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Kamloops  

'You're building dreams'

A subdivision at the far eastern end of Juniper East drew a crowd Wednesday morning for a ceremony marking the start of construction of the 2017 TRU trades training house and Y Dream Home.

As trades students looked on, Bren Joseph, a TRU carpentry student, together with Hank Bangma, construction trades instructor, and Coun. Ken Christian lined up for a customary cutting of a 2X4 to celebrate the occasion.

“Around the world, they’re playing Pokemon Go,” Christian joked. “Here in Kamloops, we play hide the Dream Home. It took me a while to find it.”

The 2017 Training House will be a three story three bedroom home with a basement, approximately 3800 sq. ft. total floor area. Its location affords a fine view of the valley below, though, enticing for Dream Home lottery ticket buyers.

“It’s a beautiful lot,” said Matt McCurrach, president of Canadian Homebuilders Central Interior. In recent years, the board has been moving the training house project around the city. This year’s home was in Westsyde.

“In about eight months, it will be known as the Dream Home,” McCurrach said.

He described the future home as a typically modern design, West Coast contemporary with an open-concept floor plan and an “equal opportunity” playroom off the back of the garage, connecting with a rear courtyard.

Now in its 27th year, the partnership is unique to Kamloops. The training benefits residential construction and electrical students with a hands-on experience. The students do the foundation, framing and rough in work, then the home is finished with the generous support of CHBA CI members. 

“This is something that doesn’t happen in every city because of the partnership involved. You guys are not just building a home, you’re building dreams.”

Designed by Grant Bergman of Bergman Home Design, the home is being built as an Energy Star home.

Paul Vinepal of River City Enterprises Ltd. is the project manager for the build. Many CHBA CI members provide ongoing support in products and/or labour. 

“This project allows us to be part of the community and also showcase the incredible talents in our local homebuilding industry,” said McCurrach. 

“For us it is about enhancing the educational experience of our trades students by giving them on site experience in addition to classroom work,” Bangma added. 

The project will feature the latest innovative product and designs for those thinking of building a new home or even renovating extensively their current home. 

CHBA CI will profile the building steps on Facebook and Twitter, giving followers an unusual snapshot of the residential building process.

- NewsKamloops



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