CHBA Central Interior Celebrating 55 Years
June 8, 2020
The Canadian Home Builders’ Association of Central Interior (CHBA CI) is proud to celebrate its 55th year in Kamloops by naming Bill Bilton, the remaining original member from 1965, as an honourary lifetime member.
The Kamloops Home Builders Association (now CHBA CI) was founded in 1965 with 12 members, and created to encourage builder networking and support. Bill is the third in the association’s history to receive this prestigious status, recognizing his 55-year contributions to our association and community. While networking is still one of the CHBA's core values, our commitment to the health of our industry has expanded to include advocacy, education, and the Keystone Awards.
Today, the Association represents over 250 members that include builders, developers, trades, and suppliers along with the regulators and professionals that service the homebuilding industry.
“Growing and sustaining a community relies on the efforts of its citizens. All of us in the building industry can take pride in our contribution. Members of CHBA Central IInterior have been at the forefront as risk-takers, visionaries and leaders. Our efforts have literally built a community,” says Kelly Reid, CHBA Central Interior President.
The giving nature of our members is reflected by the generous support for high profile events like the Training House, a 30-year partnership. In addition, CHBA Central Interior members give back to the community in quiet unassuming ways through dozens of different volunteer causes that improve the quality of life for everyone in the entire community.
CHBA Central Interior members are the men and women who house our community and contribute to its economic and social well-being. Let’s continue building our community and our association for another 55 years!
To view CHBA CI’s 2020 member video, click here.
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For more information, please contact:
Rose Choy
[email protected]
T: 250-828-1844
History
The Kamloops Home Builders Association was founded in 1965 by Frank Hewlett and Gene Allgaier. It was first designed as a small networking group, made up of 12 original members, where builders could share ideas and provide mutual support. Each original member chipped in $100 to start the association, and it officially joined the national Canadian Home Builders’ Association in September 1965.
Throughout the years, the association grew its membership and brand, including:
- 1981 - Housing and Urban Development Association of Canada, Kamloops Branch (HUDAC), when it was incorporated as a not-for-profit society with 88 members;
- 1995 - Canadian Home Builders Association – Kamloops; and
- 2008 - Canadian Home Builders’ Association Central Interior.
Today, CHBA CI, based in Kamloops, represents 265 members and has expanded its outreach to include members in the Shuswap and Kootenay regions. Its annual programs include networking, advocacy, education, the Keystone Awards, and the Training House.
The Training House
A key component of CHBA CI’s history is the Training House. This program began in 1990 in partnership with the University College of the Caribou, Trades and Technology, which we now know as Thompson Rivers University. The first house was completed in 1991 and the 30th home was completed this year. The YMCA/YWCA Kamloops came on board in 1996, and each home is now used as the Dream Home Lottery Fundraiser.
Honourary Members
The CHBA Central Interior Board of Directors has awarded three honourary lifetime memberships in its history. They are:
- Inge Allgaier, in honour of her long-standing volunteer work as the Executive Officer for many years;
- Nick Rezeli of NR Builders, a long time active member;
- Bill Bilton, as a 55-year member and the only remaining member of the association from the original 12 members.