March-April 2022 Issue

MARCH/APRIL 2022 | COMPLIMENTARY COPY

THE MAGAZINE OF ARCHITECTURE / HOME & INTERIOR DESIGN / WEST COAST LIVING

Laneway and Carriage Homes Advantages of a Pre-Engineered Steel Home Eco-Friendly Building Materials for Sustainable Development

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F RO M T H E D E S K OF THE PUBLISHER Dear Readers, As a local community-based magazine, we do not, as a rule, become involved in politics or comment on world events. However, on this occasion, I will make an exception. At the time of this writing, as we prepare to go to press, the entire world is shocked and dismayed as we witness the unwarranted military invasion of a democratic sovereign country by one of the world’s largest military powers with nuclear capabilities.

The aggressive invasion of Ukraine by Russian military forces is the worst atrocity perpetrated on another European country since World War Two. As Canadians, we can help through several ways financially, on social media or just by reaching out to people in the community. Donating whatever you can is a good way to start. Here is a list of resources that benefit Ukraine.

The Canada-Ukraine Foundation has created a Go Fund Me campaign to provide humanitarian assistance to those in need in Ukraine. The foundation is also encouraging people to use the hashtag #HelpUkraineNow to raise awareness on social media. cufoundation.ca Charitable Foundation ‘Voices of Children’ provides support programs for children affected by war in Ukraine. They accept donations at Voices.org.ua ( click on the English version) ‘Hungry for Life’ helps Ukrainians flee their country, you can donate at hungryforlife.org/donate Also, the Economic Development Agency of Canada has just announced that Canada will match every donation made by individual Canadians to the Canadian Red Cross up until March 18, 2022, up to a maximum of $10 million. Donate at RedCross.ca

Copyright 2022 by Campaign Media. All rights reserved.

Reproduction of any article, photograph, or artwork without express written permission of the publisher is forbidden. Publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials.

PUBLISHER & EDITOR Brad Ferguson, publisher@homeonthecoast.ca CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Bryan Brasco Russ Qureshi Angela Koop John Leech GRAPHIC LAYOUT Darren Griffin MEDIA SALES advertising@homeonthecoast.ca DISTRIBUTION Matt Preus For Marketing and Advertising contact advertising@homeonthecoast.ca Printed in Canada on recyclable paper.

I encourage everyone to act in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and to support their struggle in this time of crisis if you have not already.

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March/April 2022

CONTENTS

8 12 17 21 23

Laneway and Carriage Homes

24

Advantages of a Pre-Engineered Steel Home

27

Eco-Friendly Building Materials for Sustainable Development

28

Shade Sails A Modern Addition to Your Outdoor Space

31

Window Coverings More than Just Looks Sunshine Coast Real Estate Sales statistics for January 2022 A Recipe for the Perfect Spring Patio Container Habitat and SCCSA Update

Repurposing Cruise Ships for Affordable Housing?

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Laneway & Carriage Homes What’s the Difference?

Laneway and Carriage homes share many similarities in design but can differ in the functionality and purpose of the structure. Both homes are smaller affordable spaces that are generally built to suit a variety of needs ranging from additional income to a home office getaway or downsized space for family and friends . The main difference between the two formats of housing is how they are orientated on your property. @Home on the Coast | 8

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Carriage House – Traditionally, a ‘carriage

house’ was a building used as a stable, or storage for carriages in 19th Century England. Many of these original buildings have now been converted to provide residential housing with storage or a garage underneath. The newer purpose built Carriage House typically features a single or double garage on the ground floor with living accommodation above.

Laneway House – The term ‘laneway house’ means a form of detached secondary suite that is typically built onto a pre-existing lot, and often opening onto a back lane. These homes are usually built on ground level, and would generally be built where typically a garage would be.

In a nutshell – both of these terms are used for a secondary suite on your property, and are primarily only defined by the location in which they are built.

Whether this means a ground level unit installed onto a foundation, a unit craned onto an existing garage or building, or a garage/building that is site built to fit the size and layout of your lot. These designs will provide you with an affordable, efficient and easy solution to creating additional living space on your property.

