Conference Program

We have worked hard to develop an insightful engaging program for both in-person and virtual attendees. Please check back for updates to this page, as some details could change. *All times listed are local to Vancouver, BC (Pacific Time Zone).

In-person attendees:

  • You do not need to register for individual sessions. We have tried to carefully balance concurrent sessions for different interest groups as well as ensuring each room has additional seating.
  • When planning travel, please take into consideration any tours or workshops you may like to attend at the end of the event.
Session Themes
Track 1: Cost - Financing, overcoming cost barriers, policy & market transformation, procurement, investors
Track 2: Community - Case studies of housing and communities, retrofits, post-occupancy data and evaluations
Track 3: Comfort - Occupant health & wellness, climate change mitigation & adaptability, monitoring & commissioning
Track 4: Capacity - Technical tools, innovations, new materials, skills development, collaboration in relation to design/construction

  • 7:30am - 8:30am
    Registration & Networking Breakfast

    Description

    The registration table opens at 7:00am daily.
    Breakfast will be held in Brittania Ballroom.

  • 8:30am - 10:00am
    Plenary Session: Conference Kick-Off & Keynote
    Seth Klein

    Description

    We'll begin with some greetings from Passive House Canada.

    Writer, public policy researcher, and climate campaigner Seth Klein will deliver a keynote speech.

    Mobilizing Canada for the Climate Emergency: The Role of the Building Sector in Hitting Speed and Scale

    Seth’s talk will remind us that, while the climate crisis is less prominent in the news and our politics, it has certainly not gone away – indeed, climate breakdown is only accelerating. His talk will explore how the building sector can meet the challenge of building affordable non-fossil fueled homes at speed and scale. Drawing upon his book A Good War: Mobilizing Canada for the Climate Emergency, Seth derives lessons from Canada’s Second World War mobilization, and will share specific stories about the role of builders and engineers. He will outline his “6 Markers of Climate Emergency Action”, with a special focus on what it looks like to apply these markers to the building sector.

    Speakers

    Seth Klein
    Read Bio

    Seth Klein

    Seth is a writer, public policy researcher, and climate campaigner. He served for five years as Team Lead with the Climate Emergency Unit. Prior to that, he served for 22 years as the founding director of the BC office of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. He is the author of A Good War: Mobilizing Canada for the Climate Emergency. Seth is a regular columnist with Canada’s National Observer, an adjunct professor with Simon Fraser University’s Urban Studies program, and serves on the board of the BC Society for Policy Solutions.

  • 10:00am - 10:30am
    Coffee & Networking Break

  • 10:30am - 11:30am
    Session 1: Thriving Communities, Lasting Value: Financing Resilience in Canada
    William Cheung
    Vancity
    Carley Bringeland
    Vancity

    Description

    Canadian communities are navigating the urgent challenges of climate change, housing shortages, and rising costs. Vancity Community Investment Bank (VCIB) leverages financial innovation to create lasting social and environmental impact—putting people and planet at the center of every decision. This session highlights VCIB’s values-driven approach to financing resilient design, including prefab and mass timber construction, and preserving affordable housing. Attendees will gain practical strategies for building smarter and faster without compromising sustainability or affordability and hear real-world success stories—from energy efficiency retrofits to co-operative housing. Together, we can ensure homes and communities remain sustainable, affordable, and future-ready.

    Speakers

    William Cheung
    Vancity
    Read Bio

    William Cheung
    Vancity

    William Cheung is a Commercial Real Estate Account Manager at Vancity Credit Union, where he focuses on structuring and financing multi-family and commercial real estate projects across British Columbia.

    In this role, William manages a portfolio of term and construction loans secured by income-producing properties and development projects, including multi-family residential, industrial, retail, office, and other special-use assets, with a focus on supporting projects that have a positive impact on the community.
    William holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of British Columbia.

    Carley Bringeland
    Vancity
    Read Bio

    Carley Bringeland
    Vancity

    Carley is a Business Development Manager of Commercial Real Estate at Vancity Community Investment Bank (VCIB), a subsidiary of Vancity Credit Union, a Certified B Corp, and a Canadian bank with a focus on financing organizations and projects that drive positive change.

  • 10:30am - 11:30am
    Session 2: The Living Story: Regenerative Practices for Scalable, Equitable, and Nature-Integrated Communities
    Jamie Miller
    B+H

    Description

    The Living Story is a regenerative planning practice that aligns the built environment with ecological intelligence to foster resilience, equity, and affordability. Applied to the award-winning CABN prototype in Augusta Township, Canada, it integrates storytelling, systems thinking, and biomimicry to create housing that regenerates rather than resists its surroundings. By combining ecological fit, Indigenous knowledge and engagement, and community narratives, this approach challenges conventional planning paradigms and demonstrates scalable solutions for climate adaptation, affordability, and ecological restoration. CABN’s net-zero technology complements this approach, enabling rapid, affordable construction across diverse bioregions.

