A mayoral proclamation and the 2026 Special Achievement Awards focused the spotlight on outstanding contributions at the annual general meeting of the Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association (GOHBA) this week.
The gathering was, in part, a celebration of the 75th anniversary of GOHBA. In honour of that, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe proclaimed April 8, 2026, as Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association Day in Ottawa.
Six outstanding members of the local housing industry were also honoured with awards at the sold-old event attended by more than 200 association members and guests.
Mike Dambra, Jenny Chen, Reliance Holmes Heating and Cooling, Candy King, Rosaline J. Hill and Paul Scissons took home awards recognizing their work within the association and the community. In all, there were more than 30 finalists this year.
The six awards were up from five last year, which in turn saw an increase from three in previous years. Some of the categories have also been renamed to reflect evolution in the association’s focus.
This year’s honourees are:
All Star New Member Contributor
Mike Dambra, president of Dambra Flooring, received the award, presented to a new member for outstanding dedication, enthusiasm and contributions to GOHBA during their first two years of membership.
Receiving the award was “great,” said Dambra later. “I wasn’t expecting it, to be honest, but I’ve helped them sign up a bunch of new trades, so maybe that’s it.”
Noting the downtown in the housing industry, he added, “We’ve had a rough three years, so if there’s a time to contribute, a time to spread the word, it’s certainly now.”
Philanthropist of the Year
Honouring a member who has, among other achievements, brought lasting positive change to the community and inspired others to give back, the Philanthropist of the Year award went to Jenny Chen of the management consulting group Catalais Consulting.
“Philanthropy is an intrinsic human value. A lot of people give back,” said Chen.
Mentioning Shepherds of Good Hope and others, she added that many non-profit organizations are trying to solve housing issues. “So, we sponsor five non-profits who have GOHBA membership so they can have access to the leaders and builders in the industry to help them manage some of these housing crises.”
Outstanding Company Contribution
Pointing to corporate engagement in the broader community, GOHBA’s executive director, Jason Burggraaf, noted that there were more than a dozen nominations, from home builders to Habitat for Humanity, for this award. It honours such accomplishments as strengthening the community and demonstrating innovation, collaboration and social responsibility in its work.
This year’s winner was Reliance Holmes Heating and Cooling.
MORE: 2025 Special Achievement Awards honour five exceptional contributors
Pillar of the Community
Candy King, site operations manager and a 22-year member of Urbandale Construction, took home this award. It goes to an association member whose work has demonstrated leadership and other qualities while strengthening community unity and creating lasting change.
“It’s crazy!” exclaimed a smiling King about receiving such recognition. “When I think about the community, I think about what we’re creating, everything we build. I work in construction, so for me that’s what community is: it’s the homes we build for people, it’s their neighbours, it’s everything home.”
Visionary Leadership
Presented to an individual whose foresight, innovation and other attributes are coupled with a willingness to imagine a better future, this award was won by architect Rosaline J. Hill, founder of RJH Architecture + Planning.
Referencing the current housing crisis — including everything from slow sales to lack of affordable housing — Hill, a strong advocate for more imaginative infill and other housing initiatives, said visionary leadership is critical because “the industry is really stuck right now; we’ve got to think differently, get ourselves out of the hole we’re in. We’ve got to be much more practical in the way we shape regulations so that housing can actually be a business success.”
Lifetime Achievement
Paul Scissons received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. It’s given to an individual whose career and contributions embody professional success as well as values and other qualities that inspire others to shape the future.
“I’m honoured and I have a huge respect for the association and all the hard work it takes to make things happen,” said Scissons, whose background has included founding and operating Ottawa Renovates magazine, small business consulting and an active role with the association. “I’m glad to be part of it.”
