Start your day with coffee, snacks and networking before the event begins.

A moment of reflection and respect for the land where we gather.

Our Chairs will kick off the event with key insights and an overview of the current policy and regulatory landscape, setting the stage for 2 days of discussions – where we are, and what is working

Building on the retrofit mission set at last year’s event, this session spotlights the momentum achieved so far and charts the actionable next steps required to propel the sector through this pivotal moment.

An essential session examining where Canada's retrofit sector is at this critical turning point, exploring the progress towards our shared Retrofit Mission and outlining what needs to happen next.

A brief overview of current federal direction on housing and retrofit policy, and what these priorities mean for Atlantic Canada

Demand response is still in its pilot phase across Atlantic Canada — but momentum is building fast. Utility and program leaders share early lessons shaping the next generation of DR programs, including how DERs like smart thermostats, hot water tank controls, and EV managed charging are performing in first-wave pilots.

Visit our HVAC Learning Zone – running all day 9-4 pm.

More information can be found HERE

Habit Studio’s Falkland Street Deep Retrofit (15 minute walk)

Join us for a guided tour of Habit Studio’s Falkland Street Deep Retrofit, an 1850s Halifax building upgraded as a real-world demonstration of what deep retrofits can deliver (and what they demand) in a heritage context.
About the Tour: The tour will highlight the construction experience, including scope surprises, inflation and trades challenges, and discuss practical lessons learned. Discussion will highlight a data-informed decision-making process using Passive House modelling, a Total Cost of Building Ownership (TCBO) analysis and embodied carbon modeling using the BEAM Calculator. 
Lorrie Rand, Recover Initiative

1. Reinventing How Financing Strategies Work - Removing Barriers to Commercial Decarbonization
This roundtable explores how strategic financing approaches can help organizations overcome implementation barriers and make commercial decarbonization a financially viable path forward.
Stuart Galloway, SOFIAC

2. Designing Deep Energy Retrofit Programs 
Roundtable participants will help shape a utility deep energy retrofit program. The session will open with a concise overview of key learnings from market potential analysis and the deep energy retrofit program design process for both commercial and residential customers. Participants will then have the opportunity to provide input on program design and rollout considerations, leveraging collective expertise to advance practical, scalable solutions for deep energy retrofits. 
Ariana Arguello, FortisBC

3. Engaging SMBs Through Midstream Programs
This roundtable explores an unexpected benefit of two food service midstream programs in Canada – a highly effective way to reach small and medium businesses. About 90% of participants are SMBs, demonstrating how midstream programs (where incentives are embedded at the distributor level) are extremely effective (and cost effective!) at engaging hard-to-serve businesses.
Jamie Hutchinson, CLEAResult Canada  

4. Climate Communications for Municipal Leaders
This roundtable introduces a new climate communications toolkit developed by FCM’s Green Municipal Fund, offering practical strategies to help municipalities and community partners counter misinformation, build public trust, and strengthen support for local retrofit and climate initiatives.
Robin Goldstien, FCM

5. From Restoration to Innovation: Leveraging Rehabilitation ‘Lessons Learned’ to Drive Adoption of High-Performance Building Envelope Products 
Rehabilitation projects surface real-world performance lessons that can accelerate the adoption of high-performance building envelope products, and this session draws on restoration case studies to show how those insights translate into better specification, detailing, and scalable retrofit practice
Colin Ackroyd , Cascadia

6. Managed Transition vs Unmanaged Transition on Natural Gas
This discussion examines the risks and opportunities tied to natural gas transitions, exploring how proactive, managed approaches can support communities, minimize disruption, and guide a more orderly shift toward low‑carbon energy systems.
Matt Poirier, The Transition Accelerator

7. Communicating Climate Action That Reaches People: Centering Equity, Trust, and Lived Experience in Retrofit Storytelling
In 2026, engaging the public on climate change looks different - learn how sustainability leaders can engage the public through effective storytelling and outreach on retrofit and energy initiatives. 
Wanjiru Munene, Urban Climate Leadership

8. Indigenous Community Capacity Building in Retrofit Projects
- Collaboratively developing retrofit projects with Indigenous communities in both urban and rural contexts.
- How to leverage industry partnerships to expand community capacity and technical support.
- Enhancing the feasibility and accessibility of retrofit initiatives for not-for-profit organizations.
- Integrating community cultural aspects and applying a Two-Eyed Seeing approach to the planning and implementation     of retrofit projects.
Melanie Ross, SAIT Green Building Technology Access Centre