    Speakers

    Jamie Miller
    B+H
    Read Bio
    (Virtual)

    Jamie Miller
    B+H

    Jamie Miller is an award-winning specialist and recognized thought leader in Biomimicry and Regenerative Design. As Director of Regenerative Design and Biomimicry at B+H and Atelier Ten, he bridges science, design, and Indigenous knowledge to create projects that contribute to the ecological and cultural resilience of place.

    Miller holds a PhD in engineering, specializing in urban resilience and systems-based biomimicry. His deep expertise, shaped by Indigenous Elders and Janine Benyus, led him to found Biomimicry Commons, named a "World Changing Idea" by Fast Company.

    A frequent speaker at global forums, Jamie has delivered keynote addresses at the Azure Human/Nature Conference, Fortune Brainstorm Design, Healthy City Design, and TEDx Collingwood. He has also presented at the CTBUH Tall Buildings Conference and been featured in the TVO Nature of Design Docuseries, exploring nature-inspired strategies to foster regenerative communities.

  • 11:30am - 12:00pm
    Networking Break

  • 12:00pm - 12:30pm
    Session 3: Designing for Toddlers Through a Passive House Lens
    Ronnie Murray
    Francl Architecture

    Description

    Have you ever designed for toddlers? Designing childcare spaces demands strict programmatic requirements, yet Passive House offers surprising flexibility to meet them. Our session explores how high-performance fundamentals, thermal comfort, airtightness, and energy efficiency, can be tailored to the unique needs of early learners. We’ll share the benefits Passive House brings, along with the certification challenges specific to childcare environments.

    With a diverse group of stakeholders including the client, childcare operator, children, and the City’s public park washroom outside the PH envelope, we created inventive solutions to competing priorities. This presentation highlights key lessons where Passive House principles improved both design and user comfort.

    Speakers

    Ronnie Murray
    Francl Architecture
    Read Bio

    Ronnie Murray
    Francl Architecture

    Passionate about design and sustainability, Ronnie brings strong technical knowledge and diligent attention to detail to all his projects. A strong communicator, Ronnie consistently exceeds client expectations through his thorough analysis of user needs, combined with operational efficiency, aesthetics and sustainability.

    He is Francl’s Sustainability Specialist and has been working closely with management and leadership to implement sustainable practices within operations as well as into our design processes.

  • 12:00pm - 12:30pm
    Session 4: Market Demand of High-Performance Components in Ontario's Social Housing
    Michael Quast
    Passive House Canada

    Description

    This session explores how Ontario’s social housing sector is emerging as a critical catalyst for the building decarbonization market, driven by over $1.5 billion in federal funding and a shift toward Net-Zero Energy Ready standards. Based on a comprehensive study of 17 recent projects representing over 1,400 units, we analyzed current demand for high-performance components, focusing on building envelopes, windows, and ventilation systems. Participants will gain evidence-based market intelligence on the projected demand for new housing units through 2030, highlighting strategic opportunities for manufacturers and designers to scale prefabricated, cost-effective, and climate-resilient solutions.

    Speakers

    Michael Quast
    Passive House Canada

    Michael Quast
    Passive House Canada

  • 12:30pm - 1:30pm
    Lunch & Networking

  • 1:30pm - 2:30pm
    Session 5: Comparing Passive House Adaptations in Prefabricated and Traditional Construction for Multi-Family Affordable Housing in Vancouver
    Thomas Noussis
    ZGF Architects

    Description

    981 Davie and 5085 McHardy are publicly-funded residential apartment buildings built to the PH standard in Vancouver. They are forerunners pursuing deliberate innovation beyond private-sector ambitions. Key goals include: use of prefabricated wood construction to spur advances in rapid housing development, implement PH standard to create durable, low-energy building, foster communal living spaces and long-term tenureship for social resilience.

    A comparative case-study describes their approaches holistically, while illuminating ways the projects have built capacity in design and contracting teams in solving technical, logistical, and bureaucratic challenges. Sharing these will help guide and grow capacity for future such buildings more widely.

    Speakers

    Thomas Noussis
    ZGF Architects
    Read Bio

    Thomas Noussis
    ZGF Architects

    Thomas Noussis is an intern architect, with nine years of experience across mixed-use, residential, commercial, and healthcare projects, with a particular focus on housing. His portfolio includes wood, timber, and concrete-framed buildings of varying scales, spanning all phases of construction.

