A new CMHC financing program provides generous mortgage loan insurance incentives for energy-efficient multi-unit housing. Based on a points system, the best terms are unlocked at 100 points, and Big Block can help our clients achieve that on new construction through energy efficiency alone.

Big Block was thrilled to accept an international award for our work on the Central Urban Métis Federation Inc. Round Prairie Elders’ Lodge in Orlando, Fl., on Feb. 8. The 2021 Global Innovation Award for Home of the Year was awarded by the National Association of Home Builders’ — the American national home builders' association.

We are hiring a Community Development Associate! Our ideal candidate has experience in a sales role, has high attention to detail, and is a self-starter with strong communications skills. Our Community Development Associate will establish, develop, and maintain positive relationships with clients and other stakeholders while connecting with potential customer leads through networking.

When architect David Fortin began envisioning the design for the Central Urban Métis Federation Inc. Round Prairie Elders’ Lodge, he knew it had to go beyond simple aesthetics. When he was looking at the traditional homes the Métis were building in Batoche and elsewhere in Saskatchewan, he also looked at how they inhabited those homes, he said. 

For the Métis people, the New Year’s Day celebration is a special one. Central Urban Métis Federation Inc. President Shirley Isbister says in days gone by, her family would go house to house, visiting family and eating boulettes — meatball soup. All day, they’d visit with relatives, eating boulettes along the way, and then in the evenings they’d gather again for a meal and the adults would jig and dance all night. While some of these traditions have fallen by the wayside, Shirley says she still makes boulettes every year for her family, and her goal with the newly opened Round Prairie Elders’ Lodge is to revive some of these traditions.

The rent at the Central Urban Métis Federation Inc. (CUMFI) Round Prairie Elders’ Lodge is 30 per cent below market for some of the suites — a feat that was only possible thanks to support from an astounding six funding sources. Because so much funding was secured, the rent is very affordable, and the energy-efficient design will also help Elders save money on utility costs. “It was a tough goal but we knew with the different funding partners that it was possible,” said Shaun Dyck, CUMFI director of housing.

On Friday, Dec. 3, we gathered with friends, family, colleagues and clients at the Round Prairie Elders' Lodge to celebrate its grand opening. The mood was jubilant as the community gathered in the space for the first time, including several Elders who had already moved into the Lodge.

The Big Block Construction team was thrilled to be a finalist for two awards at the NSBA 24th Annual Business Builder Awards: The Pursuit of Excellence Award and the Team Building Award. The company won the Pursuit of Excellence Award, which is awarded to the NSBA business that is an industry leader among its peers and/or within the business community.

The National Affordable Housing Corporation’s (NAHC) Willowview Heights includes one multi-unit residential building in Saskatoon that will achieve the first Net Zero Ready label for a multi-family residential building in Canada. It’s part of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association Net Zero Home Labelling program, with a goal to understand the best way to make multi-family residential buildings (MURBs) Net Zero, modular, affordable and marketable.

We're hiring! We need a project manager to help our Operations team work with consultants, municipalities, and site superintendents to ensure proper procedures are completed from start to finish. Big Block is a growing and quickly evolving business so we are looking for someone who is flexible and can grow with us.