BC’s Most Influential People in Residential Construction

With the recession lifting, housing starts set to rebound and steady real estate prices even amid new regulations, it’s an interesting time in residential construction in British Columbia, to say the least. The industry is the driving force of the provincial economy, and it counts many movers and shakers who are making a real difference in its success. You can call them the industry’s leaders, allstars, changemakers or, simply, British Columbia’s 20 Most Influential People in Residential Construction of 2010. From builders to renovators to architects, this year’s top 20 have been nominated by their peers, and selected by BC Homes Magazine for their ability to continually shape and build the industry. Some have been recognized here before, some are new, but all have undeniably had an impact on our province from the ground up and beyond.

 

NORM COUTTIE
LOW-RISE WINNER

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In a career spanning 25 years, Norm Couttie has had his fingers in diverse development projects, from an entire new resource community in northern British Columbia to a killer whale pool at the Vancouver Aquarium. Today, Couttie is president of Adera Development Corporation, a major player in the residential construction industry, and a leader in innovative, energy-efficient, environmentally friendly, low-rise condominiums. 

“I don’t think I’ve consciously tried to make a difference [in the industry], but, occasionally, my voice gets heard,” admits Couttie modestly. 

“I am a big believer in practical, achievable approaches to doing things and I’ve often found myself publicly supporting the goals of sustainable design, affordable housing, public art and other issues while opposing what I see as impractical approaches to accomplishing them.” 

That includes imposed one-size-fits-all green targets. “They are not compatible or feasible for some of our West Coast housing forms,” he says. 

Whether people are listening to his voice is one thing, but there’s no doubt they are recognizing his success. His company was awarded the Georgie Awards® Platinum Award for receiving 28 Georgie Awards® from 1998 to 2008. 

And he’s proud of what he’s accomplished so far. “I get to build wonderful West Coast homes for our customers, and have the pride of seeing these projects grow into vibrant communities over time.” 

LARRY BEASLEY
VISION FULFILLMENT

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Larry Beasley’s influence is felt globally for what he has achieved locally. His “Vancouver model” of urban planning and design is the benchmark for many urban cities around the world, including in the United States, Australia and China. 

As a former city planner with the City of Vancouver, Beasley’s effective land use, transportation and development plans have dramatically reshaped Metro Vancouver into a well-planned, livable metropolitan community. With his vision of a vibrant urban core, where work, home, amenities and entertainment are all within walking distance of each other, it’s no surprise his work was recognized among the World’s 100 Best Planning Practices by the United Nations. 

“Everywhere I work as a planner, I am motivating people to undertake dense, mixeduse multiple housing as a key element of a sustainable city,” says Beasley. “To developers, this is a conversation about what they can do to build the market and attractiveness of their multiple residential products for a much wider audience than in the past, including family households.” 

As the vice-president of B.C. development company Aquilini Development Ltd., Beasley has most recently been a part of the team introducing a high-rise residential concept into downtown Kelowna. And, as a professor at the School of Community and Regional Planning at UBC, he is teaching young soon-to-be planners about the housing market and what role they can best play to facilitate 

“Every day I am involved somehow in the housing industry somewhere in the world, taking the Canadian message wherever I go and trying to build international interest in the Canadian housing industry and its diverse range of professional capacities. I am convinced this can be a great export industry to bring great wealth back to B.C.” 

IAN GILLESPIE
KING OF CONDOS

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The youthful president and owner of Westbank Projects Corp. seems to prefer to stay out of the limelight, but it’s not because of a lack of confidence. You could hardly be meek in the business of building luxury condos, towers and hotels. As such, it’s no surprise that Ian Gillespie is considered an industry leader among his peers and one of Canada’s most innovative developers. 

He has been responsible for many of Vancouver’s most striking and significant residential and mixed-use projects. Notable projects include the Residences on Georgia, the Palisades, the Shangri-La, the Woodward’s Project, Fairmont Pacific Rim Estates and the 450-foot Shaw Tower. 

