Ontario’s renovation and small-build sector is evolving—and opportunity is knocking. The 2025 OHBA Renovators’ Summit - Constructive Change: Innovation in Action, brings together builders, renovators, and industry leaders for a full day of insights, innovation, and connection.

Explore how shifting markets, new technologies, and emerging housing solutions are reshaping the way we build. From AI to Net Zero, gain practical strategies, discover tools in the Innovation Lounge, and network with peers driving the future of Ontario’s renovation industry.

​Discover how technology, strategy, and collaboration are driving real change in Ontario's residential construction sector.

​Presented By: The Ontario Renovators' Council - The Ontario Home Builders' Association

​Hosted By: The Centre for Housing Innovation

AGENDA  

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM - Registration & Networking

9:00 AM - 9:15 AM - Welcome Remarks

Peter Madsen, Chair OHBA Renovators' Council

Laurence Verkuyl, Sales Manager, AYA Kitchens & Bath Ltd.

Jamie Adam, OHBA Renovators' Council Education Sub-Committee

Kirstin Jensen, Vice-President, Policy, Advocacy & Relationships, OHBA

9:15 AM - 10:00 AM - Shifting Ground: Opportunities in a Changing Market

Ontario’s housing market is experiencing its slowest growth since the Global Financial Crisis, forcing a shift in opportunities from capital-heavy high-rise projects to more accessible low-rise and renovation work. At the same time, rising unemployment and rapid advances in AI are reshaping the way we think about work and value creation. In this keynote, real estate and housing expert Daniel Foch explores how renovators and small builders can adapt and thrive in this new environment. Drawing on macroeconomic trends, he’ll show why large corporations are stumbling with AI, and how independent professionals can use it to streamline workflows, focus on the “jobs to be done,” and align their work with both market needs and personal purpose

Daniel Foch, Chief Real Estate Officer, Valery.ca

Daniel Foch is the Chief Real Estate Officer at Valery.ca, and Host of Canada’s #1 real estate podcast. As co-founder of The Habistat, the onboard data science platform for TRREB & Proptx, he helped the real estate industry to become more transparent, using real-time housing market data to inform decision making for key stakeholders. With over 15 years of experience in the real estate industry, Daniel has advised a broad spectrum of real estate market participants, from 3 levels of government to some of Canada’s largest developers.

10:05 AM - 10:50 AM - Smarter by Design: How Technology is Transforming Renovation Success

How are Ontario’s leading renovators and builders using technology to fuel growth, improve efficiency and deliver better outcomes for clients? In this discussion, Kevin Klages, co-founder and Sales Manager at iGUIDE, will sit down with remodelers and contractors embracing innovation to scale their businesses. You’ll hear how they are streamlining site surveys, reducing costly rework and accelerating project timelines through smarter use of data and solutions like iGUIDE—delivering accurate measurements, CAD-ready drawings and as-builts that give every project a head start. Attendees will discuss practical strategies they can apply immediately to increase project volume, manage complexity confidently and ultimately drive more dollars to the bottom line.

Kevin Klages, Co-Founder and Sales Manager, iGUIDE

Kevin Klages is the co-founder of iGUIDE®, a company that helps the building industry capture and use as-built data more efficiently. With a passion for technology and problem-solving, he has helped develop solutions that provide 3D walkthroughs, precise floor plans, and CAD-ready documentation for architects, engineers, and builders. Kevin focuses on making complex building data easy to access and use, improving decision-making from site selection to occupancy

Jamie Adam, President, Pioneer Craftsmen

Jamie Adam is the President of Pioneer Craftsmen Ltd., a third-generation, award-winning design-build renovation firm serving Waterloo Region. With more than 20 years of hands-on experience in the renovation industry, Jamie carries forward the legacy of his father and grandfather while leading one of Ontario’s most respected renovation teams.

He has served extensively within the Home Builders’ Association network, including roles as:
• OHBA Renovators' Council Education Sub-Committee Member (current), OHBA Reno Council Chair & Board Member (2014–2021), President, WRHBA (2011–2012), Chair, WRHBA Reno Council (2010–2018) & CHBA Reno Council Chair (2016–2018)

Iain Kent, Co-Founder & Sales Manager, Eagleview Construction

Iain Kent is the President of Eagleview Construction,  a company based in Kitchener, ON, that specializes in large-scale renovations and new custom homes in the Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, and Guelph areas. He is involved in the company's leadership, client relations, and content creation.

