Our News
January 11, 2024
After an incredible 32 years of dedicated service and many important contributions to Woodhouse Group, Jay has decided to embark on a well-deserved retirement effective January 12, 2024.
Jay's career at Woodhouse has been nothing short of exceptional. It began in 1992...
November 8, 2023
Woodhouse Group is proud to announce that Shaun DeLorey has come onboard to lead our General Contract and Woodhouse Restorations divisions our new Chief Operating Officer (COO)!
With more than 25 years of experience in the construction and restoration industry, Shaun's focus as COO will be on streamlining our operations, exploring...
A Letter from Woodhouse Group Inc:
Setting Course for the Future with the Next Generation of Leadership
October 19, 2022
Dear staff, partners, colleagues, and friends -
In 2023, Woodhouse Group will celebrate 55 years since our founding. We’ve come a long way in this time — from a small construction shop to one of the most diversified general contracting, property restoration, and real estate development firms in Waterloo Region...
WOODHOUSE GROUP INC. ANNOUNCES RESTORATIONS DIVISION
December 1, 2021 - Woodhouse Group is pleased to announce that effective December 1st 2021, our restoration services division will operate as Woodhouse Restorations – a new division of Woodhouse Group Inc.
Woodhouse Restorations provides services to home and business owners who have experienced water, fire, and other property related damage. This division also specializes in environmental and biohazard remediation.
The creation of this division follows years of sustained growth and the recent acquisition of two well-known Kitchener-Waterloo restoration contractors.
Woodhouse Group acquired First Response Restorations in 2018 to increase its presence in the insurance restoration business locally and nationally as a member and shareholder of EMRG (Elite Mitigation Restoration Group) Canada, a network of independent restoration contractors.
Under the recently acquired Flood Restoration Services brand, Woodhouse celebrated one of the industry’s most prestigious awards – the Crawford Contractor Connection “Top Performer” for Central Canada – awarded to the Flood team earlier this month.
The creation of this new division following the merger of these brands will define Woodhouse Restorations as the largest restoration contractor in Waterloo Region and surrounding area with over 500 years of combined restoration experience.
The Woodhouse brand was established in 1968 and will continue its strong presence in commercial construction and real estate development under the Woodhouse Group banner.
FLOOD RESTORATION SERVICES INC. RECEIVES TOP PERFORMER NOMINATION
October 25, 2021 - The team at Woodhouse Group would like to congratulate our sister company, Flood Restoration Services Inc., for their regional Top Performer nomination for 2020-2021 by Contractor Connection! This nomination is a testament to Flood’s best in class customer service, responsiveness, and operational performance. Good luck to the Flood team in taking home this prestigious award on November 4.
WOODHOUSE GROUP ACQUIRES FLOOD RESTORATION SERVICES INC.
June 8, 2021 - Waterloo Region - It is with great pride that Woodhouse Group announces the acquisition of Flood Restoration Services Inc., a local emergency response and construction company based in Waterloo Region since 2009.
Flood Restoration Services has long been recognized for their operational performance, receiving industry awards and significant local recognition while serving the Kitchener-Waterloo community over the past twelve years.
This is the second purchase Woodhouse Group has made in the past three years to further position themselves as the largest restoration contractor in Waterloo Region. Under the Elite Mitigation & Restoration Group (EMRG) First Response brand, Woodhouse Group specializes in residential, commercial and multi-residential emergency response and reconstruction services. Acquiring Flood Restoration Services will enable Woodhouse Group to enhance their operational performance on industry KPI's with the exceptional personnel, expertise, and resources that has made both companies leaders in their industries.
The two companies employ a total of 70 people. Flood Restoration Services Inc. will continue to operate out of their Waterloo location while Woodhouse Group operates out of their office near Downtown Kitchener.
Established in 1968, Woodhouse Group is a full service contractor that has diversified its business model to offer emergency restoration services, and commercial/residential general contracting.
ICONIC HOME OF KITCHENER-WATERLOO OKTOBERFEST TO UNDERGO MODERN TRANSFORMATION AS 50-YEAR FESTIVAL MOVES ON TO NEXT CHAPTER
Monday, May 17 – Waterloo Region – An iconic festival and its equally unique home are both moving towards their next chapter as Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest prepares to leave the Benton Street “Castle” – it’s home in since 1989.
The iconic Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest office at 17 Benton street in Downtown Kitchener will soon be purchased by Hans Haus Inc. in a joint redevelopment venture between Woodhouse Group and Brightpath Capital Corporation.
Together the Hans House team plan to peel back the castle walls to reveal the building’s century-old brick and beam character. Growing alternative mortgage firm Brightpath Capital Corporation will occupy offices on the second and third floors, while the main floor and basement will be renovated to attract a restaurant or retail tenant.
To pay homage to the property’s Oktoberfest history the new owners hope to work with the City to create an attractive outdoor amenity space at the intersection of Charles and Benton for the building’s tenants and the general public to enjoy.
Woodhouse Group has played a key role in several regeneration projects in Downtown Kitchener including the historic Schreiter’s furniture building at 27 Gaukel Street now occupied by Google, as well as the former Schlichter's automotive shop at 132 Queen St turned tech hub for Alert Labs, Binsentry, and MaJik.
Construction at 17 Benton Street is planned to begin in early June with occupancy expected early in 2022.
Similar to the building itself, Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest is undergoing its own transformation as the 53-year-old festival moves into the second year of virtual programming, a permanent shift away from traditional retail to ecommerce, and a new home at 2 King Street West in Kitchener (formerly the BMO building).
The new location is one of many changes by the festival since the onset of the pandemic, including an organizational restructuring and review of core activities, which will help the festival adapt to the changing community, streamline operations and focus on core programming as live events slowly return to the Region.
“It’s welcome news that this recognizable property in Downtown Kitchener is being renovated and redeveloped to serve the community and its tenants in new ways,” said Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic. “We’re also pleased to see the K-W Oktoberfest office find a new home and continue to operate in Downtown Kitchener, as they modernize and evolve the festival for decades to come.”
The 2021 festival will run from September 24 to October 11 – ending on Thanksgiving weekend – and will consist largely of virtual experiences, restaurant-based programming and some physical events pending public health regulations. The program is designed to support local businesses impacted by COVID-19 and contribute to the overall economic and cultural vitality of Waterloo Region.