Seven Questions with Larry C.

Q: How does your industry background transfer to the home inspections training industry?

Many of my 47 years in the electrical trade were spent on residential projects. Additionally, I am a certified electrical safety codes officer (inspector). I also was an electrical apprenticeship instructor for twelve years.

Q: What made you want to get involved with the Canadian Institute of Home Inspectors?

I have a passion for teaching. With the CIHI program being new, I wanted to get involved at the beginning in hopes that I can help with developing a high-quality program. I have a degree in adult education and have experience in curriculum development, both of which are great assets to have.

Q: What are the challenges of putting together a national home inspector training program such as the one created by the Canadian Institute of Home Inspectors?

As I see it, there are two main challenges to putting the program together. The first challenge is determining how much content to include. The other challenge is making the content appropriate to the level of knowledge the learners have.

Q: What was the most enjoyable part for you with your contribution to the development of the Canadian Institute of Home Inspectors.

The most enjoyable part for me is seeing a high-quality finished product. Curriculum development is a skill that requires practice.

Q: If you could solve one trades related issue in Canada, what would it be?

I would like to see all tradespeople take mandatory update training on a regular basis. In the electrical trade, the Canadian Electrical Code is updated every three years and contains several hundred changes. In most jurisdictions, taking a course on these changes is not mandatory.

Q: What do you feel makes an effective training program for home inspections?

An effective training program needs to be very broad in scope. The CIHI program covers a wide range of topics and utilizes subject-matter experts in numerous areas as facilitators.

Q: Do you believe that the material written in the Canadian Institute of Home Inspectors is done in such a way that while comprehensive, it is not restrictive to an individual with limited trades experience?

The CIHI material is comprehensive. It is however written in such a way that it is easy to understand for participants who are not necessarily experts in a specific trade.