Vancouver-born Alberta business leader Irwin Brar urges Canadians to take action as affordable housing shortages reach critical levels.

REDCLIFF, AB / ACCESS Newswire / January 19, 2026 / Irwin Brar, CEO of Apex Construction and COO of Ridge Apartments, is calling for greater public awareness and community involvement as affordable housing shortages intensify across Western Canada. Drawing from his experience building more than 400 affordable housing units per year, Brar is urging Canadians to understand the scale of the crisis-and the role individuals can play in helping alleviate it.

"We are at a point where families are being priced out faster than homes can be built," Brar said. "Affordable housing isn't just a construction issue. It's a community issue, and it affects all of us."

According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), the country needs 3.5 million additional affordable homes by 2030 to restore market balance. Alberta alone saw a 22% rise in rental demand last year, with vacancy rates hitting lows not seen in over a decade.

"These numbers are real," Brar added. "The pressure is growing, and the people who feel it the most are often the ones with the fewest resources. We can't ignore that."

Brar's Call for Action

Brar's message centers not on policy or politics, but on community responsibility. He believes awareness, compassion, and small acts of support can make a measurable difference.

"You don't have to be a developer to help," he said. "You can donate to food banks, support youth programs, volunteer, or simply check in on families who might be struggling. Housing insecurity rarely shows itself until it becomes a crisis."

Brar's own businesses conduct monthly food bank runs and fund local youth initiatives in Redcliff. He says these efforts show him how many families are quietly battling rising costs.

"When you meet parents who skip meals so their kids can eat, it changes you," he said. "That's why I speak up. Not because it's good for business-because it's the right thing to do."

The Human Impact Behind the Numbers

Recent studies highlight how housing instability affects more than shelter:

  • Children experiencing housing insecurity are 40% more likely to struggle in school.

  • Food bank use in Canada hit an all-time high in 2023, with 1.9 million visits in a single month.

  • For every 10% rent increase, homelessness increases by approximately 13-15%, according to national data.

"These aren't abstract figures," Brar said. "They represent real families-families who want stability, opportunity, and dignity. Every Canadian deserves that."

What Canadians Can Do

Brar encourages individuals and local businesses to take practical steps:

  • Educate yourself about housing insecurity in your community.

  • Donate food, clothing, or funds to local organizations.

  • Volunteer time at shelters, community centers, and youth foundations.

  • Support affordable housing efforts, even through small gestures like attending meetings or sharing information.

  • Encourage youth programs, which Brar says are "one of the strongest tools we have for breaking cycles of struggle."

"You don't need to build a house to support the cause," Brar stated. "You just need to show up in the ways you can."

A Message of Shared Responsibility

Brar believes the housing crisis will require cooperation across public, private, and community sectors. But he insists that individual action is equally powerful.

"Construction helps solve the problem, but the community keeps people afloat," he said. "If we all do a little more, we can create a Canada where families don't have to choose between rent and groceries."

About Irwin Brar

Irwin Brar is the CEO of Apex Construction and COO of Ridge Apartments. Born in Vancouver and raised in Alberta, he leads one of Western Canada's most active affordable housing builders, completing more than 400 units per year. Guided by lessons from his family's immigrant journey and early exposure to construction, Brar is committed to community support, youth development, and improving access to safe, stable housing.

To read the full interview, click here.

SOURCE: Irwin Brar



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