Vancouver Island’s most impressive homes are up for 2026 CARE Awards

Some of Vancouver Island’s most striking new homes, renovations and residential developments are getting their moment in the spotlight.

The Victoria Residential Builders Association (VRBA) has revealed the finalists for the 2026 Construction Achievements and Renovations of Excellence—or CARE—Awards.

This year’s contenders range from attainable family homes and multi-family communities to elaborate custom residences valued at more than $5 million. 

Renovations, kitchens, bathrooms, outdoor living spaces and innovative design features are also among the projects being recognized.

“Congratulations to the CARE Awards finalists representing Canada’s leaders in West Coast home design and construction,” said Brian Trenchard, chair of the 2026 CARE Awards. 

“They continue the tradition of achieving building excellence for both new homes and renovations.”

Finalists were selected by a panel of industry professionals based on several criteria, including architectural design, quality of workmanship, creative use of space and energy efficiency.

“The CARE Awards is the premier industry event showcasing outstanding projects ranging from family communities to waterfront dream homes,” said Casey Edge, executive director of the VRBA.

See the projects and vote for your favourite

The public can get a closer look at the finalist projects during a special display at Hillside Shopping Centre, running until Sunday, September 13th.

People can also vote online for the annual People’s Choice Award online.

Those who cast a ballot will be entered to win a stay at Long Beach Lodge Resort, which was named the CARE Awards Project of the Year in 2002.

Gold winners will be announced during the 2026 CARE Awards gala on Friday, September 25th, inside the Crystal Ballroom at the Fairmont Empress.

Following the gala, the winning projects will be showcased in a full-colour magazine distributed through the Times Colonist and published online.

2026 CARE Awards finalists

Best New Single-Family Detached Home under $800,000

• Langdon Weir Construction, Victoria Design Group and Harbour City Kitchens — The Delilah at Latoria Terrace
• Langdon Weir Construction, Victoria Design Group and Harbour City Kitchens — The Rusty at Latoria Terrace
• Verity Construction and Victoria Design Group — Royal Bay–Temperate Place

Best Single-Family Detached Home $800,000–$1.2 million

• Città Group — Arbutus Grove
• White Wolf Homes and Spaciz Design Company — Ivory Ale
• White Wolf Homes and Spaciz Design Company — Westwyn

Best Single-Family Detached Home $1.2–$1.5 million

• Made to Last Custom Homes — The Crest
• Stillwater Custom Homes and Renovations — Lakefront Modern
• Villamar Construction — Cedar Point
• Villamar Construction — Vista Point

Best Single-Family Detached Home $1.5–$1.6 million

• Kowalyk Industries — The Valmere House
• Philco Construction and Hoyt Design Co. — Nordic Rancher
• Villamar Construction — Arbutus Ridge

Best Single-Family Detached Home $1.6–$2 million

• Made to Last Custom Homes — Sevenfold
• Made to Last Custom Homes — The Cove
• Villamar Construction — Northwater

Best Single-Family Detached Home $2–$5 million

• Interactive Construction — Inlet House
• Philco Construction and Hoyt Design Co. — High Ground
• Rannala Freeborn Construction — Thunderbird

Best Single-Family Detached Home over $5 million

• Città Group — Maria Diem
• GT Mann Contracting — Arbutus Estate
• GT Mann Contracting and Spaciz Design Company — The Oasis
• M. Knight Construction and Jenny Martin Design — Harbour Stone

Best New Subdivision

• Langdon Weir Construction, Victoria Design Group and Harbour City Kitchens — Latoria Terrace Ashmore Phase
• White Wolf Homes and Spaciz Design Company — Aveline

Best Multi-Family or Townhouse Project under four units

• Kahlon Developments — Boardwalk
• Langdon Weir Construction, Victoria Design Group and Harbour City Kitchens — The Rupert Duplex at Latoria Terrace
• Villamar Construction — Willow Lane

Best Multi-Family or Townhouse Project with four or more units

• Abstract Developments — Willow + Glen Phase 1
• Kahlon Developments — The Peak
• Path Developments — Producers Rowhomes
• Verity Construction and Victoria Design Group — Dolomite Ridge, Townhouses at Westview
• White Wolf Homes and Spaciz Design Company — Cedar & Stone

Best New Garden Suite or Accessory Building

• Cosgrave Construction — Modern Mid Century
• GT Mann Contracting — Arbutus Estate
• M. Knight Construction and Jenny Martin Design — Harbour Stone

Best Outdoor Space under $500,000

• Bowcey Construction — Oak Bay Revival
• Made to Last Custom Homes — Sevenfold
• Made to Last Custom Homes — The Cove

Best Outdoor Space over $500,000

• GT Mann Contracting — Arbutus Estate
• M. Knight Construction — Harbour Stone
• Philco Construction and Hoyt Design Co. — Court Resort

Best New Home Design

• Interactive Construction — Inlet House
• M. Knight Construction — Harbour Stone
• Made to Last Custom Homes — Sevenfold
• Made to Last Custom Homes — The Cove

Best Innovative Feature

• Città Group — Maria Diem
• Città Group — Oceanside Landing
• GT Mann Contracting — Arbutus Estate
• GT Mann Contracting — The Lookout
• White Wolf Homes and Thomas Philips Woodworking — Pacific Noir

Best Residential Renovation under $500,000

• Oak Bay Construction — Harbourscape
• MacMinn Contracting — Beach Bungalow
• Shane Murray Contracting — A Hidden Gem Above

Best Residential Renovation over $500,000

• Bowcey Construction — Oak Bay Revival
• GT Mann Contracting — The Lookout
• White Wolf Homes and Thomas Philips Woodworking — Pacific Noir

