annual report · the registered home inspector (rhi) designation is ... nfp act governing...

Annual Report2014/2015

www.cahpi.ca

Mission stAteMentThe Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors represents the interests of its members through promoting and enhancing members’ profes-sionalism and competency.Objectives:

1) Establish and enhance the status of the professional home and property inspectors with the public, governments, stakeholders across Canada and all associated agencies and professionals across Canada.

2) Establish and advance a national standard for professional development, education, and advocacy for home and property inspectors across Canada.

3) Develop and support programs that are beneficial to Canadian home and property inspector provincial/regional associations and their individual members.

4) Enable transferability of the Registered Home Inspector (RHI) designation within all Canadian home and property inspector provincial/regional associations.

5) Provide enhanced consumer protection through competency evaluation and public awareness campaigns.

Table of ContentsMission Statement ..............................................1

Board of Directors ...............................................2

President’s Message ............................................3

Executive Director’s Message ..............................3

CAHPI – Driven by Inspectors, for Inspectors ...................................................4

Annual Review .....................................................5

Major Projects .....................................................6

Conferences and Events ......................................7

Communications..................................................8

Volunteers ...........................................................9

Financial Statement ...........................................10

CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF HOME & PROPERTY INSPECTORSASSOCIATION CANADIENNE DES INSPECTEURS DE BIENS IMMOBILIERS

2 Canada’sVoiceoftheHomeInspectionIndustry

oFFiCeRs

Blaine swan, RHiPresident

Bill Sutherland, RHI-RPast President

Vince Burnett, RHIVice President

Brian Hutchinson, RHITreasurer

Peter Weeks, RHIsecretary

Sharry FeatherstonExecutive Director

DIRECTORS

2014/2015Board of Directors

Front row (left to right)Earle Johnson, RHI, Manitoba; Vince Burnett, RHI, British Columbia; Blaine Swan, RHI, National; Brian Hutchinson, RHI, Atlantic; Bill Sutherland, RHI-R, National; Guy Gendron, Inspector, QuebecBack row (left to right)Jim Nichols, RHI, Saskatchewan; Alan Fisher, RHI, Alberta; Pascal Baudaux, RHI, Quebec; Claude Dussault, RHI, Quebec; Bruce McClure, RHI, Ontario; Peter Weeks, RHI, OntarioAbsent: Pam Sayne, RHI, Ontario; Gary Poirier, RHI, British Columbia; Jonathon Sheppard, RHI, British Columbia

Canada’sVoiceoftheHomeInspectionIndustry 3

As CAHPI’s Executive Director, it’s my mandate to manage the day-to-day operations of the organization, in accordance with the guidance expressed by the Board through our annual plans. In addition to the routine tasks, there’s always change, and this past year has been a whirlwind in that regard: numerous

initiatives, changes in our by-laws, policies, processes and procedures, the addition of an assistant here at the national office – all the things that come from being the voice of a dynamic and growing industry. And striving at the same time to meet the needs and expectations of our members.

Despite the turmoil it’s been a good year, and I feel privileged and honoured to serve our members, and this industry. We guarantee more good things are coming as we continue to improve the overall value of CAHPI membership. 2015 will have more focus on branding and strategic marketing of CAHPI as the industry leader.

On behalf of the National staff, I want to thank you for your support, and look forward to another eventful year.

Sharry FeatherstonExecutive Director

These are interesting times and times that challenge us.

Over the last 12 months, CAHPI National has completed a number of key initiatives aimed at streamlining and strengthening our ability to serve the CAHPI membership. These include finalizing new By-

laws to comply with new Canadian rules for non-profit associations, creating stronger collaborative relationships with industry partners, and negotiating new business and education opportunities for our members on a number of fronts.

2014 was also a time of challenge – notably the release of the draft CSA A770 home inspection standard. CAHPI was at the forefront of the industry response to this standard during the public review period, and will continue to be a voice of reason as the process moves forward.

Finally, we went through a fundamental review of our strategies and priorities, which has resulted in some needed policy updates, organizational strategies and has laid the foundation for a more effective organization in the future.

All in all, it’s been a challenging – but rewarding – year for CAHPI, and this year promises to be even better as these and new initiatives bear fruit.