For more information on these and other types of Prefab Homes and Auxiliary Dwelling Units on the Sunshine Coast visit EcoFab Modular Homes at WWW.EcoFab.ca or call 604 989-8184 for direct inquiries.

@Home on the Coast | 11

Advantages of a Pre-Engineered Steel Home

T

he many advantages of steel as a building material are well known in the commercial and industrial construction industries for decades. More recently, thanks to a new breed of creative designers and architects along with advanced manufacturing methods, homeowners are

@Home on the Coast | 12

quickly discovering the advantages of building their next home using the same proven structural elements traditionally used in commercial builds. Here are a few of the major advantages of choosing a pre-engineered steel solution for your next home or guest house.

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Faster occupancy – Less time spent erecting, equates to diminished construction costs and a faster occupancy.

Low maintenance – A typical Pre-

engineered home with pre-finished metal panels and standing seam roof, is virtually maintenance-free.

Flexibility of expansion – Even

after years of use, Pre-engineered Metal buildings are easily lengthened to accommodate growing homeowners needs and requirements.

S

afe, strong & durable construction – Local and national building codes are always f actored into the design and engineering ensuring that every Metal Building will meet or exceed all structural requirements demanded by the specific environmental conditions of the job site and application.

Pre-engineered for cost-efficiency – The pre-engineered process creates metal structures with very little waste using only the exact amount of steel required for each particular building. Less waste means lesss cost.

Clear-span designs – Pre-engineered

metal homes are clear-span by design. This means that there are no columns or posts to get in the way of 100% useable interior living space.

Aesthetically pleasing – Pre-

engineered steel homes can have any look.

Beautiful exteriors can be created using stucco panels; faux brick and wood siding, vinyl, or stone facades as in any home construction. Steel homes can be fully

customized to meet the aesthetic qualities that a customer desires.

Energy efficiency –Pre-engineered

Metal Buildings are designed, engineered and constructed to beenergy-efficient.

Metal Building Systems are compatible with various insulation packages, making them energy-efficient and innovative.

Savings Year after year – Energyefficient, maintenance-free, and durable construction ensure continuous savings year after year. What’s more, some Insurance Companies offer discounts for pre-engineered metal building systems because of their all-steel, optimal fire rating construction.

For more information on pre-engineered steel homes on the coast contact ecofab.ca or call 604-989-8184

Ease of assembly – When your pre-

engineered steel home arrives on the job site, all components are clearly labeled and can be quickly located and crossreferenced in both the blueprints and the erection manual. And with no welding and minor cutting requiredon-site, each component is a perfect fit making the structure quick and easy to assemble.

Fast construction process – The

simplicity of the pre-engineered steel building with its limited number of standardized components, allows for quick construction. Thanks to this preengineering, the actual erection of your building can take as little as 1 week. @Home on the Coast | 15

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Eco-Friendly Building Materials for Sustainable Development

From mass timber buildings to future-focused furniture, architects, designers, and builders need to prioritize the entire supply chain of sustainable building materials

W

ith the recent conclusion of the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties in Glasgow, the world’s supply chain remains in turmoil. Unprecedented bottlenecks at ports are causing material shortages, construction delays, rising costs, and other harmful disruptions across industries. But in this moment of chaos and climate crisis, we also find an opportunity to redefine the building sector. By shifting our focus to sustainable building materials and

products, we can make a profound difference in decreasing carbon emissions, improving the resilience of global supply chains, and bringing about a more sustainable future.

Each country and every sector has a part to play in taking climate action. The building sector, in particular, has the chance now, today, to take a leadership role and swiftly start enacting positive change.

Buildings generate over 40% of emissions with embodied carbon— that is, CO2 released through the harvesting, manufacture, and transportation of raw materials used in construction—accounting for around 11% of total emissions annually. That proportion is growing as building operations become more efficient, and by 2050, embodied carbon could come to represent half of all building-related emissions.

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By focusing our energies on reducing the embodied carbon of the built environment, we have the opportunity to make an enormous, lasting impact on the health of our world.

Better Building Materials

Contrary to common belief, steel is one of the most recyclable building materials in use today. Steel can be recycled over and over again. This characteristic makes it one of the most environmentally-friendly building materials used today. Metal Building Systems are also compatible with various types of insulation making them more energy-efficient.

