Ron Rapp, CEO | Twitter: @HAVANofficial @HAVAN_CEO
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BC INTRODUCES COVID-19 RECOVERY PLAN...A KISS FROM YOUR SISTER
A kiss from your sister prohibited under the social distancing protocols to this moment is now deemed to be allowed. However, while such a token of family and affection is nice, it is by no means something to get excited about.
Much the same can be said about the
Four Stage Re-opening Plan
introduced by Premier Horgan, and Dr. Bonnie Henry on May 6. The plan is staged over the next few weeks and months and is couched with an abundance of caution to ensure that the rate of infection and positive tests remain low or even reverse.
Currently we are in
Phase One
where business is limited to essential services, social distancing is imperative, and all non-essential travel is prohibited, including going to work. It is important to note that compared to other jurisdictions, BC kept a significant portion of the economy functioning, including the construction sector through Phase One and this gives us a significant leg up on the recovery ladder.
We are on the cusp of moving into Phase 2, with enhanced protocols to be phased in this week
. Phase 2
includes but is not limited to:
- Restoration of health services
- Re-scheduling elective surgery
- Medically related services:
- Dentistry, physiotherapy, registered massage therapy, and chiropractors
- Physical therapy, speech therapy, and similar services
- Retail sector
- Hair salons, barbers, and other personal service establishments
- In-person counselling
- Restaurants, cafes, and pubs (with sufficient distancing measures)
- Museums, art galleries, and libraries
- Office-based worksites
- Recreation and sports
- Parks (limited), beaches, and outdoor spaces
- Childcare
Each sector or business and individuals are compelled to maintain social distancing except for small groups (ie: < 10) of friends or family, and employers are advised that they are responsible for worker safety, and the provision of proper health and safety procedures, hygiene, and PPE, depending on the nature of the business and direct interaction with people.
This next step does not encompass all sectors, so it is imperative that the protocols are adhered to and strictly enforced to ensure that daily numbers on rates of infections and fatalities continue to decline. Please note, safety procedures and implementation will be subject to WorkSafeBC inspections in all phases.
Phase 3
is forecast to be introduced mid-June to September, provided that the numbers are supportive. Businesses and sectors affected under Phase 3 include, but are not limited to:
- Hotels and Resorts (June 2020)
- Parks – broader reopening, including some overnight camping (June 2020)
- Film industry – beginning with domestic productions (June/July 2020)
- Select entertainment – movies and symphony, but not large concerts (July 2020)
- Post-secondary education – with mix of online and in-class (September 2020)
- K-12 education – with only a partial return this school year (September 2020)
- Gatherings would still be limited to groups of under 50 people
These actions should not be sugar coated – there are still many challenges, even upon having been allowed to reopen, as it is not a return to normal! We are now in the “new normal” that includes masks, distancing, and enhanced hygiene. Under Phase 3 success will still rely on such measures and all members are urged to undertake a careful and thoughtful review of their patterns, protocols, controls, and company culture to ensure that workers, customers, family, friends, and you are, and remain safe. This may require some out of the box thinking and use of technology that has not been the norm to date. For project sales offices, virtual tours, one way show home circuits, limited numbers, iPad descriptions and virtual/ electronic purchase and sale meetings, are considerations. Food service can also offer electronic ordering with limited server interaction, and online groceries pick up/ delivery should be maintained.
Phase 4,
effectively re-opening all sectors, has no projected implementation date as it requires at least widespread vaccinations, “community” immunity, broadly successful and accepted treatments, none of which are currently at hand. Phase 4 will include but not be limited to:
- Activities requiring large gatherings, such as:
- Conventions
- Live audience professional sports
- Concerts
- International tourism
The timing of a safe restart of night clubs, casinos and bars is a more complicated consideration. As with other sectors, industry associations will be expected to develop safe operations plans, for review.
A SLICE OF HAVAN
HAVAN has, since March the 18, continued working under Phase 1, providing pertinent, timely COVID-19 information, safety information, announcement and review of government programs, and a series of COVID-19 related webinars with over 1200 participants. Staff have all been working from home with some attending to the office one at a time and conducting most of our business online including committee meetings, our AGM, education courses, newsletters and advocacy efforts.
We have been directly involved in advocating not only for reopening the economy, but also the longer-term issues of how to stimulate the construction sector and create the platform to re-engage to full capacity. This also requires consideration of how to get all consumers back to work as we need to inspire confidence broadly, and that includes job and income security.
When Premier Horgan announced the staged approach to restarting the economy, it reinforced in HAVAN staff the need for us to pivot and recast the nature and content of what we can provide to members. With the restriction on gatherings limited to a maximum of 50 people, events such as the HAVAN Awards of Housing Excellence, the Home Buyers Forum, and the Members Expo, Legends Dinner, and the Golf Tournament cannot be staged as they have been in the past, where they had been so well received.
HAVAN must now re-think our programs and find alternate means to communicate and reach out to members. As such, we are embracing technology and becoming digital producers, presenting the HAVAN Awards for Housing Excellence virtually, on June 19, 2020. Although we will miss meeting together to celebrate in grand style, taking the awards online is presenting an opportunity to invite
all
members, including
all
employees, providing greater exposure for our finalists and sponsors alike. Stay tuned for the official invite.
