David Suzuki and Pure Energies is a perfect pair

Pure Energies and David Suzuki is a perfect pair — they both care deeply about the planet and both are doing all they can to make a difference.

I don’t think I need to tell you about Suzuki, but perhaps you’re not so familiar with Pure Energies. The company will install a free solar power system on your home (if it qualifies) and maintains it and then shares in the revenue from the power generated with the homeowner. They also offer the option to the homeowner to buy the system and collect all of the revenues.

So, back to the David Suzuki Foundation: Pure Energies will donate a minimum of $10,000 to the David Suzuki Foundation’s efforts to promote energy conservation and renewable energy solutions. Here’s how it works: for every homeowner that signs up to find out if they qualify for a solar power system, Pure makes a donation to the foundations; for every homeowner that installs a systems, more money is donated.

The more people that sign up here and has a free solar power system installed, the more will be donated to the foundation.

Chris Stern, co-founder of Pure Energies, told me he’s extremely proud to support the David Suzuki Foundation, which he calls “one of Canada’s most respected, science-based organizations that is laying the groundwork for the much needed shift to more sustainable, healthier communities.”

In fact, go here to see Chris Stern, Mike Holmes and David Suzuki's appearance on the Rick Mercer Report on CBC. It's a great bit!

“The David Suzuki Foundation is keen to support innovators that are driving the move to a brighter, more sustainable future,” Dr Faisal Moola, director of science at the David Suzuki Foundation said in a press relase. “Companies like Pure Energies are making it easier for Ontarians to join the green energy revolution and bringing much needed green energy into the grid.”

Voting is my duty

The awards season is upon us … and it seems everybody wants to know what we think. It’s not enough to let an esteemed panel of judges decide, they want OUR opinion, too.

But that’s okay. I like to vote. I consider it my civic duty. In fact, I consider the long-form census my civic duty, too. And I’ll answer questions of any pollster that calls or emails me. I even do those product survey things … I guess no one ever listens to me at home, so I think I have a better chance with Ipsos Reid.

So, I couldn’t resist when the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) recently sent me an email announcing the winners of their 2012 Design Excellence Award (there are 15 of them in Toronto, Ottawa, Mississauga, Waterloo, Mulmur, Nobel, Vaughan, Peterborough, Montreal and Phuket) and asking me which one I liked best.

But they want your opinion, too. You can click here to vote on your favourite architectural design before April 17 … but be warned, it’s tough to choose just one.

The rest of OAA’s awards will be announced at a ceremony in Ottawa Friday, May 11.

In keeping with the architectural theme — and industrial design and interior design — Azure magazine wants you to vote in 14 categories for their People’s Choice Awards. The winners will be announced in the magazine’s July/August issue. Just click here to enter.

BILD AWARDS

The Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) recently announced the finalists for their awards gala Friday, April 17 (where, I might add, I get to present Builder of the Year. A big honour for me. Will it be Aspen Ridge Homes, Geranium Homes, Mattamy Homes, Monarch or Tridel?).

You can read the full list of finalists here.

But BILD, too, is getting into the action with a People’s Choice Award.

The finalists are Aspen Ridge Homes for Studio on Richmond; Brookfield Homes for Pathways; Castel Homes for Allure at the Gates of Aurora; CentreCourt Developments for Peter Street Condos; Lifetime Developments for the Yorkville; Lindvest Properties for B.street Condos; Madison Homes for The Madison; Rosehaven Homes for Woodland Trails; Treasure Hill Developments for block; and Urban Capital & Shram Homes for Trinity Bellwoods.

Click here to make your mark.

And yes, just in case you were wondering, I voted in all three cases. Sometimes twice.

Geranium Homes blooms with Grand SAM

 

Boaz Feiner (above in his kitchen), the president of Geranium Homes, is a fine man and a great cook (I know because he’s told me so many times, often offering to whip me up dinner). He’s also funny and bright … and now he’s got a Grand SAM Award to add to his already packed resumé.

Geranium Homes received the honour, the highest at the 2011 CHBA Sales and Marketing Awards in Mont-Tremblant, Que., last month. The Grand SAM recognizes the new home builder who demonstrates the highest level of excellence in both building and marketing.

