AWC and ICC release mass timber guidebook

The American Wood Council (AWC) and International Code Council have released a joint publication, Mass Timber Buildings and the IBC, providing an overview of requirements for mass timber construction as found in the 2015, 2018, and 2021 International Building Code (IBC).

The document highlights historic changes beginning with the 2015 International Building Code, that allow for construction of mass timber buildings with larger heights and areas than was permitted for buildings of wood construction types (Types III, IV, and V) prior to the 2015 IBC. The document reviews the 2015 IBC recognition of cross-laminated timber (CLT), the reorganization of heavy timber provisions in the 2018 IBC, followed by the significant changes in the 2021 IBC and International Fire Code (IFC) for tall mass timber construction.

“The ICC Tall Wood Building Ad Hoc Committee recommendations were based on rigorous fire and life safety equivalent performance and testing. As a result, the ICC membership’s approval of tall mass timber code provisions in the 2021 IBC permit mass timber to be used in lieu of traditional tall building materials,” said AWC vice president of codes and regulations Kenneth Bland. “Given the anticipated demand across the country for taller mass timber buildings, this publication provides the building safety community with comprehensive explanations of the new regulations.”

In addition, the Code Council and AWC will co-present two full-day courses on Mass Timber Buildings and the IBC this fall. The course will highlight provisions in the 2015/2018 IBC for Mass Timber Construction as well as provide an overview of Tall Mass Timber Construction per the 2021 IBC and 2021 IFC.

“We are pleased to be collaborating with AWC on this effort to increase the knowledge of the important code changes established in the 2021 IBC,” said code council executive vice president Mark Johnson. “Building safety is more important than ever and this publication serves as an excellent resource for code officials to assist with the growing mass timber construction.”

Ontario allots new funding for child care operators

New funding is available for licensed child care operators and early years programs across Ontario to help support enhanced cleaning costs as well as health and safety requirements.

The provincial government set aside $234.6 million as part of the Safe Restart Agreement to help reopen child care at full capacity in September, said Premier Doug Ford.

The additional funding will help child care operators, EarlyON Child and Family Centres, and First Nations Child and Family Programs increase cleaning and infection control, ensure staff have access to personal protective equipment, promote physical distancing, purchase additional cleaning supplies, and support staffing needs.

“We are investing more in child care to ensure it is safe, accessible and affordable for working moms and dads,” said Minister of Education Stephen Lecce. “This agreement will ensure funding continues to flow so that child care remains available to parents as they return to work today and into the future.”

On July 30, the government announced child care centres, including before and after school programs, and early years programs across the province would be able to open at full capacity starting September 1, 2020. Guidance documents to support reopening child care and early years programs will be available shortly.

Families whose children attended a licensed child care centre immediately before the emergency was declared must be given at least 14 days’ notice to accept a placement available on or after September 1.

Saskatchewan enshrines remote witnessing option

COVID-19 has opened up a new option for the official witnessing of various legal documents in Saskatchewan. Emergency regulations were enacted on March 26 so that lawyers could use audio-visual technology to enable land title registry, delegation of power of attorney and filing of wills in accordance with required public health protocols. Authority for this remote witnessing approach was made permanent last week.

“Continuing to allow these documents to be signed remotely will increase access to the justice system through the use of technology,” says Saskatchewan Justice Minister and Attorney General Don Morgan.

For land registry applications, the new regulation also simplifies steps for lawyers, provided they are licensed to practice in Saskatchewan. Previously, they were required to submit a certificate of qualifications in situations where they had witnessed the signing from a physical distance, such as from the other side of a glass divider. Now they will simply have to check a box and sign the authorization form.

Provinces pursue plug-and-play nuclear power

Four Canadian provinces are now working together to advance plug-and-play nuclear power generation through small modular reactors (SMRs). Late last week, the Alberta government announced it will be joining the partnership Ontario, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick has formed to support the technology, which allows reactors to be built in a factory location then transported to and installed in a host facility.

“Alberta’s rich uranium deposits, respected innovation and research sector and technically skilled and educated workforce could make us an attractive destination to develop and deploy SMRs,” asserts Alberta Energy Minister Sonya Savage.

The provincial initiative responds to the federal government’s urgings for collaborative development of SMR technology along with supporting policies and infrastructure, which were outlined in the 2018 release of the Canadian Small Modular Reactor Roadmap. In particular, SMRs spark interest for their potential to produce low-carbon electricity in remote off-grid communities currently dependent on diesel generators, but the flexible capability to generate from two to 300 megawatts (MW) could also be an option for industrial on-site generation and/or to connect to the grid.