9. Challenges in Social Housing Procurement
This session explores how fragmented scopes, loss of design intent, and limited collaboration in procurement lead to cost escalation and ineffective outcomes, and highlights approaches better suited to complex retrofits in occupied buildings.
Taushifa Shaikh, Pembina

10. Tech Advancements in the Sector: High-speed decarbonization tools, AI, and archetyping for cost-effective portfolio prioritization for retrofits
This roundtable compares high-speed decarbonization assessment tools, AI, and archetyping against traditional on-site energy audits to identify where each delivers the most value for cost compression in deep retrofits, with case study learnings from Alberta building owners applying these tools to portfolio-wide decarbonization planning.
Jim Sandercock, Alberta Ecotrust

11. Calibrated Digital Twins - Finding the Balance Between Accuracy and Speed for Retrofit Decision-Making
Calibrated digital twins are transforming retrofit decision-making, but balancing model accuracy with speed remains a critical challenge; this roundtable will examine how to align data inputs, validation processes, and practical use cases to enable timely, cost-effective decisions without compromising reliability.
Andres Toro, IES

12. Scaling Retrofits: Are Financing and Incentives Leading to Action?
Financing, investment tax credits, incentives and innovative funding opportunities are there to scale and boost retrofit activity - but are they working as intended? This roundtable will bring together retrofit practitioners, building owners, and finance professionals to facilitate discussion on how this has been working in practice. Together we'll dive deeper into real life experiences lessons learned, and brainstorm ways to improve them for the future.

13. Leadership & Team Dynamics for Scalable Retrofit Success
Retrofitting existing buildings requires strong leadership and highly effective teams operating across generations, disciplines, and organizations. this facilitated roundtable brings industry stakeholders together to examine how leadership behaviors and team dynamics influence retrofit delivery and outcomes. Participants will openly explore where misalignment, decision friction, and communication gaps slow progress despite proven technical solutions. 
Linda Munden, Consultant
 

Visit our HVAC Learning Zone

Visit our HVAC Learning Zone

Dive deep into the practicalities and challenges of scaling residential retrofits.

Explore strategies and innovations for completing large-scale commercial building retrofits.

Retrofits are moving from optional to expected. Teams are being asked to cut emissions, plan capital upgrades earlier, and keep buildings operating with minimal disruption. The challenge is choosing the right retrofit package in advance, so budgets, scopes, and timelines are proactive rather than reactive. This session shows a practical way to compare retrofit options quickly and make decisions with confidence. We will test envelope upgrades, electrification pathways, heat recovery, and controls through rapid scenario analysis so the impacts on operational carbon, energy use, peak demand, and capital cost are visible side by side.

The Manor House deep energy retrofit case study highlights how gas and electric systems work together to deliver meaningful emissions reductions in an occupied, existing building. With residents in place throughout the project and limited available electrical service, the retrofit adopted an integrated energy approach that enabled the addition of cooling while managing electrical demand within the building. Manor House demonstrates a practical pathway to reduce gas use—and associated emissions—by at least 50 per cent by leveraging both energy systems together and adding cooling, without exceeding the building’s limited electrical capacity. The case study showcases how to move forward with realworld solutions that work within existing constraints, while still delivering significant emissions reductions and improved occupant comfort. 

• An overview of the evolving retrofit landscape in Alberta, drawing on key learnings and data from the past two years of NRCan's DRAI Retrofit Accelerator program.
• Perspective on the future of retrofits, including what does "market readiness" looks like for Alberta, what building owners can do to prepare, and our plans to maintain momentum until then.

Strata Energy Advisor programs are emerging as a practical tool to help strata corporations plan and implement building retrofits. These programs provide technical guidance, support decision making among owners, and help navigate incentives and retrofit pathways for multi unit residential buildings. This session will examine why the Strata Energy Advisor is successful and the policy and regulatory considerations for expanding similar models across the sector.

Moving beyond consultation, this session applies concrete insights on how you can apply co-creation and Human Centered Design methodology to reshape retrofit programs at their core — from eligibility criteria and communications to delivery models and timelines — leading to higher participation and fewer downstream barriers. Using public engagement principles and real-world examples, it highlights how working with communities as partners improves outcomes and saves time and resources.