“To have been nominated for this prestigious award was an honour," Feiner said. “And winning a National SAM Award is recognized in our industry as a major accomplishment.”

“We were thrilled,” Boaz said of the award, which “recognizes both our building as well as our marketing achievements.”

Geranium Homes was also a winner in the single detached home over 2,200 square feet for The Alderley model at their Forest Trail Estates community in Ballantrae.

Other Ontario winners at the CHBA Awards include:

Single detached home between 1,500 to 2,200 square feet: Doug Tarry Homes, St. Thomas, “The Kenwood”

Single detached home over 2,200 square feet: Geranium Homes, Markham, “Forest Trail Estates, The Alderley Model”

Home renovation: kitchen: Pioneer Craftsmen, Kitchener

Whole house renovation more than $500,000: Amsted Construction, Stittsville

Direct mail promotion: Brookfield Homes, Markham, “Pathways in Caledon East” Creative, concept and production BAM Builder Advertising and Marketing Inc.

Best website: Madison Homes, Toronto, “The Madison” Creative, concept and production: G. Ryan Design

Brochure/kit: Empire Communities, Vaughan, “Rain Condominiums” Creative, concept and production: Montana Steele Strategic Marketing

Best sales office: Camrost Felcorp Inc., Toronto, “Imperial Plaza” Creative, concept and production: Montana Steele Strategic Marketing, The Design Agency, Aareas Interactive, Solution Worx

The Riley Brethour Award (recognizing contributions at the national level in marketing and sales): Richard Luciani of the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD), Toronto

Nominees are the best of the best

The difference between a good award and great award is when the consumer chooses the winner.

And that certainly separates the Tarion Warranty Corp. awards for customer service excellence apart from the rest. Tarion is a private corporation established in 1976 to serve as the regulator of the new home building industry in Ontario.

Today, Tarion announced the finalists for the 2012 Tarion Awards of Excellence, the only awards in Ontario that recognize new home builders based solely on their customer service.

“The finalists exemplify a superior experience for new home buyers by providing first-in-class after-sales service,” Tarion president and CEO Howard Bogach said in a news release.

The award finalists were chosen by homeowners who took possession of a new home between October 1, 2010 and September 30, 2011. Over 45,000 new homeowners were sent a Crunch Research comprehensive survey (in partnership with Harris Decima), and more than 7,000 homeowners responded, representing 16 per cent of consumers who bought a new home in Ontario during that time.

Survey questions focused on homeowners’ satisfaction with their builder, covering every stage in the homeowner-builder relationship. Winners will be announced on Tuesday, April 17.

And the finalists are . . .  

Highrise (100 highrise possessions or more per year: Claridge Homes,  Ottawa; Menkes Developments Ltd., Toronto; Monarch Corp., Toronto; The Daniels Corp., Toronto; Tridel, Toronto

Large volume (100 possessions or more per year): Arista Homes, Vaughan; Country Homes, Woodbridge; Fusion Homes, Guelph; Monarch Corp., Toronto; Mountainview Homes, Thorold

Medium volume (21-100 possessions or more per year): Fifthshire Homes Ltd..  Concord; LeBlanc Enterprises, Cobourg; Neilcorp Homes, Almonte; Sifton Properties, London; Wrighthaven Homes, Elora

Small volume (5-20 possessions or more per year): Cedarstone Homes, Ashton; George Milla Construction, Milla Homes, Waterloo; Klondike Homes, Waterloo; Medway Homes, Grand Bend; Triple T Holdings, Peterborough

 

Skyline International CEO braves Undercover Boss Canada

Skyline International has always been a company that I’ve admired for it’s forward thinking, imaginative development and gutsy purchases. Founder and president, Israeli-born Gil Blutrich, has always thought way outside the box and has created a company that strives to do things differently, especially when it comes to the environment.

So, it was no surprise to me when I found out that Skyline’s CEO, Michael Sneyd, volunteered to do some dirty work on location at two of Skyline Hotels & Resorts’ locations on Undercover Boss Canada, airing Thursday, March 29, 9 p.m. on the W Network.

