We all know the value of doing something right. In the face of a burgeoning underground economy, professionalization will strengthen our sector by providing:

• a supply of better-skilled tradespeople
• a high-quality housing product with consumer protection
• the means to be successful in business as professional builders and renovators

The term 'professionalization' refers to a comprehensive approach to education, training, recognition of acquired competencies, certification and licensing for people working at all levels in the home building and renovation sector. The objectives of this conference were:

• To review major research findings on human resources
  issues and the need for professionalization in the
  home building and renovation sector in Nova Scotia.
• To develop consensus on action priorities to address
  these issues and challenges.
• To initiate ongoing, cross-sectoral partnerships and
  collaboration to implement the agreed upon action priorities.

To ensure you benefit from others' experiences and point-of-view, our goal was to bring together industry leaders and decision-makers from potential partner agencies in government, the training system and the private sector, including:

• Builders and renovators from all across the province
• Federal, provincial and municipal housing agencies,
  and building officials
• Health and safety regulators
• Provincial Department of Finance and CCRA
• Human resources development agencies
• Training and apprenticeship program roviders
• ICI sector representatives
• Banking industry representatives
• Insurance industry representatives
• Academics
• Consumers
• Invited guests from other jurisdictions and
• industry sectors

Speakers and panelists from across Canada described a variety of approaches taken to address regulatory reform, renew College trades training and Apprenticeship, create sector-based PLAR, and develop industry-driven certification and licensing programs for the Home Building and Renovation sector.

We included presentations on the Australian model, the approach taken by BRRAG in Ontario, and the rationale behind the establishment of the Homeowner Protection Office in British Columbia.

Nova Scotia panelists and resource people included representatives from government, education institutions, insurance and banking, involved in policy and program development.

Keynote Speakers
Mary Lawson The new President of the national Canadian Home Builders' Association		Greg Lampert Housing economist who will describe the Australian licensing system PowerPoint
Training and Certification Panel
Barbara Kirby Association of Canadian Community Colleges PowerPoint #1 PowerPoint #2 Michael Ludolph George Brown College PowerPoint Douglas Myers PLA Centre in Halifax PowerPoint		Kevin Gerrior Nova Scotia Community College PowerPoint Richard Lind Nova Scotia R-2000 residential builder and renovator
Regulatory Panel
Bob Maling Homeowner Protection Office in British Columbia PowerPoint Tony Gioventu Condominium Home Owners' Association of BC PowerPoint Dr. Ali Arlani Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing in Ontario PowerPoint		Bruno Nantel APCHQ in Quebec PowerPoint Ted Ross Building Code Coordinator for Nova Scotia

Downloads: Conference Agenda PDF: 56KB (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader) Conference Discussion Paper PDF: 192KB (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader) Conference Brochure PDF: 1.39MB (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)

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