Homes by Avi and M.E. LaZerte help students build careers

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There’s a well-documented shortage when it comes to housing tradespeople but there was no shortage of enthusiasm as one builder took a step to change that.

Homes by Avi made a five-year, $500,000 investment — just announced earlier this October — to support student awards in NAIT’s School of Construction and Building Sciences.

The funding will provide students who have participated in the M.E. LaZerte and Homes by Avi construction program with priority access to financial support to enrol in one of 13 eligible skilled trades programs at NAIT.

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And those M.E. LaZerte students have already started to make their mark because of the Avi investment, building a major part —the first floor of a two-storey home — that will be sold in the newer northeast neighbourhood of Marquis West.

“Today marks a pivotal moment for Homes by Avi,” Vered Amir, director of sponsorship and community engagement for the Homes by Avi Group of Companies, said at the October launch event. “As a proud home builder in Edmonton, we recognize our responsibility to support the future of our industry.”

Canada’s residential construction sector is currently struggling with an aging workforce, with more than 22 per cent retiring over the next decade, and 40 per cent aging over 55 years, according to the Canadian Home Builders’ Association. The industry has already been dealing for years with the challenge of not having enough new entrants to replenish those who are retiring, said the CHBA, noting action is needed just to support the status quo, let alone look towards doubling Canadian housing starts.

Learning a Skill

The M.E. LaZerte program will see Trades 10, 20 and 30 (grades 10, 11 and 12, respectively) get the support they need to move forward so they can become a part of the residential construction industry.

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“We’re thrilled to offer M.E. LaZerte students this incredible opportunity to annually build a home onsite under the guidance of Julian Pacholik, department head of Career and Technology services,” added Amir, noting this will be done in conjunction with Homes by Avi’s construction team and trade partners.

“I’m excited for this event,” said M.E. LaZerte principal George Hoyt. “Can you believe there’s a house sitting here on M.E. Lazerte property and our kids did it?”

That house, or rather the entire framed first floor of the 1,523-square-foot Sasha model, will be trucked out to a site in Marquis West where a basement has already been poured. Then it will be secured to the basement, and Homes by Avi’s construction crew will build the second floor on top of it. The home will then be completed and put up for sale.

Homes by Avi provided M.E. LaZerte with blueprints, materials and support to students as they built the main floor of a home, over the past few months. The LaZerte portion of the build started in late June and saw some 20 students involved in the work as well as two teachers.

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“Building this home was a fantastic learning experience that opened doors for my future in carpentry,” said Julia McCarthy, a Grade 12 LaZerte student who is planning to attend NAIT to get a Red Seal certification in carpentry and eventually open her own business. “It inspired me to pursue a career in the trades.”

Bringing It To Edmonton

The Edmonton initiative by Homes by Avi follows up on a 27-year-partnership Homes by Avi originally launched in Calgary in 1988 with the Calgary Board of Education’s Jack James High School.

There, Homes by Avi supported the school’s experiential learning programs where students gain insight into different trade professions, develop an understanding of the home building industry and explore career options — more than 3,000 students have worked together to build more than 25 homes for 25-plus families throughout that city.

Homes by Avi, said company chairman and founder Avi Amir, had wanted to bring the program to Edmonton. There was an earlier attempt around 2004 but things didn’t work out then — that attempt would have seen it adopted in Sherwood Park. But Avi said he is really happy that it is now up and running in Edmonton.

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The Sasha

Since its debut in 2019, the Sasha has become one of Homes by Avi’s most sought-after laned-home designs.

This popular model features a spacious chef’s kitchen with a large island, a central bonus room, convenient upper floor laundry, a generous primary bedroom with ensuite, a pocket office, and the option for a side entrance with developed basement or income suite.

Pricing for the Sasha starts in the mid-$400,000 range. The model is available in the communities of Rosenthal, The Uplands, Elan (Beaumont), Southfork (Leduc) and Marquis West. Show home versions can be toured in Marquis West at 17207 2nd Street N.E. and in Southfork at 122 Stiles Bend, Leduc.

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