Gillespie certainly has the golden touch, in both the creation of his high-end buildings and their financial success. 

“I never dreamed I would be as successful as I have. But I am in this because of a love for the creative process,” said Gillespie in a 2002 interview. 

WILMA LEUNG
MAKING THINGS HAPPEN 

 
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Adjectives like sustainable, compassionate and thoughtful are used when describing the work of Wilma Leung, president of WISA Healthy Homes.

She also brings passion and determination to the conception, design and construction of residential properties in B.C. And people pay attention. She makes herself visible at municipal meetings, a catalyst for new strategies in residential development, such as affordable seniors living.

Leung, former chair of the Western Canada Group of Chartered Engineers, has noted: “I’m very interested in seeing better integration in our communities, especially in terms of keeping elders in communities.” 

One of her most recent successful contributions to city policy was her recommendation to raise basements. “[It was] to reduce risks of flooding, to save energy in pumping, to make basements more liveable,” says Leung, whose design-build contracting company uses the R2000 standard as the minimum standard for all its work. 

“Not having good daylight and views of outside through accessible windows cannot be mentally healthy to the increasing numbers of old and young who live in basements.” 

TSUR SOMERVILLE
ACADEMIC ADVANTAGE 

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While there are many people offering housing and real estate analysis in Metro Vancouver, Tsur Somerville is one of the most respected. His opinions are always based on experience and knowledge, and extensive research. 

Somerville is director of the UBC Centre for Urban Economics and Real Estate, associate professor of strategy and business economics, and holder of the Real Estate Foundation professorship in real estate finance at the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia. His current research interest focuses on real estate development and housing markets. 

He downplays his influence on the industry, however, claiming it’s just part of his job. “My job is to train students interested in real estate and create opportunities for them, and give the academic perspective on events occurring in our housing markets.” 

While training future generations of industry shapers, he points out they will be facing big challenges ahead. “Affordability in general will become even more of a concern,” he says. “Along with builders and developers grappling with cities’ desires to use them to pay for more general community amenity and sustainability objectives.” 

To homebuyers, he suggests they “always focus on identifying a place they want to live, the investment benefit is secondary.” 

While he enjoys being connected to the future of our communities through his work, he jokes that he feels the pressure of that responsibility as well. “My tonic for my upcoming midlife crisis is to do a cooking class in Kerala.” 

RICH COLEMAN
HOUSING MATTERS 

 
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Housing matters to Rich Coleman. It has to — he’s B.C.’s minister responsible for it. But just because it falls under his job description, it doesn’t make his contributions to housing in B.C. any less significant. 

Coleman, who was elected to represent the riding of Fort Langley-Aldergrove in 1996, then 2001, 2005 and 2009, is the minister of Housing and Social Development. In 2006, he introduced the new provincial housing strategy, Housing Matters BC, providing innovative housing programs for those in greatest need. 

“Our government is helping British Columbians who are dealing with homelessness by creating jobs and building resources to support future growth and housing opportunities,” Coleman has said. “Through partnerships, we are delivering on our commitment to provide shelter and supports.” 

Under his direction, since 2001, more than 13,500 units of subsidized housing have been created in B.C. and the provincial share of the budget for affordable housing and shelter has more than tripled. 

Residential construction has also always been a passion with the minister. Prior to joining politics, he ran a real estate management and consulting company. And as minister, he was instrumental in adapting the B.C. Building Code to include requirements to increase energy and water efficiency, and new provisions to build mid-rise wood frame construction up to six storeys. 

Minister Coleman’s commitment to all things housing is why he is once again named as one of B.C.’s most influential people in residential construction. 

EINAR HALBIG
THE ENERGY GUY

 
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Have questions about energy-efficient building practices? Einar Halbig will no doubt have the answers. Halbig is becoming the “go-to” person for energy efficiency information for builders in the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. 

As CEO of E3 Eco Group Inc., Halbig, along with his business partner Troy Glasner, is busy educating the industry on building to a higher sustainable standard, and showing builders how to incorporate energy-efficiency into the building of homes from the first brick and promote it to homebuyers. 