Our education and training programs are also being recast to move to webinar formats or in person sessions limited to 50 people including presenters and staff for the BBS and Building Science courses, eligible for CPD points as before. We are also working on a series of podcasts to reach out to consumers and members focusing on renovation, retrofits, contracts, new home building and design, including integrated design process as a best practice to achieve Step Code 3 and higher. Our eLearn programs continue to be available and have seen a marked increase in subscription with our COVID-19 content.
New Member Orientation events will continue at a max of 50 participants and we may look to increase these in-demand gatherings. Committees and U40 events (including the wildly popular Tequila and Tacos) will be allowed to reconvene in person, respecting social distance and maximums. The AEM October meeting will be virtual, and we are still contemplating what and or how we can stage things like the Members Expo, the Legends of Housing Dinner, and the Fall Classic Golf Tournament.
We are really hoping to present the golf tournament as a means of celebrating our industry and the challenges we have had to cope with, and are seeking the means by which this could be modified under the COVID-19 protocols – stay tuned. The golf committee is actively in discussions with Swan-e-Set.
Our advocacy efforts have not abated and as mentioned before having been considered with the feedback offered on assistance programs, extension of the subsidy program, as well as the challenges with entry to the rent assistance program. We are raising our voice singly and in concert with other associations as discussions regarding how to do business moving forward are taking place. We consult on the BC Energy Step Code and how that can integrate with other municipal targets, as well as continuing to advocate for the DAPR.
We will also continue to advocate for direct action, and timely efforts to support and stimulate this sector and all of the others to restore our economic health and help offset the adverse affects of this pandemic. We thank members and sponsor’s for your support and note that your membership, and many of the events that have been curtailed represent the principal means for us to generate revenue and fundraising opportunities and we respectfully ask for your continued support such that we can continue to represent your interests and deliver meaningful value. Many thanks.
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- Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver has released stats for April 2020 – the first full month of COVID-19 restrictions being in place and needless to say they are not inspiring.
- In this article, Jeffrey Tucker notes that in 1968-69 we were in the hands of another global flu pandemic and the approach was markedly different – one event that would have been cancelled under today’s criteria would have been Woodstock, the watershed concert of 1969.
- CBC summarizes the COVID-19 numbers for May 10, 2020 – the next Provincial update will be at 3:00pm PDT today. Quebec and Ontario are continuing to spike and may have to back off their reopening timetables.
- Mike Howell of Glacier Media discusses the changes to the VBBL that were adopted last week. These changes will see the Code amended to require Step Code 4 performance and carbon emissions targets by January 31, 2022. Additional to Step Code 4, there are two other standards that can be applied to meet the requirements – low emissions technology, and or passive house criteria. All three are acceptable and HAVAN is in general support of the changes, noting the City of Vancouver conducted extensive consultation with industry over many months. Quoting both me and Jake Fry of SmallWorks and Small Homes BC, we are interested to monitor real time costs and compare with the predictions.
- Fifth Avenue Real Estate has released their Spring Edition of the Fifth Dimension which reviews and tries to look ahead on the state of multi-family real estate in the Greater Metro area. In a nutshell – it turned bad, and now will be up and down. The body of the report has great detail on a region by region basis, and makes the best predictions they can based on available information.
- On April 30, 2020, CHBA National held their Annual Members Meeting and Board of Directors meeting in a virtual format with over 70 members from across the country participating. Please note that our own Larry Clay of Clay Construction was elected to the Executive as the First Vice President, pending his ascent next year as National President. In addition, Matt McCurrach of Homex Development Corporation, Kamloops and Chair of the Provincial GR Committee, is the Presidential appointee giving BC two seats on the National Executive Committee. HAVAN offers our thanks to Stefanie Coleman from Stratford, Ontario, for her service as last year’s President, and we welcome John Meinen, from London, Ontario as this years President. We also thank Nathan Stone from Fraser Valley, Past President, now stepping down after many years of dedicated service. Cheers to all.
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COVID-19 RESOURCE PAGE
Keep up to date on the financial, industry, and health resources available through governments, on HAVAN's
www.havan.ca/covid-19-resources
page, updated daily.
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HAVAN AWARDS FOR HOUSING EXCELLENCE - HOLD THE DATE!
We think it is important to take a moment and celebrate the achievements of our members! Mark your calendars for
Friday, June 19th, 2020 - noting a 6 pm online start. We're busy redesigning the gala to bring you an evening of engaging entertainment. An excellent team-building opportunity be sure to hold the date and share this information with your staff! The HAVAN Awards Gala is going to be an excellent opportunity to share the success and contributions made by your employees to our industry!
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WE'RE ACTING ON YOUR IDEAS AND WANT TO HEAR MORE!
Finding new ways to connect with consumers will be essential as we move forward and adapt to a new normal, under a COVID-19 lens.
