Adapted from an article originally published by Building Excellence on July 8, 2026, by Chloe Perreault, Communication Strategist at the Canadian Home Builders’ Association.
Each year, the CHBA National Awards for Housing Excellence recognize some of the most thoughtful, innovative and forward-looking residential developments across Canada.
For 2026, five exceptional developments were selected as finalists for the Best New Community Award, representing a diverse range of approaches to community building, from vibrant urban mixed-use neighbourhoods to nature-focused and heritage-inspired developments.
Projects were evaluated across five major criteria: community vision, architectural features, environmental and sustainability considerations, community amenities and special features, and overall livability.
Among this year’s finalists, INNOVA by Cascadia Green Development in North Vancouver was named the winner of the 2026 Best New Community Award.
INNOVA, North Vancouver
Winner – 2026 CHBA Best New Community Award
By Cascadia Green Development
A New Benchmark for Urban Living
INNOVA demonstrates how thoughtful planning can transform an existing low-density property into a vibrant, connected mixed-use community.
Developed by Cascadia Green Development, the North Vancouver project combines contemporary West Coast architecture with residential, commercial and social infrastructure designed to function together as one complete neighbourhood.
The development includes 172 homes and 22 commercial spaces, bringing together residences with daycares, shops, restaurants and everyday services.
Rather than treating residential and commercial uses as separate elements, INNOVA integrates them into a community where people can live, shop, access services, socialize and connect without travelling far from home.
This focus on everyday convenience is complemented by carefully considered public and shared spaces.
Wider sidewalks, active storefronts, a central lane and social courtyards contribute to a pedestrian-friendly and animated streetscape.
Within the development, a range of amenities, including rooftop terraces and indoor gathering spaces, creates opportunities for both private relaxation and interaction between neighbours.
Sustainability Built Into the Community
Environmental considerations are integrated throughout INNOVA rather than treated as an additional feature.
The project incorporates:
- Energy-efficient building systems
- Stormwater management strategies
- Strong connections to public transit
- EV-ready infrastructure
- Pedestrian-oriented planning
- Mixed-use design that puts everyday services close to residents
Together, these elements support a more efficient and connected urban lifestyle.
INNOVA’s success reflects a wider change in what homebuyers increasingly look for in new communities: convenience, flexibility, walkability, connectivity and access to everyday amenities within one thoughtfully designed neighbourhood.
The strength of this approach ultimately earned Cascadia Green Development’s INNOVA the national title of Best New Community for 2026.
Other 2026 Best New Community Finalists
INNOVA was selected from a group of five finalists representing different approaches to modern community development across Canada.
Finch Drive – Squamish, British Columbia
By Diamond Head Development
Finch Drive takes a sustainability-focused approach inspired by the dramatic natural environment of Squamish.
The community is integrated into its hillside setting, using architecture, materials and forms intended to complement rather than compete with the surrounding landscape.
The first two phases were labelled Net Zero through CHBA’s Net Zero Home Labelling Program, while the development’s duplexes and townhomes incorporate geothermal heating and cooling systems.
Direct connections to trails and parks strengthen the relationship between the community and its natural surroundings.
Daycare facilities and shared amenities are also planned to support everyday life, creating a neighbourhood suited to residents who want proximity to nature without sacrificing comfort or community connection.
Lēah – Fort Langley, British Columbia
By Conwest Developments Ltd.
Lēah is a boutique, village-style development designed to complement the historic character of Fort Langley.
The 41-home community is organized around a central pedestrian mews, with walkability, social connection and aging-in-place considerations playing important roles in the design.
Its architecture draws inspiration from the surrounding area’s heritage, incorporating gabled roofs, natural materials and restrained colours.
Green spaces and outdoor amenity areas encourage neighbours to interact, while direct access to the Fort-to-Fort Trail provides a strong connection to the surrounding community and landscape.
The result is a community designed to appeal to families and downsizers seeking a balance between lifestyle, character and connection.
The King William – Hamilton, Ontario
By Fengate Capital Management Ltd. and Hi-Rise Group
The King William represents a different approach to community building: a high-density, amenity-focused rental development in downtown Hamilton.
The mixed-use project includes 581 rental homes, commercial space and two residential towers, creating an active urban destination within the city’s downtown core.
