Simcoe County Home Builders' Association - SCHBA

06/12/2026

Did you know that building code changes alone are adding an average of $60,000 to the cost of a new home?

In this episode, your host Dave sits down with Curtis Mercer, President of CHBA National, to tackle the massive advocacy efforts happening behind the scenes to fix Canada's housing crisis.

In this episode, we cover:

The 2025 National Building Code: Why CHBA is actively fighting these updates to protect housing affordability.

Unlocking Member ROI: How member companies can leverage massive national discounts on fleet vehicles, travel, and tech for all their staff.

The Next Labour Frontier: Federal funding wins for apprentices and the push to build more with fewer people.

The Federated Advantage: Why boots-on-the-ground info from local associations drives national policy in Ottawa.

Stop sitting on the sidelines of the industry's biggest conversations. Plug into the collective voice of homebuilding.

Listen to the full episode now:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2pg3eUENtCj5kMmA0KV2wC?si=a3d66d32d93a41f9

The Offsite Insight Podcast · Episode

06/08/2026

Average mortgage payment savings from the expanded HST rebate: $736/month (estimate).
Actual savings vary by home price, mortgage terms and eligibility.
Want a personalized estimate? Contact your builder to see how this could affect your monthly payments.

06/08/2026

The expanded HST rebate applies for one year: April 1, 2026 — March 31, 2027.
Timing matters — check project timelines and eligibility now to see if your new build or substantial renovation qualifies. Stay tuned for more updates!

06/07/2026

“SCHBA Encourages Municipalities to Apply by June 19”

Municipalities can apply to Ontario’s Development Charge Reduction Program to help lower development charges and support the construction of new housing in our communities.

By reducing upfront costs, municipalities can encourage housing starts, improve affordability, and help address housing supply challenges across Simcoe County.

📅 Application Deadline: June 19

We encourage local councils to take advantage of this opportunity and invest in housing solutions that benefit residents today and for generations to come.

06/04/2026

🌸⛳️ LAST CALL LADIES! 🍷💜
The countdown is on for our 1st Annual BuildHer Ladies Nine & Wine, proudly sponsored by 400 Chrysler & Barrie Chrysler!
🚨 Only a few spots remain! 🚨

If you’ve been thinking about joining us, now is the time to register. Grab your friends, colleagues, golf buddies, or fellow women in construction and join us for an afternoon of:
🏌️‍♀️ 9 Holes of Golf
🍷 Wine & Networking
🧀 Personalized Charcuterie Boxes
💜 Great Conversations & New Connections
🎓 Supporting the Women in Trades Bursary at Georgian College
📅 June 18th
⏰ Tee times begin at 2:00 PM
Whether you’re a seasoned golfer or just out for some fun, this is shaping up to be an incredible afternoon on the course!
✨ Don’t miss out — when these last spots are gone, they’re gone!
Register Here:
https://members.simcoehomebuilders.com/ap/Events/Register/xRFRVGZsMCYC7

05/29/2026

🌸⛳️ LAST CALL, LADIES! 🍷💜
The countdown is on for our 1st Annual BuildHer Ladies Nine & Wine, proudly sponsored by 400 Chrysler & Barrie Chrysler!
🚨 Only a few spots remain! 🚨
If you’ve been thinking about joining us, now is the time to register. Grab your friends, colleagues, golf buddies, or fellow women in construction and join us for an afternoon of:
🏌️‍♀️ 9 Holes of Golf
🍷 Wine & Networking
🧀 Personalized Charcuterie Boxes
💜 Great Conversations & New Connections
🎓 Supporting the Women in Trades Bursary at Georgian College
📅 June 18th - Innisbrook Golf Course - Scramble Format
⏰ Tee times begin at 2:00 PM
Whether you’re a seasoned golfer or just out for some fun, this is shaping up to be an incredible afternoon on the course!
✨ Don’t miss out — when these last spots are gone, they’re gone!
Register Here:
https://members.simcoehomebuilders.com/ap/Events/Register/xRFRVGZsMCYC7
(Or Link in our Bio)
⛳️🍷💜

05/29/2026

Great Day with CHBA President Curtis Mercer

Yesterday, our CEO, Sandy Tuckey, had the opportunity to spend the day with CHBA President Curtis Mercer, showcasing some of the incredible projects, businesses, and community partnerships that make Simcoe County’s residential construction industry so strong.

The day began with a recording of the Offsite Insight Podcast, followed by a tour of Youth Haven, where Executive Director Lucy Gowers provided an inspiring look at the impact the new shelter is already having on vulnerable youth in our community.

From there, they visited The Glass Doctor, where Dave and Jill shared a behind-the-scenes look at their operation and showcased their impressive Rock Glass products. After they stopped at Sean Homes, where Curtis and Sean had a great discussion on Net Zero Ready housing and the future of residential construction & enjoyed delicious pizza!

The final site visit was with Pratt Homes at their affordable rental housing project adjacent to the Painswick Library — a fantastic example of the innovative housing solutions being built right here in Simcoe County.

These visits are a great reminder of the strength of our local industry and the importance of collaboration between our local, provincial, and national home builders’ associations. Together, we continue to advocate for housing, support our members, and strengthen the communities we help build.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to host, share their expertise, and showcase the incredible work happening across our region. And thank you to Curtis for spending the day with us — we were proud to highlight the people, projects, and partnerships that make SCHBA such a strong voice for residential construction.

05/27/2026

Is your construction business ready for the future, or are you still relying on "the way we’ve always done it"? 🏗️🤖

In our latest episode, hosts Dave and Dave sit down with Craig from ConTechHQ to discuss how Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Structured Data are the new currencies of the construction world.

In this episode, we cover:

SOPs as a Foundation: Why AI can’t help you if you haven’t documented your processes first.

The "KISS" Principle: How to build your procedures using simple tools like voice memos while you walk around your truck.

Stakeholder Management: Why a CRM is more than a marketing tool - it's your command centre for suppliers, subs, and inspectors.

Eliminating Time Theft: Moving past bar-napkin time cards to digital systems that protect your bottom line.

Stop letting your competition win by being faster to the estimate. Learn how to turn "days into seconds" by organizing your digital house.

Listen now: [Link to Episode]

05/25/2026

✨ LAST CALL LADIES! ✨
We have a few spots left for our BuildHer Nine & Wine — and it’s going to be SUCH a great afternoon!
⛳ 9 holes of golf
🚗 Cart included
🍷 Wine + personalized charcuterie box
💛 Amazing networking with women in residential construction
All for $100
Even better… proceeds are supporting our Women in Trades Bursary at Georgian College 👏
Grab your spot before it’s gone!

https://members.simcoehomebuilders.com/ap/Events/Register/xRFRVGZsMCYC7

05/21/2026

Another fantastic SCHBA Member Dinner Meeting last night — and a full house once again! 👏

We were pleased to welcome Mayor of Barrie, Alex Nuttall for his annual update, highlighting the incredible momentum happening right here in the City of Barrie — including a record number of housing starts to date, with the city on pace to reach over 3,000 by year end.

Our members are the backbone of this progress — driving housing forward, building communities, and making a real impact across our region.

What makes these evenings so special isn’t just the speaker — it’s the energy in the room. The networking, the camaraderie, and the genuine connections between our members are what SCHBA is all about.

If you’re not a member yet… come check us out and see what you’re missing.