Other materials with relatively low embodied energy are also available.

The low carbon footprint of timber makes it another excellent option for residential construction. Source materials locally, streamlining transportation and easing supply chain congestion; and to use alternative materials in a way that adds both aesthetic and market value to projects.

One example of this strategy is the use of mass timber. This robust building material is made by gluing pieces of timber together to form thick structural elements such as cross-laminated timber panels. Like concrete, the material is fire resistant, but it has much lower embodied energy, given that wood sequesters vast amounts of carbon. Mass timber elements can also be installed quickly on-site, with added benefits like reduced construction time, traffic, and noise, along with minimal waste.

Healthier Finishes and Furnishings

Another opportunity to reduce emissions is found inside buildings. While structural materials have the biggest initial impact on embodied carbon, the interior elements, which are often replaced every few years, can quickly add up. This repeated churn of materials over the life span of a project can ultimately result in an equal or greater share of the whole-life carbon footprint than the structural materials.

To rectify this cycle, designers need to consider the materiality and afterlife of furniture and interior finishes. What is a product made from? How much space will it take up during shipping or transport? Can it be easily disassembled and recycled once its service is complete? Or can it be reused or repurposed? Environmental product declarations—reports that summarize a product’s environmental information—are one useful tool for making smart design choices.

The Road Ahead

Looking toward a more resilient future for the entire supply chain of building materials, architects need to concentrate on materials that focus on reducing high-carbon materials, using the most efficient structural solutions to reduce material quantities, sourcing materials that are extracted and manufactured locally, and minimizing waste. Not only will this initiative help to ensure that properties meet new sustainability mandates, building codes, tenant demands, and health requirements, this change in demand for sustainable materials will have a powerful, lasting ripple effect across the building sector and the supply chain—and across our world.

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Shade Sails

case, it is also possible to position them flat or twisted into a hyperbolic paraboloid (also known as a hypar twist). This three-dimensional shape is achieved by attaching one or two corners higher than the other corners. The benefit of a twist is a greater distribution of surface tension and a stronger shade sail overall. The end result is also beautiful aesthetically.

A Modern Addition to Your Outdoor Space

If you’ve been thinking about ways to add more shade to your outdoor space this spring, a shade sail is a great solution to consider. These beautiful backyard canopies come in several colours and shapes and will block out harmful UV rays while creating a touch of modern elegance for your outdoor area.

Most shade sails are made of tightly woven, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), Vinyl, or nylon fabric. Shade sails are installed by stretching the fabric and using tension to attach the corners of the shade to a stable structure (such as a roof, post, wall, or tree) via stainless steel D-rings and turnbuckles (stainless steel devices to adjust tension). When professionally installed, shade sails should provide a perfectly taut canopy.

Shade sails come in a variety of shapes and styles but are typically installed in

three shapes: triangle, square, and rectangle.

Like sunscreen, shade sails are designed to protect your skin and eyes from the sun’s harmful rays. Beyond UV protection, shade sails are built to withstand varied weather conditions, especially rain and wind.

Although HDPE material is the most common fabric used, PVC is often substituted. Although it is less breathable, it is 100% waterproof. This is helpful if you want to use your shade sail during summer showers. In this case, you will need to position your sail at a slant, so it doesn’t collect water (leading to a heavy, sagging canopy).

Both rectangle and triangle shade sails are often installed at a slant to prevent rainwater from pooling. However, as we stated earlier, many residential shade sails are made with HDPE material, allowing water to pass through. In this

For another bold architectural effect, try installing overlapping shade sails.

This extends your shady area without putting too much tension onto a single, big sail. When installing overlapping sails, make sure you leave a minimum of 12 inches between them. If not, wind and weather conditions can cause the sails to rub against each other, damaging the fabric over time.

For more information or a no obligation price estimate to install Shade Sails on your home or business here on the Sunshine Coast, contact Mike at “Sombra Outdoor Living” Call 866 SombraO (766-2720). www.sombraoutdoorliving.com

@Home on the Coast | 21

More tips

WATER DAMAGE

ARE YOU PROTECTED?

