On Saturday, the Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association brought a sold-out crowd of 900 under one big, beautiful roof for its 42nd annual Housing Design Awards Gala held at the Rogers Centre Ottawa.

Built from the ground up, GOHBA’s gala has become one of the industry’s biggest nights out.  The theme this year was Blueprints & Bloom: A Garden Affair, featuring birch canopies and lush greenery set against a midnight-garden colour scheme.

Returning once again to chair the event was Linda Oliveri Blanchard, senior regional manager at presenting sponsor Enercare and a board member with GOHBA — a trade association representing home builders, renovators, architects, designers, suppliers and related professionals in the Ottawa region.

Gala committee chair Linda Oliveri Blanchard, senior regional manager at presenting sponsor Enercare, and Ray Charron, CFO at Matériaux Morin Supply, at GOHBA’s 42nd annual Housing Design Awards Gala, held at Rogers Centre Ottawa.

Even Oliveri Blanchard has lost count of how many years she’s led the organizing committee but can confirm it’s been more than 15 years. “If anyone wants to take over, you let me know,” the veteran volunteer joked in an interview with CiTC.

In truth, she’s very proud of what the gala has achieved under her leadership. Though it demands enormous work from her and her committee, the payoff is worth it. “It’s the satisfaction of knowing it’s heading in the right direction.”

When Oliveri Blanchard first got involved, attendance was only a few hundred people. Her goal became to make the event “bigger and better,” she said.

Clearly, organizers have delivered. This year’s event reached a new milestone, with more than 100 participating companies and the support of dozens of business sponsors. “This event has become such an integral part of our industry and has grown so much.”

Representatives from award-winner Cardel Homes are seen excitedly making their way to the stage during GOHBA’s 42nd annual Housing Design Awards Gala at the Rogers Centre Ottawa. Photo by Erica Giustiniani

Oliveri Blanchard believes the gala perfectly showcases the value of GOHBA’s awards program to Ottawa’s residential construction industry. “It gives our local builders, designers, architects and renovators the opportunity to be formally recognized for achieving an exceptional level of excellence. Our members design, build and renovate some of the finest homes and communities in North America — and this is where we crown the best of the best.”

The judging process brings together industry professionals from across Canada who volunteer their expertise to evaluate the awards entries. The goal is to ensure the process remains fair and unbiased, said Oliveri Blanchard. Every project, with the exception of one award category, has to be built within 100 kilometres from Parliament Hill.

The gala also helps build connections across the industry. While GOHBA does host smaller events throughout the year, the Housing Design Awards Gala is by far its largest — and probably the most fun. “There really is a lot of excitement in the room,” said Oliveri Blanchard.

The gala, emceed by comedian Graham Chittenden, saw more than 50 awards handed out, with categories including everything from renovation of the year to design of the year, to awards geared toward specific rooms, such as kitchens and bathrooms.

Recipients, whether individually or in partnership with another business, were: Tamarack Homes, Cardel Homes, Urbandale Construction, Claridge Homes, Glenview Homes, West of Main Design, Sonya Kinkade Design, Laurysen Kitchens, Neoteric Developments, Flynn Architect, Casa Verde Construction, RJH Architecture + Planning, Evospace, Minto Communities, Raw Design, Richcraft Homes, Simmonds Architecture, RND Construction, Shean Architects, Amsted Design-Build, Sheshko Construction, Minto Communities, Maison Blonde Interiors, CPI Interiors, Nathan Kyle Studio, Urban Quarry, HanStone, Picasso Custom Homes, RND Construction, Modello Homes, 25:8 Architecture + Urban Design and MBHE.

Brendan McGee and Kayla D’Angelo from Phoenix Homes at GOHBA’s 42nd annual Housing Design Awards Gala at the Rogers Centre Ottawa. Photo by Erica Giustiniani

The People’s Choice Award went to RND Construction (Cunningham Park Contemporary), represented by president and CEO Roy Nandram (third from left) and his team, along with award sponsor Anita Murray (far right), president at All Things Home, at the 42nd annual Housing Design Awards Gala held at the Rogers Centre Ottawa. Photo by Erica Giustiniani

Audience members react to the Blue Jays scoring a run during the seventh and final game of the World Series, which was broadcasted live during the gala. Photo by Erica Giustiniani

Award sponsor Shelley True (centre), owner of TRUEdotDESIGN, on stage with two-time award winner Glenview Homes (Best New Community for Flagstaff and Best Production Home Single Detached ($1,100,001 or more) for The Reveli), represented by managing director Jacob Shabinsky (left), Melissa Pettem (senior land development manager), Kristy Brayton (sales and marketing manager) and Jamie Langdon (senior new home sale consultant) at the 42nd annual Housing Design Awards Gala. Photo by Erica Giustiniani

Gala committee chair Linda Oliveri Blanchard, senior regional manager at presenting sponsor Enercare, at the podium during the 42nd annual Housing Design Awards Gala. Photo by Justin Van Leeuwen/JVL Photography

Architect Jason Flynn (centre) of Flynn Architect, winner of Design of the Year, with award sponsor Jenniffer Alvarenga and Leonardo Alvarenga from GoodStory RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Group at GOHBA’s 42nd annual Housing Design Awards Gala. Photo by Erica Giustiniani

From left, Nicole Burggraaf, wife of Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association executive director Jason Burggraaf, and Soula Burrell, director of business development and membership at GOHBA, at the organization’s 42nd annual Housing Design Awards Gala, held Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. Photo by Erica Giustiniani

From award-winning CPI Interiors, from left, interior design assistant Amy Kogi, president and lead designer Natalie Cox, Zanyar Izadpanah (Oneiric Design and Build), and CEO and director of design Megan Patterson at GOHBA’s 42nd annual Housing Design Awards Gala. Photo by Erica Giustiniani

From left, Megan Shaw, principal at sponsor Syntax Strategic, alongside real estate lawyers Megan Peterman and Morgan Lee from sponsor Perley-Robertson, Hill & McDougall at GOHBA’s 42nd annual Housing Design Awards Gala. Photo by Erica Giustiniani

Amsted Design-Build was named Renovator of the Year at GOHBA’s 42nd annual Housing Design Awards Gala, held Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. Photo by Erica Giustiniani

This article is made possible through sponsorship from Star Motors, WCPD, Marilyn Wilson Dream Properties, ExecHealth, Infinity Convention Centre, Altis Recruitment, Bell Canada, First Avenue Investment Counsel, RBC, Welch LLP, Brazeau Seller Law.

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