Blaine Swan, RHIPresident

President’s Message Executive Director’s Message


CAHPI, a national organization made up of 7 provincial/regional associations, is the largest and most respected home inspector organization in Canada with over 1400 members across the country. CAHPI associations sub-license the trademark-protected Registered Home Inspector (RHI) designation to members who have passed the strictest and most rigorous competency verification of any home inspection organization in North America.

CAHPI is the leader in the Canadian home inspection industry, spearheading the drive to higher standards and consumer protection across the country.

RHI – a mark of distinctionThe Registered Home Inspector (RHI) designation is a protected trademark that signifies that an individual has passed the toughest competency verification in the inspection industry. Only CAHPI members can attain the RHI – a mark of distinction, signifying the highest standard of professional home inspection services.

CAHPI members benefit from leading edge professional development programs, free access to CAHPI’s vast national online technical reference library, up-to-date and timely industry information

through the bi-annual Canadian Home Inspector magazine as well as regular information, news bulletins and access to members-only business opportunities.

In addition, CAHPI National serves as an advocacy and promotion resource to and for the profession, industry stakeholders (real estate, insurance, etc) and to the mulitple layers of government.

CAHPI Value …There’s more than one organization in Canada for home inspectors – in fact, as the industry has grown over the last few years, there have been several new entrants into the space. Some of these attract members by offering lower cost alternatives to CAHPI, but our membership numbers continue to grow. For us, this is a sign that CAHPI inspectors recognize and appreciate the value that their membership brings – and we appreciate your vote of confidence. Nationally, we will continue to look for new ways to provide value to members, by promoting and keeping CAHPI on the forefront of government, the profession and the industry.

CAHPI – Driven by Inspectors, for Inspectors

Note: There are approximately 400 additional members of the association whose membership is non-practicing and are not represented in this graph.0

200

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600

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1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

MEMBERSHIP REPORTTOTAL NATIONAL MEMBERSHIP


Annual Review

By-lawsCAHPI has worked diligently to update all of our by-laws to remain compliant with the new Canadian NFP Act governing non-profits, and we received our Certificate of Continuance in February of 2014. Because of the difference between our year-end and the date of approval (greater than 6 months), we filed an application for exemption which was approved by Corporations Canada in May 2014. In order to comply with the Act in the future, CAHPI is changing its fiscal year end to June 30th – this will allow us to approve year end financials at the fall AGM.

CAHPI National Standards of PracticeAt their AGM on 21 June 2014, OAHI/CAHPI Ontario members voted to adopt the CAHPI National Standards of Practice. This move strengthens the relationship between CAHPI National and OAHI (CAHPI Ontario). With the exception of Quebec (AIBQ standards are in effect), all provincial/regional association members use the CAHPI Standard.

Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL)Canada’s new anti-spam rules came into effect on the first of July 2014, and this necessitated some changes in the way we do business – in particular, we needed the provincial associations to grant us permission to distribute our electronic newsbrief, The CAHPI Inspector to their members. CAHPI National continues to work to ensure our on-line activities remain in compliance with all applicable anti-spam and privacy laws in Canada.

Advocacy for the IndustryAs part of CAHPI National’s on-going industry advocacy, we conducted two face-to-face meetings with the major home inspection network and franchise operators – Carson Dunlop, Pillar to Post, HouseMaster Canada, and Amerispec – one in Toronto on September 3rd and one in Banff at the

annual conference on October 3rd. These meetings were intended to gather feedback on issues of concern to these stakeholders, and one interesting suggestion that may develop is the creation of an industry stakeholder council.

New Construction Inspection Training ProgramCarson Dunlop has updated the New Construction Inspection Training Program for Ontario. Administration of the program was transferred from OAHI to Carson Dunlop in the spring of 2014. Under this arrangement, CAHPI retains the rights to the NCI designation.

Long Service AwardsIn recognition of the long service of many members, CAHPI National produced special RHI Pins, which were distributed to all provincial RHI members with 5, 10, 15 and 20 years.

National Office – Activities and ProjectsWith National office taking on additional projects and increasing our activity level, the National board approved the hiring of Renee Vanderkuip, as Executive Assistant. Renee comes to CAHPI with 10+ years of association experience which will prove extremely helpful in coming years. In addition, the National operations are now split between two administrative offices with this transition completed in the summer of 2014. Our Executive Director has chosen to work part-time for the foreseeable future.