Getting away from the cold? Some insurance policies require that you have a competent person check your property on a daily basis if you are away from your home for more than four consecutive days in the winter. Speak with your

in severe An increase a nts in Canad weather eve in more has resulted

requirements of your policy.

e.

water damag

Consider storing important documents and irreplaceable personal items away from

Sewer backup and water damage can be costly for homeowners, municipalities and insurance companies.

It can damage just about anything, triggering expensive repair bills.

Don’t store hazardous materials like paint, oil and cleaning supplies in the basement. leak and create an environmental hazard. valve is located in your home.

Electricity and water are a dangerous mix. basement if the power is still on.

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to protect your home and property.

Plan for your pets! In the event of an evacuation, pets may not be allowed in temporary or emergency shelters due to health regulations. If left behind, they may damage your house and endanger themselves.

To learn how to put together your own emergency kit, visit www.ibc.ca

Have an emergency preparedness kit for each person in your household to help you

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Repurposing Cruise Ships for Affordable Housing?

Reprinted with permission of Hakai magazine and Chris Craiker

I found this recent article in Hakai magazine and it struck a chord. Imagine one of these 4000 passenger floating communities docked in Gibsons Harbour or off shore Sechelt. Couuld this idea go a long way to resolving the affordable housing crisis here on the coast? Food for thought...

One especially hard-hit victim of the COVID-19 pandemic is the cruise ship industry. From their 2020 projected 32 million passengers to near-zero has crippled many lines. They were not equipped for this pandemic to spread so quickly and dangerously.

The cruise industry supports 1.17 million jobs around the world. The visions of passenger’s bodies being carried off the ships has damaged the industry immensely. People simply do not want to go on a cruise ship that could be contaminated.

Ironically, these ships are the only form of transportation that is equipped to care for passengers and crew in a medical calamity. The Cruise Industry Association requires all ships to be equipped with medical facilities including doctors and medical personnel to be available 24/7.

But COVID-19 spread like wildfire through poorly designed AC systems and lack of social distancing with virtually no masks made cruise ships death traps for the predominately senior cliental, often with health issues. The industry is not expected to bounce back to previous numbers for several years. Given the current state of affairs in the industry, the possibility to repurpose these decaying mammoths into much-needed housing becomes a real possibility.

Oakland City Council negotiated to convert a cruise ship to house up to 1,000 homeless persons. In 2018, a Portland Maine nonprofit pursued grants for a similar concept and in 2016 former SF Mayor Art Agnes suggested converting an aircraft carrier into a shelter.

Typically, there are three options for these maturing relics. They can be stripped for steel, offloaded to third-world cruise lines or sold on the secondary market for “booze cruises”. Simple renovation still takes big bucks. These ships are ripe for conversion to housing in breathtaking locations.

Whether it be for the growing BabyBoomers population who want to downsize in a dignified fashion or to house our growing population of low-income first-time responders, many of these ships could have a second life as housing and living communities with all the amenities and options of a city.

amphibious homes as a way to deal with sea-level rise, says the idea has some other potential benefits as well. When a flood or hurricane hits a coastal city, she says, a converted cruise liner could be deployed as temporary emergency housing. English notes that cruise ships, being boats, are resistant to the flooding that some coastal cities are grappling with.

“They accommodate sea-level rise by nature. That’s not an issue for them,” she says. “Maybe they could take on the people who are displaced by sea-level rise.”

Whether port cities will embark down this path remains to be seen. English, for one, is at least somewhat optimistic. “It could be very, very doable,” she says. “Finding the ship and finding the port: that’s the challenge.”

Elizabeth English, an architect at the University of Waterloo in Ontario and founder of the Buoyant Foundation Project, who studies

This is not the first time converting aging cruise ships to housing has been considered. In December 2019, the

@Home on the Coast | 23

Window Coverings

More than Just Looks

Imagine you’re looking east across Howe Sound toward the toothy mountains of Sea-to-Sky country. The sun paints the sky with hues of orange to pinks and corals. You can feel the warmth of the sun as it peeks over the ridge. You shade your eyes. It’s 5:10 am.

