2018 will be a busy, important year for BILD
I am writing this column — my first as president and CEO of the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) — sitting in a café in downtown Toronto, looking at the development and growth that makes the Greater Toronto Area one of the most vibrant and dynamic regions in North America. I am struck not only by the economic activity that is taking place, but the realization that our members are providing a place for people to call home.
There is no doubt that our industry is an important economic engine of growth. More than 197,000 people are employed in the new-home construction, renovation and repair industry in the GTA. The industry generates $11.4 billion in wages and brings $30 billion in investment value to the area.
Yet the economic importance of our industry is only part of the story and part of the reason that I am excited to join BILD.
The societal contributions of the industry are also striking: Ensuring that neighbourhoods and communities are places people can live in and call home is a tremendous responsibility. Buying a new dwelling or engaging in a home renovation is a special time in a person’s life. It is both a financial and an emotional investment.
I’m very proud to be leading the building, development and professional renovation industry. It is made up of hard-working professionals. There is a culture and a passion that runs deep throughout our industry and I look forward to contributing to the industry.
There’s no doubt 2018 will be a busy year. We are a few months away from a provincial election and then municipal elections in the fall, during which BILD will share its ideas and thoughts with you and those seeking public office. We will discuss how we can work with our elected representatives to ensure that consumers have a wide of range of choices when they invest in new homes and that decisions are made to ensure housing remains affordable across the GTA.
We will continue to work closely with stakeholders and partner associations to demonstrate to provincial, regional and municipal governments the impact that new pieces of legislation and regulation have on customers. We will also share ideas and recommendations on solutions that help achieve both government and industry goals on behalf of the people of the Greater Toronto Region.
BILD will launch a new RenoMark website that will be your source for renovation advice and professional renovation contractors. We will continue with our “5 Steps to a Successful Renovation” seminar to help you make informed decisions about your home’s renovation project so you can renovate with confidence.
I am excited about the evolution of our home shows. One of the biggest changes you will see is more interactive experiences such as virtual- reality software that not only allows you to design your home in a virtual space, but also teaches you how to do your own home renovation.
Make sure you mark your calendar and visit our GTA Home & Reno show on the Family Day weekend, Feb. 16-19, or the National Home Show over March break, March 9-18.
On the weekend of Nov. 2-4, we will launch a new home show: HomeFest. This show addresses the change in your home as you advance through different stages of your life. It will be like seeing the show through your home’s perspective, rather than your own.
I look forward to continuing to share BILD’s view on the current and future state of our industry through this column. I am very proud to be representing this great industry and I plan to work with our members to deliver on our societal and economic responsibilities. Dave Wilkes is president and CEO of the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD). Find him at twitter.com/bildgta, facebook.com/bildgta and bildblogs.ca.