Skyline Hotels & Resorts owns Toronto’s Cosmopolitan Hotel and the Pantages Hotel, four Shizen Spas, Deerhurst Resort, Horseshoe Resort, and operates Le Méridien King Edward Hotel and employs over 1,500 people.

The company is building residential units at Deerhurst, Horseshoe and along the historic lakefront of Port McNicoll, and recently acquired The Cleveland Arcade and Hyatt Regency Cleveland at the Arcade.

On the show, Sneyd joins employees at Horseshoe Resort near Barrie and Deerhurst Resort in Muskoka to wait tables, make snow for ski hills and haul hay for hungry horses.

“Initially I was concerned about being recognized, but the approach and disguise were effective and allowed me to fit right in as a front-line employee,” Sneyd said in a press release.

“I was humbled by how difficult it is to spend a full shift on your feet and the level of customer service and professionalism our staff achieve.”

The experience inspired Sneyd to implement an annual “Undercover Jobs Day” at Skyline, where corporate office executives, general managers and hotel leadership committee members will all spend a shift filling line-level jobs.

“There’s nothing like walking in another person’s shoes, even for a short time, to open your eyes to their work world.”

Sneyd’s role also opened his eyes to just how much walking many of the jobs at the 600-acre Horseshoe Resort and 760-acre Deerhurst Resort demand.

“Both are large properties and I’d estimate many of our team cover at least five kilometres a day in the course of simply completing their tasks.”

Sneyd was hired to implement Blutrich’s fast-forward vision, in his first 12 months he Sneyd has already overseen a $27 million private equity placement and the acquisition of Deerhurst Resort, and the company’s first U.S. property, the landmark Cleveland Arcade and the 293-room Hyatt Regency hotel.

Sneyd’s Undercover Boss Canada experience was “a once-in-a-lifetime shot to get a different perspective on what’s important to this company and our customers,” he said. “The staff I worked with shared valuable information which I would likely not have learned if they knew they were shepherding the boss around for a day.”

Other companies who have participated in the inaugural season of Undercover Boss Canada include Molson Coors Canada, Second Cup, Cineplex Entertainment and GoodLife Fitness.

Michael Sneyd gets shown the ropes by Shani Ride, Stables Manager at Horsehoe Resort. Photos courtesy the W Network.

 

Ikea rumour spread like the proverbial Billy bookcases

The design world was a-buzz last week with news that Ikea was selling pre-fab homes in the United States.

The idea didn’t seem totally out of whack — it seems like a perfectly natural progression from kitchens and bookcases to whole homes. They already do it in Europe with their BOKLOK housing, which helped filled the need for affordable housing for mothers in Sweden. Other BOKLOK communities have been part of larger urban renewal projects in partnership with real estate developers.

But, alas, it’s not true. What, in fact, is happening is that a Portland, Ore., company by the name of Ideabox — which specializes in pre-fabricated houses —  launched a new model, called aktiv, which was designed around the Swedish furniture giant’s furniture and storage systems.

The one-bedroom, 745-square-foot home is eco-friendly and the exteriors are built using a combination of fibre-cement siding and corrugated metal. The typical price of aktiv is $86,500 (U.S.) plus shipping. That will hurt.

Ideabox photos.

 

It's a Dog's Life

This bulldog was enjoying a nap in his handler's arms.

A couple of weeks ago, I went to New York City with a couple of friends to attend the Westminster Dog Show. It is the Super Bowl of the dog world, and for those of us who love our pets, it's the ultimate in anything to do with pooches.

But arf! The top dog was a Pekingese named Malachy. The crowd at Madison Square Garden yelped in horror! I heard comments like, “A mop won!” “That just ridiculous!” “The judges are nuts!”

Now, I realize that the judges probably saw something we didn't, but really! A Pekingese! The other finalists, including a gorgeous German shepherd, a handsome dalmation, a shiny Irish setter, a delightful kerry blue terrier and a cute little wirehaird dachshund.

 

Soldier Boy (Frankie) is an 8-year-old West Highland terrier from Scorybrek Kennels in Niagara.

Now, I know there are only two kinds of people in this world, dog lovers and those that live alone. And the show got me to thinking about the kind of pets that are suitable for living in the tight confines of apartments and condos in Toronto. For an answer to that query, I sent an email off to David Frei, the voice of the Westminster Kennel Club (anybody who has ever watched on TV knows the voice). I've yet to hear from David, but I'll let you know as soon as I do.

