builder profile
about the issue of affordability, and your concerns about the ability of today’s young people and families to become homeowners. Can you expand on why you see this as such an urgent problem?
Bob: I can give you a personal example of what I mean by this. We live in Toronto and my eldest daughter is graduating from Laurier University in Waterloo, this month. Recently she told me she has no idea how she could afford to buy a home in Toronto, and she would have to look outside of the GTA to both work and live. As parents, of course we’d all like our kids to live in our communities when they head out on their own, so we can stay in touch as our families evolve into the next stages of life. But
Bob Finnigan: Your Next President
it’s a much bigger issue than that. What does it mean in the long run if our
largest cities no longer have a place for young
educated people? Obviously this impacts employment, and the ability of companies to attract and retain the human talent they need to do business. But it also impacts the traditional progression in homeownership, where
by Judy Penz Sheluk
younger first-time buyers move in, and existing homeowners move up. Over time, it impacts everyone.
Bob Finnigan joined the Heron Group of Companies and Heathwood Homes in 1988 and rose through the ranks to become a partner in 1994. Bob has directed and overseen Heathwood’s marketing and
Of course, affordability isn’t just a concern in Toronto and Vancouver; it’s a national problem. When it comes to younger first-time buyers, they face significant challenges in most
sales programs for developments totalling more than 6,000 homes
communities across the country. That’s why
across Southern Ontario.
CHBA is pushing for government policies that address this problem, without creating undue
In addition, Bob plays a key role in the
Bob also sat on the Board of Tarion Corpo-
groups land acquisition and development team
ration, Ontario’s new home warranty organi-
and has also been very active in product devel-
zation from 2011 until earlier this year.
opment and design.
risk to either home buyers or lenders. We need to do everything we responsibly can to support younger people and fami-
Bob is a founding Director and Vice-Presi-
lies wanting to become homeowners—it’s an
Throughout his industry career, Bob has
dent of the Mikey Network, a charitable organi-
essential step in the financial life of middle-
taken on leadership roles at all three levels of
zation that has placed more than 1,900 MIKEY
class Canadians, and critical for keeping our
the Association. He served as President of BILD
defibrillators across Canada. Bob lives in Scar-
economy competitive and growing.
in 2007. He became President of the Ontario
borough, Ontario, with his wife, Nicky, and
Home Builders’ Association in 2010, and is
their two daughters.
CHBA President in 2016, following four years
HBM: You’ve been involved the home building business for almost three decades. I’m
on the national association’s Executive Com-
HBM:
In your inaugural address to CHBA
sure a lot has changed over this period. From
mittee, most recently as First Vice President.
members in Kelowna, you talked at length
your perspective, what have been the most
16 Home BUILDER May/June 2016