On May 2 Canadian Home Builders’ Association Lethbridge Region presented $500 grants to Chinook High School and Erle Rivers High School in Milk River.  CHBA-LR board president Stephen Amonson said of the grants “our Human Resource committee works hard to support local education of construction trades; the High School grant program supports the innovation of our schools to create valuable learning experiences for our future work force”. Presentations were done by Victoria Chester, chair of Human Resources committee, to Construction Technology Director of Chinook High School Garth Johnson and to Erle Rivers Principal Dwayne Zarichny.

Chinook High School requested support for their Intermediate and Advanced students in Carpentry and Cabinet.  This year the students will build a bathroom and learn exterior finishing.  Students will learn skills in plumbing, electrical, drywall, flooring, tiling, cabinetry, wall finishing and door installation.  The CHBA-LR grant will go to purchasing tools and materials necessary to complete the job.

Erle Rivers High School in Milk River requested support for their shop program where students begin the year building a small project, like a chest, and finish the year building storage sheds ordered by community members. The program gives students the opportunity to experience fine wood working detail to framing to finishing. They have requested the funds to purchase necessary equipment for these projects and used the funds to purchase a band saw. Zarichny expressed his appreciation for the grant saying smaller schools are limited in their funding options and receiving the grant provides a big boost to the program.

Recognizing a growing need for skill labour in trades programs, CHBA-LR supports High School CTS programs, publishes a calendar showcasing local apprentices and journeyman, and provides scholarships to Lethbridge College and apprentices working for CHBA-LR member companies.  
It is estimated that between 2012 and 2015 14,000 workers will retire from construction trades (Construction Sector Council of Canada). An increase in entrants to the trades will be required to keep pace with the retirees.  CHBA-Lethbridge Region believes that strong CTS programs will help raise the interest in trades as a career and is proud to support the education of trades in local High Schools

On April 30, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Jason Kenny took the stage in a Calgary conference room to speak to the residential construction industry and petroleum industry to provide an update on the growing labour shortage concerns.  The problems he speaks of is how the province is going to replace an expected 34,000 retirees while accommodating a rise in demand of 37,500, for construction alone (Constructions Sector Council 2012-2020 Report).
Minister Kenney spoke of a broken immigration system, one that takes seven years to process an application.  The government is revamping the process with the goal of dropping the time frame to a few months.  The federal government is also looking to improve the Temporary Foreign Worker program by providing an accelerated labour market opinion in ten days or less.  Appealing to the construction industry is the exempt trades list, whereby an immigrant can provide certification or licensing in an approved trade and be granted a work visa with proof of employment. Canadian Home Builders’ Association Lethbridge Region welcomes the changes to the Temporary Foreign worker program.  “While our local labour pool still has the employees we need, we are seeing in northern markets, Calgary and Edmonton, that the labour pool is shrinking quickly” states Stephen Amonson, Board President.  Further, “having a system that allows for reaching skilled labour pools in other countries is advantageous to both the employer and consumer.”  The Minister concluded his remarks by describing the new system is designed to be user friendly to small to medium size business as well, allowing those companies without dedicated Human Resource departments and immigration lawyers on retainer to access foreign workers when needed.  
Construction Sector Council of Canada predicts that by 2014 new construction and renovations employment demands will be above that of the 2006 peak. CHBA-LR is focused on working with all level of governments to insure that labour pools will be accessible to members of all sizes.

Local builder Greer Homes has been recognized for the creative marketing of their new "Love Shack built by Greer".  The ad campaign took home top honours for best print ad beating out projects from Toronto and Calgary.  The award was presented at the Canadian Home Builders' Associaton national conference held in Mt. Tremblant, Quebec on March 17, 2012.

The CHBA National SAM Awards presented by Schlage and Trane is the premier competition for new homes, home renovations, community development, marketing and sales.  The awards recognize outstanding performance in new homes and renovation design, innovative technology and construction techniques, and outstanding marketing and sales activities. The competition is open to all new home builders, renovator and developer members of the CHBA. An independent panel of judges selected from across the country reviews all entries.

More details found on CHBA national website.