A major feature is approximately 40,000 square feet of amenities, including co-working areas, fitness facilities and a rooftop pool.
These spaces reflect the increasing importance of lifestyle and experience within the rental housing market.
Combined with strong walkability and transit accessibility, The King William demonstrates how higher-density urban developments can provide both housing and a broader sense of community.
Dawson’s Landing – Chestermere, Alberta
By Qualico
Dawson’s Landing is a large-scale master-planned community covering approximately 260 acres.
Designed with family life at its core, the community combines different housing options with parks, pathways, future schools, commercial spaces and recreational amenities.
One of its distinctive sustainability features is its Stormwater Kidney system, which helps improve water quality while also becoming a visible part of the community environment.
Future plans include an EcoPark, extensive trail systems and amenities intended for year-round use.
Together, these elements create a suburban community centred on recreation, nature, connectivity and long-term livability.
What Defines Canada’s Best New Communities?
Looking across all five finalists, several common themes help explain what increasingly defines successful community development in Canada.
Lifestyle-First Planning
Today’s homebuyers increasingly evaluate communities based not simply on the home itself, but on the lifestyle surrounding it.
Walkability, nearby services, access to nature, transportation and everyday convenience are becoming increasingly important considerations.
The strongest developments respond to how people actually want to live, rather than simply maximizing the number of homes on a site.
Amenities That Support Everyday Life
Successful amenities are increasingly practical and integrated into residents’ daily routines.
At INNOVA, for example, daycares, retail, restaurants, services and shared spaces are incorporated directly into the community.
Other finalists emphasize parks, trails, fitness facilities, co-working spaces and recreational infrastructure.
The common principle is that amenities should add genuine everyday value rather than exist simply as additional features.
Sustainability as a Core Expectation
Environmental performance is increasingly becoming a fundamental component of high-quality community development.
Across the finalists, sustainability takes different forms, including Net Zero construction, geothermal systems, energy efficiency, stormwater management, EV-ready infrastructure and transit-oriented planning.
Rather than being treated as an optional advantage, sustainability is increasingly incorporated into the fundamental design of leading communities.
Diversity of Housing
Successful communities need to accommodate different lifestyles, household types and stages of life.
Offering a variety of housing formats and tenure options can allow communities to serve a wider range of residents while adapting to changing demographics and housing needs.
An Authentic Sense of Place
The five finalists demonstrate that there is no single architectural or planning formula for a successful community.
Some communities are distinctly urban. Others draw inspiration from heritage architecture or natural landscapes.
What they share is an ability to respond meaningfully to their surroundings and create a recognizable sense of place.
A development becomes more compelling when architecture, landscaping, amenities and public spaces work together to create an environment that feels authentic to its location.
Creating Complete, Connected Communities
The 2026 Best New Community finalists demonstrate the diversity of successful community development across Canada.
There is no single formula that determines what makes a great neighbourhood.
Instead, successful developments increasingly depend on the relationship between design, location, sustainability, amenities, connectivity and the everyday needs of the people who live there.
For developers, the direction is increasingly clear: communities should be designed as places where people can genuinely imagine building their lives.
For Cascadia Green Development, INNOVA represents that philosophy in practice.
By transforming a low-density North Vancouver site into a connected mixed-use neighbourhood with 172 homes, 22 commercial spaces, daycares, retail, restaurants, community spaces and sustainability-focused infrastructure, INNOVA demonstrates what a complete urban community can achieve.
Its recognition as the 2026 CHBA National Award for Housing Excellence winner for Best New Community represents a significant national achievement for both INNOVA and Cascadia Green Development.
Source and Attribution
This article is adapted from an article originally published by Building Excellence:
“Canada’s Best New Communities Shine at the 2026 CHBA National Awards for Housing Excellence”
By Chloe Perreault, Communication Strategist, CHBA
Published July 8, 2026
Original source:
https://buildingexcellence.ca/2026/07/08/canadas-best-new-communities-shine-at-the-2026-chba-national-awards-for-housing-excellence/
Award information was also verified through the Canadian Home Builders’ Association, which officially announced INNOVA by Cascadia Green Development as the 2026 Best New Community Award winner.
© Original reporting: Building Excellence / Canadian Home Builders’ Association. Adapted for the Cascadia Green Development website with attribution to the original source.
