The CHBA – LR partners with Victoria Park High School to deliver the first of 3 sessions of an intense hand on work experience program.

On May 7^th, the CHBA-LR launched the first of 3 sessions in a pilot work experience program with Victoria Park High School CTS Students. This program is designed to give CTS students aged 15-19 a taste of the many possibilities available when choosing a career in residential construction with real hands-on experience at a job site. The first step of this program was to orient the students in safety on the job site. Workplace Safety (Safe Worker) hosted a session to give the students an understanding of the importance of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), how to behave on a job site and the importance of respecting the equipment they are working with. For each jobsite the students will be on during this pilot program, PPE has been donated by KB Heating and the CHBA.

The first session took place at Zero Gravity Cranes & Rigging Inc., located at 332 36 Street North, Lethbridge, AB T1H3Z7 on May 7^th from 8:30am to 11:30am. At this session, some of the information students will learned was centered on proper techniques for cranes, hoisting and lift calculations. Students were able to operate the equipment during this session and were thrilled to in control of equipment worth millions of dollars. After completion, students earned a certificate of work experience to use in their pursuit of career after high school. The CTS instructor for Victoria Park School, Tom Kocken said, “Zero Gravity Cranes provided a positive learning experience with a true hands on experience that allowed the students the opportunity to see this work as a viable career choice.”

“The whole purpose of this program to give high school students real exposure to career possibilities right here in the City that offer tremendous possibility for growth and success and a sense of ownership in the decisions they make for their future. “ says Angie Zuba, Executive Officer of the Canadian Home Builders Association – LR.

The second session will be later in May at Kodiak Mountain Stone and the 3^rd will take place in early June at KB Heating & Air Conditioning.

Girls with Tools is here again and this time we have opened it up to women and girls of all ages! This program is designed to empower women and girls and teach them that they can do home repair confidently! Learn from industry professionals and be part of a great program. See the poster below for details on how to register!

In October, Canada Post sprang a levy of $200 to be charged to every new address in Canada beginning January 1. It pretends this is a charge paid by developers when of course it is the home buyer who will end up getting the bill eventually.

Canada Post claims the fee is needed to help pay for the cost of Community Mail Boxes (CMBs), even though when so-called super mail boxes were introduced it promised to be fully responsible for their installation and maintenance.

A look at the organization’s finances reveals the actual reason for this cash grab – it is losing money at a ferocious pace; since 2011 losses amount to 415 million, equaling six consecutive money-losing quarters.

The reasons it offers for the losses have nothing to do with the cost of new CMBs. Mail volume has dropped sharply, a trend expected to accelerate as people switch to electronic banking and other options. Labour costs and its pension deficit of $6.6 billion are concerns.

Faced with the kind of pressure that would require most ordinary businesses to look for ways to reduce costs, it’s plain to see why Canada Post wants to reach into the pocket of every new home buyer. Each year it adds another 150,000 addresses. That’s a $30 million annual windfall without providing any service above what it previously offered.

This amount still won’t be enough to put Canada Post’s financially troubled house in order. That should worry all Canadians.

The corporation delivers mail to 15 million addresses across the country. If Canada Post can impose an extra charge on new addresses, how long will it be until it looks to expand this source of funds?

Will door-to-door service be replaced by CMBs, thus lowering the quality of service and creating an opening to slap new fees on millions more Canadians forced to register to continue receiving mail? How long will it be until we see an annual “maintenance fee” for existing CMBs?

We have objected to both the fee and the way it was imposed because it erodes the affordability of homes. New home buyers make an easy target because they don’t realize they are being gouged until too late.

Canada Post is owned by the government of Canada and answers to Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. We urge Canadians to send their concerns to the minister ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it "> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) and their own MP.