The 2011 Awards of Excellence winners were announce at the Building the Best show on January 28, 2012 at the Coast Hotel.  Twenty-six awards were given recognizing the best in residential construction.   Winners were selected by judges from across the country, professionals themselves in the home building industry.  
This year saw 13 different companies take home the hardware.  The coveted Builder of the Year went to Galko Homes Master Builder for the third year in a row.  New Home Design awards were won by Ashcroft Master Builder, Avonlea Master Builder, Bezooyen Contracting,   Daytona Homes, Dimax Developments, Galko Homes Master Builder, Premiere Custom Homes Ltd, and Van Arbor Homes Corp.  The Best Renovation award went to CADO Developments for the second year.

“Safety first”, it is common phrase heard at home, at work, at play, in jest and in seriousness.  After reading about the increase of workplace fines, it’s a phrase that requires more attention.  Late last year, Minister Dave Hancock released results from the residential construction focused inspection campaign. The results of the focused campaign called for a change in culture on the construction job site. Canadian Home Builders’ Association—Lethbridge Region (CHBA-LR) has worked with Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) to understand the challenges to safety in our region.

2012-2013 Board of Directors Election
On December 7, 2011, the nominating committee presented the slate of nominees for the 2012-13 Board of Directors.  As per bylaws, in even numbered years the membership will elect two builder directors and three trades and supplier directors.  Ballots will be sent out electronically and tabulated by BDO Dunwoody.  Elected directors will be announced at the AGM and Economic Forecast on February 7, 2012.
The nominees for this year are (bios below):

Builder

Wes Carroll – Empire Homes (Lethbridge) Ltd.
Dell Mathews – Galko Master Builder
Scott Werenka – Greer Homes Ltd.

Trades and suppliers

Jeremy Gook – Anako Construction
Shauna Gruninger – Carefree Kitchens
Anita Hartman – EMCO
Scott Murakami – KB Heating