Best Traditional Kitchen

• Jenny Martin Design and Thomas Philips Woodworking — Oxford House
• Jenny Martin Design, Thomas Philips Woodworking and Hoyt Design Co. — Aurelia
• M. Knight Construction and Jenny Martin Design — Harbour Stone
• Villamar Construction and Harbour City Kitchens — Arbutus Ridge

Best Contemporary Kitchen under $50,000

• Oak Bay Construction — Harbourscape
• Villamar Construction — Vista Point
• Villamar Construction and Harbour City Kitchens — Cedar Point
• Villamar Construction and Harbour City Kitchens — Willow Lane

Best Contemporary Kitchen $50,000–$100,000

• MacMinn Contracting — Beach Bungalow
• Made to Last Custom Homes — The Cove
• Stillwater Custom Homes and Renovations — Wolf and Oak
• Villamar Construction — Northwater

Best Contemporary Kitchen $100,000–$200,000

• Bowcey Construction — Oak Bay Revival
• Shane Murray Contracting — A Hidden Gem Above
• Stillwater Custom Homes and Renovations — Lakefront Modern

Best Contemporary Kitchen over $200,000

• Città Group — Maria Diem
• GT Mann Contracting — Arbutus Estate
• GT Mann Contracting — The Lookout
• GT Mann Contracting and Spaciz Design Company — The Oasis
• Philco Construction, Hoyt Design Co. and Thomas Philips Woodworking — High Ground

Best Bathroom under $50,000

• Oak Bay Construction — Harbourscape
• Villamar Construction — Arbutus Ridge
• Villamar Construction — Willow Lane

Best Bathroom over $50,000

• Bowcey Construction — Oak Bay Revival
• GT Mann Contracting — Arbutus Estate
• Jenny Martin Design and Thomas Philips Woodworking — Oxford House
• Jenny Martin Design, Thomas Philips Woodworking and Hoyt Design Co. — Aurelia
• Stillwater Custom Homes and Renovations — Lakefront Modern

Best Primary Suite under $300,000

• Città Group — Maria Diem
• Shane Murray Contracting — A Hidden Gem Above
• Villamar Construction — Cedar Point
• Villamar Construction — Northwater

Best Primary Suite over $300,000

• GT Mann Contracting — Arbutus Estate
• GT Mann Contracting — The Lookout
• GT Mann Contracting and Spaciz Design Company — The Oasis
• M. Knight Construction and Jenny Martin Design — Harbour Stone
• Made to Last Custom Homes — The Cove

Best Residential Interior under $500,000

• Interactive Construction — Inlet House
• Oak Bay Construction — Harbourscape
• Villamar Construction — Cedar Point
• Villamar Construction — Northwater

Best Residential Interior $500,000–$1 million

• Bowcey Construction — Oak Bay Revival
• Jenny Martin Design and Thomas Philips Woodworking — Oxford House
• Villamar Construction — Arbutus Ridge
• White Wolf Homes and Thomas Philips Woodworking — Pacific Noir

Best Residential Interior over $1 million

• GT Mann Contracting and Spaciz Design Company — The Oasis
• Jenny Martin Design, Thomas Philips Woodworking and Hoyt Design Co. — Aurelia
• M. Knight Construction and Jenny Martin Design — Harbour Stone
• Made to Last Custom Homes — The Cove

Best Custom Millwork under $100,000

• Stillwater Custom Homes and Renovations — Lakefront Modern
• Villamar Construction — Arbutus Ridge
• Villamar Construction — Cedar Point
• Villamar Construction — Northwater
• Villamar Construction — Willow Lane

Best Custom Millwork $100,000–$200,000

• Jenny Martin Design, Thomas Philips Woodworking and Hoyt Design Co. — Aurelia
• Made to Last Custom Homes — The Cove
• Thomas Philips Woodworking and Jenny Martin Design — Oxford House
• Villamar Construction — Vista Point
• White Wolf Homes and Thomas Philips Woodworking — Pacific Noir

Best Custom Millwork over $200,000

• Città Group — Maria Diem
• GT Mann Contracting and South Shore Cabinetry — Arbutus Estate
• GT Mann Contracting, Spaciz Design Company and South Shore Cabinetry — The Oasis
• M. Knight Construction and Jenny Martin Design — Harbour Stone

Best Condominium, Rental Project or Mixed-Use Development

• Abstract Developments — Central Block
• Città Group — Oceanside Landing
• GT Mann Contracting — Tiller + Grace
• Path Developments — Eliza
• Verity Construction — Westview Apartments

Best Customer Service

• Made to Last Custom Homes
• Verity Construction

Best Sales Centre or Show Home/Suite

• Abstract Developments — Central Block
• Abstract Developments — Willow + Glen Phase 1
• Verity Construction — Westview–Alabaster Court

Best Website

• Città Group
• Path Developments — Royal Bay

Best Overall Marketing Campaign

• Abstract Developments — Central Block
• Abstract Developments — Willow + Glen Phase 1

Green Builder of the Year

• Abstract Developments
• Verity Construction

Project of the Year — Multi-Family or Subdivision

• Abstract Developments — Central Block
• Abstract Developments — Willow + Glen Phase 1
• White Wolf Homes — Aveline

Project of the Year — Single-Family

• GT Mann Contracting — Arbutus Estate
• M. Knight Construction and Jenny Martin Design — Harbour Stone
• Made to Last Custom Homes — The Cove

To explore the finalist projects and cast a ballot for the People’s Choice Award, head to the Care Awards website.