Mike Holmes

Early life and career beginnings

Mike Holmes began learning construction from his father at the age of six, gaining foundational skills that would define his career. By the time he was 19, he had started his first contracting company with a crew of 13 employees, demonstrating early leadership and entrepreneurial drive. He founded his own renovation company at age 21, running two companies over a 20-year contracting career before entering television. His early professional experience, dealing directly with the realities of residential construction, laid the groundwork for his later fierce advocacy against substandard workmanship and dishonest contractors. This hands-on background informed the practical, no-nonsense approach he would later bring to his television programs, where he consistently emphasized the importance of doing the job correctly the first time.

Television career and series development

Holmes's television career launched with Holmes on Homes on HGTV Canada in 2001, though its first season aired in 2003. The show was conceived when Holmes approached the producers of the Just Ask Jon Eakes home improvement show with an idea for a new kind of program focused on fixing bad renovations. Although initial viewer submissions were few, their number grew significantly by the fourth season as the show's popularity soared. The series quickly gained a loyal following for its focus on rectifying the work of incompetent contractors and its educational value for homeowners. It aired widely, including in the United States on HGTV and DIY Network, and in several other countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, and South Africa, establishing his international reputation.

Following the conclusion of Holmes on Homes, Holmes starred in a one-season series, Holmes in New Orleans, which documented the construction of a new home in the Lower Ninth Ward to replace one destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. He then launched Holmes Inspection in 2009, a series profiling problematic home inspections where he served as inspector while longtime crew member Damon Bennett took the lead on site management. In 2012, he began Holmes Makes It Right, which focused on renovations following natural disasters or severe contractor failures, again with Bennett often hosting on site. These series solidified his role as a television authority on construction quality and consumer protection, all revolving around his personal motto, "Make It Right."

His television work increasingly featured his children, licensed contractors Mike Holmes Jr. and Sherry Holmes. They starred together in Mike's Ultimate Garage (2014), a mini-series where Mike Jr. led the build of a garage for his father, and Holmes and Holmes (2016), which premiered on HGTV Canada and later aired on DIY Network in the USA. Other family-centric series included Holmes: Next Generation (2018) on DIY Network, where Holmes assisted his children on remodelling projects, and Holmes 911 (2019), which debuted on CTV Life Channel. In 2019, Holmes ended his long relationship with HGTV Canada and signed a new development deal with Bell Media, moving his programming library to the newly rebranded CTV Life Channel.

Recent series include Holmes Family Effect, which premiered in February 2021 and features Mike Holmes, his daughter Sherry, and his son Mike Jr. helping homeowners, schools, and businesses in need of improvement. Holmes Family Rescue premiered in December 2021 on HGTV and later on CTV Life, featuring the Holmes family helping homeowners who have had improperly done construction work on their homes. In late 2024, a reboot titled Holmes on Homes: Building a Legacy premiered on Cottage Life, reflecting on his 23-year career and his mission to mentor his children within the family business. Holmes has also hosted the Fox competition series Home Free, which premiered in July 2015. He has been a judge on Canada's Handyman Challenge and made guest appearances on shows like Corner Gas and The Ellen DeGeneres Show. He was also a contestant on the HGTV renovation competition series Rock the Block.

Business ventures and The Holmes Group

Holmes's diverse business interests are consolidated under The Holmes Group, a conglomerate and holding company for his various enterprises. A key initiative is the Holmes Approved Homes program, launched in partnership with several home builders and renovators in Canada and the United States. The program's stated goal is to raise the bar for home building above minimum industry standards, promoting higher quality and consumer confidence. The program faced significant controversy in December 2021 when a lawsuit was filed by Tarion, Ontario's new home warranty provider, regarding numerous defects discovered in several homes built by partner companies in Meaford, Ontario. Subsequently, three of the homes were demolished due to the severe nature of the defects, casting a shadow over the program's oversight mechanisms and quality assurance promises.

In 2021, Holmes launched a new company called Mike Holmes Protection, which offers home services contracts to consumers. He has also been involved in publishing, with magazines like Holmes: The Magazine to Make It Right running from 2009 to 2011 before ending after a dispute between the publisher and The Holmes Group. Another publication, Make it Right magazine, was a collaboration with publisher TC Media in 2013. Beyond media, Holmes has served as an advisor for Ottawa Land Bank, a land banking service for speculators managed by Oakwood and John Liptack. In a notable 2025 action, Holmes removed all webpages, advertisements, and videos in which he had endorsed AGM Renovations after that company came under investigation by Ontario's Electrical Safety Authority, demonstrating a reactive approach to protecting his brand's association.

Philanthropy and public advocacy

In 2006, profoundly affected by encountering a renovation so poorly executed he believed the house needed to be torn down, Holmes founded The Holmes Foundation. The foundation's dual purpose is to encourage young people to enter the building trades and to provide assistance to those who have been financially impoverished by bad renovations. Holmes also works with international charity SOS Children's Villages through his philanthropic efforts. His advocacy for skilled trades and improved building standards was formally recognized in the House of Commons of Canada in 2006, where he was acknowledged as an "extraordinary craftsperson" and "an accomplished master builder with a social conscience."

Holmes continues to promote trades education through active work with organizations like Skills Canada, SkillsUSA, World Skills, Skills Ontario, and Conestoga College. His stature as a trusted public figure was highlighted in a May 2010 Reader's Digest survey that named him the second most widely trusted person in Canada, behind only environmentalist David Suzuki. This reputation for integrity is central to his brand and his ongoing mission to improve industry standards, protect homeowners, and ensure a future supply of qualified tradespeople. His appointment as a Patron of The Royal Canadian Regiment in December 2013 further underscores his status as a respected Canadian figure beyond the construction industry.

