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 Are outdated processes getting in the way of progress?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

Season 2 Episode 4 - Tech, Trades & Workforce Transformation in Housing

In this episode of Blueprint for Growth: Innovation and Housing, host Amy Vilis explores how Canada’s construction workforce is evolving as digital tools, new training models, and shifting labour markets reshape how homes get built. 

John Reid, co-founder of Faber Technologies, shares how micro-credentials, gig-based hiring platforms, and accessible tech are helping tens of thousands of tradespeople upskill, move between projects, and access better opportunities across North America. 

Ellen Hlozan, Director of Strategic Alliances at Trax, brings a regulatory perspective—showing how standardized digital systems and AI-enabled tools can streamline permitting and help officials make faster, more confident decisions. Together, they reveal why the future of housing depends on people just as much as technology—and how collaboration between industry and government can build a more adaptive, tech-ready workforce capable of meeting Canada’s housing demands.

Sources:

How AI Will Transform Construction

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

Season 2 Episode 3 - Accelerating Digital Adoption & Streamlining Regulations

In this episode of Blueprint for Growth: Innovation and Housing, host Amy Vilis explores how cities and tech leaders are modernizing the systems that govern how homes get approved, reviewed, and delivered. 

Rene Cravioto shares how Vancouver is shifting from paper-based permitting to standardized, digital workflows—highlighting the real-world complexities of multi-team reviews, digitizing bylaws, and building machine-readable rules that enable faster, more predictable services. Zane Franzen brings a private-sector lens, showing how better data, AI-driven tools, and integrated systems (from BIM to APIs to automation) can increase transparency, reduce friction, and connect long-fragmented workflows across government and industry.

Sources:

Why Digital Integration is KEY to the Future of Social Housing

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

Season 2 Episode 2 - Innovation in On-Site, Off-Site, and Digital Construction

On this episode of Blueprint for Growth: Innovation in Housing, host Amy Vilis sits down with two leaders turning housing innovation from buzzword to real-world impact. 

Beau Jarvis, President & CEO of Wesgroup Properties, breaks down how traditional construction is evolving through digital bolt-ons like robotics, 3D modeling, and automated fabrication. Kathy Hogeveen, COO of Assembly Corp, reveals how integrating design, manufacturing, and supply chains can unlock speed, precision, and affordability at scale. Together, they make a powerful case for Canada’s future: innovation isn’t old vs. new—it’s alignment. When government, industry, and communities collaborate around shared digital standards and smarter policy, we can finally build the housing Canadians need.

Sources: 

The Future of Digitalization and Automation in Construction - Buildings Canada The Future of Digitalization and Automation in Construction

Jenco Improves Collaboration, Reduces Rework, and Accelerates Schedules with Dusty - Dusty RoboticsJenco Improves Collaboration, Reduces Rework, and Accelerates Schedules with Dusty

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

Season 2 Episode 1 - Building the Future with Innovation & Modern Methods of Construction

Welcome to season two of Blueprint for Growth: Innovation and Housing, hosted by Amy Vilis. In this episode, we examine how bold housing ideas move from concept to construction across Canada’s diverse regions, highlighting practical, context-driven innovation. Joined by Brandon Searle, Director of Innovation and Operations at UNB’s Off-site Construction Research Centre, and Philipp Gruner, the discussion explores how modular building, digital manufacturing, and modern construction methods unlock new possibilities while keeping people, process, and technology at the center. Brandon emphasizes region-specific, human-centered approaches, while Philipp shows how harmonized standards, adaptable construction, and digital platforms can close regulatory and supply chain gaps and empower Indigenous communities with practical tools—demonstrating how collaboration and context-aware solutions drive the next generation of Canadian housing.

Sources:

Mike Hurley - Vancouver Chair CBC NEWS VANCOUVER

Metro Vancouver unveils new affordable homes in Surrey to ease rental market strain

@vancouver.realestate YOU TUBE

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/VDfXmYHnq4o 

Shivani Joshi CBC BC

"Yesterday is never coming back" - condo market grapples with few buyers, soaring inventory

CTV News BC Condo market Dead

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/8gZBQQhiql8

PRIME MINISTER CARNEY - GLOBAL NEWS - 2000 CONDOS SITTING EMPTY

More than 2,000 condos sitting empty in Metro Vancouver amid housing crisis

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

Season 1 Episode 6 - Canada Leading the Way: Innovating for a Sustainable and Resilient Housing Future

We look at the future of housing innovation in Canada, with a focus on how technology—especially AI and digital solutions—can help tackle the housing crisis. Experts Brey Tucker and Tony Yang break down the evolution of construction practices, the challenges posed by workforce skill gaps, and the game-changing potential of digital twins and BIM. They also highlight the need for stronger collaboration between academia and industry to drive innovation and boost housing production.

For more information on DIGITAL’s Housing Growth Innovation Program, visit DIGITAL's Housing Growth Innovation Lab

Guests

Brey Tucker - Tucker Technology Consulting and McElhanney Engineering

Tony Yang - Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of British Columbia

Sources

The Best Kept Secret in Construction - Tedx Talks

AI in Construction - CBS News Miami

Robots Building Homes - CBC The National

The Power of Digital Twins in Construction - Shawn Kanungo YouTube Channel