Hopewell Residential Communities (HRC) is proud to announce nominations for two finalist spots in the Canadian Home Builders’ Association – Edmonton Region’s 2013 Awards of Excellence in Housing. Both finalist spots are for the community of Secord for Best Show Home Parades – the Garage and Laned Parades.

The Awards of Excellence in Housing celebrates the creative design and craftsmanship of Edmonton Region builders and renovators, and recognizes excellence and professionalism in the field of sales and marketing within the home construction industry.

The winners in all categories will be announced Saturday, March 16th at the 2013 Awards of Excellence in Housing Gala at the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton.

For a full list of Awards of Excellence in Housing finalists, visit www.excellenceinhousing.ca

The Hopewell Group of Companies announced today its intention to bring together its residential land development and home building companies to form a unified new company to be named Hopewell Residential and lead by Lesley Conway, president of the newly created company.

“This is the first step along a new path for Hopewell Residential Communities (HRC) and Sabal Homes,” commented Conway. “Over the next 12 months we’ll work to align our interests and create operational synergies within the residential business model as we reposition Hopewell in the marketplace.”

The company will combine the organizations to create a singular, unified market force that will work together towards common goals and increased competitiveness.

“Sabal Homes and HRC were originally set-up as separate operating companies because that was how the industry in Alberta was structured at the time, but times are changing and the time has come to lead that change,” said Conway.

“We have collectively built two strong organizations recognized as leaders in the industry and our intention is to build on that hard work. The larger Hopewell vision has always been a fully-integrated company engaging in the pursuit of residential market leadership, and the time is now to make it happen.”

The timeline for change involves a longer-term view, with some key changes to take effect immediately.

“In the short term, very little will change operationally,” said Conway, “Both Sabal Homes and HRC are moving full-steam ahead with their ongoing business, and the intent is to not disrupt that momentum. We expect very little change for Sabal Homes’ customers and Hopewell community residents. We have very complementary cultures and values, and those values extend to the way we’ve both done business independently, and to how we’ll do business together in future as Hopewell Residential.”

For now, both Hopewell Residential Communities and Sabal Homes will retain their brands and operating names, with larger changes planned for the future.

“We are most definitely in growth mode. The change means adding multiple new positions to the company and we’re looking for people right now,” adds Conway. “Hopewell Residential is ultimately a story about growth and residential market leadership.”

However, Conway makes it clear that current relationships on the residential development side will not be affected, “We appreciate and respect the builders in our communities and the collective success we’ve realized with them over the years. Our intention is to grow our home building capacity gradually over time and there are no immediate plans to disrupt current relationships or sales programs in Hopewell communities.”

Likewise for Sabal Homes, who will see very little change for suppliers and contractors currently working with the home builder, “We have tremendous respect for our trade partners and our relationships are solid,” commented Richard Daley, Sabal Homes’ senior vice president of operations, “The change will only create better opportunity for all in the future, and we look forward to building on those relationships as we grow together.”

“We see this change as a good thing for the industry, the city, and most importantly, for home buyers,” concludes Conway. “Our unity will improve our competitiveness, which will in turn improve our ability to innovate, which ultimately will create positive change throughout the industry and a better market offering for buyers. We’re excited about Hopewell Residential, and we’re looking forward to bringing it to life.”

Interested in joining our team? Find career opportunities here.

Hopewell Residential Communities is pleased to announce a new partnership with local charitable organization Calgary Reads in support of their efforts to improve early-childhood literacy in the city. Calgary Reads is an early literacy initiative changing the lives of struggling grade 1 and 2 readers and their families in Calgary and area schools. Its vision is to create a thriving community where all children can read with confidence and joy.

“It’s a great fit for us,” said Scott Hamilton, senior manager marketing and community relations with Hopewell. “Our communities support a very large number of young Calgary families, and because of that we feel especially compelled to assist such an innovative organization with their efforts to improve the lives of children and families across the city.”

The partnership involves Hopewell’s participation in a “Together Event” where Hopewell staff will come together to read storybooks to grade 1 and 2 students, and use the occasion to raise awareness about the organization and its goals. The Together Event provides an opportunity to have a fun afternoon and make a difference in young readers. The afternoon will include the team participating in small group reading time, followed by a story time with special guest, CityTV personality Leah Sarich, who is a Calgary Reads veteran.

For more information about Calgary Reads and to find out how to volunteer, click to view their website.

Hopewell Residential Communities is seeking a full-time Sales and Marketing Coordinator to cover a maternity leave for approximately one year, commencing this October.

Hopewell prides itself on being a leader in the community development and real estate industry through the passionate pursuit of excellence, with the goal of creating the world’s most sought after communities. This leadership begins with community planning and extends through our development and construction efforts to our award-winning sales and marketing strategies. In order to maintain our position as leader in sales and marketing strategy and creative execution, we are seeking an enthusiastic and experienced applicant to join our team as a Sales & Marketing Coordinator (Contract Position) for a one-year term.

Full job description and experience requirements can be found here: http://www.hopewell.com/careers/sales-and-marketing-coordinator/

If you would like to join our team, please submit your resume with cover letter, along with salary expectation, in confidence to Scott Hamilton, Senior Manager, Marketing and Community Relations by September 14, 2011. Please also feel free to share this opportunity to others who may be interested. Thank you.

Join us in Secord on Saturday, May 26th from Noon – 5pm for A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood, where we’ll be celebrating the grand opening of six of Edmonton's most stylish new laned show homes by Sabal Homes and Innovations by Jayman.

Secord Way will be transformed into a fun, family-friendly town square full of fun activities, such as:

·        Local artisans selling their handmade creations

·        Skipping rope demonstration by Just Jump

·        Hula hoop demonstration by Carla Snow and Flow Lab

·        Sidewalk chalk area, where kids have free license to create

·        Face-painting, glitter tattoos, and balloon animals

No town square is complete without delicious food! Enjoy mini hot dogs, mini hamburgers, and corn on the cob served by Century Hospitality Group, and cotton candy for those with a sweet tooth!

Enter to win one of two $2,500 West Edmonton Mall gift certificates!

Come see how welcoming a neighbourhood can be. We hope to see you there!

Join us in Mahogany on Saturday, May 12th from 12–5pm as we celebrate the grand opening of new front garage homes by Sabal Homes, Stepper Custom Homes, Jayman MasterBUILT and Trico Homes.

Everyone is welcome to this family-friendly event which will feature face painters and balloon artists for the kids, a free taste of two of YYC’s Food Trucks – Fiasco Gelato and Perogy Boyz, and radio stations AMP & XL live on-location from 1-5pm.

Event attendees will be able to enter a draw for a chance to win 1 of 2 Fairmont Hot Springs Resort Stay & Play packages, which include 2 nights stay and 2 rounds of golf for 2 people each.

See you there!