Emergencies happen, and sometimes at scales that surprise us. We can shrug, or we can invest that sensitivity. That goes for all of us, and our shared stakes in the kind of local governance that can keep vital functions going for communities amid disruptive wildcards like hurricanes or other natural disasters. More than a basic conversation for our…

HAVAN CEO Wendy McNeil sits down with Guido Wimmers, Dean of BCIT’s School of Construction and the Environment, to explore the pivotal role education plays in equipping the people and resources needed to build the homes our communities urgently require. Tune in — you might be surprised by Guido’s eye-opening insights. You will find “Measure Twice, …

With any profession, hobby, cause or life experience, there's community. The NC League of Municipalities itself is an expression of that, and so are the many affiliate groups and friend organizations that seek to advance focus on nuanced issues as specifically understood by, for example, municipal clerks, or local government attorneys, or budget of…

In mid February, the League and its longtime friends at the N.C. Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) and western North Carolina region Councils of Governments held a second, large convening of governments -- local, state and federal -- in storm-hit Asheville to go over the latest in the post-Helene recovery work for western North Carolina, …

It's nice to have a car, for all the practical reasons. But cars can be a bummer, too. They cost a lot up front, need regular maintenance, require insurance, lose on resale value, might have varying degrees of reliability along the way and bring other kinds of risks and exposures. What if that kind of stress went away for everyday folks? What if yo…

Successful teams thrive on collaboration built on open communication, trust, and shared goals to navigate renovation challenges. Award-winning designer Jessica Bremner and builder Andrew Kennedy showcase the synergy of design and construction, demonstrating the dedication it takes to achieve exceptional results. Tune in now! You will find “Measure …

Luxury Homes and budgets don’t go hand in hand – or do they? HAVAN Residential Renovator of the Year Troy Van Vliet of TAVAN Developments shares his strategies for staying on budget when building luxury homes in Vancouver's high-end market. You will find “Measure Twice, Cut Once” podcasts on iTunes, Spotify and Google podcasts. Thanks to sponsors: …

Hiring and working with a dynamic duo can lead to a multitude of accolades. In the case of Aleem Kassam of Kalu Interiors and Dave Bowes of Tall Tree Construction, this team brought in multiple wins at the 2024 HAVAN Awards. Tune in for award-winning tips! You will find “Measure Twice, Cut Once” podcasts on iTunes, Spotify and Google podcasts. Than…

Nick Petrie of Phase One Design is passionate about building codes. And that’s a good thing! With 27 different jurisdictions across the Lower Mainland with an estimated 350 different zones, having someone like Nick on your team is a smart move. Tune in for tips and market updates from Nick! You will find “Measure Twice, Cut Once” podcasts on iTunes…

Bryan Baeumler of HGTV and Stack TV fame and Graeme Huguet of My House Design Build are back talking to Mike and Jennifer-Lee about keeping homebuilding and renovations real; focusing on what is important to ensure your investment is protected and the home you build can stand the test of time. Tune in now! You will find “Measure Twice, Cut Once” po…

Celebrating his 2024 HAVAN Awards Single Family Builder of the Year award, Ryan O’Shea of Miracon Development shares the company’s philosophy for the single-family home and building community. You will find “Measure Twice, Cut Once” podcasts on iTunes, Spotify and Google podcasts. Thanks to sponsors: FortisBC, BC Housing, BC Hydro, Trail Appliances…

Celebrating her 2024 HAVAN Awards win as Interior Designer of the Year, Sarah Gallop share her approach to designing award-winning homes. Tune in. This episode is a winner! You will find “Measure Twice, Cut Once” podcasts on iTunes, Spotify and Google podcasts. Thanks to sponsors: FortisBC, BC Housing, BC Hydro, Trail Appliances, Rami Films, jPod p…

Bryn Davidson of LaneFab Design/Build has been building in the small housing multi-family space for over a decade. Tune in and learn what Bryn has to say about Bill44 and the new Small Scale Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH). You will find “Measure Twice, Cut Once” podcasts on iTunes, Spotify and Google podcasts. Thanks to sponsors: FortisBC, BC Housing, …

Tune in as HAVAN's Acting CEO Wendy McNeil continues her conversation with Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs, Ravi Kahlon, who shares his outlook for 2025. You will find “Measure Twice, Cut Once” podcasts on iTunes, Spotify and Google podcasts. Thanks to sponsors: FortisBC, BC Housing, BC Hydro, Trail Appliances, Rami Films, jPod production…

Tune in as HAVAN's Acting CEO Wendy McNeil catches up with newly re-elected Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs, Ravi Kahlon shares updates on the provincial government's housing initiatives and his new role. You will find “Measure Twice, Cut Once” podcasts on iTunes, Spotify and Google podcasts. Thanks to sponsors: FortisBC, BC Housing, BC H…

