Holland Homes receives prestigious award

By Courtney Bachar/The Oshawa Express/LJI Reporter

A local builder with strong roots in the community is the recent recipient of multiple homebuilding awards, including Builder of the Year.

Holland Homes received Builder of the Year – Small Volume through the Durham Region Home Builders’ Association (DRHBA) at its recent 2020 Awards of Excellence gala, which was held virtually this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Durham Region Home Builders’ Association is a non-profit organization composed of home builders, renovators, trade contractors, suppliers and related professionals and has been active in Durham Region for 65 years.

“The prestige awards celebrates excellence in new homes, home renovations, innovative technology and construction, outstanding presentation and marketing projects within Durham Region,” states the DRHBA.

Holland Homes also received the award for Excellence in Signage and Excellence in Mid-Rise Building Design (4 to 6 storeys).

“It’s quite an honour,” says Holland Homes President Ryan Holland. “We’ve achieved that because of the really excellent team that we have. It’s an honour to receive it and it’s really nice to get the recognition as a team,” he adds.

Holland was introduced to the industry at a young age by his grandfather.

“My grandfather owned Holland Lumber in Oshawa,” he says, “So I kind of grew up in the lumber business,” adding he worked there as a kid and learned the building trade through working there.

“I started when I was young and then I started building houses on my own while I was there,” he explains.

When his grandfather sold the business to RONA, Holland says he went out on his own and started building houses and developing land.

Holland Homes was established in 2014 with a mission to “provide home buyers with the right blend of style, superb quality, and maintain our reputation of integrity, honesty and over-delivery to our customers,” according to the company’s mission statement, adding Holland Homes brings “attention to detail, excellence in home design, first-class service, and top quality craftsmanship.”

Holland says while the pandemic did slow down the market, they have several new developments coming up, including a 60-unit apartment building in Oshawa at Simcoe and Sunset.

“It’s ready to start, but it’s sort of on hold because of COVID-19,” Holland says.

McLaughlin Park in Oshawa is also coming in 2020 with custom designed two-storey houses, as well as new developments in Bowmanville and Courtice.

Holland’s wife Tiffany, the company’s art director, says being recognized by the DRHBA as a young company is a nod to the great work they’re doing in the community.

“[Ryan] grew up in Oshawa. We’re very Durham Region and Oshawa,” she says. “He loves Oshawa and we want to build it up. We want to improve Oshawa. That’s our main goal and we’re just really excited and motived to keep working on these projects.”

For more information on Holland Homes and upcoming properties, visit www.holland-homes.ca.