Jason Best


	words by Maureen Scott images by Steve Uhraney
	Jason’s wife Leslie had the tool belt framed in a shadow box for him as a Christmas present. “I suggested hanging it over the bed,” laughs Jason. “But Leslie said absolutely not. Then I said, how about over the fireplace? Another no! I think over the workbench in the garage may be the perfect spot for it.” The framed belt would join the tools Jason was awarded by HGTV for winning the national search for Canada’s best Handyman. “They (HGTV) completely outfitted me with new Milwaukee tools,” says Jason. “Having a two year old and a four year old, it’s not like I could just go out and buy about $5,000 worth of tools.” It seems Jason was born with a hammer in his hand. “I was always building something as a kid,” says Jason. “My dad worked for Kodak for 35 years and was a handyman on the side. I learned the fundamentals from him, along with the idea of doing things for yourself.” After graduating from Sheridan College, then a short stint in British Columbia, Jason returned to Ontario and joined the Markham Fire Department, where he is now Designate Captain. Working four days on and four off provided Jason the time to run a small renovation company with his brother Ryan (also a firefighter) and their Dad. “We ran J. Best Construction up until four years ago when my son Tristan was born, and then my other son, River came along and that was the end of the side business,” laughs Jason. “But we still keep things in the family, including my brother-in-law, trading labour back and forth at each others’ houses.”	Winner of the HGTV Canada Handyman Superstar Challenge - Jason Best Cover shoot tuxedo provided by Moores Clothing For Men, Heartland Location and sirloin steak dinner provided by The Glenerin Inn

	Two years ago, Jason and Leslie bought a 1980s five-level split bungalow in Brampton, which they are renovating top to bottom. “We bought a fixer-upper,” says Jason. “We’ve put about $20,000 in renovations into it and we are now at the half-way point. We’ll live in it and enjoy it for about 5 or 6 years and move again.” This will be Jason’s third fix and flip. A “huge fan” of Mike Holmes, Jason was very nervous about meeting the TV guru for their face-to-face skill-testing session on Episode 1 of Season 4: The Lion’s Den. “Mike Holmes had to quiz us about ‘code’ and I had to wait 6 hours for my segment,” explains Jason. “I had a bit of a panic attack and had to call Leslie just to talk – she and a friend had talked me into competing. I said to her, what am I doing here? If I screw this up, I’ll have to cut lawns on the side!” Contestants on HGTV’S Handyman Superstar Challenge are given raw materials and asked to build something, which showcases their special talents. “There were 20 of us in the first episode and we were given two sheets of plywood and told to build anything we wanted. I made a garbage can with a flip lid, similar to the industrial one, which sits outside of our fire hall. There were a million dog houses and tool boxes but this was something useful and unique.” The playing field quickly narrowed to 10 finalists who nailed the chance to be named the best handyman in Canada. “On Junk Day, a 2 tone bin of junk was dumped into the yard and we had to make something using odds and ends,” explains Jason. “I decided to make a bar using as much black wood as I could find. I used the top of this huge old dresser as the top of the bar. Then I decided that I needed to do something unique to catch the eye, so I inset a piece of teak-looking wood into the bar to get that focal point going.” The 10 finalists became fast friends. “During the filming we were housed in a residence in downtown Toronto and rode to and from the set in black Suburbans, flanked by security guards. We’ve already had a reunion party and recently Jessie (one of the finalists) asked me to come to Ottawa for the weekend to help build a bathroom and entranceway, and then go ice fishing.” Jason Best was judged by the “best” in the business— Mike Holmes and Jim Caruk. Both judges speak highly of Jason. Mike Holmes; “What can I say? I liked him— his attitude was great and he kept at it, coming back and making it the best he could –whatever he was working on. And you have to remember there’s a deadline and a lot of pressure and distraction from the competitors.” Jim Caruk agrees; “You could tell that Jason was an honest and easy going guy. Soft spoken. That’s what I liked about him right of the bat. His last project was done exactly the way he was asked and it was done very well.” Jim says as the season went on, the job of judging became more difficult. “Near the end the competition became fiercer,” says Jim. “As the season went on we weren’t looking at handymen anymore, we were looking at people in the business who were very knowledgeable, beyond the ‘handyman’ skill.” Mike Holmes has a message for all handymen and women: “Don’t take on a job bigger than you’re capable of handling! There is a difference between a handyman and a contractor. And don’t start turning pro’ and charging people if you aren’t a real, seasoned, experienced professional.” Aside from his TV work, Mike is actively involved with The Holmes Foundation, a charitable foundation that supports the training of youth in the skilled trades, through apprenticeships, scholarships and bursaries. Mike says he established the Foundation after being hired time and time again to fix renovations gone wrong. The mission of The Holmes Foundation is “to ensure that all residential renovation and construction in Canada is done right – the first time.” When asked about a career highlight, Mikes says it was volunteering with his kids in New Orleans when Team Holmes built a house for one of the families devastated by Hurricane Katrina, through the Make It Right ™ Foundation. “Honestly, the best thing in my life right now is doing what I love, and having my kids work with me. To have them all with me in New Orleans was the highlight, for sure. I can’t even describe how bad it was when we went into the city. I was shocked that it was still so wrecked! And it was 3 years later! The house we built is a showcase of green technology and sustainable building practices. I’m very proud of it –every house should be that well built.” You know that renovation shows are sizzling hot when a network like HGTV devotes an entire evening to them. Jim Caruk’s Real Renos is part of the Reno Thursday lineup and says he understands why reno shows are all the rage: “I think it has to do with the way the industry has really come to life in the last 10 years. More people are flipping homes and making it a hobby and taking on DIY projects. People are starting to understand that putting money into a home is a lot less risky than investing in a new one.” With so much attention generated from winning HGTV’s Handyman Superstar Challenge, Jason is contemplating resurrecting his renovation business. I suggested a name for his new company –Jay Best—the Best Handyman in Canada! GL	Jason is Canada's handyman superstar and Designate Captain with the Markham Fire Department For more information visit www.hgtv.ca Real Renos hosted by Jim Caruk airs Thursdays at 9:30pm on HGTV Holmes Inspection hosted by Mike Holmes airs Thursdays at 8pm on HGTV Holmes on Holmes airs Weekdays at 11pm (excluding Thursdays) on HGTV For information on The Holmes Foundation or to help with the MakeitRight9 Foundation visit the website at www.makeitright.ca