“SMRs could generate clean and low-cost energy,” Premiers Doug Ford, Blaine Higgs and Scott Moe, noted as they signed their memorandum of understanding in December 2019. “It could also drive economic growth and export opportunities as these technologies are further adopted across the country and around the world.”

For Alberta and Saskatchewan that would also mean an opportunity to exploit the uranium resources in the Athabasca Basin, which are deemed among the most plentiful in the world. “We are excited to collaborate with our provincial partners to stay ahead of the game in the development of this promising technology.” Alberta Premier Jason Kenney reiterates.

Earlier this year, Minister of National Resources Seamus O’Regan promised a further federal action plan would be ready by the fall.

Cancer Centre to be included in new Surrey hospital

Surrey’s new hospital being built in Cloverdale will include a regional B.C. cancer centre, improving access and cancer treatment for the community.

“Nothing is more important than the health of your family, and for people dealing with cancer, having access to treatment close to home is especially welcome,” said Premier John Horgan in a press release. “The cancer centre at the new Surrey Hospital will deliver high quality, comprehensive and compassionate cancer care services for patients and their families in their fast-growing community.”

The regional centre is expected to offer patients treatment, supportive care, research, education and innovative technologies, such as virtual health. Officials added they intend to make the centre a hub of excellence for clinical and academic activities that attract medical professionals to the region.

“The second Surrey hospital is not just a community hospital, it’s a state-of-the art, 21st-century centre for health care, which has now expanded to include cancer treatment services,” said Adrian Dix, minister of health. “Though the rapidly growing city of Surrey is young, it also has an increasing population of seniors. This means the demand for cancer care will also increase, and our government is taking immediate action to improve health care for people living in this region for years to come.”

The new hospital that will house the centre is planned to be constructed in Cloverdale beside the Kwantlen Polytechnic University campus.

This will be B.C.’s seventh regional cancer centre, with existing centres in Surrey Memorial Hospital, as well as Abbotsford, Vancouver, Kelowna, Prince George and Victoria.

The new hospital is currently in the business-plan phase, which is expected to be finalized later this year. Procurement and construction will then follow.

“Cancer is a very complex disease requiring specialized infrastructure and equipment. While B.C. has some of the best outcomes in Canada, we must continue to build provincial capacity to ensure we are meeting the needs of our population,” said Benoit Morin, president and chief executive officer, Provincial Health Services Authority.

Derek Newby is new principal in DSA Vancouver

Diamond Schmitt Architects (DSA) welcomes Derek Newby as a principal in its growing Vancouver practice.

Newby brings experience in designing mixed-use, office and academic facilities and is recognized nationally for his leadership in sustainable design and high-performance buildings. For years he has advocated for low-carbon buildings, both through the application of Passive House principles to reduce operating emissions and through the use of timber to reduce embodied emissions.

His recent work includes designing Canada’s Earth Tower in Vancouver, a proposed 38-storey mixed-use building built mainly of timber to Passive House standards. He was also the project architect for Orchard Commons, a large mixed-use hub at the University of British Columbia, and he led the design for numerous office projects planned for downtown Vancouver.

Most recently he worked alongside Diamond Schmitt on the Peter A. Allard School of Law at UBC and the Tommy Douglas Public Library in Burnaby.

“Having worked with Derek in Toronto and collaborated when he returned to Vancouver with his family, we are excited to welcome him back to Diamond Schmitt,” said Donald Schmitt, the firm’s co-founder:

Newby is a member of the Architectural Institute of British Columbia and the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada. He is a LEED accredited professional, a Certified Passive House Designer and has served on the Advisory Design Panels of New Westminster and Surrey, B.C.

“I’m delighted to rejoin my colleagues here and look forward to expanding our presence in B.C., across Western Canada and into the US,” said Newby.

Diamond Schmitt Architects has studios in Toronto, New York, and Vancouver and an extensive portfolio of academic facilities, commercial and residential projects as well as healthcare, recreation and performing arts centres throughout North America and abroad.

Electrical equipment conglomerate to divest

A major global distributor of electrical equipment and infrastructure has agreed to divest its Canadian utility and data communications divisions as a condition of its merger with a rival company. The Competition Bureau of Canada negotiated the terms of the agreement to address concerns that WESCO International’s $6.1-billion acquisition of Anixter International would allow one company to gain predominant market share, driving up prices for key components of electricity transmission/distribution systems and telecommunications networks.