From Audit to Implementation: Getting Retrofits Off the Ground
Moving from retrofit studies to constructed projects remains one of the industry's biggest challenges. While audits are painful, execution is where many efforts stall. This session focuses on what it actually takes to bridge that gap. Drawing on experience from more than 40 retrofit projects across Canada. 
Sam Lane, Entuitive

From Oversized to Optimized: The Retrofit Opportunity
Most buildings are currently operating with equipment sized for theoretical peaks that never occur. Backed by 11 years of GRUNDFOS optimization projects and one of the industry’s most extensive building performance databases, we will show you, through real retrofit cases, how right-sizing equipment with smart technology, cuts CAPEX and OPEX without compromising performance.
Hishaam Jambocus, Grundfos

Transforming Electrification: Net Zero Retrofits in Commercial Building
Electrifying existing commercial buildings is essential to meeting Canada's net-zero goals, but  owners and operators face grid constraints. cost uncertainty, and operational risk. In this session, leading utilities, building owners, and solution providers will unpack what it takes to plan and deliver whole-building electrification, from early feasibility through to commissioning and performance verification. 
Sarah Gray and Melissa Morlidge, RDH
Melissa Morlidge, RDH
 

With office vacancy rates rising and housing demand as a critical point, office-to-residential conversion is one of the most consequential retrofit opportunities in Canada right now. This session draws on real case study experience, including the Sidewalk RED Halifax federal building conversion, to examine the structural, building envelope, and mechanical realities that determine project viability - alongside the policy drivers, including emerging building emissions performance standards, that are accelerating this shift in cities across Canada. 

Start your day with coffee and networking before the event begins.

As we move from mission to momentum, we recognize all we’ve accomplished together and continue building on that foundation to accelerate meaningful, scalable retrofit action.

Retrofitting buildings is ultimately as much a social transformation as a technical one. This session explores the human dimensions behind every successful retrofit—from the lived experiences of occupants to the values, motivations, and concerns that shape how communities adopt change.

This session explores how intergenerational teams and inclusive leadership drive stronger project outcomes and build the workforce Canada's energy transition depends on.

This session covers how retrofitting buildings to withstand climate impacts can reduce insurance risks, lower premiums, and enhance long-term resilience, while aligning with financial and regulatory frameworks. A practical session exploring where communities should begin when responding to rising flood and coastal risks, outlining clear processes for resilience planning, the intersections with energy and efficiency upgrades, and how these factors ultimately impact long‑term property value.

Retrofits generally feel like boutique, one-off projects, however this is not the reality. Using information from Toronto’s building stock and real life project examples a summary of the opportunities and scalability of retrofits in Toronto is demonstrated. Additionally, the lessons learned in Toronto can be applied other areas to accelerate their retrofit projects. 

Swing by the Innovation Zone to catch our start-ups serve up the freshest ideas in retrofit and energy efficiency. Vote for your favourite, and we'll give the winner 5-minutes to wow the room this afternoon. 

1. Financial, Market Analysis: Factors Impacting Retrofit Delivery
This roundtable will bring together industry leaders, program designers, financial experts, and practitioners to explore emerging opportunities and challenges shaping Canada’s retrofit landscape.
 

2. Emerging Technologies and Other Innovations Advancing Residential Retrofits
A fast‑paced discussion highlighting new technologies, tools, and approaches that are advancing residential energy efficiency and shaping the next generation of home retrofit solutions.


3. Financing Solutions for Deep Retrofits in Atlantic Canada
A practical look at how deep retrofit projects in Atlantic Canada are getting financed today:  the programs, the partnerships, and the financing models proving what's possible in the region.
Rochelle Owens, HCi3

4. How Low-Carbon Fiberglass Windows Enable Depp Retrofits and Passive House Conversions: Rel Project Insights and What Works

Discover how ultra-low embodied carbon fiberglass windows are unlocking deep retrofits and Passive House conversions, with real project insights into what's working on the ground and why this technology is becoming a go-to choice for high-performance, low-carbon builds.
Woytek Kujawski, iiSBE,

