Yourdreambuilders.ca

As I expect most contractors do as they reach their retirement, I have done a mental review of the projects I have worked on, and the wonderful clients, tradesmen and suppliers I have worked with. I have been very fortunate that I have not had many customers who were shysters, which is always a risk.

My career started in Central Alberta in 1982 or 3 when, after having worked at a lumber yard for a wonderful man (rest in peace, Clarence) for 7 years, he purchased 10 athlete village houses built for the 1988 Winter Olympics. After doing so, he purchased 10 lots in the town we were located in, then told me that I was going to coordinate the construction required. I got the basements dug, poured the footings, oversaw the pouring of the slabs, framed the wood basements to each house’s footprint, coordinated the placement of each house on their basement and either did or coordinated the patching and finishing required in each house.

That was the fire that led to my construction career.

Not long after that I built my first house, and 3 years later sold it and built my second.

In early 1991 I pulled up stakes and headed west to Cranbrook to install cabinets and finishing in a bunch of new 4-plex units being built. A month in a fellow I had met pulled me aside and told me I was wasting me time there, and told me he had a friend who needed a big reno done. That started an amazing 9 year run where I renovated everything from homes to B&Bs to banks to restaurants to hotels, having up to 10 men at times. The last project was a large addition to a house on the Fernie ski hill.

Realizing I was getting burned out, I headed back to Calgary. After a stint with a railing manufacturer I ended up helping create a start-up in an area I knew nothing about. Luckily I had some start up experience. The business is still running successfully today.

Then, like all things you love, my roots were calling me. My return to Calgary has been an absolute pleasure. The relationships I have built with labourers, customers (many who have had me return for multiple projects), suppliers and tradesmen could not have been better. What a pleasure it was to help build your dreams!

Thank you one and all!

Dave

This is pretty important in our profession. Just a little reminder that a friend of mine sent my way 😂😂😂