WESCO and Anixter are the primary suppliers in the Canadian market of high/medium voltage equipment installed on power lines, copper, coaxial and fibre-optic cabling, and cabling infrastructure. The Competition Bureau’s review of the deal concluded that contractors, utilities, cable companies and telecommunications service providers could all suffer from the loss of rival suppliers and competitive pricing.

“These products are essential inputs in the delivery of electricity and internet to Canadians and Canadian businesses,” an Aug. 6 statement from the Competition Bureau reiterates. “The Bureau found that the remaining competitors in these markets generally could not offer comparable product selection, pricing and service, and that barriers to entry or expansion are high.”

WESCO has committed to immediately begin the process of divesting its utility and data communications divisions in Canada, which tallied about $150 million in sales in 2019.

“We are pleased to reach this agreement with the Commissioner of Competition and to resolve the Bureau’s remaining concerns. The Agreement does not impact the tremendous value creation opportunity of the transformational combination of WESCO and Anixter, and we continue to see significant upside potential versus our synergy targets,” says John Engel, WESCO’s president and chief executive officer.

“Canadians rely on companies like WESCO and Anixter to support their basic needs, such as light, heat and internet connectivity,” observes Matthew Boswell, the Commissioner of Competition. “We are confident that the agreement will preserve competition in markets vital to the basic needs of Canadians.”

Feds offer $3.3 billion for pandemic resilient projects

The federal government has announced a $3.3-billion COVID-19 infrastructure program for resilient projects to help Canadian communities respond to the global pandemic.

The Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program is being adjusted so that provinces and territories can use federal funding to act quickly on a wider range of more pandemic-resilient infrastructure projects.

Under a new COVID-19 Resilience funding stream, projects will be eligible for a significantly larger federal cost share – up to 80 per cent for provinces, municipalities and not-for-profit organizations in provinces, and raising it to 100 per cent for territorial and Indigenous projects designated under the new stream. A simplified funding application process will ensure that projects can get underway as soon as possible, and accelerated approvals will ensure that provinces and territories can address pressing needs in a timely manner.

Projects will include retrofitting schools, upgrading hospitals and long-term care homes, building new parks and disaster mitigation projects that protect against floods and fires.

“Our government recognizes that with the health and economic challenges presented by COVID-19, we need to support Canadians to protect their health, improve their quality of life, and create jobs. Canada’s infrastructure plan invests in thousands of projects, creates jobs across the country and builds stronger communities,” said Minister of Infrastructure and Communities Catherine McKenna.

To be eligible for funding under the COVID-19 Resilience stream, the project’s eligible costs must be under $10 million, construction must be started no later than Sept. 30, 2021, and it must be completed by the end of 2021 (or by the end of 2022 in the territories and in remote communities).

The following are the maximum allocations from the new stream:

Newfoundland and Labrador: $55,584,285
Prince Edward Island: $36,697,732
Nova Scotia: $82,849,316
New Brunswick: $67,321,757
Quebec: $753,593,792
Ontario: $1,184,648,346
Manitoba: $117,207,615
Saskatchewan: $89,632,301
Alberta: $339,785,704
British Columbia: $412,968,016
Yukon: $44,561,730
Northwest Territories: $57,077,683
Nunavut: $56,676,162

Canada’s black leaders rarely board members

Black leaders are mostly absent from Canadian boards of directors, according to a new report from Ryerson University’s Diversity Institute, which was released yesterday.

DiversityLeads 2020, builds on similar research by the Diversity Institute over more than a decade and shows women continue to make slow progress, but in some cases representation of racialized people is moving backwards. The situation for Black leaders, analysed for the first time, is particularly dire.

The study, supported by TD Bank Group via the TD Ready Commitment, is a first-of-its kind comprehensive Canadian analysis of the representation of women, Black people, and other racialized persons among 9,843 individuals on the boards of directors across sectors in eight cities: Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Halifax, Hamilton, London, and Ottawa. The study examined data from large companies; agencies, boards, and commissions (ABCs); hospitals; the voluntary sector; and educational institutions. When comparing the representation of women, Black people and racialized persons on boards, local demographics are considered.

Sector by Sector

While racialized people represent 28.4 per cent of the population across the eight cities studied, they occupy only 10.4 per cent of board positions in the sectors analysed. Universities and colleges have the highest level of representation of racialized people in board roles (14.6 per cent), while the corporate sector has the lowest level of representation (4.5 per cent). Among 1639 corporate board members, the study found only 13 who were Black (0.8 per cent). In Toronto, where 7.5 per cent of the city’s population is Black, there were almost no members on corporate boards (0.3 per cent). In Calgary, where 3.9 per cent of the population is Black, only 1.9 per cent of members on corporate boards were Black.

