Image Credit: Anthony Corea / CFJC Today

By Dylana Kneeshaw

TRU TRADES EDUCATION

Future Kamloops Y Dream Home: CHBA CI officially kicks off Training House construction

Aug 12, 2025 | 5:43 PM

KAMLOOPS — A 2×4 is used for Tuesday’s (Aug. 12) ‘ribbon cutting’ at 2257 Coldwater Drive and with that, the 36th annual Training House project has officially begun.

“You can’t build a house by yourself. Like our instructor always says, it takes a team and it’s just super cool to be a part of that,” says TRU Trades and Technology student Jonah Simmonds.

The Training House is a partnership between the Canadian Home Builder’s Association Central Interior, and Thompson Rivers University, along with the Kamloops Y. In this program, Trades and Technology students take their classroom learning and actually build a house, which will eventually become the prize in the Kamloops Y’s annual Dream Home Lottery.

“Like any job, you can learn as much as you can and understand the theory but I mean you can’t replace actually being on the tools and actually understanding how the different pieces go together in a house,” explains Chris Crowell, the president of Canadian Home Builders Association Central Interior. “You can’t beat the hands on experience.”

Question of the Week

Has the violence in Mexico changed your opinion about travelling there for a vacation?

Feb 23, 2026

Looped In

LOOPED IN WITH NIKKI OMEN: February 23, 2026

Feb 23, 2026

1000 WAYS TO HEAL

1000 WAYS TO HEAL: Understanding the Bully

Feb 23, 2026

Over several months, students are guided by instructors and industry professionals. TRU’s Dean of Trades and Technology Baldev Pooni says the format has proven to be a popular way to integrate learning with real world experience in the job.

“People who have gone through the program spread the word and they share their experiences and what they’ve accomplished in the past, and as a result of this, it’s a full program each and every year,” adds Pooni.

Amid labour shortages across a variety of skilled trades, the Training House also presents a unique way to get people into trying the work they’re interested in.

“Growing up, I always used to help my dad with projects around the house like building sheds. Right now, we’re actually renovating our main floor and I’ve been probably his best apprentice so far,” says program student Connor Barrett. “I’ve just always liked working with my hands and I feel like being able to build a house and see it years down the road is kind of satisfactory in that aspect.”

“It feels pretty unreal,” adds Simmonds. “To see this as just a foundation and then to build all of this, it’s a really cool feeling and then just to know that we were a part of this house, it’s very special.”

The project pools resources from the Home Builders Association, TRU and industry sponsors who donate time and materials.

“There’s probably more than 1,000 people that are involved in bringing this project to life and those people make a difference in our community,” said Kamloops Y Vice President Colin Reid. “Not just with this project, but with everything else that goes on in the community. And this is something that displays the pride of the greater Kamloops region like nothing else.”

And when the house is ready, the keys will be handed over to the Kamloops Y for its largest fundraiser, the Dream Home Lottery.

“Without the net proceeds from that lottery, the Y in this community would be significantly different,” adds Reid.