Island
Efficient
Homes
Some of my earliest memories are of going to client’s houses with my mom, and a litter later, accompanying my dad to construction sites. Growing up I spent a lot of time in my Dad’s shop, observing, learning, and helping out wherever I could.
As I got a little older I would help with finishing projects in the shop, or assist with cabinet installations. But I didn't start in the trades immediately.
In fact, by the end of high school, like most teenagers I wanted to do anything but follow in my Dad’s footsteps. I spent my first year of university studying computer technology. I excelled in the courses, but about halfway through the program I realized I missed the hands-on aspect of trades work.
I was offered an opportunity to apprentice with a successful tile setting business, which I grabbed with both hands. This started me on a tile setting career path that I continued for a number of years. I particularly enjoyed how tile setting combines creativity with a level of precision needed for the perfect job. I still enjoy taking on tile jobs from time to time, when the opportunity presents itself.
Again I found myself being successful, and now I was back to working with my hands – but a true passion had yet to be sparked.
In the early 2000s my parents were approached by a previous renovation client to build a custom home and cedar gazebo on Protection Island; that’s where things really clicked. After a lot of research, we decided to focus on the ICF method of building, and the rest, as they say, is history.
I assisting with nearly every aspect of both projects, which lead to taking myriad courses to educate myself on different types of construction. I helped harvest fir trees from the building site, which later became the board and batten siding. It made me realize how important that reusing, recycling, and reducing waste is in the building industry.
Watching how much care was taken not to remove any trees that weren’t absolutely needed to clear the site stirred something in me. The careful harvest left a beautiful ring of arbutus trees around the home. It was such a beautiful feature with essentially no cost – it just took good planning and a bit of patience.
That job site is where I discovered my true passion: building custom energy-efficient homes.
Building homes that respect the environment and our home on Vancouver Island is something I feel strongly about, and I am happy to have found my career calling.
Today I am always on the lookout for new technology, and continue to enroll in classes that expand my knowledge of energy efficient homes and construction methods. Hopefully I am doing something that encourages a shift towards more green building, both in the industry as a whole and here on Vancouver Island.
And though my teenager self might have rolled his eyes at the idea of taking over the family business, I know I made the right choice.