Lisa Henderson, Owner & Lead Designer, House of Three Blueprints

Lisa Henderson is the President and Lead Designer at House of Three, where she leads the team with a dynamic blend of technical expertise and creative vision. A licensed Architectural Technologist with a Project Management Certificate, BCIN qualifications, and a Property Management Certificate, Lisa brings both depth and versatility to her role. She is a proud member of both the Ontario Building Officials Association (OBOA) and the Association of Architectural Technologists of Ontario (AATO). 

10:50 AM - 11:20 AM - Networking Break

11:20 AM - 12:05 PM - Building Tomorrow: Supporting Innovation in Housing

Innovation in housing requires the combined efforts of private industry, public sector leaders, accelerators, and entrepreneurs. This session brings together diverse stakeholders to explore how collaboration is shaping the future of housing. Panellists will discuss the support mechanisms available to founders, the role of industry and government in driving adoption, and the opportunities ahead for building more sustainable, affordable, and resilient communities.

Navin Kaminoulu, Centre for Housing Innovation

Navin Kaminoulu is a seasoned entrepreneur and leader at the forefront of applying artificial intelligence to revolutionize the construction industry. In 2017, he co-founded Indus.ai, a pioneering company that rapidly scaled under his leadership before being acquired by Procore Technologies (PCOR: NYSE), the world’s largest construction SaaS platform ($12B market cap), in 2021. Navin’s experience spans successful ventures and significant growth. Prior to Indus.ai, he directed hypergrowth at GreenOwl Mobile, leading to its acquisition by Arcadis IBI Group (TSX: IBG) in 2014. At Indus.ai, he secured multiple rounds of venture capital, spearheaded hypergrowth, built and led key functions including Product, Go-To-Market, Customer Success, and Finance, and ultimately orchestrated the company’s successful acquisition by Procore.

During his time at Procore, Navin led a 500M+ ARR product line, contributing significantly to the company’s market capitalization growth from $3B to $10B. Currently, Navin serves as a Corporate Development Partner at Groundbreak Ventures, a leading proptech investor. He also serves on the board of directors for PLOT Communications and Sitemax Systems Inc. Passionate about fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, he mentors at StartX (Stanford University’s technology accelerator), and sits on the advisory board for Western University’s Morrissette Institute for Entrepreneurship, Powered by Ivey. Navinhas advised numerous early-stage software companies on fundraising, product management, and go-to-market strategies.

Pooya Saberi, Co-Founder & CTO, Tiny Box Systems

Pooya is an entrepreneur and engineer with expertise in systems design, operations, and commercialization. He has led research and innovation across cleantech, biotech, and deep-tech for space, guiding technologies from early prototypes to real-world deployment. His passion for housing stems from early experiences with displacement after immigrating to Canada, driving his commitment to create scalable, sustainable housing solutions. At TinyBox, Pooya leads strategy and operations, focusing on bringing modular, net-zero housing systems to market.

Deniz Bilge, Manager, Centre for Housing Innovation (DMZ)

Deniz drives innovation and ecosystem growth in Canada’s housing sector through strategic program design and partnerships. Previously, she helped scale innovators through the CMHC’s Level Up Challenge, advancing new approaches to housing affordability and sustainability. Currently, she manages the Centre for Housing Innovation at the DMZ, a $3.5 million initiative funded by FedDev Ontario, which supports ventures developing scalable solutions to Canada’s housing challenges by connecting innovators, policymakers, and industry partners to accelerate housing innovation.

Rebecca Carvalho, Manager, Housing Accelerator Fund, Town of Caledon

Rebecca is a municipal leader with over a decade of experience turning local policy into action across service delivery, housing, and municipal strategy portfolios. Currently, she leads Caledon's $14 million Housing Accelerator Fund in a community poised for significant growth.  As an MBA candidate and seasoned project leader, Rebecca knows how to navigate municipal systems, build partnerships, and deliver real progress. Rebecca is a mom of two, an avid camper and a self-professed pizza connoisseur. 

12:05 PM - 1:00 PM - Networking Lunch

1:00 PM - 1:45 PM - Understanding AI-Assisted Regulatory Workflows

AI is reshaping how we work - but you don’t need to be a tech expert to understand and benefit from it. Whether you are new to AI or are already using it, this practical, hands-on course is designed for professionals working with regulations who want to explore what AI can (and can’t) do in their professional context. Through case studies and guided activities, you’ll learn how to approach AI tools informed, critically, and responsibly.

