Canada\u2019s green building sector gathered in Montreal June 17 to 19 for Building Lasting Change<\/a>, the Canada Green Building Council\u2019s annual conference. Speakers and participants examined the drivers reshaping the market from evolving regulations and investor expectations to new financing models and the urgent need to decarbonize existing buildings at scale. The message was clear: green building is a current market imperative and those ready to lead what\u2019s next are best positioned to benefit from the opportunities green building represents.<\/p>\n \u201cBuilding Lasting Change 2026 reflects a critical shift in our industry. Climate action is no longer a standalone priority, it\u2019s central to competitiveness, innovation and economic growth. Real estate investors and owners increasingly see green building as a core risk mitigation strategy and a driver of stronger asset performance,\u201d said Thomas Mueller, CAGBC\u2019s president and CEO. \u201cToday, focus is moving from aspiration to results. Green building must deliver measurable value for investors, owners, and developers, and that\u2019s exactly the kind of practical, outcomes-driven leadership this conference is advancing.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Conference highlights <\/strong><\/p>\n With dedicated business and technical streams, BLC equipped attendees with the insights needed to navigate complexity, unlock asset value and future-proof portfolios. The event was anchored by high-impact plenaries, including:<\/p>\n The event also reinforced BLC\u2019s role as a national platform for highlighting the issues, successes and priorities of Canada\u2019s green building sector, with numerous announcements from CAGBC and other industry leaders.<\/p>\n Building on the success of its Zero Carbon Building Essentials program, CAGBC announced a new ZCB micro-credential. Created with RDH and Introba, Zero Carbon Building Practitioner (ZCB-Practitioner) moves beyond the foundational to deepen participants\u2019 knowledge and address evolving market needs, including transition planning, deep carbon retrofits, and more. The program targets engineers, architects, sustainability\/energy consultants, building operators\/owners, and project managers, and features four on-demand courses and a workshop. CAGBC is grateful for funding from Natural Resources Canada\u2019s Deep Retrofit Accelerator Initiative in the development of ZCB-Practitioner courses related to transition planning and retrofits.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n A highlight of the conference, the CAGBC Awards recognize the individuals and projects driving meaningful progress in Canada\u2019s green building sector, highlighting the collaboration, innovation, and practical implementation shaping a low-carbon future for Canada\u2019s built environment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n CAGBC also shared its vision for the next evolution in its ZCB-Performance Standard<\/a>. These changes, coming in the fall of 2026, will enable building owners to verify asset performance, require them to define their transition plan, and get rewarded for decarbonization actions over time. This reimagining of the performance aspect of the ZCB-Standards will help Canada scale a pipeline of deep retrofits built on the principals of the ZCB Program and the Carbon Transition Planning Guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n CAGBC shared a new report seeking to better understand why owners pursue building certification<\/a> and what value certified buildings generate. Along with PriceWaterhouseCooper (PwC), 22 financial and building case studies across four asset classes \u2014 residential, institutional, logistics, and office \u2014 were explored. What they uncovered was that owners are increasingly turning to certification not simply as a sustainability measure, but as a tool for unlocking value. Asset specific reports will follow.<\/p>\n CAGBC is spearheading a multi-year workforce development initiative supported through the federal government\u2019s Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program<\/a> (SWSP) within Employment and Social Development Canada<\/a>. CAGBC will lead labour market research to better understand employment trends and demographics in the green building sector and develop training resources to grow and reskill the green construction workforce. \u00a0The initiative will identify and address critical and systemic challenges facing Canada\u2019s residential construction sector as it transitions to a low-carbon future with support from collaborators including Archipel, Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA), Canada\u2019s Building Trades Unions (CBTU), Labor Education Centre (LEC), Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC), Real Property Association of Canada (REALPAC), and the Toronto Community Benefits Network (TCBN).<\/p>\n CAGBC is supporting professionals looking to earn their LEED Green Associate credential with a dedicated LEED v5 GA Kickstarter \u2014 an instructor-led exam preparatory program designed to build knowledge, confidence and exam readiness on the latest version of LEED. Whether new to LEED or advancing a sustainability career, this offering provides students a timely pathway to engage with the latest version of the rating system and succeed on the v5 exam.\u00a0\u00a0The first LEED V5 GA Kickstarter will be in July.<\/p>\n As we reflect on this year\u2019s conference, one theme stands out: Canada\u2019s green building sector is ready to lead what\u2019s next, moving decisively from ambition to implementation, contributing to Canada\u2019s economy and global competitiveness. With new tools, standards, and training opportunities announced, and strong collaboration across industry, government and partners, the path to zero-carbon, high-performance buildings is becoming clearer and more achievable. CAGBC will continue to convene, support and equip the market to act at scale ensuring Canada\u2019s buildings deliver lasting value for people, the economy, and the climate.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n CAGBC thanks all speakers and sponsors of Building Lasting Change, including presenting sponsor Mitsubishi Electric Heating & Cooling<\/a>, Business Events Montr\u00e9al <\/a>(Tourisme Montr\u00e9al), plenary sponsors BDC<\/a>, Saint-Gobain<\/a>, and Pomerleau<\/a>, forum sponsor RBC<\/a>,\u00a0 technical stream sponsors \u00c6difica<\/a>, BPA<\/a>, CIMA+<\/a>, and Perkins&Will<\/a>. For a full list of CAGBC sponsors, visit: https:\/\/www.cagbc.org\/membership\/become-a-sponsor\/cagbc-sponsors\/<\/a><\/p>\n BLC will return to Vancouver in 2027.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"-\"](\"https:\/\/www.cagbc.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/shared-image-12-1-edited.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nZero Carbon Building \u2013 Practitioner Micro Credential<\/h5>\n
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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nCAGBC celebrates Canada\u2019s green building leaders<\/h5>\n
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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nEvolution of the Zero Carbon Building \u2013 Performance Standard<\/h5>\n
Rethinking Value: The Business Impact of Green Buildings<\/h5>\n
Advancing a Sustainable Buildings Workforce for Canada Initiative<\/h5>\n
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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nNew LEED v5 Kickstarter available<\/h5>\n
Industry events announcements around BLC included:<\/h5>\n
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