Skills Canada 2012 Video

Here is some official video from the closing ceremony of the Skills Canada 2012 competition in Edmonton that Mike Holmes is currently busy being an official spokesman for.

"Being in the skilled trades is an opportunity of a lifetime." He says. "We're never going to stop building, we're never going to stop fixing what we build. You have an opportunity for life." Speaking about the magnitude of the event, Mike expressed his interest in seeing the event grow. "It's only growing, this is just the beginning... I want to see this as big as the Olympics, if not bigger," a message which was resonated later in the ceremony. Holmes also spoke about his desire to see more people participate in the skilled trades. "We built this country, and right now it's growing so fast, we don't have enough skilled trades. We need to get women in the trades. We need to get men! Kids! Come on, let's make it right!"

I've found Mike at minutes 1:30, 2:20, 3:20, 4:50, with a nice long dialog at minute 26:00. (You can also spot him in the audience during the wide pan shots. He's not that hard to spot! Just look for the big bald head and the overalls.)

Skills Canada 2012 National Competition

Yesterday, Mike Holmes, official Skills Canada spokesman, was hanging out in Edmonton with Team Nova Scotia for the Skills Canada National Competition. From Mike's Facebook page:

In Edmonton to cheer on the 2012 Skills Canada / Compétences Canada National Competition. I love the energy here - very inspiring!

A message from Mike was also posted on the official Skills Canada page:

 “Supporting the skilled trades has been an important part of my work and what I do because I understand the incredible value they bring to every industry. Skilled trades people are responsible for taking ideas and concepts, and turning them into real, tangible things. They literally build and shape the world around us,” said Mike Holmes in a message of support to Skills Canada – Nova Scotia.
“Skilled trades are important to the economic stability of our country. They build our homes and office buildings; assemble and fix our cars, trucks, trains and jets; theyʼre involved with robotics, computer graphics, welding and so much more! They are among our countryʼs most crucial resources.”
Holmes explained that he cares about the work he does, takes pride in his craft, and always does his best to give people the quality they expect with the integrity they deserve. He said he is a proud supporter of Skills Canada because it promotes this kind of work ethic.
“Skills Canada helps Canadian youth involved in vocational education and training develop a sense of pride in their skill, which doesnʼt just affect the quality of work they produce but shapes the kind of people they become.”
In October 2011, Mike Holmes (official Skills Canada spokesperson), traveled to London, England to support Team Canada at the WorldSkills competition. While there, he met “some of our countryʼs best and brightest – some of the most skilled and determined youth in the world!” Among them was Aaron Hebb of Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, who took home an international medal in car painting. Hebb earned his spot at WorldSkills by winning gold at the Skills Canada National Competition in 2010, and as a champion in his trade, took his skill to the next level at World’s and won bronze, marking the first time a Nova Scotian competitor has received a medal at the global event.
“Nothing inspires me more than seeing the future, the next generation of trades people, achieve that kind of success!” Holmes said in his letter. “To Aaron, and each of the other 33 competitors who represented their province, their country and their trade . . . thank you! Thanks for your single-minded dedication to a craft and for investing countless hours, energy, blood, sweat and maybe even a few tears to produce the best work you can. If youʼre winning a medal at WorldSkills, you know youʼre doing something right!”

More Photos:

Holmes Takes on A Housing Project

Another interesting article, this one from the Edmonton Sun. Yes, Mike Holmes is more than just a reality TV star. He proves this quite often...

A reality TV handyman will help turn an Edmonton affordable housing project into a $22-million reality.