The forecast promises another day of 32°c and your kitchen overlooking the ocean is already 28°c. By the time you leave the house at 8:30 am, the kitchen is 38°c. Some of your house-plants are already wilting. It would help if you had window coverings.

There are so many choices in window coverings, it’s can be a bit of a process to find what you work right for you. Here’s some of the basics for you to consider.

@Home on the Coast | 24

Vertical Blinds Vertical blinds are created from various materials: wood, metal, composite or laminated fabrics and bamboo. The slats run vertical and move from side to side when tilted, and stack left, right or separate in the middle to when opened. Vertical blinds work well in large windows and sliding glass doors. The large slats make vertical blinds much easier to clean than other window coverings.

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Join Our Team! @ Home on the Coast is now looking for an advertising sales rep to join our team. No advertising sales experience required.

More importantly, we are looking for an enthusiastic person with a passion for supporting our community and helping local businesses to get their message out there. If you are a highly motivated person with a great attitude and effective communication skills then we’d like to talk to you.

This is a part time position that can be done from your home via telephone and computer. We offer complete training and the opportunity to work at your own pace and earn accordingly. If this sounds like a good fit please contact the publisher at 604 989-8184 for a telephone interview and further details.

@Home on the Coast | 25

Horizontal Pleated Shades Pleated shades, or pleated blinds, are a piece of material Blinds that forms an accordion-like pattern. Pleated shades are

This window covering gets the job done; and generally the most cost-effective option is the mini blind. Horizontal blind slats width, mini (1 inch) or micro (1/2 inch), but come in widths of 2” as well. These blinds are installed inside or outside the window frame; a valance hides the hardware. With a twist of the wand tilter, the horizontal slats tilt up and down, letting you see out and letting light in the room.

Pull up the mini blind slats for a completely unobstructed view. These blinds can have slats of various materials. The material can be economical such as PVC or aluminium.

For more money, faux wood and natural wood slats can be a great look to tie into the room’s decor. As they block the light they will block some heat as well.

usually made from textile; the accordion fabric folds as raised and expands as lowered. Some pleated shades can have blackout material applied to block light from entering the room. Blackout blinds can be helpful if you’re light sensitive and want to sleep-in.

Cellular Shades

Shades

Shades are a continuous roll of fabric covering the window from top to bottom and are generally fitted into the window frame. Shades are drawn up and down by cords or rolled up with a spring device. Fabric shades give off a soft and flowing feeling. Different materials provide different levels of opacity for light preferences. The material will dictate how much light gets in and light entering the room will be tinted the colour of the fabric. @Home on the Coast | 26

Cellular shades or honeycomb blinds are like pleated shades but are composed of two pieces of material. The cellular shade is open in the middle, creating a hexagon (honeycomb shape). Cellular shades provides, superb insulation, stabilizing the room temperature. Retaining warmth in winter and deflecting solar heat in the summer.

Cellular shades work to help block sound as well and blackout material is available in some of these as well.

Remember your Skylights

Keep in mind that skylights welcome both light and heat. There are many creative ways to install window coverings for skylights. Doing this will help you keep your home cooler.

Sunshine Coast Sales Statistics for January 2022

by Russ Qureshi

As we get through the first month of 2022 with no market-shaking surprises, we see the market has been continuing in a robust way.

Inventory continues to be the greatest deciding factor in value across all market segments.

Detached home sales reached $34,175,000 in dollar volume which is 12% lower than last year at this time. Unit sales are down 14% to 36 homes sold in January. The total available homes for sale are 74 which is down 42%.

This means our sales success ratio (the amount of sales versus the available inventory) is 49%....The average price (dollar volume divided by units sold) for a home in January was $950,000. The median price (what the middle home sold for) was $862,000.

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Condo and town home sales reached $5,141,000 in dollar volume which is 46% lower than last year at this time.

Unit sales were down 50% to 9 condos or town homes sold in January. The total available homes in this segment of the market is 36 which is down 42%.

This means our sales success ratio is 25%. The average price for a condo or town home was $510,000 and the median price was $525,000.

Land only sales reached $7,400,000 in dollar volume which is 9% higher than last year at this time. Unit sales are down 23% to 16 lots sold in January.

