Lien on Holmes

The Holmes Spot is once again jumping back into its time machine and traveling back in time to the year 2008. February to be exact. It was quite a fun and exciting time in the life of Mike Holmes - well, not sure about the "fun" part, but definitely exciting, and very, very busy. Not only was he being honored with an honorary doctorate of technology from the B.C. Institute of Technology, but the watershed episode of Holmes on Homes, the infamous "Lien on Me" special, was about ready to air. "Lien on Me" was two years in the making, and had such a profound impact on Mike that it inspired him to create his own charitable foundation, The Holmes Foundation, to prevent another "Lien on Me" type situation from ever occurring.

This 2008 article from The Vancouver Province goes into detail about that fateful episode, and even gives a few pointers underscored by Mike about how to avoid getting yourself into similar hot water. Enjoy! And dont forget... four, count 'em 1-2-3-4, days and counting until Mike's birthday surprise! You won't want to miss it!

Holmes turns nightmare into dream home

Last year, Mike Holmes received 65,000 letters pleading for his help.

By The Vancouver Province February 25, 2008

Last year, Mike Holmes received 65,000 letters pleading for his help.
Holmes of HGTV's Holmes on Homes turns his critical eye on home renovations in his weekly series. Of those 65,000 sad cases, he says, "only 13 or 14 make it to the small screen."
The process of selection, he explains, ends up with his staff going to a handful of homes and videotaping the interior and exterior. From what he sees on tape, he says, he chooses "according to how much the owners need me and how much audiences can learn by seeing it on television."
The burly, no-nonsense Holmes was in town last week to receive an honorary doctorate from the B.C. Institute of Technology for his work in improving the building trades.
The Province caught up with him, on his cellphone, while he was taking a tour of BCIT's facilities.
There's a kind of "tell," he says, when he tours horror-homes. "If you see sloppy finishing you can guess that there's also trouble underneath."
On Feb. 28, one of the worst situations Holmes has encountered is the subject of a two-hour HGTV special. "I knew there was big trouble when I first saw the house. I was still in my truck in the driveway and the husband and wife were standing there crying. . . ."
At that time, he says, they were just begging to get an occupancy permit to move back in. "I told them it couldn't be saved."
Holmes doesn't mince words when talking about this home's "so-called renovator/contractor."
"He 'liened' them for $343,000 on top of the $219,000 initial cost. I've never seen anything so contaminated."
After satisfying legal concerns, the Etobicoke, Ont., house was levelled and Holmes started building the new house, calling the project "Lien on Me." In the process, he took the opportunity to build not only a solid house but a remarkable one.
"The (Feb. 28) show featuring this house will knock you off your feet. It was lots of work and time and money, but we put it all together -- it's energy-efficient beyond anything out there.
"Over the years I've seen the different shades of "green" efforts in making houses energy-wise. What we have done is put them all together."
Holmes says he chose to educate himself on what technologies were available before working with the architect. The knowledge and the products are all out there, he says, and it will get easier to find them and apply them.
"I say to people who want these innovations -- and I hope you do -- that if something goes wrong, you can't get an average contractor to fix it." When they are installed, he says, get a list of people to call for assistance. "Whatever you do, don't play with them."
Or you may find yourself writing a begging letter to Mike Holmes.
kmoore@png.canwest.com

© (c) CanWest MediaWorks Publications Inc.

Niagara University Graduate Commencement Ceremony 2012 - FULL VIDEO and Critique

Holy crap, college graduation ceremonies are long and boring! I say this as a person who attended college (on a full scholarship, might I add), graduated in the top 3% of my class, and chose to throw a party on the big day instead of walking. I figured I worked my a-- off for almost 5 years, why punish myself any further? Niagara University's Graduate Commencement Ceremony, held on May 13, 2012, was no less snoozerific, in my opinion. It was long, full of pomp and funny, cult-like clothing, and was more sleep inducing than a hand full of Ambien with a vodka chaser. There were two exceptions, however. The first exception was honorary doctorate recipient Lloyd Robertson, who gave a most excellent commencement address. Amongst other things, he playfully described Canadian-American relations and the sibling-like rivalry between the two countries. Subtle differences abound, but when all is said and done, Americans love their Canadian cousins, and Canadians hopefully feel the same way about their lovable neighbo(u)rs to the South.

The other stand-out from this otherwise fairly typical graduate commencement ceremony was of course the presence of Mike Holmes. As with Lloyd Robertson, Mike also received an honorary doctorate, his in the field of Pedagogy. Shortly after the ceremony, the university released a short video clip of Mike graciously accepting the degree on Niagara's website. A few weeks after that, Niagara posted the full, hour-and-a-half long ceremony, which including the opening induction rituals, as well as the presentation of the degrees to the much-deserving students.

I think most people would agree, the most boring part of any graduation ceremony is sitting through the long, seemingly endless list of names that go on and on forever and ever -- no disrespect meant to the class of 2012. We here at the Holmes Spot have taken great pains to watch the ENTIRE video, beginning to end, and have highlighted some points of interest. Yup, we do the hard stuff so you don't have to. For all you diehards out there, feel free to watch the entire video, but for everyone else, here are some cool things we noticed.