There’s always something new with cybercrime – what it looks like, how it’s carried out, what the trends are, who the targets are, and on and on. It’s a full-on industry, and it evolves as such. There is, however, a constant: the fact that letting our guard down online can have enormous costs. Most of us exercise basic internet security smarts, but…

Aerial views of Hurricane Helene's devastation in western North Carolina are hard enough to process, but imagine being in charge of the actual recovery. On this episode, we're going to hear directly from the leaders of these hard-hit communities about what they've witnessed and what they need right now to position for a comeback -- one that everyon…

We called it once-a-generation legislation when Congress passed it in 2021. The American Rescue Plan Act provided $1.9 trillion across the nation to restrengthen from the global pandemic that hurt so many communities. For their part, the cities and towns of North Carolina got about $1.3 billion -- and there's an important deadline coming up with it…

While disagreement is a fact of life, and indeed it happens in the government space, there's a lot of potential in resolution. On this episode, we look at how local governing boards across North Carolina can tap into that together. Commit to Civility is a certification course from the N.C. League of Municipalities that explores the dynamics of disc…

At a recent gathering of North Carolina municipal leaders, discussion briefly fell on a viral form of accountability activism from the public: “First Amendment audits," performed by citizen "auditors," with whom many local governments have had unforgettable experiences. Styles and practices of auditing vary, but generally in this context it’s the t…

Municipal Equation over the years has covered the challenges and successes of local law enforcement in a variety of ways. Today, we hear from the League of Municipalities’ in-house Shield Services experts – Tom Anderson and Joe Graziano, both of whom help agencies through the times, able to cite their own experience on the clock as sworn officers –…

Government communications, specifically the kind meant to connect with a diverse mix of everyday people, are always evolving in their reach, variety, and challenges. “I’ve been in the government communications side of things for 12 years, and it has changed dramatically over time,” said City of Hickory Communications and Marketing Manager Dana Kami…

You’ve heard of “artificial intelligence,” or AI, in one sense or another; we’ve been reckoning with the concept through books, movies and academic discussions since its earliest mentions in the 1950s. When you hear about it today, though, it’s typically in the context of “generative AI,” the rapidly evolving web-based tool that humans are using ri…

Renovating 20+ kitchens every year, Julie Hale from Trail Appliances knows a thing or two about how to determine which appliances will work for you and how to design the ultimate kitchen that works for you. Tune in the hear the latest kitchen design and appliance trends, and optimize your next renovation! Join Mike and Jennifer-Lee. You will find “…

Meet Sara Goldvine from BC Housing. Looking at housing through a holistic lens, Sara dives into the concept of housing as a system, providing an overview of BC Housing and solutions to address our housing crisis such as the BC Builds program, the new Secondary Suite Incentive Program, and benefits to consumers of builder licensing, and the 2-5-10 H…

Meet Laurel James, the design-half of the award-winning Novell Design Build team. Passionate about building homes for families of all configurations, Laurel approaches design with a curious and thoughtful eye to ensure the dwelling spaces nurture our creature comforts. Listen in as Laurel shares her thoughts on multi-family dwellings and the latest…

Mike and Jennifer-Lee explore the benefits of working with an Energy Advisor to calculate the building envelope, mechanical systems, and the air-tighness of your home to help provide choice, manage budgets, and above all, increase the comfort of your home when building new or renovating. A performance-based process, tune in for tips from Barb Silve…

When a city's or town's governing board adopts a comprehensive plan -- a big document meant to guide or manage growth and other elements of the locality's future -- it's a pretty big deal. Sure, municipalities across North Carolina have them, with insistence from state law. But for an individual city or town, it's a tremendous feat to complete such…

Looking into windows, one quickly realizes there are many considerations and potential unintended consequences that can impact the heating and cooling, plus the affordability, and comfort of your home. Speaking with Anton Van Dyk of Layton Consulting, Mike and Jennifer-Lee look into the importance of proper window selection. You will find “Measure …

Discover the remarkable journey of resurrecting Phoenix House, a home devastated by fire, as Best Builders, Nick Bray Architecture, and Carbon Wise unite to rebuild it to the prestigious Zero Carbon certification standard from the Living Future Institute. Join Mike and Jennifer-Lee as they delve into the extraordinary efforts undertaken by passiona…

Discover the challenges and triumphs of renovating a 112-year-old home as we bring back the builder - TQ Construction, and the homeowner, Dr Janet Simons, to review the high-performance whole home renovation project. Including lessons learned, scope creep, and pesky woodpeckers, this episode is packed with information to help you on your next home …

Zane Erickson from ZED Studio believes every home has a soul, and dreaming of homes on a large luxury scale, Zane’s passion for design helps to navigate the realities of construction. ‘When clients walk into a building that has been designed and built with care and attention, and each person involved in it has put their best foot forward, it's just…

Graeme Huguet, Renovator of the Year from My House Design Build Team, is joined by the Chu family who chose to renovate their bungalow. ‘This is the first home to be a certified Platinum Built Green Plus Net Zero renovated home in all of British Columbia and received a national award for Best Net Zero Renovated or New Home, and two HAVAN Awards; Be…