“When we look at differences between sectors and within sectors, it’s pretty clear that the issue is not the pool or lack of available talent, but policies and processes around board recruitment,” said Wendy Cukier, founder and academic director of the Diversity Institute and the report’s lead author. “Individuals’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour either advance or impede diverse representation.”

She says the research also reinforces the need to implement Canada’s new Bill C-25, An Act to Amend the Canadian Corporations Act, passed in 2018. The legislation, unlike provincial regulations, requires federally incorporated companies to report not just on the composition of board and leadership in terms of gender, but also on race, Indigenous people and persons with disabilities. The Diversity Institute’s research and advocacy played an important role in shaping the new law.

“Organizations need to address diversity and inclusion strategically, ensuring that leaders communicate its importance and make it a priority in governance through setting targets, embedding diversity and inclusion in skills matrices, and embarking on intentional strategies tied to measurable outcomes,” said Cukier. “Diversity and inclusion need to be supported with progressive human resources practices and inclusive cultures. They also need to be reinforced with performance goals and accountability and embedded in every step of the value chain from procurement to marketing, as well as in philanthropic activities.”

City by City

Racialized people are the majority in Toronto (51.4 per cent) and represent 15.5 per cent of board positions. While the gap is narrowing, white women still out-number racialized women in corporate board roles in Toronto by 12:1 (compared to 16:1 in 2017 and 17:1 in 2014).

In Vancouver where almost half of the population is racialized (48.9 per cent), only and 12.3 per cent of board positions are held by racialized people. In Montreal, where racialized people represent 22.6 per cent of the population, they occupy only 6.2 per cent of board positions. This is less than the proportion of racialized people in board positions in Halifax (6.7 per cent), a city where racialized people represent only 11.4 per cent of the population.

“Research is key to understanding the need to address inclusion and diversity in business and the broader community,” said Andrea Barrack, global head, sustainability and corporate citizenship, TD Bank Group. “Through the TD Ready Commitment, our corporate citizenship platform, we are pleased to have a future where everyone has equal opportunity to thrive. These efforts, among others, are fundamental to helping to promote a fair and just society, and it is our responsibility, as one of Canada’s largest corporations, to help open new opportunities and level an uneven playing field.”

Corporate boards lack Indigenous people, LGBTQ2S+ community

Research has shown that Indigenous peoples, members of the LGBTQ2S+ community, and persons with disabilities are rarely members of boards. This study could not produce reliable data on the representation of these groups, but used interviews to explore the perceptions and experiences with boards of people who identify as Indigenous, LGBTQ2S+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, and two-spirit), and persons with disabilities.

Among the 36 respondents, 90 per cent had non-profit sector board experience and 30 per cent had public sector board experience, but only 8 per cent had experience on corporate boards. Some of the barriers that were identified include: corporate culture, lack of social networks, discrimination (which is compounded for people with intersecting identities), pressures to refrain from self-identification, and a lack of mentorship or support.

The majority (80 per cent) of participants in the qualitative study were positioned at the intersection of more than one underrepresented identity (e.g., as a woman and an Indigenous person). Many were reluctant to discuss or reveal their identity at all for fear of discrimination.

Unallocated CECRA funds behind August extension

Landlords can now apply for a newly available fifth month of Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA). Extension of the joint federal-provincial/territorial program was announced late last week to offer the 50 per cent subsidy of qualifying tenants’ rent for August.

“As a lot of small businesses across the country are gradually and safely reopening, further support is needed for those businesses hardest hit,” acknowledged federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau. “We’ve listened to the concerns of small businesses and we are extending the rent relief provided through the CECRA by an additional month.”

Approved recipients or landlords who have already applied under the original eligibility criteria — which required documentation to show tenants suffered a minimum 70 per cent decline in revenue during April, May and June — will not need to submit further proof for July and August. However, the CECRA extension is not automatic. Commercial landlords will have to reapply by September 14.

Meanwhile, new applicants can opt in for three, four or five months, but they will have to meet the original August 31 deadline for registering and supplying required documentation.

“By extending support for commercial rent at the same time most of the province is in stage three, the province of Ontario is helping more businesses get through this challenging period so they have an opportunity to recover and welcome back their customers,” said Ontario Minister of Finance Rod Phillips.