The total available lots are 58 which is down 56% from last year. This means our sales success ratio is 28%. The average price for a lot was $462,000 and the median price was $449,000.

The statistics for the first month of this year seem to show the market taking, what might be termed as, a breather…..

Prices are up but the slower pace of unit sales is a reflection of the low inventory.

A notable (non) event this month was the Bank of Canada holding steady with the present overnight lending/interest rate. Economists were expecting at least a nominal rate hike to reign in the rapid inflation we are seeing. This did not happen and that left many scratching their heads in disbelief. The next BOC announcement on rates will occur March 2nd. We will likely see them playing “catch up” at that point. If you’re a buyer….lock in your best interest rate now for 120 days if possible…..

For market statistics call your realtor.

For market intelligence call Russ Qureshi with Coast Lifestyles Network!

6404 Piper Place Sechelt

LD

SO 2540 sqft, 3 bedroom / 3 bathroom Triple car garage & workshop Extensive gardens in the fully fenced yard Views and waterfront Asking $2,050,000 www.gibsonswaterfront.ca

2490 sqft, 4 bedroom / 4 bathroom Double attached garage Rear yard is fully fenced 3yr old home/2 yr old landscaping Elevator for “aging in place” Asking $1,400,000 www.piperplace.ca

office 604-886-2670 Twitter: @CoastalHomesBC Facebook: Coast Lifestyles Network 101 - 938 Gibsons Way, Gibsons BC V0N 1V9

Russ Qureshi 604-741-7119 russ@coastlifestyles.ca

A Recipe for the Perfect Spring Patio Container Story by Angela Koop

In gardening a recipe takes on a whole new meaning. The perfect recipe for container arrangement always include 3 ingredients spiller, filler, and thriller.

Photo courtesy of Proven Winners - www.provenwinners.com

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Spiller – a plant that will spill over the side of the container draping down to cover the container. A couple popular annual spillers are Potato Vine, Bacopa and Lobelia. If you are looking to change things up for your spillers you could use trailing verbena or trailing snap dragon.

Filler – a plant that grows as wide as it does tall, these plants are used to make your plant look whole and full. Petunias and Geraniums are a great filler plants. Coleus is also a wonderful filler providing colour

with its vibrant coloured leaves.

Thriller- Your Show stopper, the tallest growing plant in the container. Some popular thrillers are Purple fountain grass, canna lily, cordyline and dracaena.

Feeling overwhelmed trying to plan your containers? Think about the colour pallet you prefer, cool colours (blues and purples) or warm colours (pinks, reds, bright greens)? Once you have narrowed that down think about the number of planters you are

wanting to create. Repeating the exact same pattern is not necessary for all containers. If you keep your colour pallet consistent through your outdoor space it will naturally create a uniform look throughout. The other nice thing about having a set colour pallet is that it can be easier to incorporate substitute plants into your arrangements when you might not be able to find the exact plant.

Feeding your planters properly helps keep them happier longer along with deadheading. Deadheading is the practice of removing blooms that

Photo courtesy of Proven Winners - www.provenwinners.com @Home on the Coast | 29

Photo courtesy of Proven Winners - www.provenwinners.com

are no longer looking good. Feeding your container changes as the season does. When initially planting using a mycorrhizae in the soil to aid in root development can help your plants grow faster. For the beginning of the growing season use a slow released fertilizer on the surface of your planter to slowly feed your baskets as they are filling in. Once your planter has reached its maximum growth (Late June – July) it is good idea switch to a liquid fertilizer as nutritional needs for @Home on the Coast | 30

your plants need to be address quickly.

Need more patio time and less plant maintenance? A fun trend that has been happening is foliage planters, taking away a lot of the deadheading maintenance by creating containers that have no blooms just an assortment of coloured foliage.

Another way to make your containers low maintenance is to install drip irrigation to them. This can be done

very cleaning by running a drip line through your containers before filling your pots with soil. I recommend do this for all containers even if you are not currently set up for drip.

Have fun this spring creating your master pieces for your patios, your local garden centres are always here and ready to help with completing your vision. If you follow the recipe above, you will have beautiful planters to enjoy through the spring and summer months.

