VRBA names 2026 CARE Awards finalists

The Victoria Residential Builders Association has announced finalists for the 2026 CARE Awards on Vancouver Island, with gold winners to be revealed Sept. 25 at the Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria. Public voting for the People’s Choice Award opens online, and finalist projects will also be displayed at Hillside Centre.

Why it matters: - The CARE Awards are a key showcase for Vancouver Island residential construction, renovation and design. - The finalists reflect projects judged on design, workmanship, space use and energy efficiency. - Public voting adds a consumer-facing element to an industry competition.

What happened: - The Victoria Residential Builders Association announced finalists for the 2026 Construction Achievements and Renovations of Excellence Awards. - Brian Trenchard, chair of the 2026 CARE Awards, congratulated the finalists and said they represent leaders in west coast home design and construction. - Gold winners will be announced Friday, Sept. 25 at the CARE Awards gala in the Crystal Ballroom at the Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria. - The public will vote online for the annual People’s Choice Award at careawards.ca. - Finalist projects will be on display at Hillside Centre from Aug. 31 to Sept. 13. - Voters will be entered to win a stay at Long Beach Lodge Resort, the 2002 CARE Awards Project of the Year.

The details: - A panel of industry professionals selected finalists using criteria that include architectural design, quality workmanship, creative use of space and energy efficiency. - Award categories include Residential Planning Design & Construction; Interior Design; Commercial Planning & Design; Customer Service; Sales & Marketing; Special Achievement; and Special Interest. - Casey Edge, VRBA executive director, called the CARE Awards the premier industry event showcasing projects from family communities to waterfront dream homes. - Gold winners will be featured in a full-colour magazine distributed by the Times Colonist and available online at careawards.ca. - VRBA listed Gold sponsors as Built Green Canada; Cantu Bathrooms and Hardware / Kartners; FortisBC; Hourigan’s Flooring; Independent Contractors and Businesses Association; Ply Gem Canada; Slegg Building Materials; Trail Appliances; Travelers Insurance Company of Canada; and Victoria Real Estate Board. - Bronze sponsors are Coast Capital; Path Developments; and Westeck Windows and Doors. - Media sponsors are the Times Colonist and Yellow Sheet Construction Data.

Between the lines: - The awards program is positioning itself as both an industry benchmark and a public-facing community event. - The display at Hillside Centre and the online vote extend the awards beyond the gala audience. - The sponsor list shows broad support across building materials, finance, insurance, real estate and media sectors.

What's next: - The public vote for People’s Choice remains open ahead of the Sept. 25 gala. - Finalist displays continue at Hillside Centre through Sept. 13. - Gold winners will be published after the gala in print and online.