Business advocates note there are still more than $2 billion of unallocated CECRA funds available, based on the number of tenants confirmed for assistance thus far. As of July 30, it’s reported that 63,000 qualifying businesses or not-for-profit organizations had been collectively approved for about $613 million worth of commercial rent relief, while the program administrator, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), continues to work with large landlords to process applications for more than 20,000 additional recipients.

Given the volume of untapped funds, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) urges more flexible rules to enable a broader range of distressed businesses to qualify. Failing that, the organization calls on provincial/territorial governments to step away from the joint program and, instead, directly disburse their share of the funds within their own jurisdictions.

“We are concerned Canada’s finance ministers are waiting to see if more landlords apply for CECRA before the application deadline at the end of August. That would be a big mistake. Businesses that need help cannot wait that long. Rent relief needs an overhaul now,” CFIB executives Laura Jones and Corinne Pohlmann wrote in a July 27 letter to the federal and provincial/territorial finance ministers.

B+H Architects reveals design for Shenzhen hospital

B+H Architects has won an international competition to design the new Shenzhen Children’s Hospital and Science and Education Building, in joint venture with East China Architectural Design & Research Institute (ECADI).

The existing Shenzhen Children’s Hospital has been a landmark in the Futian area of Shenzhen since it was established in 1998, occupying a pivotal site on the edge of the well-known Lianhuashan park.

The client’s vision for the new building, located to the west of the existing campus, was to create a truly special ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ healthcare facility to support the delivery of top-quality care for children, as well as to provide a new home for advanced research and learning in paediatric medicine.

“Children live very much in the present and can experience each moment very intensely – sights, sounds, scale, touch, colours and patterns hold delights and surprises that we as adults often overlook,” said Stephanie Costelloe, principal and director of Healthcare, Asia. “At the very heart of our design approach was a desire to experience this building through the eyes of the children who will be coming here; to instill a sense of wonder in every corner which would celebrate their unique and joyful view of the world – whilst also encouraging adults to interact with the environment in a similarly social, playful and collaborative way.”

B+H’s integrated design approach weaves a cohesive response from the site master-planning through to the architecture, medical planning and interiors, with special emphasis on the integration of landscape design.

“Our vision is to ensure that the building’s occupants not only fully engage with the surrounding natural landscape, but that we create a unique micro-landscape within and around the building, from ground floor to rooftop gardens,” says Costelloe.

One key idea was the introduction of the vertical “secret garden”, intended to enthrall young eyes and provide a welcome distraction to patients and their families during the healing process.

The international design competition was organized by the Shenzhen municipal government and attracted more than 25 entries from around the world. The B+H/ECADI design proposal was elected the unanimous first place winner and the team were awarded the contract for full design services.

Mental health centre opens at Royal Columbian Hospital

The B.C. government has opened the Mental Health and Substance Use Wellness Centre at Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster, which provides 75 inpatient psychiatric beds.

“For too long, children, youth and adults living with mental health and substance use challenges have struggled to get quick access to the supports they need and deserve,” said Judy Darcy, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “The new Mental Health and Substance Use Wellness Centre is a wonderful healing space with 75 beds and several new and expanded outpatient clinics to support people on their healing journey.”

Located at the Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster, the nearly 37,000 square-metre (393,000 square-foot) centre offers outpatient services including a mood disorder clinic, expanded clinics for adolescent psychiatry, reproductive psychiatry and psychiatric urgent referral, as well as group therapy and neuropsychology clinics.

Fraser Health is taking a phased approach to opening the new centre, which began with the opening to outpatients on July 13, 2020. Bird Design-Build Construction Inc. completed the project, as part of phase one of the hospital’s redevelopment.

To support people living with substance-use challenges, the centre will provide expanded addiction services through a new addictions medicine and substance-use clinic.

The Mental Health and Substance Use Wellness Centre will also be home to a new electroconvulsive therapy clinic that will provide people with access to neurostimulation, a treatment that uses electrical signals to provide relief to patients affected by neurologic and psychiatric disorders, as well as chronic pain. The centre will be the new regional site for this service.

In addition, the centre is the first in the Fraser Health region to offer a specialized unit for seniors dealing with acute depression, anxiety or psychosis. The centre was built using a patient-centred design that had input from patients, families, psychiatrists and clinicians.

The new centre is an inviting, spacious and therapeutic sanctuary where patients can feel safe, respected and supported in their recovery. The centre features plenty of windows and natural light. To further support a diverse and culturally safe environment, First Nations artwork will help create a calming and welcoming environment for patients while they recover.

