Blueprint for Growth: Innovation in Housing

The Government of Canada estimates 700,000 skilled trades workers will retire between 2019 and 2028. This void needs to be filled fast if Canada is going to meet its ambitious housing construction targets. But are enough young people entering the trades, and will they develop their skills fast enough to replenish the lifetimes of knowledge being lost? In this episode of Hard Hats & High Tech, we’re talking to people actively working to solve our country’s construction labour pains. What will it take to attract new talent so we can build the housing we need? Are outdated processes getting in the way of progress?

Meet Our Guests in Order of Appearance 

Kevin Brittleton, Field Operations Manager, Ventana Construction
Amy Vilis, Director of Housing Growth Innovation, DIGITAL 
John Reid, Co-Founder, Faber Connect

This episode is brought to you by Faber Connect–a two-sided marketplace platform where construction workers connect with construction gigs in their area while learning new skills and exploring different career pathways. Through the mobile app, construction workers can see project information, company reviews and how much a gig pays. Construction companies can see worker reviews and whether the worker’s skills match the project’s needs. Faber is often described as “Uber for trades,” but there’s a big difference: workers can set their own rates and pick and choose the gigs they want, whenever they want them. Faber will soon be adding training opportunities to its platform, with support from DIGITAL’s Housing Growth Innovation Program. Learn more about Faber at faberconnect.com  
About your Host

Don Shafer, PhD, is an award winning broadcaster, veteran media executive, and recipient of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame’s Lifetime Achievement Award. He holds a PhD in Social Justice, bringing a rare blend of industry expertise and academic insight to the evolving media landscape.
Additional Resources from this Episode

We've gathered the resources from this episode into one helpful list:
CIMM - Labour Shortages - November 25, 2024 (Government of Canada, 2024)
Housing shortages in Canada: Updating how much housing we need by 2030 (CMHC, 2023)
Canada facing construction and skilled trades worker shortage (CTV Your Morning, 2025)
Blueprint for Growth: Innovation in Housing (DIGITAL, 2025)
Credits

Host: Don Shafer, PhD
Guests: Kevin Brittleton, Amy Vilis, John Reid
Senior Writer / Showrunner: Jessica Grajczyk 
Audio Producer: John Masecar
Executive Producer: Jennifer Smith
#podcast #construction #technology

The Government of Canada estimates 700,000 skilled trades workers will retire between 2019 and 2028. This void needs to be filled fast if Canada is going to meet its ambitious housing construction targets. But are enough young people entering the trades, and will they develop their skills fast enough to replenish the lifetimes of knowledge being lost? In this episode of Hard Hats & High Tech, we’re talking to people actively working to solve our country’s construction labour pains. What will it take to attract new talent so we can build the housing we need? Are outdated processes getting in the way of progress?
Meet Our Guests in Order of Appearance 
Kevin Brittleton, Field Operations Manager, Ventana Construction
Amy Vilis, Director of Housing Growth Innovation, DIGITAL 
John Reid, Co-Founder, Faber Connect
This episode is brought to you by Faber Connect–a two-sided marketplace platform where construction workers connect with construction gigs in their area while learning new skills and exploring different career pathways. Through the mobile app, construction workers can see project information, company reviews and how much a gig pays. Construction companies can see worker reviews and whether the worker’s skills match the project’s needs. Faber is often described as “Uber for trades,” but there’s a big difference: workers can set their own rates and pick and choose the gigs they want, whenever they want them. Faber will soon be adding training opportunities to its platform, with support from DIGITAL’s Housing Growth Innovation Program. Learn more about Faber at faberconnect.com  
About your Host

Don Shafer, PhD, is an award winning broadcaster, veteran media executive, and recipient of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame’s Lifetime Achievement Award. He holds a PhD in Social Justice, bringing a rare blend of industry expertise and academic insight to the evolving media landscape.
Additional Resources from this Episode

We've gathered the resources from this episode into one helpful list:
CIMM - Labour Shortages - November 25, 2024 (Government of Canada, 2024)
Housing shortages in Canada: Updating how much housing we need by 2030 (CMHC, 2023)
Canada facing construction and skilled trades worker shortage (CTV Your Morning, 2025)
Blueprint for Growth: Innovation in Housing (DIGITAL, 2025)

Credits

Host: Don Shafer, PhD
Guests: Kevin Brittleton, Amy Vilis, John Reid
Senior Writer / Showrunner: Jessica Grajczyk 
Audio Producer: John Masecar
Executive Producer: Jennifer Smith
#podcast #faberconnects #labour #construction

Season 2 Episode 7 - Building Communities in B.C. with Minister Christine Boyle
In this episode of Blueprint for Growth: Innovation and Housing, host Amy Vilis sits down with the Hon. Christine Boyle.

This conversation explores the innovative approaches to housing development in British Columbia, focusing on the integration of digital technology, partnerships, and streamlined processes to enhance housing delivery. Minister Christine Boyle shares insights from her journey in local government to her current role, emphasizing the importance of community-centered housing solutions and collaboration across sectors. The discussion highlights key initiatives like the Building Permit Hub and DASH, which aim to improve efficiency and affordability in housing construction.
#InnovationInHousing #ModernMethodsOfConstruction #MMC #DigitalHousing #HousingDelivery #WorkforceTransformation #IndigenousLedHousing #PublicPrivateCollaboration #Digitalbackbone

Season 2 Episode 6 - DASH Transforming housing delivery through digital, data and design standards
In this episode of Blueprint for Growth: Innovation and Housing, host Amy Vilis explores how DASH: Digitally Accelerated Standardized Housing is transforming the Canadian housing lifecycle through digital standards, modular design, and advanced technology. 

Joined by Esther de Vos, Executive Director of Research at BC Housing, and Franck Murat, architect and senior advisor at Aliova Consulting, the discussion highlights how DASH unites prefabrication, BIM, open data, regulatory streamlining, and permit-ready workflows to make housing faster, fairer, and more affordable. From connecting regulators and builders through shared digital models to creating long-term data-driven management systems, Esther and Franck show how collaboration, standardized tools, and open frameworks are building a scalable foundation for a more efficient, resilient, and inclusive housing sector across Canada.

Sources:
BC Housing  Introducing DASH - Digitally Accelerated Standardized Housing

#InnovationInHousing #ModernMethodsOfConstruction #MMC #DigitalHousing #HousingDelivery #WorkforceTransformation #IndigenousLedHousing #PublicPrivateCollaboration #Digitalbackbone

Season 2 Episode 5 - Indigenous Led Development & The Future of Housing
Innovation in housing isn’t just about new tools — it’s about leadership, partnership, and solutions rooted in community needs. In this episode of Blueprint for Growth: Innovation and Housing, host Amy Vilis speaks with Robin Billy, an Indigenous leader driving transformative approaches to First Nations housing and infrastructure. Next, she speaks with Neil Prakash, Principal at Prakash Architecture, whose climate-resilient, digitally enabled design work is helping communities turn vision into buildable reality. Together, they show how Indigenous-led authority, digital workflows, mass timber, modular construction, and strong cross-sector partnerships can accelerate building, strengthen local economies, and ensure homes truly reflect the people they’re meant for.
Sources:
CBC News: The National - Wilson Williams Squamish Leader Canada’s largest Indigenous-led housing project underway in Vancouver

#InnovationInHousing #ModernMethodsOfConstruction #MMC #DigitalHousing #HousingDelivery #WorkforceTransformation #IndigenousLedHousing #PublicPrivateCollaboration #Digitalbackbone