The 2012 Niagara University Graduate Commencement Ceremony (FULL VIDEO)

HOLMES SPOT HIGHLIGHTS:

First things first: Mike. Mike got an honorary degree. I think we've all seen the clip. I think we've discussed it here on this blog ad infinitum.  For those who haven't seen it, here it is in all its black-robed glory.

Now, the fun stuff. Mike is no doubt a celebrity in his own right. And being a person who works on television, he's bound to have at least a couple of fans in a room full of people. As the degrees were being presented, a young man gave Mike a thumbs up and went to shake his hand. Not expecting the attention, it seemed to catch Mike off guard just enough to make him drop his honorary diploma. It made quite a bit of noise, but Mike played it off cool. This young man was only the first of many to show Mike some love.

The ceremony continued on like normal, until one guy decided it would be fun to fist-bump Mike, causing a chain reaction of a dozen or more students making a pit stop by Mike to shake his hand before receiving their diplomas. And then it happened again. As the students continued to show their affection, a student with the name "Michael James" was called, and Mike made a virtually inaudible comment about liking his name as the student approached him for the then-requisite handshake. (For those who don't know, Mike's middle name is also James.)

As the ceremony closed, Father Levesque thanked Lloyd Robertson and then thanked Mike Holmes (whom he was less familiar with than Robertson, but admired none the less). Levesque remarked that both men lived extraordinary lives, and made a round-about comment about the warm attention Mike received. He seemed mildly intrigued and perhaps a little surprised by the rapport Mike had with dozens of the students there.




The biggest thing I took away from watching this behemoth of a video was that Mike Holmes displayed a genuine admiration and respect for the students and their achievements. He was visible throughout the entire presentation, and he clapped and smiled for EVERY SINGLE person who walked across that stage. Out of the 5 or so people who sat with him, he was the ONLY person to do so. Character is what you do when you think nobody is watching... In Mike's case, it might be more apropos to say it's what you do when you think nobody is going to scrutinize what you're doing and then write a blog about it! No, I highly doubt Mike expected some obnoxious fan chick, vis-à-vis me, to comb through an hour plus of graduation hell so she could analyze his interaction with the students. It's clear that this is more-or-less a candid snapshot of Mike at his realest, and just another reason why so many people around the world love and admire him so much. Keep clapping, Mike.

Mike Holmes Niagara University Commencement Ceremony Video, May 13, 2012

On May 13, 2012, Mike Holmes was awarded an honorary doctorate in Pedagogy (definition: the correct use of instructive strategies; the holistic science of education. Source: Wikipedia). This is a video of Mike humbly and graciously accepting the honor.

In the video, he gives his father credit for why he does what he does, calling his father "a man of strength and love." Addressing the group of professors and students, he couldn't help but do the very thing he'd been awarded a doctorate for. Not holding anything back, he instructed the crowd with his words of hard-earned wisdom, "If you're going to do something, you'd better love it. Because if you don't love it, you're going to waste your time and you're going to make an awful lot of mistakes. If you love what you do, that's the passion in itself." He also stated in regards to being passionate about his line of work, "I love my job, I love what I do, and I'm never going to stop. I will change the industry."

You can read the prologue to Mike Holmes receiving his honorary doctorate, as read by Joseph L. Levesque, C.M., President of Niagara University, here (or just scroll down the page):

MIKE HOLMES
Doctor of Pedagogy

For people intent on fixing up their homes, Mike Holmes is a household name. As the host of HGTV’s Holmes Inspection and Holmes on Homes, Mike advises homeowners around the world on how to manage renovations, repairs and maintenance. He is also a judge on HGTV's Handyman Superstar Challenge and its American counterpart, All American Handyman.  

Mike learned his craft from his father, who started teaching him construction work when he was 6 years old. By the time he was 19, Mike had started his first contracting company and, at 21, founded his own renovation business.

Mike is a contractor who knows the importance of resourcefulness and craftsmanship. His experience in new home construction and sustainable building has garnered him a growing number of fans and awards. In 2006, Mike was recognized in Canada’s House of Commons for his support in improving building standards and skilled trades. The House of Commons called him an "extraordinary craftsperson" and "an accomplished master builder with a social conscience."

True to form, Mike launched a charitable foundation in Canada to support youth training in the skilled trades through apprenticeships and scholarships. The purpose of The Holmes Foundation is to encourage young people to enter the building trades and to assist those who have been impoverished by poorly-constructed renovations.

As the national spokesperson for Skills Canada and for World Skills 2009, Mike is often invited to speak in front of a variety professional organizations, including the Ontario Building Inspectors Association and the Canadian Association of Home Inspectors. His C.V. lists more than 75 such high-profile speaking engagements. Mike is also the author of two best-selling books and a weekly newspaper column.

Mike recently partnered with several home builders across Canada to develop the Holmes Approved Homes program. The goal of the program is to raise the bar for home building standards by granting Mike’s inspection teams’ access to a residence several times during the building process.

Mike’s charitable work has even crossed international boundaries, such as when he and his crew built a sustainable and hurricane-resistant house in New Orleans as part of Brad Pitt's "Make It Right NOLA" project in 2008.