Inpatient units at the centre include spaces for patients to be social, spaces to spend time alone, a lounge for visiting with family, friends and other patients, a secure outdoor patio and an exercise room. All of the patient rooms are private spaces with ensuite bathrooms.

Quebec condo sales rebound in July

Home sales increased within the whole Montreal Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) in July as prices also rose considerably year-over-year.

Same goes for condo sales, according to the Quebec Professional Association of Real Estate Brokers (QPAREB), which just released its most recent residential market stats for 2020.

In total, 5,356 residential sales transactions were concluded in July 2020, a 46 per cent increase compared to July of last year and a new sales record for a month of July. QPAREB attributes this rebound to the “catching-up of transactions” that were halted in early spring.

“The resumption of transactions is gaining strength in Montreal, as is—to a lesser extent—the resumption of new listings, which does not suggest a significant relaxing of market conditions for the time being,” said Julie Saucier, president and chief executive officer of the QPAREB. “Conditions remained very favourable for sellers in July with prices still rising sharply,” she added.

Sales

Quebec condo sales and plexes’ sales increased considerably in July, rising by 45 per cent and 34 per cent, respectively. Single-family homes posted the largest increase, with a 48 per cent jump in transactions year-over-year across the CMA.

Selling times went down across all property types. On average, it took only 41 days for a condo to sell, which is 30 days less than in July of last year. The amount of time it took to sell a single-family home (57 days) and a plex (71 days) fell by six days and seven days.

Prices

The median price of condos rose by 12 per cent to reach $312,000, while that of plex increased by seven per cent to reach $624,900. The median price of single-family homes reached $423,000, an 18 per cent increase compared to July of last year.

Sales by geographic area

All six main areas of the Montreal CMA registered a significant increase in sales compared to July of last year, with particularly impressive increases on the North Shore of Montreal ( up 84 per cent) and in Vaudreuil-Soulanges ( up 65 per cent).

The peripheral markets of the CMA continue to benefit from a significant surge in interest. The areas of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu and the South Shore of Montreal also registered a strong rebound in transactions of 51 per cent and 41 per cent, respectively, followed by Laval with an increase of 33 per cent.

Sales on the Island of Montreal have also resumed much more sustained activity since the start of the pandemic, posting a 31 per cent increase in transactions year-over-year.

Newmarket welcomes new purpose-built rental development

The federal government announced it is financing $79 million to help construct 216 residential units located at 195 Deerfield Road in Newmarket.

This project by The Rose Corporation is receiving financing through the Rental Construction Financing initiative (RCFi), a National Housing Strategy program delivered through CMHC. The program encourages the construction of a stable supply of rental housing for middle-class families in expensive housing markets and those families working hard to join them.

“Current events remind us that nothing is more important than a home. Canada’s middle-class and those working hard to join them will benefit from the construction of new rental housing,” said the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and the Minister responsible for CMHC. “Through new investments, we are taking action to increase the supply of new rental developments, providing housing options that are closer to jobs, services and amenities families need.”

With 195 Deerfield, The Rose Corporation will be building on the success it delivered with 212 Davis Apartments, the first new privately funded purpose-built rental apartment tower Newmarket has welcomed since the mid-1980s. Part of the company’s mission is to provide diverse and attainable housing options.

“As city builders, we have a corporate social responsibility to help create more attainable rental and ownership housing alternatives within the communities in which we build,” said Daniel Berholz, President, The Rose Corporation. “We firmly believe that a healthy community is an essential tool in building a thriving corridor. By embracing public-private partnerships, The Rose Corporation’s collaboration with all levels of government – York Region, the Town of Newmarket and the federal government (CMHC) has allowed us to successfully help fill a desperate need for more affordable housing options in Newmarket.”

The new development involves the construction of a 15-storey building with 216 residential units, ranging from 1-bedroom units to 3-bedroom ground-oriented and tower units. This will be the initial phase of a 4.4-acre master-planned community consisting of three towers rising above a landscaped courtyard.

Construction commenced in March 2020, and substantial completion is expected in early 2023. Amenity spaces will include a communal 20,000 square foot park with a playground, a kids zone, fitness centre and yoga studio. The development has easy access to the VIVA bus rapid transit, bicycle parking for all residents and direct access to biking and walking trails

Designed to meet LEED Silver requirements, the building has also invested significantly into electric vehicle charging stations. At least 30 units will meet the municipal accessibility requirements, and will include units with universal and adaptable design.

