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There’s something surreal about arriving in Québec City for the first time and immediately walking into the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac. Before even checking in, I remember just standing there for a moment, taking it all in. The hotel is massive, historic, and full of character — exactly the kind of building that makes anyone in construction stop and appreciate the craftsmanship. I also realized pretty quickly that I hadn’t actually been back to Quebec City since my Grade 8 school trip, so returning as an adult — and now as someone working in the construction and renovation industry — gave me a completely different appreciation for the city, its architecture and its history.
The hotel itself feels like stepping back into another era. Rich wood panelling, historic detailing, grand staircases, and views overlooking the St. Lawrence River set the tone for what became an unforgettable week at the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) Home Building Week in Canada. Outside, Quebec City offered everything you’d hope for — cobblestone streets, steep hills, small cafes, historic storefronts, and incredible architecture.
Unfortunately, the weather had other plans. Rain followed us through most of the week, limiting some of the exploring many of us had hoped to do. Still, even through the fog and drizzle, the city provided an incredible backdrop for a national gathering of builders, renovators, suppliers, and industry leaders.
This was my first time attending the CHBA summit, and I arrived not entirely sure what to expect. I’ve been involved in the industry for years, but there’s always a different feeling when you attend one of these national events for the first time. You quickly realize that everyone there — whether they’re builders, renovators, suppliers, or association leaders — is trying to solve many of the same problems. What I quickly realized was that these events are about much more than formal committee meetings and presentations. They’re about conversations. They’re about connecting with people across the country who are facing many of the same challenges, opportunities, and uncertainties we all are. And this year, the overall mood of the conference could best be described as cautiously optimistic.
A challenging market — but optimism remains
There’s no avoiding the reality that the residential construction industry is facing significant challenges right now. Slowing sales volumes, affordability concerns, rising construction costs, interest rates, labour shortages and regulatory pressure were all recurring themes throughout the week. For home builders in particular, current market conditions remain difficult. At the same time, there was a noticeable sense that the industry is trying to move forward collaboratively. Much of the conversation focused on how CHBA is working with governments to improve housing conditions, streamline regulations and create practical pathways forward for both builders and renovators. As a renovator and design-build contractor, one of the most encouraging takeaways for me was seeing how much renovation was included in the broader national housing conversation. Historically, renovation contractors have often felt somewhat on the margins of the broader housing discussion. This year felt different.
Renovators are finally being heard
One of the most valuable meetings I attended was the Canadian Renovators’ Council (CRC) session. There was genuine momentum in the room. Discussions ranged from renovation licensing to HST clarification surrounding proposed federal rebate programs, but what stood out most was the recognition that renovations play a significant role in Canada’s economic health.
One particularly important development was the introduction of the Renovation Market Index (RMI). For me, this was one of the biggest takeaways of the week. Modelled similarly to the Housing Market Index used in the new home sector, the RMI is designed to provide measurable insight into the health of Canada’s renovation industry. The index tracks both current renovation activity and future market sentiment, creating a much-needed data point for governments and policymakers. That matters.
For years, renovation activity has represented an enormous part of Canada’s housing economy, but without a consistent national metric to quantify it. Having data-driven insight into the renovation sector creates stronger opportunities to advocate for policy support, incentives, financing tools and practical regulations that reflect the realities of renovation work. The latest RMI figures presented at the conference showed an overall score hovering near neutral territory, while future market sentiment remained more cautious. That aligned closely with what many contractors are currently experiencing: homeowners still want to renovate, but uncertainty around costs, financing, and the economy continues to influence decision-making. Still, the fact that renovation is now being measured and discussed at this level feels like a major step forward for the industry.
Net Zero: From incentives to long-term adoption
One of the first committee meetings I attended focused on Net Zero housing and high-performance construction. As someone who has a strong interest in building science and building performance, this was one of the sessions I was most looking forward to attending. What made the conversation even more relevant for me personally is that I’ve recently completed my first Net Zero renovation project. After going through that process firsthand, I came away incredibly impressed — not just with the energy performance side of it, but with how the home actually feels and functions. The comfort level, air quality, resiliency and overall livability of a properly designed high-performance home really changed my perspective. That’s what continues to interest me most about Net Zero construction. It’s not just about chasing energy targets or rebates. It’s about better buildings.
During the committee discussions, there was a lot of conversation about how the industry is now transitioning away from rebate-driven adoption and into the next phase of the program. While some of the incentive programs are being phased out, the overall feeling in the room was that Net Zero itself remains strong and relevant. The focus now appears to be shifting toward long-term resiliency, practical implementation and continued public adoption.
