Ottawa Construction News staff writer
The Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association (GOHBA) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on March 27, celebrating the past year’s achievements, addressing ongoing industry challenges, and honouring members’ contributions. The event brought together industry professionals, association members, and government officials to reflect on the year’s activities and discuss the future of home building in Ottawa.
Incoming chair Serge Desjardins from Minto Communities Inc. took the helm after outgoing chair Pat Daniels, general manager of Glenview Homes, summarized the past year’s achievements and events and other AGM formalities were completed.
The AGM kicked off with GOHBA executive director Jason Burgraff acknowledging city councillors at the meeting and recognizing new members who joined the association in the past year.
In his observations, Burgraff emphasized the importance of the AGM, not just for fulfilling accountability requirements, but also for recognizing the impact of the members’ work and looking ahead to future endeavours.
Advocacy and achievements
Burgraff provided a snapshot of the association’s recent activities, highlighting the GOHBA’s active engagement with government officials and its efforts to address key issues affecting the housing market. These included, in the past few weeks:
- Discussions with the Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing;
- Releasing reports on Ottawa’s new home sales and housing affordability; and
- Meetings with city councillors to discuss the new zoning bylaw and its potential impact on the city’s housing goals.
Burgraff also acknowledged the dedicated GOHBA staff and industry colleagues whose behind-the-scenes work contributes significantly to the association’s success.
Industry collaboration and support
Matt McCurrach, Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) national president, congratulated the GOHBA on its active engagement and acknowledged the contributions of various members and committees. He also underscored the importance of addressing issues at the local level and escalating them to the national level when necessary.
He outlined some of the key national issues for which CHBA is taking a leadership position:
- Housing affordability: CHBA is advocating for the removal of tariffs on construction materials and working with municipalities to lower development cost charges.
- Labor force development: The industry is addressing the challenge of an aging workforce by engaging with schools and promoting careers in the trades.
- Building codes and standards: CHBA is actively involved in reviewing and providing input on building code changes, advocating for cost analysis to be considered before implementation.
- Net Zero housing: CHBA is supporting the development of Net Zero homes and encouraging members to get involved in this initiative.
In his presentation, outgoing GOHBA president Pat Daniels reflected on his term, expressing gratitude to his employer, the association staff, and the board of directors. He highlighted key achievements, including the adoption of new bylaws and the association’s success in various awards.
Daniels led the association through a transition to conform with new requirements under the Ontario Not-For-Profit Corporations Act, 2010. He started his two-year term as the association’s president; after a special meeting in 2024, he became the association’s board chair.
GOHBA’s achievements and future plans
Treasurer Ray Charron from Brigil Homes presented the 2024 financial statements and the budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. The association reported a $108,352 surplus, driven by successful events.
“This has ensured that GOHBA is on a solid financial footing for what could be a prolonged state of economic uncertainty and low activity for our industry,” Charron said.
Despite the challenging outlook, the association’s 2025-26 budget projects a surplus, with significant net revenue from special events.
Incoming chair Serge Desjardins outlined his experience growing up in a construction family and finding his way into the industry, and his vision for the association, emphasizing the importance of member engagement and addressing industry challenges.
Special Achievement Awards
The AGM concluded with the presentation of the Special Achievement Awards, recognizing members’ exceptional contributions to the association and the community. The awards celebrated individuals and companies for their dedication, leadership, and positive impact on the industry and the Ottawa community.
The association recognized several nominees from each category, with finalist recognition awarded:
- Lifetime Achievement – Murray Chown
- Pillar of the Community – Pat Daniels
- All Star Contributor – Cathy Mitchell
- Visionary Leadership (tied) – Novatech | Engineers, Planners & Landscape Architects and David Renfroe, Renfroe Land Management
- Outstanding Contribution – Linda Oliveri Blanchard, Enercare Inc.