Co-hosts Mike and Jennifer-Lee chat with Interior Designer of the Year Katerina Vastardis, joined by Paul Shepski of Geography Contracting. ‘When you are taking a house and turning it into two homes, space can become quite tight, but there are bylaws in Vancouver that allow more square footage in a Passive House or a Passive House duplex’, says Pau…

Restoring a 1911 heritage home in Kitsilano from three poorly renovated rental suites into the home ‘it always wanted to be when it grew up’, Quinton Construction and Madeleine Design Group share the steps to their award-winning 4-level single-family home with basement suite reno. ‘As a designer, it really boils down to having the personality of yo…

Listen in as co-hosts Mike and Jennifer-Lee chat with award-winning duo Laura Grist Interior Design and Jedan Brothers Contracting sharing their secret recipe for award-winning kitchen renovations. ‘There was an opportunity to bring in some real lovely natural lighting. We decided to take out the windows. I know that sounds counter intuitive, but i…

You will find “Measure Twice, Cut Once” podcasts on iTunes, Spotify and Google podcasts Challenged by homeowners to push the boundaries in this custom home design build, Architrix Studio and Kingdom Builders share their solutions to include out-of-the-box design ideas. including in-floor radiant heating plus a floating staircase designed on the ext…

Karly Kristina Design and Marcraft Homes share the design and cliff-dropping building engineering challenges as their clients with waterfront property including ultra-modern home plans - look to build their classic Hamptons dream home, without going back to the architect. ‘With a 40-foot grade from the street level to the ocean, when the excavator …

In This Episode; Todd Best of Best Builders teams up with Ian McLean Architecture sharing the story of Triadic, an award-winning home recognized for its environmental initiatives, housing solutions, and excellence in energy efficiencies. ‘I think the most important thing you can do is get the architect, the interior designer, and a good contractor …

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Homebuilders Assn Van HAVAN

Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon kicks off Season 6 sharing his outlook on the impact of the Housing Supply Act, with Jake Fry of Smallworks and HAVAN CEO Ron Rapp chiming in with a few thoughts from the builder’s and industry perspective. Join Mike and Jennifer-Lee. You will find “Measure Twice, Cut Once” podcasts on iTunes, Spotify and Google podcast…

Co-hosts Mike and Jennifer-Lee chat with Shaun St-Amour who talks about the associated costs, the energy savings, consumer choice, and the importance of challenging the status quo as the industry looks to build resilient, healthy homes with a lighter footprint on the environment. ‘I really think that we should have an AirBNB passive house that we a…

Co-hosts Mike and Jennifer-Lee chat with Chris Wimbles of Perspective Homes by Pacific and homeowner, Drew Bonnell, sharing their experiences building their first net zero home including solar power. ‘You hear it all the time, communication. Because this was a complex project and because we had so many moving parts with so many people involved, if …

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Homebuilders Assn Van HAVAN

Co-hosts Mike and Jennifer-Lee chat with special Guest Bryan Baeumler of HGTV fame, along with Graeme Huguet of My House Design Build Team to talk about the value of working with the pros. ‘I often tell a story of a basement I walked into, and the homeowner said, what can you do down here? And the answer is, I'll put a train station, indoor pool an…

Co-hosts Mike and Jennifer-Lee chat with with Streetside Developments about their townhome project, Cascadia, located in Langley, due for completion later this year. Challenged by senior management to build to a net zero ready high-performance level, Jonathan Meads shares the challenges faced by the building community. Scaling up from a single-fami…

You will find “Measure Twice, Cut Once” podcasts on iTunes, Spotify and Google podcasts. Co-hosts Mike and Jennifer-Lee chat with Joe Geluch looking at infill housing solutions featuring a Passivhaus+ duplex project with two lock-off suites, built on a single-family lot as a solution to addressing Vancouver’s Missing Middle housing. ‘We had the opp…

You will find “Measure Twice, Cut Once” podcasts on iTunes, Spotify and Google podcasts. Jake Fry talks with co-hosts Jennifer-Lee and Mike about the concept of attainable housing for the missing middle and building thriving modern-day communities. ‘Our experience reflects that of the 370+ small homes we've built, easily over 85% have been for mult…

Co-hosts Mike and Jennifer-Lee chat with Chris Hill about the Building Offsite Sustainable System (BOSS) an open-source factory-built wall system designed to build higher Energy Step Code level homes, including passive homes. Developed by BCollective, the concept is simple; by creating BOSS as an open-source system, knowledge will transfer quicker …

What is an iceberg home? Unassuming at first glance, iceberg homes are designed and built with the majority of living space underground. Father and son duo, John and Jeff Gunson, share their experiences and process of building homes with multiple underground floors. ‘The concept was created in London. The houses are too small for the value of what …