5. Leadership & Team Dynamics for Scalable Retrofit Success
Retrofitting existing buildings requires strong leadership and highly effective teams operating across generations, disciplines, and organizations. This facilitated roundtable brings industry stakeholders together to examine how leadership behaviours and team dynamics influence retrofit delivery and outcomes. Participants will openly explore where misalignment, decision friction, and communication gaps slow progress despite proven technical solutions.             
Linda Munden, Consultant

6. Air-to-Water Heat Pumps for Hydronic Retrofit Applications in Atlantic Canada
Early research on the viability of air-to-water heat pumps as a retrofit solution to replace oil-fired boilers in Atlantic Canada. The session examines performance in cold, humid winter conditions, compatibility with existing hydronic emitters such as fin tube baseboards, and early findings from field and lab testing including cost and installation considerations.
Aiden Meager, DAL

7. 2025 National Building Code Updates and the Road to the 2030 Code Cycle
The session highlights recent updates related to energy efficiency standards and performance approaches for existing buildings. In 2025, the National Building code underwent important updates. Attend this fast-paced session to review what changed and how it will impact your projects in 2026. 
Including insights into the 2030 code cycles, tips and best practices for implementation. 
Tiam Maiyah, NRC 

8. Building Effective Energy Advisor Programs: Lessons for the Canadian Retrofit Sector
Community based energy advisor programs have emerged as a proven model for removing the barriers that prevent homeowners from acting on retrofit upgrades, including complexity, cost confusion, and lack of trusted guidance. As Canada works to scale residential retrofits, the design and delivery of energy advisor programs - how advisors are trained, deployed, and funded - will be critical to driving uptake across diverse housing stock and communities. This round table examines what program structures, coaching models, and stakeholder partnerships have worked in comparable cold-climate jurisdictions and explores how those approaches can be adapted and implemented at scale. 
Naomi Beal, PassivHausMAINE

9. Structural and Policy-Driven Approaches to Overcome Barriers to Retrofits
Exploring how building codes, regulatory frameworks, standards, and compliance mechanisms can address systemic barriers and drive retrofit adoption beyond traditional financial incentives.
Stephen Mercer, RJC Engineers

10. Non-Financial Incentives to Overcome Barriers to Retrofits

Exploring how policy tools, regulations, tenant engagement, and market signals can address persistent adoption barriers and accelerate retrofit activity beyond traditional funding mechanisms.
Jordan Fisher, FRESCO

11. From Design Intent to Operational Reality: Closing the Performance Gap Through Digital Optimization
This roundtable will explore how digitalization and continuous system optimization can help retrofit projects achieve their intended energy and carbon outcomes. Armstrong Fluid Technology will lead a discussion on the use of integrated controls, connected hydronic systems, and operational data to bridge the gap between design intent and real‑world performance.
Woytek Kujawskim, Armstrong Fluid Technology

Scotiabank Centre Walking Tour
A guided walking tour of the Scotiabank Centre retrofit, led by the Manager of Building Renewal, highlighting key upgrades and approaches used to improve the performance and longevity of this major arena facility.

Guide: Kevin Boutilier, Halifax Regional Municipality

This interactive 2‑hour LEEP workshop will bring together utilities and incentive program partners to discuss barriers and opportunities to implementing best-practice heat pump retrofits.

https://retrofitcanadaconference.energyconferencenetwork.com/2026/nrcan

Visit our Innovation Learning Zone!

Visit the Innovation Learning Zone to hear short pitches from the sectors innovators showcasing new ideas, technologies, and approaches shaping the future of building retrofit and energy efficiency.Cast your vote on the winning idea for 2026.

Climate Risk & Insurance, Energy Justice, and more.

The Heat Pump Revolution, Demand Response at Scale, and more.

This session highlights how Toronto’s pilot Better Condos Boot Camp (BCBC) equips condo boards, owners, and managers to lead effective decarbonization projects—and explores why this model is ready to be replicated nationwide.

The session will also touch on how evolving Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) across Canada are raising the bar for existing buildings, reinforcing why scalable, board-ready programs like BCBC are critical to meeting these requirements.

An update on retrofit accelerator programs, focusing on results, delivery models, and measured outcomes from projects in market. This session will examine what is working, where challenges remain, and how program design, financing, and participant support are structured to scale retrofit activity.