My life is much the richer for my two companions, Murphy, a West Highland terrier, and Joey, a fun-loving cairn terrier. I won't bore you with their pics, but I'll show you a couple of the handsome animals I met in New York City.

I'd also like to hear your pet stories. Send me an email at newhomes@thestar.ca and I'll post of the best!

Have a barking good week!

An Afghan hound named Honey is a beautiful blond!

 

Hugh Heron is one of my heroes

Hugh Heron with one of the Mikey defibrillators on the back of a moving truck. (Jim Ross photo)

One of the joys of my job is meeting wonderful and interesting people, including designers Colin and Justin and Glen Peloso, TV strongman Bryan Baeumler, interesting characters like Patrick O’Hanlon of Kylemore Communities, and stalwarts of the industry like Paul Golini Jr. of Empire Communties.

But one of my great pleasures is spending time with Hugh Heron of the Heron Group of Companies, which includes Heathwood Homes and the Canadian franchise rights to moving company Two Men and a Truck.

Hugh is a wonderful raconteur with a sharp wit, a wonderful sense of irony and a Scottish brogue that seems to get stronger every year.

Born in Glasgow, Hugh left the city’s famous shipyards and moved to Canada 45 years ago, where he learned the building industry from the foundations up.

But in 2002, Hugh lost a good friend, Mike Salem, when he suffered a sudden cardiac arrest on the golf course and died. A year later, Hugh and some of Mike’s other friends began the Mikey Network, with the goal of placing portable defibrillators (known as Mikeys) in as many public places as they could. Hugh thinks there should be one wherever there is a fire extinguisher.

To date, over 1,200 Mikeys have been placed and 12 lives have been saved with them.

So, really, it’s no surprise then that Hugh Heron put two of his companies together to benefit the not-for-profit Mikey Network. As of this week, all Two Men and a Truck vehicles will be equipped with Mikey defibrillators as part of the Mikey-on-Board program and all of the moving company’s staff will be trained on how to use them.

“These moving trucks, with their EMS-trained personnel, circulate throughout their communities every day,” Heron says. “By carrying a Mikey, they carry a second chance at life for people who might be affected by sudden cardiac arrest. This program is a tremendous venture and for Two Men and a Truck, it’s an industry first.”

And that’s why Hugh Heron is one of my heroes.

 

New in Homes celebrates its 35th birthday

 

In 1977, Pierre Trudeau was dancing to the tunes of the No. 1 album, Rumours by Fleetwood Mac, the Blue Jays thrashed Chicago in their very first game, and audiences laughed as Woody Allen chased a lobster in Annie Hall, the Academy Award winner for Best Picture.

It’s also the year the first New in Homes section appeared in the Toronto Star, right.

Nobody seems to be able to remember who the first editor was, but notable journalists Denis Greyhurst, Pat Brennan, Ellen Moorhouse and Rick Orchard helmed the section through years of change in the development — and the newspaper — world.

Back then, most new homes were detached and in the suburbs; today, condos have overtaken new home sales, both in the city and the 905 regions, according to a recent report by RealNet Canada.

So, here at the Star we’re celebrating 35 Years of New in Homes with special new features and a surprise or two. You’ll have to keep checking back here find out what they are . . . but you won’t be disappointed.

Over the next 35 weeks, in Saturday’s New in Homes section there will be profiles of Industry Innovators who have helped change the Greater Toronto Area over the past 35 years. It’s a long list, but I’m going to endeavour to boil it down to 35.

The first profile — of Hugh Heron, below at Traditions in Milton, of the Heron Group of Companies — can be found at yourhome.ca.

I’d love to have your feedback on what you think makes a great community, what you love about your home and your neighbourhood, and what a new home means to you. We will post the best online at www.yourhome.ca — and perhaps even print a few in the paper. Just send them to newhomes@thestar.ca.

Oh, and in case your curious, here’s what was happening in 1977 — it’s the year I graduated high school, by the way (oops, I think I just gave away my age).