He’s modest about his accomplishments, pushing the focus on his company as a whole, instead of himself alone. When told he was named in this year’s top 20, he said, “It’s wonderful to be recognized by the industry that our whole company works so hard for … I have been blessed with the opportunity to develop a company that involves several outstanding people, not just myself, working in this field.” 

Although he adamantly shares the acclaim, he does admit that making a difference in the industry has definitely been part of his personal goals. “Even well before cofounding E3 Eco Group, I’ve wanted to make some sort of impact in the residential construction industry in the area of energy-efficiency or sustainability or ‘green’ building,” he says. “We are a business, but we do take very seriously the idea that we can positively impact the industry.” 

HANK BANGMA
INNOVATIVE EDUCATOR 

 
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While the recession put talk of labour shortages on hold for a while, the discussion is coming back into focus as the economy rebounds and baby boomers retire. Innovative educator Hank Bangma is doing his part in preparing students to fill those labour gaps in the residential construction industry, not just in numbers, but in quality. 

Working in residential construction since he was 12 years old, Bangma has been teaching a program called Residential Construction Foundations at Thompson Rivers University, in Kamloops, B.C., for nearly a decade, giving students hands-on experience in building techniques and site safety standards. 

“Usually we simulate a large project in the yard,” according to Bangma. “The students’ work is graded by how they have built the forms, how they tie the rebar and fasteners.” 

Bangma also leads the Training House Project, a partnership with Canadian Home Builders’ Association’s Kamloops chapter, which gives his students an opportunity to build a real home, known as the Green Dream Home, as part of their first-year studies. 

“He goes above and beyond what is required to train young people in the trade. Hank sets a high standard and he demands a lot from his students, instilling in them a real pride for doing a quality job,” Tim Kasten, past president, CHBA BC, has noted about Bangma. 

RON EGLI 
TECHNICAL TENACITY

 
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CHBA Victoria president Ron Egli’s softspoken manner and giant smile hide the tenacity with which he approaches the technical side of home building. As the chair of CHBA BC’s technical advisory committee, Egli has been a fierce champion in getting things done right. 

And he shows how to build right through the example of his firm Ron Egli Construction & Design Ltd. The company, which has passed the 25- year mark of new home construction in the Greater Victoria area, has built several new homes in the new Royal Bay development in Colwood. 

According to Egli, his company stresses the importance of the design process as a way of achieving ultimate success in building. “We believe that strict attention to detail in the design stage ensures top quality results for each home we build. Our knowledge and expertise, the result of many years in this industry, have consistently impressed informed consumers.” 

His homes have won multiple awards and consistent recognition from fellow home builders and homebuyers alike. 

BING THOM
COMMUNITIES BY DESIGN 

 
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Architect Bing Thom’s influence is seen around the world, but in his home province of B.C. in particular. His buildings, both commercial and residential, are not merely impressive edifices, but symbols of communities. They intrinsically shape the neighbourhoods in which they stand. 

Take for example his commercial, mixed-used Central City project in Surrey that integrates an existing regional shopping mall with the Simon Fraser University Surrey campus and office development. This new focal point is driving many new residential projects in the area. 

In Richmond, after designing the futuristic Aberdeen Centre, he went on to develop the Aberdeen Condominiums, continuing the futuristic-looking design of the shopping mall. These are but two of his community-shaping architectural efforts, which he and his firm’s team have built. 

“We thrive on generating new ideas within [a] co-operative team environment, and the ideas we generate are inevitably innovative and fresh,” notes Thom. 

Thom comes to his stature as an influential architect honestly. After studying at the University of British Columbia under Arthur Erikson, he became the project manager for Erickson’s firm, where he oversaw the development of Robson Square and Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto in the late 1970s. 

In 1980, Thom established his own firm, Vancouver-based Bing Thom Architects, and has become one of the Canada’s most accomplished architects, working with cultural institutions, corporations, universities, governments, developers and communities around the world. He recently received honorary degrees from SFU and UBC for major commitment to architecture and community. 