About 20 per cent of Newmarket residents rely on the rental market for housing. This development represents a new supply of purpose-built rental housing in Newmarket, where the vacancy rate was 2.0 per cent as of Oct. 2019, a decrease from 2.4 per cent in Oct. 2018.

Rental demand in Canada’s major urban centres

Measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 and protect Canadians’ health are contributing to a significant interruption in economic activity, including rental demand in most urban centres. Despite efforts taken by federal and provincial governments to limit this economic fallout, adverse impacts risk being large.

“COVID-19 has had unprecedented impacts on Canada’s urban centres,” said Aled ab Iorwerth, CMHC’s Deputy Chief Economist. “Short-term uncertainty will lead to severe declines in sales activity and in new construction. As the virus is overcome, cities will bounce back but there is significant uncertainty with respect to the path and timing of the recovery.”

In terms of the rental sector specifically, the report indicates that falling immigration will continue to curtail demand and fewer short-term rentals could make more units available for longer-term use.

Rental demand in specific markets:

Vancouver

To some degree, the Vancouver ownership markets are less exposed to the impacts of rising unemployment and a closed border, while the rental market is more sensitive to the shock. Real estate buyers tend to be older than renters, therefore they are less likely to have lost their employment as a result of the economic shutdown. The brunt of job losses has so far been borne by younger employees who are less likely to have the accumulated savings necessary to buy.

The same is true of population growth in the Vancouver CMA, which is largely driven by the influx of young migrants, most of whom are immigrants to Canada. The immediate decline in migration to Vancouver is expected to reduce rental demand directly. A rising vacancy rate from historical lows is a possibility in the near term, since with recent elevated purpose-built rental starts, there will be an increased supply of rental units coinciding with a fall in demand.

Calgary

Net migration, from all sources, has historically been a key driver of population growth and rental demand in the Calgary CMA. Near-term immigration and interprovincial migration will be negatively impacted by the pandemic.

This will result in significantly reduced rental demand. At the same time, a large number of new rental units are anticipated to complete and be brought to market over the next few years, while some existing units previously used as short-term rentals may also add to the supply of long-term rental units in the near-term. The combined effect of a decline in demand and increase in supply could be a higher vacancy rate in the Calgary CMA over the next two years.

Edmonton

The demand for rental units is likely to decline in Edmonton because of the slower than expected growth in key demographics such as the population of young adults (aged 25-34 years) and international migrants. The imposition of travel restrictions is projected to affect international and interprovincial migration, which will restrain the demand for rental units in Edmonton.

On the supply side, there will be more rental units entering the market in both the purpose-built and condominium segments as the elevated number of units currently under construction complete over the next two years. The projected increases in supply with few or no additions to demand are likely to lead to increases in vacancy rates in Edmonton in 2020 and 2021.

Toronto

Anticipated increases in supply, in terms of higher completions in primary rental units and more rental condominium apartments entering the secondary market should ease rent growth and vacancy rates in a historically tight rental market. Short-term job losses, which will likely persist mainly in the service and hospitality industries, are more likely to affect renters.

An uncertain job market will likely affect millennials that are looking to enter the job market. As a result, they may now delay their entry into the rental market and stay at home with parents and/or choose co-sharing living arrangements, thus reducing demand for rental units. Prolonged effects of the pandemic, such as border and airport closures, will reduce net migration inflows – particularly immigration which has been a key driver of rental demand in the GTA.

Ottawa

Prior to the pandemic, steady population growth fueled by rising net migration levels, an aging population and students (domestic and international) continued to support demand for rentals while supply was rising at a slower pace. These conditions held the purpose-built vacancy rate below two per cent since 2017.

Over the course of 2020, demand for rental accommodation could be tempered by universities offering online courses (including to international students), lower net migration, and some elderly reluctant to move in the current restrictive environment. However, as normalcy slowly resumes over the forecast horizon, demand for rental housing should remain robust given the uncertain repercussions of job and income losses, which may delay the transition into homeownership for some households.

On the supply side, year-to-date to April, there were 2,481 purpose-built rental apartments under construction to be completed roughly by the end of 2022 easing some of the supply pressures that existed before the onset of the pandemic. A reprieve on the supply side could also come from some short-term rental units being added back into the long-term rental universe. On balance, rental market conditions could see little change over the forecast horizon from pre-pandemic with some potential upward pressure on the already low vacancy rate.

Montreal

Approximately 10,000 new rental units will arrive on the market in 2020, a record not seen in many years. Some short-term rental units could also move into the long-term supply, thereby adding to the number of new apartments.