But it was our neighbors to the north who showed Mike their appreciation by voting him as Canada’s second most trusted person in a 2010 Reader’s Digest survey. Today, it is our turn to recognize a man steadfastly determined to improve the lives of those around him. Niagara University is pleased to confer,

honoris causa, the degree of Doctor of Pedagogy on Mike Holmes.

Joseph L. Levesque, C.M.

President

May 13, 2012

- 

Congrats Mike for an honor much deserved. You are a teacher of millions upon millions. Keep making it right <3

6/11/12 UPDATE - Full video and critique

Mike Holmes Receives Honorary Doctorate From Niagara University

http://www.niagara.edu/nu-events/showannouncement/2677

Today, May 13, 2012, Mike Holmes received an honorary doctorate from Niagara University in Niagara Falls, New York. The honorary degree was awarded to him in the field of pedagogy, which is defined as "correct use of instructive strategies" or in layman's terms, teaching.

From the commencement announcement:

Mike Holmes, the host of Holmes Inspection and Holmes on Homes on HGTV, will join Robertson in receiving an honorary degree during graduate commencement. On HGTV, Holmes advises homeowners around the world on how to manage renovations, home repairs and maintenance. A contractor who knows the importance of resourcefulness and craftsmanship, his experience in new home construction and sustainable building has garnered him a growing fan base. In 2006, Holmes was recognized in Canada’s House of Commons for his support toward improved building standards and skilled trades. That same year, he also launched a charitable foundation in Canada to support the training of youth in the skilled trades through apprenticeships and scholarships. In addition, Holmes and his crew built a remarkable sustainable and hurricane-resistant house in New Orleans as part of Brad Pitt's “Make It Right NOLA” project. Holmes also is the author of two successful books and writes a weekly newspaper column.

UPDATE - View the full video with critique

Highlights from May 9th's Live Chat with Mike Holmes

There were a ton of great questions asked to Mike today via his Live Chat. Here are some that I found particularly interesting...

First things first, a woman asked a question about ladder safety, and then thanked Mr. Holmes for being such a great teacher to her. To which, Mike revealed this "bombshell"...

It's nice to hear people are learning. No, I've never wanted to be a 'teacher', but I do think the whole point of the television show is educating the public, so I guess that's teaching.
And--I'm getting an honorary doctorate on Sunday! From Niagara University, in Pedagogy. Which is teaching--who knew? I'm just a contractor...;-)

When asked whether Mike wore his trademark overalls for safety reasons or as a fashion statement, Mike answered...

That's funny!! Whoever thought overalls would be considered a fashion choice?
Years ago, I actually used to wear a blue one-piece coverall suit--kind of like a mechanic suit. I liked the comfort--you can bend over, move and work without restriction. But it got too hot in the summertime, so I switched to overalls. Same idea--one piece, comfortable, lots of pockets. It wasn't so much safety as comfort.

A little later, Mike was asked a question about safety when installing and removing insulation. Mike gave a little interesting insight into the early days of filming Holmes on Homes.

Holmes on Homes started over 10 years ago... we weren't as careful about the message we were sending out to the public.

We used to --and I'm embarrassed to admit it--remove our safety glasses and respirators for the camera, because someone told us that we needed to see faces on television--and put them back on when the cameras weren't rolling and we were doing the real work. It was stupid. What it did was send the wrong message out.

When asked a question about staircases and handrails, Mike got personal, sharing a small but touching snippet about his life.

Stairs are very personal to me. My father died after a fall down a narrow, steep set of stairs with no handrail.

Mike was asked a question about injuries on the set of Holmes on Homes. He went into some detail about the perils of working on a home improvement reality TV show, on and off the set.

I've been very fortunate. Or maybe very careful. I've not had any serious injuries on my jobsites. Lots of cuts and scratches, but that's about it. And, we've had some injuries on a whitewater rafting trip the crew took together a few years ago--Uncle Billy broke his ankle. Oh, and he broke his wrist at the ATV ride a couple of years ago--but that's Billy. He's a wild man.

Years ago I put a 3" nail right through my thumb with a nailer. That hurt.

When I was a young man, I was working on a jobsite and my father came around to see what I was up to. He gave me hell because the site was a mess--debris everywhere--while I was working. I ignored him--like you do with your parents when you're young--and climbed up on a step to work above my head. One of the legs of the step went down into an open register that was covered over with paper and down I went. I wasn't hurt--apart from my pride. But I learned a lesson and I'm very careful to keep my jobsites clean. I think that's important.

Well, those are my highlights from the May 9, 2012 Live Chat with Mike Holmes. Yes, I did submit a question to Mike, and YES, he did answer it (yay!!!) but I just don't think it was "Holmes Spot highlight" worthy. Only the best will do.

Dr. Mike

In 2008, Mike was awarded with an honorary doctorate in Technology from the British Columbia Institute of Technology. Today on his live chat, Mike announced that he will receive yet another honorary doctorate.

And--I'm getting an honorary doctorate on Sunday[May 13, 2012]! From Niagara University, in Pedagogy. Which is teaching--who knew? I'm just a contractor...;-)

 

2008