GUELPH – This year, the Guelph and District Home Builders’ Association (GDHBA) is celebrating 60 years of bringing together companies and individuals who are passionate about the residential construction industry.
The association started with a few charter members, who came together with a shared vision in 1960, and has grown to over 110 members today.
“As an award-winning local home builders’ association, GDHBA strives to advocate on behalf of their members and new homeowners and provide a platform for networking, education and community involvement,” officials said in a press release.
For years, GDHBA has been supporting the community where its members live, work and play, by giving back to local charities and non-profit organizations.
Over the last several years, the association has been donating 15 per cent of its net proceeds to community partners each year.
This year, as GDHBA celebrates its 60th anniversary, their goal is to go above and beyond that.
In February, the association donated a portion of proceeds from their President’s Ball to support one of its own not-for-profit member companies – Habitat for Humanity Wellington Dufferin Guelph.
Following that, the association’s board of directors unanimously voted in favour of donating over 30% of last year’s net income to the Guelph General Hospital as their way of supporting the community through the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Considering everything that has happened during the COVID-19 outbreak, the decision was easy,” said Melissa Jonker, GDHBA’s executive officer in a press release.
“We immediately thought that this was one of the best ways to show support to our community and frontline workers”.
GDHBA recognizes the value of promoting education and careers within the residential construction industry as the skilled trades shortage grows.
It is through this that the association recently introduced member affiliated student scholarships, to go along with their yearly scholarships allocated to students through the Upper Grand District School Board and Wellington Catholic District School Board’s Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program.
“GDHBA members can look out at Guelph and the surrounding communities and be proud that they have all played a part to build such a strong, bountiful and thriving community,” officials say.
“The residential construction industry is essential to Guelph’s long-term economic strength and prosperity.”
A recent study completed by Statistics Canada and CHMC noted that in 2019, there were 7,309 on-site and off-site jobs in new home construction, renovation, and repair in Guelph.
This resulted in $462 million in wages and $825 million in built investment value. GDHBA members build a long-lasting legacy of great homes which help drive the economic engine of the region.
Members are the backbone of GDHBA and have been integral in the success of the association over the last 60 years.
For a list of all member companies, visit www.gdhba.com.
