Returning to Québec City
Earlier this year, Woodsmith Construction attended the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) Home Building Week in Québec City — our first time participating in this national industry event.
For Chris, it was also his first time back in Québec City since a Grade 8 school trip, which made the experience even more memorable. Walking through the historic streets, taking in the architecture, and staying at the iconic Fairmont Le Château Frontenac created the perfect backdrop for a week focused on the future of housing and renovation in Canada.
Despite rainy weather for most of the trip, Québec City still delivered an incredible atmosphere filled with history, craftsmanship, and inspiration.
A National Conversation About Housing and Renovation
The conference brought together builders, renovators, suppliers, manufacturers, and industry leaders from across Canada to discuss some of the biggest issues currently facing the residential construction industry, including:
- Housing affordability
- Labour shortages
- Net Zero construction
- Building code changes
- Renovation market conditions
- Energy efficiency and resiliency
- The future of residential construction in Canada
One of the most encouraging aspects of the week was seeing renovation become a much larger part of the national conversation.
As a renovation-focused design-build company working primarily with Toronto’s aging housing stock, we strongly believe renovators play a critical role in the future of Canadian housing — especially as more homeowners choose to renovate and adapt their existing homes rather than move.
Renovators Finally Have a Stronger Voice
One of the standout meetings for us was the Canadian Renovators’ Council (CRC) session.
Discussions focused on:
- Renovation licensing
- HST clarification and rebate programs
- National renovation advocacy
- The future of renovation policy in Canada
A major highlight was the introduction of the Renovation Market Index (RMI), a new national indicator designed to measure the health and future outlook of Canada’s renovation industry.
This is an important step forward because it provides meaningful data that can help support future government discussions around renovation incentives, financing, housing adaptation, and industry support.
For renovators across Canada, this felt like a significant moment.
Net Zero Construction and Building Science
Another important part of the week focused on Net Zero construction and high-performance building practices.
This discussion was especially meaningful for us because it came shortly after completing our first Net Zero renovation project.
Going through that experience firsthand reinforced how much better these homes can feel and function when building science, air quality, insulation, and energy performance are prioritized properly.
The conference discussions highlighted how the industry is transitioning from rebate-driven adoption toward long-term resiliency and practical implementation.
While affordability challenges remain a reality, it was encouraging to see how much momentum high-performance construction continues to gain across Canada.
Beyond the Meetings
One of the best parts of the conference was the balance between the daytime committee meetings and the evening networking events.
During the day, discussions focused on policy, economics, building science, and industry challenges.
In the evenings, the atmosphere shifted into something more personal.
Builders and renovators from across the country were able to sit together, share experiences, compare challenges, and talk honestly about the realities of operating construction businesses in today’s environment.
Those conversations were just as valuable as the formal presentations.
Published in Canadian Contractor
We’re incredibly proud that our reflections from the event were published in Canadian Contractor.
The article, titled:
“Rain, Renovation, and Reality: Notes from Home Building Week”
captures both the professional and personal side of the experience — from committee meetings and policy discussions to the architecture, atmosphere, and conversations that made the week memorable.
👉 Read the full article here:
https://www.canadiancontractor.ca/features/rain-renovation-and-reality-notes-from-home-building-week/
Looking Ahead
Events like CHBA Home Building Week remind us how important collaboration and communication are within the construction industry.
As builders and renovators continue navigating affordability challenges, evolving building codes, and changing homeowner expectations, these conversations become increasingly important.
We’re grateful to CHBA, the Canadian Renovators’ Council, and Canadian Contractor for creating opportunities to share experiences and perspectives from across the industry.
And we’re already looking forward to the next one.
