A Chatham-Kent business can show proof when it says it's one of the best home builders in Ontario.
Depencier Builders, based in Dresden, was announced on Wednesday as the Builder of the Year - Small Volume through the Ontario Home Builders' Association's (OHBA) 2024 Awards of Distinction.
Owner Dave Depencier told CK News Today this feels as much a win for his company as it is for the municipality.
"I'm just proud I can represent a smaller area like Chatham-Kent and my town of Dresden and (show that) we can compete with anyone in the province with the types of homes that we build," he said.
Depencier added it wouldn't have been possible to win without his employees, suppliers, trades, and his family.
"They've been a part of everything that we've done... so I'm really happy for those guys," he said.
There was several criteria OHBA was looking for when crowning its winner.
This included work to better the community, with Depencier highlighting his work supporting the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance.
OHBA was also keen on seeing how the business supports the industry locally with Depencier helping check that box with his years of work with the Chatham-Kent Homebuilders Association.
Lastly, the company needed to show how it separated itself from its competition. Depencier Builders' case was emphasized after winning the 2024 OHBA award for Best New Home Kitchen (New Low-Rise Home 2,501 sq. ft. and over).
This custom build is in the Town of The Blue Mountains and showcases a design that Depencier explained was quite different from typical projects.
"Having the focus be on the stove and the vent, tying it all together with the wood ceiling and the beams... it's just one I'm extremely proud of," he said.
The eye grabber would arguably be the island which sits at 12 feet long.
Moving forward, Depencier said he plans on celebrating the wins with his employees. He also noted they won't be taking any time off as they'll need new builds to showcase for next year's awards.