Home building superstar Mike Holmes and his company — the Holmes Group — broke ground the second phase of the Boyle Renaissance project Tuesday — a 90-unit complex that will house Metis seniors and the disabled.
The ball for the project began to roll when one of his workers sat down with an Edmonton city planner on a airplane a while ago. After the conversation during the flight, the worker then took the idea back to Holmes and the rest is history.
“Affordable housing for so many years now was just that term. They were making a bunch of crap to make it affordable for people to live in. The issue is they don’t last,” said Holmes.
“I always say if you’re going to do something, do it right the first time. Don’t waste money and don’t waste time.”
Holmes broke ground on the project Tuesday — a 90-unit complex that will house Metis seniors and the disabled.
The 120,000 square foot complex — located at 95 Street between 104 and 105 Avenue — will stand seven floors high and boast green design technologies including shared heat and power systems and mould resistant wood.
Solar energy generated by panels on the buildings rooftop will make the complex a net-zero living space. The roof will also have gardens that will act as thermal barriers in the summer, ultimately saving on heat regulating costs.
Three of the suites will be equipped with a state-of-the-art communication technology that will allow disabled tenants to control numerous aspects, like answering the door from just one control pad. All of the suites will have the ability to install the communications tools if the need arises.
That’s relieving news, says paraplegic Michael Willier.
“It’s really hard to find wheelchair adapted apartments, (especially) in the city — it’s pretty bad,” said Willier, adding that there are 150 new spinal cord injuries reported in Alberta every year.
“Once you get hurt…you’re most likely going to migrate to an urban setting because it’s just much easier to get around. If you think about the winter time on an acreage, you’re not going to be able to get out and do anything in a wheelchair.”
In addition to a rooftop terrace that’s accessible to wheelchairs, all signs on site will be typed out in braille. Certain suites will have specialized showers, adjustable counter space, and enlarged room sizes to accommodate wheelchairs.
All three levels of government have pitched in about $13.8 million to help make the project a reality.
The Holmes construction team will see the project through until it’s expected occupancy date in November 2013.
“It’s been absolutely amazing since we’ve met Mike and his team,” said MCHC executive director Darlene Lennie.
“We have turned to Mike to make sure that this project is built right. Being poor does not mean substandard.”
As a branch of the Metis Urban Housing corporation, the MCHC was launched in 1998 and owns and operates 198 homes.
In all, both groups have more than 1,000 affordable housing units in urban centres across Alberta.
The modern luxuries in the Boyle Rennaisance complex “raises the bar” for future affordable housing projects said Lennie.
Mayor Stephen Mandel said having a TV personality like Holmes gives the whole revitalization credibly and a “joie de vivre,” but ultimately it’s the hard work done by city staff and Lennie that has made this project a reality.
“This didn’t happen overnight. It’s been perseverance and hard work by a lot of people,” said Mandel.
tanara.mclean@sunmedia.ca
@SunTanaraMcLean

Mike Holmes, 2012 Building Safety Month Honorary Ambassador

This article from Canada.com discusses Mike's involvement in the ICCF's 2012 Building Safety Month.

A few weeks ago, I got a letter from the International Code Council Foundation (ICCF). Sometimes letters make me nervous; they're usually from people who are upset over something I've said. But this time, it was a good letter — a really good letter. The ICCF wanted to let me know I had been chosen to be the 2012 Honorary Ambassador for Building Safety Month this May.

This is a big deal, especially for me. Building safely has always been a top priority on every job I work on. And when it's ignored, I get really upset.

But the real question here is why building safety should be important to you.

Every May, the ICCF sets an entire month aside to talk about all things building safely. The point is to help people understand why we need safe, durable and sustainable buildings and homes, and what it takes to maintain safe structures.

To me, building safety is a no-brainer. It's important, because it affects everyone. Anyone who lives in a home, works in a building, learns in a school, shops in a store, or receives care in a hospital is affected by building safety. And if we don't address building safety during the construction and maintenance of these structures and facilities, we're in a world of trouble.

As contractors and builders, we have a huge responsibility to the public at large to make sure every structure we build and work on is safe: safe for the people inside, safe for the people outside, and safe for the environment. This includes outdoor structures, too, like decks, pools and patios.

We've all seen the headlines: Elevated decks crashing down with people still on them. Children drowning in pools because there were no fences protecting them. As builders and contractors, our jobs are to stop these headlines before they happen.

But knowing code and knowing why we have code also helps homeowners. How? Because it teaches people what to look out for when looking at their own homes, and when their safety is jeopardized. When you know something's wrong, you can do something about it and start to make it right.

Building Safety Month is also about educating the public and pushing the government to adopt modern building codes — codes that respond to the most current environmental conditions.

For the first time ever, there are new International Green Construction Codes (IgCC) for communities interested in safe and sustainable construction. These codes go beyond traditional requirements. They include things like energy- and water-efficiency, and building waste and materials. This is smart and definitely a step in the right direction. Yes, it's above minimum code, but we need to set that minimum bar even higher.

For years now, I've been talking about why we need to go green, and I'm not stopping any time soon. The issues aren't going away; if anything, they're becoming more crucial. And as a professional working in the industry, it's great to see a regulatory body like the ICCF taking huge strides in forward thinking and providing these new green codes. The more I work, the more I realize how much of an impact the environment has on all of us.

Last year, all over North America, we were hit with all kinds of extreme weather. And as the environment continues to fluctuate, it's only going to get worse. That's why some homeowners are taking matters into their own hands and building safe shelters to protect their families. What's a safe shelter? It's usually an above-ground safe room that's meant to protect families during severe storms, like tornadoes and hurricanes.

Safe shelters made major headlines last year after the massive tornado outbreak in Alabama. A family survived the storms, only because of their safe shelter. After the tornado passed them, the only thing standing was their safe shelter. Their home, their neighbourhood, and everything in the storm's path had been wiped out.

Are safe shelters something we should be concerned about in Canada? Well, that depends. How severe is our weather going to get? All we need is another Goderich, Ont., or Mont-Laurier, Que., for this danger to hit too close to home.

The bottom line is that strong codes and building practices protect property and saves lives. This is what Building Safety Month is about and it should be important to all of us.