CHBA Central Interior Announces New Board and Major Contributions to TRU

By Rupinder Bawa

2025-09-12

Kamloops, BC – September 11, 2025 – The Canadian Home Builders' Association Central Interior (CHBA CI) held its Annual General Meeting last night at Colombo Lodge, where the 2025–2026 Board of Directors was announced alongside major new contributions to support trades education at Thompson Rivers University (TRU).

Newly Elected Board of Directors:

Treasurer: Mario Piroddi, BDO Canada LLP
Secretary: Steve DuMont, Gillespie and Company LLP
Director: Paul Douglas, Malcolm Homes
Director: Rikki Paquette, Kamloops Truss Ltd.

They will join the existing board members:

President: Chris Crowell, TRUE Consulting
1st Vice President: Ryan Kurzac, Kamloops Home Hardware
2nd Vice President: Drew Atkinson, Wrabel Brothers Construction
Past President: Tom Calne, Fulcrum Development

Continuing Directors:

Brandon Lolli, A&T Project Developments Inc.
Jerry Gill, Jerry Gill Personal Real Estate Corp.
Wayne Wittal, DW Builders
Presidential Appointee: Shaun Minten, Tri-City Canada
East Kootenay Director: Josh Lowden, New Dawn Developments Ltd.

Appointees:

Jason Dixon, City of Kamloops
Tony Bolton, TNRD
Tim Kasten, TRU Trades and Technology

Major Investments in Trades Education

At the AGM, CHBA Central Interior announced three significant contributions to further strengthen TRU’s trades education programs:

$16,000 to purchase tools for 16 Foundation program students working on the 2026 Training House, ensuring they are equipped for hands-on construction training.
$17,500 to support TRU’s Trades and Technology Apprentice Programs.
An additional $50,000 endowment with the TRU Foundation, building on the $50,000 committed last year. This brings CHBA Central Interior’s total endowment to $100,000, establishing long-term scholarships in perpetuity to help future trades students access the education and training they need to enter the sector.

The 2026 Training House project marks 36 years of partnership between CHBA Central Interior and TRU Trades and Technology. This long-standing collaboration provides students with invaluable real-world experience in residential construction and strengthens the pipeline of skilled trades professionals in the region.

“Our members are proud to support TRU students, who represent the future of our industry,” said Chris Crowell, President of CHBA Central Interior. “Through projects like the Training House and contributions like these, we’re helping ensure the next generation of tradespeople are well-prepared to build the homes our communities need.”

CHBA Central Interior Announces New Board and Major Contributions to TRU

"As a member of the CHBA, for the past 20 years, I have always found the association to be an extremely valuable resource and advocate for the industry."

JEFF ARNOLD, A&T PROJECT DEVELOPMENTS INC.