    Previous Experience giving lectures on 981 Davie and related presentation work for SFU guidelines around Mass-timber Residential design and construction.

    Participant in round-table discussions at Wood-works Canada events (2023).

    Speaker Participation in AIBC-hosted learning continuing education as a professional experienced in the design of Mass-timber housing.

  • 1:30pm - 2:30pm
    Session 6: High-Performance Envelope Strategies for a Cold-Climate Mass Timber Public Building
    Simon Wong
    Stantec Consulting Ltd.
    Luiz Bezerra
    Stantec Consulting Ltd.

    Description

    This presentation provides a technical deep dive into the envelope design strategies used to achieve Passive House Low Energy Building performance. The session focuses on airtightness continuity through CLT assemblies, integration of vapour-permeable air barriers, continuous exterior mineral wool insulation, and thermally broken cladding support systems across multiple façade types. Emphasis is placed on buildable detailing, thermal bridge mitigation, and coordination with fire-rated assemblies in a cold-climate context. Attendees will gain practical, transferable insights applicable to non-residential and institutional Passive House–aligned projects.

    Speakers

    Simon Wong
    Stantec Consulting Ltd.
    Read Bio

    Simon Wong
    Stantec Consulting Ltd.

    Simon is a project manager specializing in sustainable and mass timber projects, with expertise in zero emissions design, low-carbon construction, and BIM coordination. Drawing on his background in construction management, he strengthens consultant–contractor collaboration and advances design for manufacture and assembly (DfMA) strategies. Simon is passionate about building stronger communities by connecting design, engineering, and construction teams to deliver innovative, high-performing, and sustainable buildings.

    Luiz Bezerra
    Stantec Consulting Ltd.
    Read Bio

    Luiz Bezerra
    Stantec Consulting Ltd.

    Luiz Bezerra is a Civil Engineer, Certified Passive House Designer, and Building Envelope Consultant at Stantec, based in Victoria, British Columbia. With over 15 years of experience in building science and high‑performance construction, his work focuses on enclosure design, airtightness, hygrothermal risk, and the practical delivery of Passive House buildings in diverse climates.

    Luiz was the technical lead and project manager responsible for achieving PHI certification of the first Passive House in Latin America, coordinating multidisciplinary teams in Brazil and Germany and working directly with the Passive House Institute in Darmstadt.

    Drawing on experience in consulting, manufacturing representation, and construction verification, Luiz specializes in closing the gap between design intent and on‑site execution. His current work emphasizes interface detailing, constructability, and quality assurance to ensure projects perform as modeled and endure over time—supporting Canada’s transition toward low‑carbon, resilient buildings at scale.

  • 2:30pm - 3:00pm
    Coffee & Networking Break

  • 3:00pm - 4:00pm
    Session 7: Welcoming Residents to Passive House Living: The Power of Proactive Building Management and Occupant Education
    Jay Shanmugam
    Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation
    Joseph Ennett
    Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation

    Description

    This session explores the unique features of Passive House buildings—such as high-performance windows and doors, high performance heating and cooling systems, and condensing dryers—and shows how they directly shape the resident experience. Learn why proactive building management, clear communication and expectation-setting are essential when welcoming new occupants, and how proper guidance empowers residents to operate their homes efficiently, comfortably, and sustainably.

    Speakers

    Jay Shanmugam
    Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation
    Read Bio

    Jay Shanmugam
    Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation

    Jay Shanmugam is the Chief Capital Officer at Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation (CHC), where he leads the organization’s capital asset management, preventative management, and development portfolios. With more than 20 years of experience in engineering, development, and construction management, he has delivered complex infrastructure, industrial, and residential projects across Canada.
    Jay holds both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering from McGill University, specializing in structural engineering, and is a licensed Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) in Ontario. He has been instrumental in advancing numerous sustainable, high-performance developments for CHC, including a 10-storey, 145-unit Passive House project—one of Ontario’s largest initiatives of its kind—along with several other high-performance and Passive House projects currently in various stages of development.

    Joseph Ennett
    Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation
    Read Bio

    Joseph Ennett
    Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation

    Joseph holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering and is a registered Engineer-in-Training (EIT) in Ontario. He has been with CHC for over four years, beginning as a CO-OP student before transitioning into full-time roles as a Project Coordinator and, later, a Project Manager.
    Joseph has experience in multi-residential construction, as well as in retrofit and renovation projects. He has successfully delivered renovation work as well as managed a number of high-performance new builds ranging in size including a certified Net-Zero build. Currently, he is managing the construction of a two-story multi-residential build at and a fourplex.