Completion and Launch of the National “Ready to Practice” StandardIn conjunction with our annual conference, CAHPI presented the restructured national certification model, the CAHPI “Ready-to-Practice” standard. The standard provides guidance for minimal acceptable standards for beginning to work as a home and property inspector based on three “Pillars of Competence” – specific technical knowledge (tested through a comprehensive written exam); field training under the supervision of an experienced CAHPI inspector; and practical ability (tested through a rigorous practical test with peer review [the TIPR]).

The Ready to Practice standard can serve as the baseline for harmonizing entry level standards across the country, aiding in our goal of promoting reciprocity and worker mobility.

National Governance And Strategy Session in BanffThe industry and the marketplace have evolved, and it’s important for CAHPI to evolve also. In the face of increasing competition from other organizations, and the need to more clearly articulate the division of responsibilities between the national and provincial organizations, CAHPI embarked on a strategic planning and governance exercise, which culminated in a facilitated session at our annual conference in Banff in October. The result of this session was a renewed focus on two strategic priorities for the national organization: establishment and maintenance of national standards for the industry, and advocacy on behalf of the profession. This focus is now being applied to a revamping of our policies and procedures and will result in more streamlined and agile operations on a National level.

CSA A770 Technical Review Committee To Develop Draft StandardCAHPI participated as an industry member as the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) began work on a standard for home inspection. CSA Standard A770 is being developed at the request of at least one provincial government. CAHPI’s involvement was necessary to ensure that a representative voice from the foremost inspection association, was heard.

CSA A770 Draft Standard Public ReviewThe draft CSA A770 standard was put up for public review between October 15 and December 15, 2014. CAHPI coordinated comments on the draft standard, which contained a number of impractical provisions that were deemed unacceptable to the industry. As the voice of the home inspection profession, we will continue to closely monitor this file and will continue to labor and lobby for a positive impact for the livelihood of home inspection professionals.

New Business Services OpportunitiesCAHPI National has been involved in a number of initiatives aimed at increasing business opportunities for CAHPI members. These include:

- Canada Green Building Council and CAHPI have signed an MOU to collaborate on education opportunities for CAHPI members, provide speakers for provincial and national conferences and attend CaGBC webinars and conferences. This will enable members to stay at the forefront of the Green Building revolution.

- Roofer’s Plus - specialized training for roof inspections for insurance claims. (Program will be made available in 2015)

- Heating Refrigeration Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) Advisory Panel teleconference call March 2014, Karen Sommerville of Canadians for Properly Built Homes and Robert Bean,

Major Projects


HVAC instructor, along with 15 others (including Blaine Swan from CAHPI National) participated in a national teleconference to discuss concerns with new building systems that are being brought into the marketplace without being adequately tested under Canadian conditions. One key recommendation is to understand the problems, how they can be solved, and also the importance of proper, competent inspections of these systems when they are commissioned. The key role that CAHPI inspectors can play in this regard is recognized, and will increase opportunities for members in the future.

CAHPI National continues to work with industry to bring new and exciting opportunities for our members.

Standards of Practice (SOP) ReviewThe planned 2014 review of the Standards of Practice was purposely postponed due to the developing CSA A770 standard. We will update members on the new timeline for the SOP Review in the coming year.

Relationship with ASHICAHPI and ASHI are continuing to participate in their on-going conference reciprocity agreement.

In a sign of just how close and on-going the relationship has become between CAHPI and our American colleagues at the American Society for Home Inspectors (ASHI), Canadian home inspector Alden Gibson, RHI, past ASHI liaison officer and longtime OAHI/CAHPI Ontario member, will serve as the ASHI President in 2015.

As the voice of the profession, CAHPI National continues to represent the association membership at key industry conferences and events.

