Civil Municipal Magazine - Dec 2023

84 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 4, ISSUE 12 Relocating from urban areas has led to an increased need for a variety of housing options, and West Grey is ready to meet the demand. There are at least four subdivisions working through the process and expected to bring 1000 new homes within the next six years. Karl Schipprack, Director of Infrastructure and Development and West Grey’s Chief Building Official, notes that there has been a shift in housing trends, moving away from predominantly single-family dwellings, to a focus on multi-residential options. “We are starting to see a lot more semi-detached and row/townhomes, for both the affordability factor and to ensure variety of housing options,” Schipprack said. “We’re trying to get houses that young families and first-time buyers can afford, as well as have inventory for some of the older population looking to downsize. Those are the houses that are in higher demand right now.” A Diverse Employment Landscape On the subject of key employers, Schipprack says “one of the largest employers in the municipality is the construction sector. The various contractors and trades, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, those smaller companies, when you combine them all together, would definitely be among our top employers.” Domm Construction, for example, with 80 employees, is a prominent employer in the region, as Mayor Eccles notes. “We’ve probably got one of the largest wood frame builders in southwestern Ontario, in Domm Construction. They’ve constructed several arenas and halls, medical centres, commercial buildings, and homes. I know of at least 14 area fire halls built by Domm. That is a little niche that they have really picked up on,” Eccles noted. The mayor adds that there are several other local builders and many, like custom-home builder Candue Homes, are celebrating decades of success in the area. “I am continually impressed with the quality and diversity of construction projects in West Grey and do not hesitate to attribute West Grey’s vibrancy to the dedication of these corporations.”