Ellen Hlozan, Director of Strategic Alliances, trax.co

Ellen Hlozan is Director of Strategic Alliances at Trax, a cloud-based building code and standards platform. Prior to Trax, Ellen was a Research Collaboration Manager at Autodesk Research building partnerships that enabled practical testing of research in real world scenarios.

Her professional experience also includes managing a community of over a hundred cutting edge innovation organizations, developing customized programs and experiences to accelerate their success. As a certified facilitator for advanced design-thinking (LUMA) and certified foresight practitioner (IFTF), Ellen enables collaborators to speak the same language and focus on the right problems using state of the art facilitation techniques.

1:50 PM - 2:45 PM - Net Zero Renovation Case Studies: Leading the way with High-Performance/Low Energy Renovations

Over 350 residential units—most located in Ontario—have been enrolled in an innovative, four-year, NRCan-funded CHBA initiative aimed at demonstrating and optimizing processes that integrate high-performance solutions into home renovations across Canada. This session will explore key projects from the initiative, highlighting the challenges, solutions, and lessons learned along the path toward Net Zero. Attendees will gain an inside look at how these renovations came to life, the barriers overcome, the opportunities that remain, and the factors that matter most to homeowners pursuing energy-efficient upgrades.

Lynne Strickland, Director, Net Zero Initiatives, CHBA

Lynne J Strickland, is a Director with CHBA’s Net Zero Housing team, and works on initiatives that strive for scalable Net Zero solutions. Lynne is currently the Project Lead for the Natural Resources Canada funded RD&D project “Towards cost-effective net-zero energy ready residential renovations”. This initiative has engaged with 13 municipalities and governments, as well as dozens of project teams from across Canada, representing the Yukon, BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Nova Scotia. Objectives of this initiative is to focus on building industry capacity through 100-150 deep energy retrofits and CHBA Net Zero Renovations.

Gord Cooke, President, Building Knowledge Canada

Highly regarded in the Ontario homebuilding industry, Gord is a professional engineer, trainer, author, and industry consultant. For over 25 years, Gord has helped builders and HVAC contractors implement innovative technologies and build better homes. He is an effective and passionate educator and advocate for better building practices, improved indoor air quality, and energy efficiency. Most recently, Gord was awarded one of just five “hall of fame” 2022 Clean50 Lifetime Achievement Awards.

Toby Smith, Master Energy Advisor, Building Knowledge Canada

Toby has been working in the energy efficiency sector since 2002. He brings a passion to BKC for top tier energy performance and comfort in the built environment. His past project work includes training energy advisors, energy modelling, field assessments, building code compliance, incentive programs, and project management on existing and new homes, commercial and institutional buildings. Since 2017 he has been engaging with our clients to help them navigate their individual path to high performance, low energy homes that deliver comfort for years to come.

Lou Orazem, CEO, Inspire Homes

Lou Orazem is the CEO of Inspire Homes, a four-time BILD Best Renovation Award winner. Lou leads Inspire Homes with a passion for Designing + Building house additions and major residential renovations in the Greater Toronto Area and central Ontario. Lou has served on the Renovator Executive Committee with BILD GTA and has been a member of CHBA’s Net Zero Reno Advisory Group from the beginning of the Towards Net Zero Reno initiative. With the insights of what it takes to renovate to CHBA Net Zero levels of performance, Lou brings real world experience and key business questions to the table when it comes to scaling high-performance retrofits.

Jeff Hurdis, Lead Designer, Lagios Design Build

With a passion for thoughtful design and functional living spaces, Jeff serves as the Lead Designer at Lagois Design Build Renovate. He combines creativity with technical expertise to bring clients’ visions to life, ensuring each project is both beautiful and practical. His experience in residential design, renovation, and space planning allows him to craft solutions that enhance the way people live in their homes.

2:45 PM - 3:05 PM - Networking Break

3:05 PM - 3:50 PM - The Culture Code: How Great Teams Build Legacy and 'Pass the Torch'

This session explores how cultivating strong workplace culture drives excellence, retention, and innovation within Ontario’s residential construction industry. It will examine how high-performing teams are built on shared values, trust, and mentorship across generations. As the renovation industry continues to evolve, the discussion will highlight strategies for effective knowledge transfer between experienced professionals and emerging leaders to sustain quality, productivity, and professionalism.