LEADERS

Canadian Prime Minister: Pierre E. Trudeau

U.S. President: Jimmy Carter

British Prime Minister: James Callaghan

HEADLINES

Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Amnesty International

Road signs go metric in Canada.

Jan. 21: President Carter pardons U.S. Vietnam war draft evaders.

Feb. 10: Eaton Centre opens in Toronto.

April 7: The Toronto Blue Jays defeat the Chicago White Sox 11-5 in Toronto in the franchise’s first game.

July 22: Deng Xiaoping, purged Chinese leader, restored to power as Gang of Four is expelled from Communist Party.

Aug. 14: 24-year-old postal employee David Berkowitz is arrested and charged with being the “Son of Sam,” the serial killer who terrorized New York City for more than a year.

Aug. 16: Elvis Presley dies, age 42.

Sept. 8: Torontonian Cindy Nicholas becomes the first woman to complete a return crossing of the English Channel

Sept. 12: South African activist Steve Biko dies in police custody.

Sept. 21: Nuclear-proliferation pact, curbing spread of nuclear weapons, is signed by 15 countries, including U.S. and U.S.S.R.

SPORTS

The Montreal Canadiens defeat the Boston Bruins to win the Stanley Cup.

The New York Yankees defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.

The Oakland Raiders defeat the Minnesota Vikings in the Super Bowl.

MUSIC

Billboard No. 1 album: Rumours by Fleetwood Mac

Billboard No. 1 pop single: “You Light Up My Life” by Debby Boone

MOVIES

Annie Hall (1977) wins Academy Award for Best Picture.

Other popular movies: Star Wars, Julia, Saturday Night Fever, The Goodbye Girl, Smokey and the Bandit, A Star is Born, The Spy Who Loved Me

TV

Roots becomes the biggest mini-series of all time.

After seven years on the air, The Mary Tyler Moore Show ends.

Other popular shows: Laverne and Shirley, Happy Days, Three’s Company, Charlie’s Angels and 60 Minutes.

BOOKS

Top-selling books: Oliver’s Story by Erich Segal, The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough, Silmarillion by J. R. R. Tolkein (and Christopher Tolkien)

PEOPLE BORN IN 1977

Michael Fassbender, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Liv Tyler, Orlando Bloom, Kanye West, Jarome Iginla, Shakira, Tom Brady

Compiled by Astrid Lange / Toronto Star Library

SOURCES: Canadian Encyclopedia; Infoplease; The Timetables of History; Billboard; IMDB

A Day with Colin and Justin

Colin McAllister, Glen Peloso and Justin Ryan pose in front of one of W Studio's great rugs.

I am a very lucky girl! I got to attend last week’s Interior Design Show with three hot designers, and I do mean hot.

HGTV stars and Toronto Star columnists Colin and Justin were my “dates” to roam the show, but we soon ran into Glen Peloso — also a columnist for the Star — who made it a very lovely foursome.

There were so many great things to see and feel and touch and it seemed it went from good, to better to amazing.

Particularly interesting was the modern systems from Resource Furniture, where all the pieces transformed from one thing into another. For instance, the wall unit with the flat-screen TV hanging from it turns 180 degrees to reveal a fold-down bed. And a narrow console table opens up to become a dining table for up to 12 people. These pieces really hit the mark for condo dwellers living in tight spaces. All of the pieces are imported from innovative European companies and are extraordinarily modern in feel and function. My dates were duly impressed.

The carpets we saw from W Studio and Weaver’s Art were scrumptious. They spanned the style range from classic and sophisticated to funky and bright. I particularly liked the colour mix of grey, beige and brown in “Sahar” from W Studio, above.

 
Rick Mugford and Caroline Robbie of Quadrangle Architects set up a diorama in a shipping container called “How Do We Live,” which they describe as a tongue in check look at the delicousness of design. I just thought it was huge fun!

There were also great new taps at sinks at the Blanco Canada booth, where they presented their new Silgranit products, which are made of 80 percent natural granite. It makes an ordinary sink scratch proof, chip resistant, stain resistant — and food can be prepared or cut on the surface without making a mark. I want one!

There was so much to see at IDS and so little time! But Colin and Justin and Glen and I made the most of the time we had and saw everything we could.