We have upgraded the website for the CAHPI national conference (this year in Montreal), to include more detailed and useful information for our members. www.cahpinational.org

Events attended (or scheduled to attend) include:

2014 ASHI Inspection World (Nashville)2014 Carson Dunlop Education Conference

(Toronto)2014 NHIE SME (Kansas City)2014 21st Annual CAHPI National Conference

(Banff )2015 ASHI Inspection World (Philadelphia)2015 Canadian Real Estate Banff Western

Connection (Banff )2015 OAHI Educational Conference (Burlington)2015 22nd Annual CAHPI National Conference

(Montreal)

Conferences and Events


CAHPI National has taken on a number of activities aimed at improving communications, marketing and messaging. These include:

Branding – consistent national branding, service marks, and terminology associating CAHPI with the voice of the profession

National Website – our portal to the world, and a key resource for consumers as well as members www.cahpi.ca

CHI Magazine – National continues with the production of this industry-leading magazine, chock full of news and information of importance to the professional home inspector. Published and distributed by CAHPI National with contributions from across the country

The CAHPI Inspector Newsbrief – a new initiative from 2014, this bi-weekly electronic publication is distributed to members to keep them informed of news, events and happenings in the inspection world

On-line Technical Library - launched in the spring of 2014, CAHPI’s online technical library provides members with up-to-date technical references covering the gamut of the inspection process. New

materials are added regularly – searchable by keyword and topic.

Annual Report - Distribution of an annual report electronically – beginning last year, the CAHPI Annual Report will be sent to members and key stakeholders

Home Reference Book - The Home Reference Book is offered with a custom CAHPI soft cover with preferred pricing to CAHPI members in either official language. This easy-to-use manual contains over 450 informative pages and 550 color illustrations that are simple, attractive and informative

Communications

SHOW MORELink to archive http://www.multibriefs.com/briefs/cahpi/

http://www.cahpi.ca

http://www.multibriefs.com/briefs/cahpi/

http://www.multibriefs.com/briefs/cahpi/


BEING INFORMED

BEING SUPPORTIVE

ACTIVE PARTICIPATION

LEADERSHIP

SPECTRUM OFVOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT

Volunteers

Dedicated volunteers are making a difference in our industry. CAHPI extends its gratitude and thanks to each and every national committee member, board member and all provincial association volunteers for their expertise, time and effort in helping to develop and grow the association.

If you are interested in volunteering with the association, please contact either the Provincial or National office.

Spectrum of Volunteer Engagement: a continuum that includes informing oneself about an issue, supporting a cause, actively participating, and adopting leadership roles. These range from the most passive to the most active levels of engagement.

Examples within the spectrum of volunteer engagement:• Informingyourselfaboutanissuebyreadingablog

or posting• Helpingtoraiseawarenessaboutanissue

(circulating/posting material yourself )• Creating/contributingtomomentumabouta

matter• Volunteeringforanorganizationataspecialevent• Volunteeringonashort-termproject/assignment• Volunteeringonaregularbasis• Beingonaboardofanorganizationorchairinga

major campaign

Source: Volunteer CanadaThe Canadian Code for Volunteer InvolvementValues, Guiding Principles and Standards of Practice


STATEMEnT oF FInAnCIAl PoSITIonAs at December 31, 2014Assets 2014 2013Current AssetsCash $88,438 $124,633HRB Inventory 1,506 9,689Prepaid Expenses 5,507 4,039Capital Assets 1,807 570

97,258 138,931

Liabilities and Net AssetsLiabilitiesAccounts payable and accrued liabilities 5,117 5,684other liabilities 7,350 29,941

12,467 35,625Net AssetsUnrestricted 84,791 103,306

$97,258 $138,931

STATEMEnT oF oPERATIonSAs at December 31, 2014

2014 2013RevenueConference fees $ 6,700 $ 7,600HRB sales 7,437 13,043Interest 331 173Advertising (magazine / newsbrief / web) 20,339 28,093Membership dues 188,185 181,853nCI registrations 1,564 680

$224,556 $231,442ExpendituresAdministration/operations 125,233 101,415Projects 117,838 118,614

$243,071 $220,029

Excess (Deficiency) of revenue over expenditures (18,515) 11,413Unrestricted net assets, beginning of year 103,306 91,893Unrestricted net assets, end of year $84,791 $103,306

This financial information has been extracted from the association’s Financial Statements.If you would like to view a copy of the Financial Statements, contact your provincial association.

Financial Statement

PO Box 76065, Morgan’s Grant POOttawa, ON K2W 0E1

T- [email protected]

CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF HOME & PROPERTY INSPECTORSASSOCIATION CANADIENNE DES INSPECTEURS DE BIENS IMMOBILIERS

annual report · the registered home inspector (rhi) designation is ... nfp act governing...

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