Start your day with breakfast and networking before the event begins

Our event Chairs will kick off the event with key insights and an overview of the current policy and regulatory landscape, setting the stage for the 2 days of discussions.

Canada's retrofit sector stands at a critical turning point. This session will set the stage for the conference, by examining how shifting political landscapes, the slow movement of capital, and technological innovation are influencing the scale of change. Corey will share some inspiration from the field, and outline what needs to happen for the sector to meet this moment in time. 

This session will cover how retrofitting buildings to withstand climate impacts can reduce insurance risks, lower premiums, and enhance long-term resilience, while also aligning with financial and regulatory frameworks.

Join Mayor David Mitchell of Bridgewater as he shares insights from the award-winning Energize Bridgewater program, showcasing how innovative energy solutions can transform communities. Discover how strategic leadership and community collaboration can drive impactful and lasting change toward a sustainable future.

Solution Building Exercise: 

During the networking break, we encourage you to visit our interactive whiteboards for solution building. Give us your input and help us create our Post Event Retrofit Solutions Report. 

Indigenous communities continue to lead in green building, energy efficiency, and housing innovation, both on and off reserve. This session highlights how community-led solutions, culturally grounded design, and innovative partnerships are advancing housing outcomes and raising the bar on building performance. Panelists will share examples of how certification programs, collaborative governance, and Indigenous-led organizations are shaping a more equitable and resilient housing future.

1. From Local to National: Connecting the Home Energy Efficiency Ecosystem  
   -    Join this roundtable to discuss how coordination among stakeholders can enhance outcomes for governments, utilities, industry and residents. 
    Robin Goldstein, Federation of Canadian Municipalities
    
2. Retrofit of a Large Multifamily Building: A Net Zero Case Study
   -    Overcoming structural, financial, and regulatory barriers
   -    Key upgrades for energy efficiency and decarbonization
   -    Funding strategies for sustainable retrofits
   Duncan Rowe, RJC Engineers
    
3. Electrification and Grid Readiness for Deep Retrofits
   Mike Pathak, Toronto Hydro
    
4. Finance, Equity and Tenants 
   -    Equity and financing in retrofits
   -    Insights from new research on rental unit retrofits 
   -    Tenants rights to a liveable temperature 
   Josephine Schrott, Ecotrust Canada
    
5. Scaling Up Thermal Energy Networks
   -    Exploring the roles of developers, governments, and building owners in advancing TENs.
   -    Assessing growing interest, feasibility, and real-world examples of TENs adoption.
   -    Identifying policy, funding, and technological challenges to accelerate deployment
   Aurelie Verin, Building Decarbonization Alliance
    
6. Financial and Accessibility Challenges of Electrification Programs
   Energy poverty and access to programs in northern regions like North of 60
   Leigh St. Hilaire, Volta Research Inc
    
7. Strategic Planning for Retrofits 
   This roundtable will explore approaches to long-term strategic planning for retrofits, focusing on aligning technical solutions with policy, funding, and organizational goals.
   Scott Armstrong, WSP Canada
    
8. Building Retrofits for Climate Resilience
   Exploring strategies to enhance building durability and adaptability in the face of climate change.
   Jim Kobialko, FortisBC Energy Inc.
    
9. Advancing Retrofits through Policy: Building Emissions Performance Standards
   This roundtable will examine how building emissions performance standards can drive retrofit activity, and the role of policy in accelerating decarbonization across building portfolios.
   Kaitlin Carroll, Toronto Atmospheric Fund

Join us for an evening of networking and drinks, co-hosted by TAF and Pembina Canada, at Left Field Brewery.

Start your day with breakfast and networking before the event begins

Effective retrofits demand collaboration across sectors—building owners, investors, policymakers, and community stakeholders. This session will explore the key strategies needed to align these stakeholders, using real-world examples, innovative financing models, and capacity-building initiatives to drive action on multi-unit retrofits. Panelists will dive into how behavioral science can be leveraged to understand decision-making, the role of policy incentives in shaping retrofit adoption, and the importance of cross-sector collaboration in scaling solutions.

RJC Engineers will present a case study on their work with the Toronto Shelter Project and Affordable Housing retrofits, highlighting real-world challenges and solutions. This session will explore innovative ways of repurposing existing structures through structural upgrades and energy efficiency improvements to provide much-needed housing.