Tom McLaughlin, VP, Thomasfield Homes

Tom McLaughlin is vice-president at Thomasfield Homes, a family-owned home builder and land developer based in Guelph, Ont. He is the First Vice-Chair of the Ontario Home Builders’ Association and a past-president of the Guelph & District Home Builders’ Association.

Steve Barkhouse, President, Amsted Design Build

Steve Barkhouse is the Owner of Amsted Design-Build, the most recognized renovator and custom home builder in Ottawa. The company celebrated it’s 35^th year in business last year, and was named Renovator of the Year both locally and provincially. While retired from the day-to-day operations, Steve remains an active member of the Company’s leadership team.

Throughout his career, Steve has been an active member of the industry, at a local, provincial and national level. He’s a past President and Renovators’ Council Chair at his local Home Builders’ Association and last year was the Chair of the Renovators’ Council with the Ontario Home Builders’ Association, acting as champion for the renovators in each local, ensuring the needs of the renovation industry are heard, and efforts are made to support this thriving segment.

Karen Craft, Founder & CEO, IHR Advisory Services

Karen Craft (formerly Brownrigg) is a bilingual HR and business transformation executive with over three decades of experience who knows what it means to have her clients’ backs. Her experience spans a range of industries, including time spent with Rogers Communications, the Bank of Canada, and the Ottawa Police Service.  Karen founded iHR Advisory Services in 2016 with a mission to become a trusted partner and ally that her clients could call anytime they needed HR support. This year, she founded her second company, CraftXecs, which gives executives the unfair advantage of an experienced C-Suite ally that sees their business with fresh eyes, brings new perspectives, and lifts the fog that accompanies transformation.

During her time spent as an emergency services phone operator, Karen was told that her calming voice and demeanour were critical during times of chaos. Business Executives still tell Karen today that while her credentials and the quality of her work are outstanding, what sets her apart is the sense of calm and steadiness she brings amid complexity. Karen is widely considered one of the top HR practitioners and executive leaders in Ottawa, thanks to her deep expertise in executive coaching and helping C-suite leaders navigate complex people dynamics. She is regularly featured in the Ottawa Business Journal, where she shares her deep expertise in change management, business transformation, employee and labour relations, conflict resolution, talent management, and more.

Dave Marcus, Founder/Owner, AyA Kitchens & Bath Ltd.

Dave Marcus founded AyA Kitchens & Baths in 2001 with a vision to transform kitchen and bath design through innovation, technology, and craftsmanship. Today, AyA operates over 30 showrooms across North America and 150,000+ sq. ft. of production space, delivering mass-customized kitchens that combine precision manufacturing with bespoke quality.

4:00 PM - 6:30 PM - Continue the Conversation - Networking Reception

Close out the day by connecting with colleagues, speakers, and industry partners in a relaxed and engaging setting. The networking reception offers a final opportunity to visit exhibitors in the Innovation Lounge, continue the day’s conversations, build new relationships, and celebrate Ontario’s renovation and homebuilding community.

THANK YOU TO OUR EVENT PARTNERS

​Presenting Sponsor

The Kitchen is today's living room - It's the heart of the home. At AyA we believe that a great kitchen starts with you. Every AyA kitchen is designed and made just for you. Unlike other kitchen manufacturers we don't assemble from stock, we produce a unique kitchen for each and every customer. With AyA's mass customization approach, you get the best of both worlds - the personalization of a custom kitchen with the value and quality that comes from a 150,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art production facility. AyA is committed to staying on the cutting edge of design and providing the best customer service experience possible. A lot of things have changed since AyA opened its doors back in 2001: technology, styles, materials, new locations and much more, but the one thing that never changes is our dedication to delivering exceptional value and customer service. By combining old world craftsmanship and attention to detail with high tech manufacturing processes AyA offers innovative, quality cabinetry at competitive prices, incomparable selection of colours, styles and accessories to help you create your ultimate living space.

Session Host

Streamline your workflow and accelerate your projects with iGUIDE! The PLANIX R1 Camera System uses 360° LiDAR technology to capture thousands of measurements per scan, delivering precise CAD floor plans (DWG), models (RVT) and immersive walkthroughs—fast. Estimate accurately, collaborate seamlessly and showcase progress effortlessly. Say goodbye to manual measurements, multiple site visits and permit delays. Save time and money with iGUIDE!

Session Introductions: CIOT

Session Introductions: Concord Fireplaces