JOHN KENWARD
LEADING ADVOCATE 

 
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John Kenward is a familiar name in the residential construction industry — that’s probably because he is the chief operating officer of the national Canadian Home Builders’ Association and has been with the association for 26 years. More than that, he is a leading advocate of the residential construction industry with all levels of government. 

One of the causes he took up this past year was the impact of the HST on the housing industry. He provided critical research on the tax’s effects in both B.C. and Ontario and lobbied the federal government to consider what that would mean for the residential construction sector. 

He has also been a voice against tax pyramiding, which he believes is a main detractor for home builders in providing affordable housing. Tax pyramiding is when various levels of government tax the construction of a new home, equating to tax on tax on tax. 

“Going forward, as we emerge from the recession, our biggest challenge will be to advise all levels of government on how best to ensure that we can continue to make a strong contribution to economic recovery and secure housing affordability and choice,” says Kenward. “We are not out of the woods yet, and it will be very important for governments to receive our advice on how their policies and actions affect our industry and housing consumers.” 

LINDEN HOLMEN
ONGOING LEGACY 

 
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Although now retired after working in the housing sector for more than 35 years, Linden Holmen’s legacy to the home building industry continues. 

He worked for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation in its national office in the early 1970s, before moving to Alberta in 1977 to work in the housing division of the Alberta government. There he was responsible for a program that supported innovations to improve housing quality and reduce housing costs. 

In 1993, he established his own consulting company, Holmen Enterprises Ltd., which he wound down in mid-2009. 

“As a consultant, some predominant areas of my work have been technical, policy and education,” he explains. And the knowledge and ideas Holmen shared throughout his career to strengthen the housing industry are still relevant today. 

In his work with the CHBA, he prepared numerous position and research papers, including guidelines on environmentally responsible housing, the association’s National Education Benchmark for New Home Builders and Renovators, and code reviews, including CHBA BC’s comments on the proposed BC Green Building Code in 2007. 

Holmen has also chaired a number of housing industry committees, including CHBA’s Technical Research Committee and CHBA BC’s Technical Advisory Committee. 

For all his efforts, it’s not at all surprising he has received 16 awards from various levels of CHBA, including the Gordon S. Shipp Award for leadership, dedication and continuous lengthy service. What may be more unexpected to those who have worked with him is Holmen has a diploma as a solo performer violinist from the Royal Conservatory of Music. “After years of abandoning my violin, I have started playing again, now that I have retired.” 

JACK POOLE & JOHN FURLONG
OLYMPIC ACHIEVEMENT 

 
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Whatever you think about the Olympics and the billions spent on prepping Vancouver for the Games, there is no denying that the men largely responsible for bringing the Olympics to B.C. — the late Jack Poole, an experienced developer and chairman of Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC), and John Furlong, its CEO — have had a long-term impact on the way Vancouverites will live for years to come. 

New infrastructure, the Canada line and other transportation improvements are all developments that will improve daily living for many, and such developments are also historically known to boost accompanying residential construction. 

Of course, it must be mentioned that the Olympic Village housing development, which resulted in massive cost overruns and taxpayer bailout, has received much criticism, particularly concerning its wavering commitment to affordable housing units. 

The controversy is not all put to rest, but with the positive exposure the Olympic Village received during the Games — the potential of the site for future residents is undeniable. 

All combined, the Olympics’ impact on the housing industry will be a longterm legacy for Furlong and Poole, encouraging further growth and housing in B.C. 

“Jack was a great citizen of Vancouver — from his enormous contribution in building our city to his efforts to bring the 2010 Games here,” noted Mayor Gregor Robertson. “The legacy of his lifework will be indelible on Vancouver for generations to come.” 

MARY KENNY
TRAINING LEADER 

 
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“Housing has been my life,” says Mary Kenny, chief executive officer of the Residential Construction Industry Training Organization of British Columbia, which promotes, develops and manages the delivery of industry training and trades qualifications. 