Providing Home Security…

One Family at a Time

families. One of the homes will be fully wheelchair accessible. Construction of the fourplex is underway and families will enjoy a new home this Fall.

The housing crisis is leaving many families behind, unable to afford homeownership and with rent costs now out of range for far too many. Habitat for Humanity Sunshine Coast has been tackling the issue for over 15 years… one family at a time.

Habitat looks for a certain family profi le with defined levels of income, family composition and a willingness to complete 500 hours of volunteer sweat equity as the family’s commitment to Habitat’s affordable housing program.

For details on Habitat housing please see Home-Ownership – Habitat For Humanity Sunshine Coast BC (habitatsc.ca)

by John Leech Board Vice-chair

The good news, and yes, there is some from time to time, is that the local housing crisis will get some help this year as Habitat seeks families to join our affordable homeownership program. Four new homes are currently being built in our Sunshine Coast Village at Wilson Creek. This final building at the Village, a fourplex (two homes up and two down), will offer two-bedroom homes suitable for smaller

Habitat currently has twelve families living at its Sunshine Coast Village. The fourplex will complete the Village development providing quality affordable homes for sixteen families.

Habitat is also looking to the future by opening up discussions with developers, realtors, builders, municipal authorities and others to

secure additional property on which to build affordable homes on the Coast. Habitat invites interested members of the community to forward ideas on property that might be available to Habitat to construct new homes and to offer suggestions as to how Habitat can best serve our communities on the Sunshine Coast.

Please reach out to me at johnleech296@gmail. com or text 604 230-5827.

I would love to hear your ideas of how to help Habitat address the housing crisis here on the coast…one family at a time.

SCCSA Update submitted by the SCCSA The SCRD staff and board of directors were very appreciative of the efforts by the Sunshine Coast Community Solar Association team that carried out detailed energy audits for 16 of their buildings.

Gerry Pageau presented the results to the SCRD at a planning meeting on Feb. 17, explaining how the audits were carried out with the assistance of a University of Victoria engineering intern student, Kahlid Kurshed in the summer of 2021. Gerry put many hours in completing the reports after our intern returned to his studies and says, “For each of the 12 buildings which were found suitable for solar, we provided a detailed report outlining insulation, shading, proposed PV panel layouts and expected monthly energy production for a typical year. We also submitted a general audit report for seven of the buildings which listed energy conservation measures found. In all, 80ECMs were proposed, along with estimates of GHG savings, energy savings, cost of implementation and simple payback.” He adds that a further seven reports are in progress and that the SCCSA hopes to raise funds to hire an intern for summer 2022

to complete these audits and begin audits on other coast buildings.

Elevate for the Environment SCCSA Board members Cody and Megan Kelso will spend 100 hours up a scissor lift (thank you Olson Electric) from April 14-18. On another fund-raising mission, their goal is to raise $20,000 for the Heritage Playhouse in Gibsons for much needed energy upgrades (heat pumps!) and also raise$10,000 for the Nature Trust of BC to help with all the great work they do to keep our province green and protect lands/animals habitat (including places here on the Sunshine Coast).

Please contact Megan at kelsosclimateaction@ gmail.com if you can help out by doing a monitoring shift (we are looking for people to watch over Megan and Cody on their ‘perch’ from 10pm to 6am). The pair will be in Sechelt from noon on the 14 to 2pm on the 16 and in Gibsons from 3pm on the 16 to 5pm on the 18.

Megan and Cody will again be collecting bottles

at the bottle depot Sechelt on April 2.

Stop on in to drop off your bottle donation from 11am to 2pm.

in

For more info, email Megan at kelsosclimateaction@ gmail. com or donate at: www.canadahelps.org/en/pages/ elevate-for-the-environment/ Interested in the Solar Association and its work?

Consider signing up to be a member - annual memberships are $20 or for students or those with limited means, just $10. Go to https://suncoastcommsolar.weebly.com and follow the membership link.

The Sunshine Coast Community Solar Association (SCCSA) is a registered BC non-profit society dedicated to educating the community about the benefits of solar and supporting and empowering people in all aspects of energy conservation and renewable energy production in order to transition away from fossil fuels.

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