Publications and media presence

Mike Holmes is the author of several books on home renovation and inspection, all published by HarperCollins Canada. His publications include Make it Right: Inside Home Renovation with Canada's Most Trusted Contractor (2006), The Holmes Inspection: Everything You Need to Know Before You Buy Or Sell Your Home (2008), and The Holmes Manual (2014). He also authored specific guides like Make It Right: Attics and Basements (2009) and Make It Right: Kitchens and Bathrooms (2010). These books extend his educational mission beyond television, providing detailed, accessible advice on construction and home ownership. He also wrote a weekly newspaper column for a time, further disseminating his practical knowledge to a broad audience.

Beyond traditional publishing, Holmes maintains a significant presence on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram under the handle @make_it_right, where he shares construction tips, project updates, and promotes his various ventures. His classic television library is available on the free ad-supported streaming (FAST) channel Homeful. His children, particularly Mike Holmes Jr., are also highly active on social media and as public speakers, sharing their work, promoting woodworking skills, and engaging with fans, which helps sustain and grow the family brand. Mike Holmes Jr. is also a keynote speaker at conferences and home shows, such as the Winnipeg Renovation Show, continuing the family's role as educators in the trades.

Awards and recognition

Holmes has received numerous awards honouring his work in television and his contributions to the trades and community. He won Gemini Awards in 2004, receiving the Viewers' Choice Award, and again in 2009 for Holmes in New Orleans as Best Lifestyle/Practical Information Series. In February 2008, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Technology from the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) in recognition of his promotion of skilled trades. He was also a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in June 2012 for his service to Canada. In December 2013, Holmes was appointed as a Patron of The Royal Canadian Regiment, reflecting his stature as a respected Canadian figure whose values of integrity and hard work resonate with broader national institutions.

Personal life and family

Mike Holmes has three children: Amanda, Sherry, and Mike Jr., all of whom have appeared and worked on his television shows. His son Mike Holmes Jr. and daughter Sherry Holmes are both licensed contractors and have become television hosts and public speakers in their own right, frequently co-starring with their father. Sherry is a professional contractor and television host who advocates for healthy home technologies, while Mike Jr. is a contractor, woodworker, and social media influencer passionate about indoor air quality and healthy homes. The family dynamic is a central feature of his newer programs, such as Holmes on Homes: Building a Legacy, which highlights his role as a mentor to his children and his desire to pass on his "make it right" philosophy. Holmes's personal motto has become the guiding principle for his family's professional endeavours, creating a multi-generational brand focused on construction quality and consumer advocacy.

Questions about Mike Holmes

What was Mike Holmes's first TV show?

Mike Holmes's first starring television series was Holmes on Homes, which premiered in 2001 on HGTV Canada, with its first season airing in 2003. The show was conceived by Holmes himself when he approached producers with an idea for a program focused on fixing renovations done badly by other contractors. It quickly became a hit for its practical advice, focus on consumer protection, and Holmes's direct, authoritative style. The series established his international reputation and aired in many countries, including the United States on HGTV and DIY Network, and in the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, and South Africa.

Is Mike Holmes still with HGTV?

As of June 2019, Mike Holmes ended his long-term relationship with HGTV Canada after signing a new development deal with Bell Media. His extensive library of programming moved to Bell Media's CTV Life Channel, which was rebranded from Gusto. He continues to produce new series under this deal, such as Holmes 911 and Holmes Family Rescue, which air on CTV Life and other networks like HGTV in the US. His classic shows remain popular on various platforms, including the free streaming channel Homeful, and his newer series like Holmes on Homes: Building a Legacy air on Cottage Life, a Blue Ant Media channel.

What is The Holmes Foundation?

The Holmes Foundation is a philanthropic organization founded by Mike Holmes in 2006, inspired by encountering a home renovation so catastrophically poor it needed complete demolition. The foundation's dual purpose is to encourage young people to pursue careers in the skilled building trades and to provide assistance to people who have been financially devastated by bad renovations. Holmes also partners with the international charity SOS Children's Villages through his foundation work. His advocacy in this area was formally recognized in the Canadian House of Commons in 2006, where he was praised for promoting skilled trades and improved building standards.

What happened with Holmes Approved Homes?

The Holmes Approved Homes program partners with selected builders to construct homes to a standard claimed to be above minimum industry requirements. In December 2021, the program faced a major crisis when Tarion, Ontario's new home warranty and consumer protection organization, filed a lawsuit related to numerous serious defects found in several homes built by partner companies in Meaford, Ontario. The defects were so severe that three of the homes had to be completely demolished. This lawsuit brought intense scrutiny to the program's oversight, quality assurance processes, and the validity of its "approved" designation, challenging its core promise of superior construction quality.

Are Mike Holmes's children also contractors?

Yes, two of Mike Holmes's children are professional contractors and television hosts. His son, Michael "Mike" Holmes Jr., and his daughter, Sherry Holmes, are both licensed contractors who learned the trade by working alongside their father as crew members on his early shows. They have been permanent crew members on series like Holmes in New Orleans, Holmes Inspection, and Holmes Makes It Right, and now star alongside him as equals in series like Holmes and Holmes, Holmes Family Rescue, and the 2024 reboot Holmes on Homes: Building a Legacy. Both are also active as public speakers and advocates for skilled trades.

What is Mike Holmes's newest TV show?

As of late 2024, Mike Holmes's newest television series is Holmes on Homes: Building a Legacy. This series premiered on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, exclusively on the Cottage Life channel. It is a six-part reboot of the original Holmes on Homes. The show features Mike Holmes reflecting on his career while mentoring his children, Mike Jr. and Sherry, as they undertake renovations for deserving homeowners.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-10-23.