Online webinars, best practices guide, and town hall meetings to help members and municipalities establish protocols for public engagement, are just some of the ideas that resonated with members in HAVAN's April COVID-19 ThoughtExchange.
The outcome of the economic recovery from COVID-19 will rely heavily on consumer confidence.
We would like you to share your thoughts on the following topic
:
On behalf of members, what information should HAVAN share with consumers, and how best can this information be communicated, to help strengthen consumer confidence?
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When adding your thoughts
:
- Think about concerns you are hearing out in the marketplace. You are on the front lines, talking with your customers.
- You are encouraged to go back several times, to review and rate new thoughts as they are added by other members.
- ThoughtExchange will take a few moments of your time, and will remain open until Sunday, May 17.
REVIEW HAVAN's APRIL THOUGHEXCHANGE
In response to April's survey, HAVAN created a COVID-19 information centre at
HAVAN.ca/COVID-19-Resources
and has joined forces with a collective of 14 industry associations to advocate to keep our industry operational, to name a few directives we have acted upon. Review the
summary to top themes and action items
, including a direct link to the full online April report.
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ACCESS RECORDINGS OF HAVAN'S COVID-19 WEBINARS ON ELEARN
If you missed any of HAVAN's COVID-19 webinars, they are now available on
eLearn at no cost. Members are encouraged to share the webinar with colleagues and anyone else in the industry you believe would benefit from this knowledge.
Click on the titles below to be redirected to the webinar recordings. If you are not already signed-up for eLearn, you will need to register but it's easy and takes only a minute:
A special thank you to Presenting Sponsor,
FortisBC
and Patron Sponsor,
BC Housing
for their support in developing this special COVID-19 webinar series
.
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CPDs, PERSONAL AND EMPLOYEE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
ELEARN COURSES 40% OFF UNTIL MAY 18
Just a reminder the 40% off eLearn courses been
extended until May 18 (Victoria Day).
At checkout, make sure to enter the code "
HAVAN40
" for the price discount to apply You have three months to take these on-demand courses from the date of purchase so it's a good time to get the courses you need for CPDs, personal development and employee training.
Note: if you have taken the in-class versions of any of these recorded sessions, you are not eligible to earn CPDs again for the eLearn presentation.
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CHBA BC STEP CODE COURSE FREE FOR MEMBERS UNTIL MAY 30
In this letter
from CHBA BC CEO Neil Moody and CHBA BC President, Joe Hart, to help members during these challenging times caused by COVID-19, they have announced that from May 1 until May 30, 2020, members across the province can register for CHBA BC's new online
Energy Step Code Course, free of charge.
This online course with an exam component, carries 12 CPD points and has a value of $499. It's a great opportunity to learn about the Energy Step Code, its performance metrics, design considerations, required administrative steps, and best practices.
To take advantage of this exclusive offer, you must be a member in good standing and are required to contact HAVAN (
[email protected]) to register.
NOTE: Please read the full details in this
How to Apply document
FIRST, including making sure that you have a CHBABC student account set up, before emailing HAVAN.
Please note there will be a limit of one (1) member per member company allowed to register. Any member companies who have previously enrolled in the BC Energy Step Code course are not eligible for a refund of course fees. They can apply the credit towards future courses, valid until May 31, 2021.
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Member News & HAVAN Heroes
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Got News?
Take advantage of our audience and leverage your membership via HAVAN's channels. We're always on the lookout to highlight members connecting with and supporting the communities where you build. Send your press releases to
[email protected]
and we'll help share, tweet and re-purpose your news. @HAVANofficial
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Committee meetings will be hosted online. Contact staff liaison for log-in details.
Government Relations Committee
: Thursday, May 14, 9:00am Contact [email protected] to join in
Reno Council
: Tuesday, May 26, 5:30 - 7:30pm - Open to Renovator Owners only. Contact [email protected] to join
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MEMBER Communications
LET PEOPLE KNOW YOU ARE OPEN FOR BUSINESS!
Share your knowledge and resources to help your industry partners and build consumer confidence as we adapt to a new normal, living with COVID-19. Access free content support with your HAVAN membership. Here are 7 easy ways to share your content - for
FREE
!
2.
Builders Blog
- target industry with COVID-19 resource sharing and information
6.
Social Posts - tag
@HAVANofficial
and we'll share your news on
Facebook
,
LinkedIn
, and
Twitter
, to name a few!
7.
Find A Professional
-
Keep your online profile up-to-date. Include pictures, wins, videos and testimonials. HAVAN's SEO campaign is driving traffic to our directory.
This week's Builders' Blogs include:
E
mail
[email protected]
with your blogs, information and resources. Let's keep connected! Together we are stronger!
@HAVANofficial
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HAVAN is a symbol of integrity and trust. Consumers turn to HAVAN to source builders, renovators, products and services to build their homes which help shape the communities where people want to live. As Canada's second largest, fastest growing home builder association, HAVAN attracts the industry's best, providing leading advocacy initiatives, education and resources to help our member companies thrive. A not-for-profit association, HAVAN is proudly affiliated with both the provincial CHBA BC, and national CHBA offices. Together, we are building excellence.
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