Avalon Master Builder launches hail & wind resilience pilot project with Aviva, ICLR, CHBA
Calgary, AB (Jan. 12, 2026) – Avalon Master Builder, in partnership with Aviva Canada, the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR), and the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA), has launched a pilot project to integrate resilience measures into new multi-family buildings in southern Calgary. The initiative will demonstrate practical ways to reduce hail and wind damage—two of the most costly and frequent causes of property loss in Alberta.
Calgary residents have experienced firsthand the devastating impacts of extreme weather. Recent hailstorms have damaged tens of thousands of homes and rank among the most expensive natural disasters in Canadian history. Recognizing the need for change, Avalon Master Builder is taking proactive steps to embed resilience into the design and construction of new homes. The new buildings will feature hail-resilient roof coverings and siding, as well as enhanced structural measures to withstand high winds. These progressive building practices aim to reduce repair costs, insurance claims, and disruption for homeowners—while increasing the overall durability and lifespan of homes in the region.
“Building homes that stand up to Canada’s changing climate is part of our commitment to long-term value and safety for our customers,” said Chris Williams, President of Avalon Master Builder. “This project is about proving that resilience can be built in from the start, using practical, tested approaches that make sense for builders and homeowners alike.”
Susan Penwarden, Managing Director, Personal Lines of Aviva Canada, added: “This partnership is a powerful example of how we can work together to support innovative, real-world solutions that help protect Canadians from growing climate risks. These homes offer more than shelter—they offer peace of mind while showing how climate resilience and affordability can go hand in hand.”
This field trial is part of the Resilient Homes Task Force (RHTF), a national collaboration led by ICLR and CHBA. The Task Forcebrings together experts from the insurance, research, and homebuilding sectors to create evidence-based solutions that make homes across Canada more resistant to extreme weather.
“The Resilient Homes Task Force is helping to transform how we think about building and maintaining homes in the face of climate change,” said Paul Kovacs, Executive Director of ICLR. “By testing resilience measures in real-world settings—like Avalon’s project in Calgary—we can provide clear, practical guidance for the industry.”
Kevin Lee, CEO of CHBA, concluded: “Avalon’s leadership in this pilot project demonstrates how builders can be part of the solution to climate resilience. Their work will inform new voluntary guidelines and best practices that benefit homeowners across the country while keeping cost-effectiveness a priority.”
The findings from this Calgary field trial will inform and refine national guidelines for homebuilders, insurers, and homeowners, helping to increase the resilience of Canadian homes to extreme events, including hail, wind, wildfire, and flooding.
For more information about the Resilient Homes Task Force, visit www.iclr.org/resilient-homes-task-force.
About Avalon Master Builder
Our decision to build energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable housing has had a profound effect on our business model and represents the platform for our home building. We continue to invest significant resources in exploring intelligent “green” home technology alternatives so that our customers can live in healthier, more comfortable homes that save money today and reduce their environmental footprint in perpetuity. Avalon has a Master Builder designation and is a member of both the BILD – Calgary Region and the Alberta New Home Warranty Program. For more information, visit avalonhomes.com.
About Aviva Canada
Aviva Canada is one of the leading property and casualty insurance groups in the country, providing home, automobile, lifestyle, and business insurance to 2.5 million customers coast to coast. A subsidiary of UK-based Aviva plc, we have the financial strength, scale and are a trusted insurance provider globally for more than 325 years. For more information, visit aviva.ca.
About the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction
Canada’s leading disaster research institute, the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR), was established by the insurance industry in 1997 as an independent, not-for-profit research and outreach institute to champion disaster resilience in Canada. ICLR is an international centre of excellence affiliated with Western University, London, Ontario. The Institute develops and champions evidence-based disaster safety solutions that can be implemented by homeowners, businesses and governments to enhance their disaster resilience. For more information, visit www.iclr.org.
About the Canadian Home Builders’ Association
The Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) is the voice of the residential construction industry in Canada, representing some 8,500 member firms across the country. Our membership spans new home builders, renovators, developers, trade contractors, building material manufacturers and suppliers, lenders, and other professionals in the housing sector.
SOURCE: Avalon Master Builder
Tags: Aviva, Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR), pilot program, resilience, severe weather, storm surge damage