Work is underway in Tobiano on what will eventually become the 2022 Kamloops Y Dream Home, valued at just over a $1-million.

Canadian Home Builders Association Central Interior President Jere Lorenz tells NL News it was a successful kickoff to the project on Wednesday.

“There were clear, blue skies and it’s nice to see the house back in Tobiano,” he said.

This is the second time in the past four years that the house will be located in Tobiano, located at 362 Rue Chevel Noir, part of a development by Diverse Properties Ltd.. The 2019 Y Dream Home, at 110 Cavesson Way, was valued at about $800,000.

“We like to move it around obviously. Like last year, it was in Westsyde. The year before it was in Valleyview and Orchards Walk, and then it was in Juniper some years back, so we move it around,” Lorenz added. “Basically, it depends on the developments and the lots that come available. That has a lot to do with it.”

This is the 32nd year that Thompson Rivers University and the Canadian Home Builders Association Central Interior have partnered on the project. Students from the School of Trades and Technology will be working on the house over the next several months.

“We’re very lucky to have great instruction. Tim Kasten does the TRU instructions and then Bryce Coombs does the on site work for the building,” Lorenz said. “It starts with instructors and the students signing up. it’s great to see the mound of students signing up for the trades.”

“I see a foundation is going in right now. Once that gets done, they’ll be doing the drain tile and the delta wrap on the foundation and then it will be backfilled, and then they’ll be off on the framing. The electrical students will also go in there to do the wiring also, so it’s quite an exciting home that we do year after year.”

A construction-style ‘ribbon cutting; complete with a hand-saw and plank of wood, officially kicked-off the 2022 Training House project in Tobiano, with several dignitaries on hand. Those included Kamloops-North Thompson MLA, Peter Milobar, TNRD Director of Developmental Services Regina Sadilkova, and Chief Building Inspector Tony Bolton.

“Excited to be on-site in Tobiano for the for the Kamloops Y Dream Home Training House board-cutting with the CHBA CI and TRU School of Trades and Tech instructor Bryce Coombs, the student builders and sponsors,” Milobar said.

This year’s Training House project manager is Doug Steel of Cressman Homes. His job will be to overlook the entire build while also working with all the sponsors to turn the dream home into a reality.

Lorenz says as TRU students continue working, they are keeping the COVID-19 situation in mind.

“Working outside, it makes a difference. They have the hard hats, and the safety vests on, and the steel toed boots, but as far as COVID stuff goes, they do have their hand wash stations and all that stuff,” he added. “It’s still there but it’s not front and centre like it was a year ago when were doing the Westsyde training house.”

Lorenz says smoky skies are the bigger concern at the moment, given the ongoing wildfire situation in the province.

“We were very lucky in Tobiano with the kickoff, we had blue skies and no wind. You could see the smoke in the distance but that’s where it stayed, was in the distance, so that was great,” he added.

Tickets for the 2021 Y Dream Home lottery sold out in a record 52 hours. The grand prize home on Elston Drive in Westsyde went to Terry Gordon.