“Architecture and planning, nonprofit and co-op housing, aboriginal housing, housing research — I have tried for the past 20 years to improve the understanding of the importance of the residential industry to our lives and our economy,” she says. “And to support the professionalism of the sector through industrydriven education and training, certification (for trades) and licensing (for builders).” 

From her influential position in the industry, Kenny forewarns that labour shortages are coming back with a vengeance. “Inevitably, and very soon, we will again be facing skilled labour shortages that will continue to worsen as a large number of people retire from our industry over the next decade,” she says. “We need to be able to attract many more bright and motivated young people (and women!) to residential trades, and ensure that they can see a career path in our industry.” 

And she adds that employers need to support the skills development of their employees and sub-trades. 

MICHAEL GELLER
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE 

 
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Michael Geller is many things — an avid traveller (he blogged his observations about housing around the world while on a sabbatical), a would-be politician (he ran, albeit unsuccessfully, for Vancouver City Council), an influential public servant (he worked for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporate for a decade), an independent consultant, architect and developer (as head of the Geller Group) and a visionary urban planner (as a leader in the development of SFU’s sustainable planned community UniverCity atop Burnaby Mountain). 

One of the top 20 industry shapers in B.C.? There is no doubt. 

“I have consciously tried to make a difference in the housing industry by promoting public awareness of alternative forms of housing,” says Geller, who is regularly invited to speak to various organizations, and appears in print and broadcast media, in addition to his blog. 

As an adjunct professor at SFU’s Centre for Sustainable Community Development, he has also taught future housing professionals about more sustainable forms of housing and tried to incorporate more innovative housing ideas in his own projects. 

“In the next decade, I believe that many of the ideas I am promoting will become realities. These include new forms of higher density ground-oriented housing, innovative infill developments, apartments designed for families with children, and more choices for empty nesters and seniors wanting to move out of their single family homes, while remaining in their neighbourhoods.” 

Geller also anticipates greater use of prefabricated construction, including modular housing, as a way to reduce costs and create new housing choices. 

DIANNE WATTS
FROM THE GROUND UP 

 
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With Mayor Dianne Watts at the helm, Surrey is open for business, and residential construction is a big part of that. 

“The residential construction industry is a critical component of our vision for Surrey,” says the mayor. “We want to create liveable, walkable, sustainable and visually appealing communities — communities that our residents are proud to call home.” 

But, as mayor, she must think more broadly than just housing. “I strongly believe that balancing growth, investment and job creation, while protecting the environment is the foundation for sustainable communities.” 

That’s difficult enough, but throw in poor economic times, and the mayor’s challenges are multiplied. “Right now we are faced with challenging economic times, but Surrey saw economic increases in the second half of 2009, so I believe that we are on track for a strong recovery.” 

Under her leadership, the city provided economic incentives to encourage development, including incentives for residential development applications, such as a 50 per cent reduction in building permit fees. 

Whatever she’s doing, it’s working. The evolving city led all other municipalities in housing starts last year by a wide margin, and it was named the number 1 place to invest in real estate in B.C. last year. 

“It’s an exciting time for Surrey,” she adds. “We are beginning to build a second metro core and we’re creating a city from the ground up. So, it’s really rewarding to watch the vision become a reality, and see how the changes are making a difference in people’s lives.” 

CAMERON MUIR
GUIDING THE WAY 

 
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When Cameron Muir speaks, the industry still listens. Muir is the chief economist for the BC Real Estate Association and the industry waits for his insightful interpretations of empirical data month after month. He has an ability to make sense of numbers and humanize them so that they are relatable for consumers. 

“Above all, I try to communicate the most up-todate market information and analysis to industry stakeholders and consumers,” says Muir. “Markets depend on objective information and the better and timelier the information, the more efficiently the market operates.” 

