ltdsorento custom homes ltdsource media groupstevenson Development corp.stoneworx masonry & stucco inc.sunny 94 Fmsylvan lake homes ltd

ttar-ific construction ltdthermo pro insulation ltd.the alberta new home Warrantytimber Wolf truss ltd.touch canada broadcasting (2006) inc.trail appliances ltdtrue-line contracting

uUnique elevations

wWestern Financial group-red DeerWestridge cabinets ltdWindow masters incWindsor plywoodWolf creek building supplies ltd

zZybertech construction software services ltdZytech building systems inc

Central Alberta Homes Spring 2013

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Transcript of Central Alberta Homes Spring 2013