This growth in supply will ease pressure on the rental market. As well, demand for rental housing will be supported by a slowdown in homeownership, but overall, this demand will continue to be heavily dependent on net migration. If net migration declines dramatically, the rental market is expected to ease. Otherwise, the Montréal vacancy rate should remain under 2 per cent.

Final thoughts

Necessary actions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have had severe short-term impacts on economic conditions in Canada’s major urban centres. Sales and construction have dropped. House prices will likely fall because of uncertainty over the economy’s path. Lower immigration and less mobility within Canada coupled with an overhang of buildings under construction could lead to vacancy rates increasing in the rental market. Any such spike is likely to be short-lived as demand for rental continues to grow in the medium term. The precise timing and speed of the recovery in major markets is highly uncertain and will vary considerably.

For more information, on CMHC’s Rental Market Outlook Report, or for housing information visit www.cmhc.ca

Surrey truck parking facility awarded to Jacob Bros

Work will begin this month on the $30 million North Surrey Truck Parking Facility, which will provide a safe, convenient place in the Lower Mainland for commercial truck drivers to pull over and rest.

A $4.97-million contract for the first phase of work has been awarded to Jacob Bros. Construction. Jacob Bros will be responsible for the construction of a signalized intersection along Highway 17 to provide safe access to the new facility, as well as site excavation and preparation work.

The new truck parking facility is being built on provincial land on the north side of Highway 17, below and just east of the Port Mann Bridge. When completed, the facility will have room for about 100 trucks. It will include washrooms, fencing, lighting and other security measures.

“This facility will help alleviate the shortage of commercial vehicle staging and parking in the Lower Mainland,” said Claire Trevena, B.C.’s Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. “The North Surrey Truck Parking Facility will support the commercial transport industry by providing operators with a safe, convenient location to stop, take a break and turn off their engines.”

“The addition of safe, convenient commercial truck parking on the Lower Mainland is something our association fully supports,” said Dave Earle, president and CEO, BC Trucking Association. “It’s often difficult to find suitable parking for large transport trucks. Facilities like this make the job a bit easier for our members, knowing there’s appropriate parking available when it’s time to take a break.”

The actual parking facility and amenities will be built in Phase 2 of the project, which will be tendered in 2021.

The Government of Canada is contributing $13 million, with the remaining $17 million funded by the province.

Calgary’s $2.5 billion Alpine Park breaks ground

Construction has begun on Alpine Park, a $2.5-billion community in Calgary. The project is a brand-new 646-acre, next-generation greenfield development. It is expected to create 1,700 direct and indirect jobs per year, for a total of more than 20,000 new jobs over the 15-year lifespan of the project.

Dream Unlimited, the project’s developer, explained that after more than two decades of planning, the project has moved forward after government officials awarded the final construction contract for completion of the last leg of Calgary’s Ring Road.

Upon completion, the community will be home to more than 10,000 residents, and will create 4,000 ongoing jobs throughout the commercial, retail, industrial and institutional areas integrated within the neighbourhood, according to company projections.

“We started assembling this development in 1997 and today, 23 years later, we are proud to commence development of this exceptional project,” said Michael Cooper, chief responsible officer of Dream Unlimited.

“Alpine Park is among some of our most prestigious mixed-use communities, along with The Distillery District and Canary District in Toronto and Zibi in Ottawa. We strive to build communities that help make peoples’ lives better.”

The neighbourhood will be unlike anything the city has so far seen from its suburbs – which have historically been known for their car-dominant designs rather than being built for pedestrians. Nearly all future residents within the first 476-acre community will live within an eight-minute walk along wide, tree-lined boulevards to the Village Centre. Garages have all been designed to be accessed from the side or back alleys, making way for the return of old-fashioned front porches that allow people to connect with each other and nature.

“With the upcoming opening of the Calgary Ring Road, Alpine Park is well located and easily accessible to the whole city,” said Tara Steell, general manager of Dream’s Calgary Land division.

The vision for Alpine Park was shaped in collaboration with Peter Calthorpe’s HDR/Calthorpe, widely considered one of the founding fathers of the new urbanism movement. His work includes major projects in the United States and abroad, but Alpine Park will be the first master planned community he’s been involved with in Canada to break ground. Civitas is another partner, known to Calgarians for its work on St. Patrick’s Island.

Dream also announced Alpine Park’s founding builder partner group: Calbridge Homes, Cardel Homes, Genesis Builders, and Homes by Dream.