What I found encouraging was hearing how much progress has already been made. A few years ago, Net Zero still felt like a niche conversation within the industry. Today, it feels far more mainstream. More builders, renovators, and homeowners are beginning to understand the value of high-performance construction and the role it can play in the future of housing. At the same time, there was also realism throughout the discussion. The industry understands that affordability remains one of the biggest barriers to widespread adoption, especially in today’s economic climate. Balancing energy performance goals with practical affordability continues to be one of the major challenges moving forward. Still, I left that meeting feeling optimistic.
The building science behind these homes is incredibly compelling, and I genuinely believe we’re only beginning to see broader public understanding and appreciation for what high-performance housing can offer.
The National Building Code conversation
Another significant discussion centred on the National Building Code and proposed future changes to the code. This was one of the more important conversations of the week because it addressed something many contractors across Canada have been feeling: the pace and scale of proposed changes may simply be too aggressive for current market conditions. The original goal of harmonizing and modernizing building codes nationally is understandable. Consistency across provinces would create long-term efficiencies and clearer standards. However, many attendees acknowledged that the proposed timeline — particularly regarding electrification and energy performance requirements — created an overly large gap between current building practices and future expectations. The major takeaway from the meeting was the industry’s push to pause or slow portions of these upcoming code changes.
To be clear, nobody in the room was saying we shouldn’t improve the code. The conversation felt much more grounded than that. It was more about acknowledging the difference between where the industry wants to go and what’s realistically achievable in the short term. Not because the industry opposes progress, but because many builders, renovators, municipalities, and provinces are simply not prepared to implement such significant transitions at the pace originally proposed. In Ontario alone, there were discussions around how adoption timelines could already stretch well beyond 18 months. For many contractors, that pause was viewed less as resistance to change and more as a practical acknowledgment of reality. As someone working directly in the field, I understood that perspective. The construction industry absolutely needs modernization and improved building performance standards. But those changes also need to remain achievable, buildable, and economically viable.
Committee rooms by day, industry conversations by night
One of the things I appreciated most about the week was the balance between the daytime conference programming and the evening social events. During the day, the focus was very much on the business of the industry — committee meetings, policy discussions, technical updates, market conditions, building codes, and future planning. But once the sessions wrapped up for the evening, the atmosphere shifted. That’s when the conference became more personal. The dinners, receptions, and evening events created opportunities to actually sit down with people from across the country, compare experiences, talk openly about challenges in our businesses, and share the kinds of stories that everyone in construction immediately relates to. For me, that combination ended up being one of the biggest strengths of the entire event.
One evening, I had the chance to spend time with another contractor involved with the CRC and Ontario Renovators’ Council. Those kinds of conversations ended up being some of my favourite moments of the entire trip. We discussed our businesses, our challenges and the realities of operating design-build companies in today’s environment. Those conversations matter. Committee meetings provide structure and direction, but the informal conversations over dinner, drinks, or evening events are often where genuine understanding and collaboration happen.
The conference did an excellent job balancing professional programming with opportunities to connect socially. The hockey night-themed event was a standout and captured the personality of the industry perfectly. There was a relaxed energy throughout the week that made it easy to connect with people.
Former Québec Premier Jean Charest delivered one of the most memorable keynote presentations of the conference. His reflections on Canadian history, Quebec’s identity, immigration, and leadership offered a broader perspective that extended beyond construction and into the larger Canadian story.
There were also presentations on innovation and artificial intelligence, including discussions about how AI and technology may shape the future of construction and business operations. And while I unfortunately missed the presentation connected to Gord Downie and Canadian storytelling, it became one of those moments everyone was talking about afterward.
The week concluded with the National Awards for Housing Excellence gala — a fitting ending that celebrated innovation, craftsmanship, and leadership across the country.
More than just meetings
What I ultimately took away from my first CHBA Home Building Week in Canada was not just policy updates or economic forecasts. It was really the people. It was the realization that events like this are incredibly important for our industry.
Construction can often feel isolated. Many of us spend our days managing projects, solving problems, handling clients, navigating regulations, and simply trying to keep our businesses moving forward. These events provide an opportunity to step back, compare experiences, share war stories, and better understand the larger marketplace we all operate within. They remind us that the challenges facing our industry are shared nationally — and so are the opportunities.
Despite the rain, despite the cautious market conditions, and despite the uncertainty surrounding housing in Canada, I left Québec City optimistic. Not blindly optimistic, but optimistic because there are intelligent, passionate people across this country working hard to improve housing, improve building practices, and improve the future of our industry. And for renovators especially, it finally feels like we’re being invited into that conversation in a meaningful way. That alone made the trip worthwhile.
About the author
Christopher Smith is the owner and founder of Woodsmith Construction Inc, a design and build renovation company that has specialized in working with older homes in the east end of Toronto since 2001. His passion for everything to do with older homes was rooted in his early childhood experiences working on Victorian homes in Cabbagetown with his architect/builder father. He is a Red Seal Carpenter and a BCIN registered designer. Woodsmith Construction has completed a wide range of projects, including full-home renovations, additions, and restorations.