This session will explore an AI-based SaaS platform designed to plan and decarbonize buildings at a city scale, providing innovative solutions for urban sustainability and emissions reduction. The platform uses advanced algorithms to optimize energy efficiency and retrofit strategies, helping cities achieve their decarbonization targets faster and more cost-effectively. Learn how this technology enables data-driven decision-making, enhances building performance, and integrates seamlessly with urban infrastructure for comprehensive climate action.

Explore how behavioral science insights can shape consumer preferences and decision-making in home heating. We will examine key cognitive biases and social norms that influence heating system selection and usage patterns. Learn how targeted interventions can accelerate the adoption of energy efficient heating solutions.

1. Innovative HVAC Solutions for Net-Zero Retrofits
   Explore the latest advancements in HVAC technologies and their role in achieving net-zero retrofit goals. 
   Matthew Ruffolo, Mitsubishi Electric Sales Canada Inc.
    
2. Passive House Retrofit Program 
   Discover practical solutions for fenestration in Passive House retrofits, including design, installation, and performance testing.
   Mike Cairns, Innotech Windows + Doors, Inc
    
3. Dirt Cheap Net Zero 
   Join this dynamic roundtable to tackle the challenge of achieving net zero and climate resilience —without blowing the budget. Entuitive will lead a lively discussion on practical, cost-effective strategies for deep carbon reductions. No limitless budgets? No problem. Let’s get creative, challenge conventional thinking, and explore how to deliver high-performance retrofits on a shoestring.
   Sam Lane, Entuitive
    
4. Engineering Innovation in Retrofit Projects 
   Uncover cutting-edge engineering solutions that are reshaping the future of retrofit projects.
   Steve Kemp, RDH
    
5. “Getting the Best Bang for your Buck” in Deep Energy Retrofits 
   Speakers will share insights from the transformative Minto retrofit at 61 Yorkville Ave., a flagship project in Toronto’s Deep Retrofit Challenge that significantly cuts energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. 
   Asaph Benun, Ecosystem Energy Services
    
6. VanCity Roundtable 
    
7. Retrofitting for Resiliency 
   Hear how integrating resilience into retrofit planning can protect communities from climate impacts.
   Rachel Sutton, The Pembina Institute
    
8. Advancing Smarter Energy Choices with My Clean Bill 
   Discover how innovative billing solutions are empowering Canadians to make cleaner energy choices.
   Jana Elbrecht, Clean Energy Canada
    
9. Construction Innovations Supporting Scalable Retrofits
   This roundtable will explore how leading-edge construction strategies are being applied to support large-scale, energy-efficient retrofit projects, with insights from PCL Construction.
   Mark Henderson, PCL Construction
    
10. Deep Energy Retrofits: Collaborating with Stakeholders
    This roundtable will examine how deep energy retrofits succeed through strong collaboration among owners, builders, consultants, and communities.
    Jade, Neher, Bird Construction
     
11. Completing Deep Retrofits in Commercial Buildings
    This roundtable will focus on the practical challenges and solutions involved in completing deep retrofits in commercial buildings, from planning through execution.
    Kristin Hinahara, Master Group
     
12. Net-Zero Living Lab: Community-Driven Energy Modeling
    Georgetown, PEI’s Net-Zero Living Lab combines advanced energy modeling and community-driven data collection to develop sustainable strategies like retrofitting and electrification.
    Kuljeet Grewal, University of Prince Edward Island
     
13. Turning out the Lights on LED incentives
    With LED fixtures and lamps becoming the norm in the commercial sectors, energy efficiency programs have started to reduce their rebates for high-efficiency LED lighting. Econoler proposes to facilitate a round table discussion about the changes program administrators and building owners and managers can expect and how to navigate the rapidly evolving lighting market.
    Jillian Mallory, Econoler
     
14. From ambition to action: identifying strategies and actionable pathways to building decarbonization
    Discover how targeted retrofit strategies can drive building decarbonization by optimizing lifecycle carbon impact, maximizing ROI, and ensuring seamless integration of technology. This session provides actionable insights to transform existing buildings into energy-efficient, future-ready assets while addressing key barriers and fostering stakeholder collaboration.

5 minute welcome before roundtables
 

Join us for a one-of-a-kind opportunity to experience firsthand the diverse approaches to building retrofits through our exclusive off-site tours.