    Throughout his career, Joseph has developed strong skills in managing both design and construction activities, from initial planning through to project closeout.

  • 3:00pm - 4:00pm
    Session 8: Placing Passive House in the North American Building Performance Landscape: A Cross‑Standard, Cross‑Tool Comparison
    Marine Sanchez
    RDH Building Science
    Ken Levenson
    The Passive House Network

    Description

    This presentation shares the findings of a large PHN study comparing widely-used building standards (IECC, ASHRAE 90.1, LEED) against Passive House for multifamily buildings across climate zones 1-7. The study comes from the need to provide policy markers and market actors better clarity on where Passive House sits relative to code-minimum and other performance-based pathways. Study outcomes will help inform incentives and compliance pathways through better recognition of Passive House outcomes within familiar code frameworks.

    A four story multifamily archetype modeled across climate zones 1–7, using both hourly (EnergyPlus) and Passive House modelling to respectively meet IECC 2021, ASHRAE 90.1, LEED and Passive House standards. The Passive House inputs are then translated back into hourly models to compare building efficiency metrics with a consistent approach.

    Speakers

    Marine Sanchez
    RDH Building Science
    Read Bio

    Marine Sanchez
    RDH Building Science

    As a recognized leader among North America's foremost Passive House professionals, Marine spearheads RDH’s Passive House consulting services across the US and Canada. She specialized in large-scale institutional and mixed-use projects.

    Marine brings a transformative approach to projects, supported by a deep knowledge of high-performance construction methodologies, full-building electrification, and low embodied carbon design. As a result, she has empowered numerous teams unfamiliar with high-performance requirements through successful building delivery and certification.
    Marine also collaborates with government bodies to shape impactful carbon reduction policies, such as the City of Toronto and their ambitious 2040 Net Zero Emissions goals.

    Ken Levenson
    The Passive House Network

    Ken Levenson
    The Passive House Network

  • 4:00pm - 4:30pm
    Networking Break

  • 4:30pm - 5:30pm
    Session 9: Meadowbrook Place: A Passive House Tale from Design to Operation
    Jay Shanmugam
    Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation
    Peter Ng
    Kearns Mancini Architects
    Irene Rivera
    Kearns Mancini Architects

    Description

    Explore the full journey of Meadowbrook Place, a 10 storey 145 unit multi-family Passive House building completed in 2023, designed to meet Passive House Classic certification. This session will cover every phase of the project, from early design to construction, and post-occupancy operations. We’ll dive into design strategies for Passive House performance, the certification process, construction best practices, and post-construction energy use and occupant data. The session will also include the owner's perspective on post-occupancy challenges and operational lessons learned.

    Speakers

    Jay Shanmugam
    Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation
    Read Bio

    Jay Shanmugam
    Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation

    Jay Shanmugam is the Chief Capital Officer at Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation (CHC), where he leads the organization’s capital asset management, preventative management, and development portfolios. With more than 20 years of experience in engineering, development, and construction management, he has delivered complex infrastructure, industrial, and residential projects across Canada.
    Jay holds both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering from McGill University, specializing in structural engineering, and is a licensed Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) in Ontario. He has been instrumental in advancing numerous sustainable, high-performance developments for CHC, including a 10-storey, 145-unit Passive House project—one of Ontario’s largest initiatives of its kind—along with several other high-performance and Passive House projects currently in various stages of development.

    Peter Ng
    Kearns Mancini Architects
    Read Bio

    Peter Ng
    Kearns Mancini Architects

    Peter has been with KMAI for over 30 years and is an astute project leader and designer. He has led many projects involving fast-track design schedules and careful construction phasing plans for buildings still in use by the client. His passion for detail and dedicated participation in all project-related processes has been admired by all our clients. Peter’s holistic design approach allows him to develop creative and innovative ways to resolve client programming needs through unique architectural expression.
    He has acted as Design Project Architect for almost all major projects carried out by the firm. His passion for detail and dedicated participation in all project related processes has been admired by all our clients. Committed to coordinating the project team and its efforts with utmost organization. Peter has experience coordinating five of the firm’s Passive house projects, several of which are in the affordable multi-residential sector.

    Irene Rivera
    Kearns Mancini Architects
    Read Bio

    Irene Rivera
    Kearns Mancini Architects

    Irene is an Associate Architect and Certified Passive House Designer at KMAI. She is an astute project manager and an expert on high-performance building design and systems. She is our in-house leader on Sustainability and Passive House design and works hand-in-hand with clients and consultants to explore, review and determine the best value for money to achieve the project’s sustainable goals. Irene is also an educator and an advocate for high-performance design and often provides public seminars and presentations at many conferences.
    In 2017, Irene joined KMAI, focusing on high efficiency architecture and Passive House systems. She is a Certified Passive House Designer and an active member of the Passive House community. Irene views Passive House as the initial step towards sustainable design and net zero energy buildings. She works on complex projects as the sustainable design lead and conducts PHPP modelling and LCA assessments.