However, he does see lots of challenges ahead for the industry, too. “The biggest challenges are production levels, credit conditions and government tax policy,” he says. “The dramatic rebound in consumer demand has helped draw down unsold inventories and induced more housing starts, but the big question is how many new units will be demanded of the next 18-36 months in light of looming interest rate hikes and price levels?” 

There are still plenty of questions about homebuying coming up in the near future, and Muir, no doubt, will continue to be the voice that guides the way. 

SHAYNE RAMSAY
MORE THAN BRICKS AND MORTAR 

 
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When the Olympics came to town, BC Housing’s CEO Shayne Ramsay helped usher in the once-in-a-lifetime event by carrying the torch through Burnaby. “When John Furlong invited me to participate in recognition of the significant contributions BC Housing was making to the Games, I realized what an honour this would be,” says Ramsay. “But I really didn’t appreciate what an inspiring experience it would also be. I felt like a middle-aged rock star … It really made me feel like I was part of something very special.” 

With a mandate to develop, manage and administer subsidized housing options across the province, Ramsey has been CEO of BC Housing since 2000. “I never get tired of hearing stories of the positive difference we make in the lives of British Columbians by providing them with homes. It’s more than bricks and mortar.” 

In addition to this role, he was recently reappointed as the CEO of the Homeowner Protection Office, the crown corporation that licenses residential builders and carries out a range of activities to improve the quality of residential construction in the province. Ramsay was, in fact, responsible for setting up the Homeowner Protection Office 11 years ago and also served as its first CEO. 

“Consumer education is a key area for the Homeowner Protection Office,” he says. “Informed consumers are good for the residential construction industry and a key way to making sure the sector continues to thrive.” 

GARY FRIEND 
WATCHING OUT FOR THE INDUSTRY 

 
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Having had the title of CHBA national president is assuredly enough to be considered influential. 

A home builder in Surrey, B.C., for more than 25 years, under the name South Ridge Developments Ltd., Friend completed his term as president this March, but the impact he made in this position through tumultuous economic times is still being felt. 

Friend is known to always have the industry’s interests at heart, and meets with decisionmakers to express his opinions and concerns, good or bad. Representing the CHBA, he stood in front of a senate standing committee this past December supporting the home renovation tax credit (HRTC) and ecoENERGY grant. But when time came to comment on the introduction of the HST and its impact on the industry, he didn’t hold back. 

“Our industry is extremely concerned about this situation,” he noted to the committee. “Clearly, it will have a significant impact on both the level of renovation activity, and the number of jobs lost to the underground ‘cash’ economy … To put matters simply, the positive benefits flowing from the HRTC will be more than nullified by the impacts of sales tax harmonization.” 

Friend recommended changes to GST housing rebates, and expressed his disappointment when the 2010 Federal Budget missed the opportunity to implement them. “This is the single most important step the federal government can take to protect housing affordability and choice. What Canadians need now are permanent policies that end the erosion of housing affordability.” 

Friend provided much-needed leadership for the industry in this noteworthy year, and leaves plenty to build on for incoming president Victor Fiume of Oshawa, Ontario. 

BOB DEEKS
SEA-TO-SKY SUCCESS 

 
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Thank you, Bob Deeks. As the current president of CHBA BC, he was the driving force in working with the provincial government to facilitate the change in threshold and raise the rebate for the impending HST calculation on new housing. This bold lobbying success will save B.C. consumers thousands of dollars for many years to come. 

And when he served as president of CHBA Sea to Sky, he worked with the municipality in the establishment of the Whistler Go Green program. 

Deeks’ influence on going green doesn’t end there. The affable president of RDC Fine Homes in Whistler built Whistler’s first rammed-earth home followed by the community’s first Net Zero home, which got some attention from journalists and visitors during the recent Olympic Games. 

“We are focusing on being recognized as a leader in sustainable high-end construction and renovation in the Whistler market,” Deeks says. 

Deeks told a reporter during the Olympics that his rammed-earth home, just a short walk from Whistler Village, is positioned as not only one of the healthiest in Canada, but as one of the most efficient, using 80 per cent less energy than conventional construction.