Deep energy retrofits hold enormous potential for reducing Canada's residential carbon footprint — but completing them is complex, multi-disciplinary work. This session opens with a brief presentation on what deep residential energy retrofits actually look like in practice: the scope, the performance outcomes achieved, and the real effort involved in getting them done. From there, the discussion turns to the people doing this work every day. A panel of experts spanning the full scope of residential retrofits will share their perspectives on what is standing in the way of doing this at scale, and what practical solutions are emerging. Topics will include contractor capacity and trades availability, cross-discipline coordination challenges, cost and financing barriers for homeowners, and the role of standardization and workforce development in enabling growth.

1. How to Implement Social Contracting 
Embed equity and community benefits into your next retrofit project by incorporating social contracting. Explore the new "Social Contracting Guide for Construction and Retrofits" to get all the steps and resources needed to create measurable social value alongside emissions reductions.
Kaitlin Carroll, TAF

2. Principals of Good HVACR Incentive Program Design
Most HVACR incentive programs are well-intentioned but poorly structured. This session breaks down what separates effective incentive programs from ineffective ones, using real examples to identify the design principles that actually drive equipment adoption. 
Martin Luymes, HRAI

1. Tools and Technologies in 2026
This lightning round highlights new and emerging technologies, tools, and design approaches that are advancing residential energy efficiency, showcasing practical innovations that are reshaping how homeowners, programs, and practitioners plan and deliver next‑generation retrofit solutions.
 

2. 16,000 Buildings in 6 Months: How We Scaled Building Data Collection
Building data collection is slow, repetitive, and requires constant back-and-forth communication across stakeholders. This session shows how we are changing that. By combining intelligent field data collection with automated standardization and portfolio-scale analytics, SISA onboarded over 16,000 buildings in under six months. Consultants can now collect richer building data much faster, programs can screen and prioritize entire portfolios in hours, and utilities can act on standardized, reliable building records at scale.
Sina Salari, SISA

3. National Survey Results: 4000 Heat Pump Owners Report Back
A national survey of over 4,000 Canadian heat pump owners reveals what is truly driving household electrification decisions, from replacement timing and contractor experiences to long-term performance and comfort. The data shows that adoption is rooted in practical factors like lower operating costs and equipment end-of-life, not environmental ideology or enthusiasm for new technology. Survey findings offer direct insight into where incentive design, contractor training, and program delivery can be strengthened to support broader heat pump uptake across Canada.
Cara Sweeney, Summerhill

Case Study: Rural Retrofit Delivery and Energy Navigators
A community-led initiative delivered net-zero upgrades across 21 rural buildings by combining stacked funding, coordinated delivery, and dedicated energy navigators to guide projects from start to finish. This session will examine how the model streamlined decision-making, supported participants, and enabled multiple projects to be implemented at scale.

Towards Multi-generational Living: An Urban Low-carbon Deep Energy Retrofit
This project transforms a modest brick bungalow into a vibrant multigenerational home while dramatically reducing its carbon footprint. Through deconstruction, material reuse, and minimizing foam and plastics, it demonstrates a practical approach to sustainable construction on one of the most challenging urban sites. If it can succeed under these constraints, it shows how thoughtful design and smarter building choices can reshape housing anywhere.
Terrell Wong, Stonethrow Designs
Chris Phillips , Green Energy

Retrofit Canada’s 2025 Project Walk-Through
There are still many barriers to deep retrofits, but we are starting to find pathways around them. Peter Amerongen, co-founder of Retrofit Canada, will take you through a few of our recent retrofit projects and point out some learnings. Rebecca Pinto, Retrofit Canada's Executive Director, will introduce you to some new tools being developed to help you accelerate your retrofits.
Rebecca Pinto, Retrofit Canada
Peter Amerogen, Retrofit Canada

This discussion will focus on the practical steps, policies, partnerships, and structural supports needed to build a stronger and more coordinated retrofit workforce across the country — and how the industry can better position itself for 2027 and beyond.

This session explores how a DHW electrification retrofit was paired with a BC Hydro demand-side management pilot, enabling load shifting through integrated controls. Learn what it took to deliver this project in an occupied building using a streamlined design-build approach and what the system actually delivered. Attendees will leave with a practical, proven case study to support heat pump water heating in their own retrofit projects.

Sponsored by RDH

Sponsored by RDH