News Release Archive
HOUSING/NATURAL RESOURCES--HOME AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED
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The winners of the 14th annual Nova Scotia Home Awards
Program were honored today by Housing and Consumer Affairs
Minister Eleanor Norrie in a ceremony at the World Trade and
Convention Centre. Also in attendance were Municipal Affairs
Minister Sandy Jolly and Natural Resources Minister Don
Downe whose departments co-sponsor the awards program.
The program provides recognition for achievements and
excellence in the fields of residential design, construction
and renovation. The 1995 program attracted entries from
across the province. The 35 entries were judged in five
different categories: home unit design; home construction or
delivery innovation; home renovation/rehabilitation;
historical restoration; and energy efficiency or alternative
energy.
Winners in the category of home unit design were William
Hyde for the Hyde residence in Halifax and Jan Kaye and Ray
Morin for their home on South Main Street, Mahone Bay.
In the home construction/delivery innovation category, the
award went to the Nova Scotia Home Builder's Association for
"Nova Scotia House", a demonstration home constructed in
conjunction with the G-7 showcase.
Ron Smith won the award in the home
renovation/rehabilitation category for a recent College
Street project in Halifax.
In the historical restoration category, Jim and Darlene
Peerless won for their restoration of the "Wickwire House"
located in Kentville.
In addition to the winners, five projects received an
honourable mention and a further five received letters of
merit.
The submissions were judged by a panel of experts in the
field of housing design and construction. The jury panel
included representatives from the Nova Scotia Association of
Architects, the Canadian Home Builders Association, the
Departments of Natural Resources and Municipal Affairs as
well as the Department of Housing and Consumer Affairs.
"After viewing the submissions, I was touched by the
considerable efforts and genuine pride which Nova Scotians
take in their homes," said Mrs. Norrie. "I was also
impressed by how successful many people have been in
blending new building and construction technologies with the
design approaches which are unique and very important to the
traditional character of our communities will be part of the
future."
The energy efficiency/alternative category of the awards'
program is sponsored by the Department of Natural Resources.
This category promotes greater energy efficiency through
innovation and new uses of technology.
"Our involvement demonstrates a commitment to energy
efficiency and alternative energy by creating awareness
through the program," said Mr. Downe. "Winners in this
category have been successful because builders of their
homes cared about the product they built, and the owners
cared enough to demand high quality, energy efficient
homes."
In commenting on the submissions in the historical
restoration category Municipal Affairs Minister Sandy Jolly
said "The effective and ongoing preservation of the
thousands of older homes in Nova Scotia will ultimately
depend on the commitment of private property owners such as
those being honored today and their efforts will assist our
tourism industry."
There were two special presentations in recognition of
outstanding contributions to housing initiatives in Nova
Scotia. Mrs. Norrie and Luc Menard, provincial director for
the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, presented a
certificate of achievement to Dwight Dorey, chief and
president of the Native Council of Nova Scotia. The
certificate was presented in recognition of over two decades
of work by the council to improve the housing options and
conditions for aboriginal people.
"The Native Council of Nova Scotia has demonstrated strong
leadership in the administration and management of housing
for both aboriginal and non-aboriginal citizens of this
province over the past 21 years," says Mr. Menard. "CMHC is
pleased that this tremendous achievement, which serves as a
perfect example of effective partnership in housing, is
today being recognized by our provincial housing partner."
The second special presentation was made to Bob Bona of
Scotian Homes, who was recognized as Builder of the Year.
The award was presented in association with the Nova Scotia
Home Builders' Association.
Acknowledging the NSHBA for its efforts in promotion of the
province's residential construction industry Ms. Norrie said
"The department is proud to be a member of the association
and to support liaison between the industry, government and
the consumer in the field of housing."
Presenting the award to Ms. Daun Bona, Ms. Norrie said "Mr.
Bona and Scotian Homes have demonstrated a long standing
commitment to quality, versatility and continuing customer
service, all of which have contributed to their success."
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Contact: Laurel Russell 902-424-4988
trp Jan. 31, 1996 - 12:28 p.m.