  • 4:30pm - 5:30pm
    Session 10: Designing Resilient Infrastructure: Passive House Principles in Municipal Operations
    Jennifer Hogan
    Pretium Engineering Inc.
    Anwar Ktecha
    Arcadis Architects (Canada) Inc.

    Description

    The York Region Southeast Operations Centre sets a precedent for applying Passive House principles to essential municipal infrastructure. Combining a large vehicle garage with an administrative office, the project faced challenges uncommon in traditional Passive House applications—balancing diverse occupancy schedules, garage set-point temperatures, and air-tightness across overhead doors. Through rigorous PHPP modeling, enhanced insulation strategies, and collaborative design, the team achieved certification targets. This presentation will share lessons learned, highlighting how resilient, high-performance design can deliver lasting value, safer workplaces, and reduced emissions for communities across Canada.

    Speakers

    Jennifer Hogan
    Pretium Engineering Inc.
    Read Bio

    Jennifer Hogan
    Pretium Engineering Inc.

    Recipient of the IIBEC Emerging Professional Award of Excellence and OBEC Rising Star Award, Jennifer is passionate about building sciences and energy performance. She has been a building science consultant for over 18 years and uses her experience and knowledge to help clients achieve their goals as the leader of the Energy and Carbon Reduction team at Pretium.

    Jennifer has dedicated herself to furthering her craft by obtaining numerous industry certifications including becoming a Certified Engineering Technologist, LEED Accredited Professional, Registered Roof Observer, Certified Passive House Consultant, Certified RETScreen Expert, and most recently a Registered Exterior Wall Consultant.

    If you asked Jennifer what her favourite thing is about her career, she would tell you that it is being able to share her love of the built environment with others. To that end, she is a frequent speaker and presenter at industry events and has authored many technical publications.

    Anwar Ktecha
    Arcadis Architects (Canada) Inc.
    Read Bio

    Anwar Ktecha
    Arcadis Architects (Canada) Inc.

    Anwar has more than 29 years of experience in the architectural and urban planning fields. He has supervised and managed technical personnel, architects, and designers in roles such as Studio Manager and Architectural Lead. He has also worked independently as an Architectural Project Leader, Senior Architect, and Project Manager. Anwar’s project experience spans a wide range of facility types, including bus storage, service, and maintenance facilities; industrial facilities; environmental assessment projects; sustainable (LEED) green buildings; Passive House (PH) and net-zero-carbon facilities; and electrification of new and existing bus facilities. He has also contributed to public works yards, operational and administrative facilities, and diverse automotive, aviation, energy, educational, transit, commercial, healthcare, government services, sport and recreation, urban planning, and residential projects—from conception through substantial performance and completion.

  • 5:30pm - 7:30pm
    Attendee Networking Event

    Description

    Join us for an evening of great food and great company. Network with fellow attendees, the Passive House Canada staff and board members, as well as, the Conference speakers, Sponsors, and Exhibitors.

    This event is generously sponsored by EuroLine Windows and Perkins&Will.

  • 7:30am - 8:30am
    Breakfast & Networking

    Description

    Breakfast will be held in Brittania Ballroom.

  • 8:30am - 9:30am
    Session 11: Beyond Passive House: Resiliency, Resource Efficiency & Decarbonized Construction Solutions
    Stéphane Doise
    Climate-Oriented Real Estate
    Elisabeth Baudinaud
    Carbon Wise
    Bruno Stadler
    Timbase Canada Inc.

    Description

    Are Passivhaus criteria alone sufficient to define a truly sustainable building? This session challenges that assumption by examining what is required to address both the climate crisis and the housing crisis more fully. The built projects of three presenters, will showcase how to move beyond energy efficiency toward holistic, resilient construction strategies. Topics include occupant comfort, life-cycle cost efficiency, health and wellbeing, low-carbon materials, design-for-disassembly, and biodiversity support. The session also highlights how to leverage existing local value chains and expertise to create integrated solutions that generate net value for ecosystems, infrastructure, and economic systems—rather than additional burden.

    Speakers

    Stéphane Doise
    Climate-Oriented Real Estate
    Read Bio

    Stéphane Doise
    Climate-Oriented Real Estate

    Stéphane is the Principal and Founder of Climate-Oriented Real Estate, a development and professional services firm dedicated to delivering regenerative, high-performance buildings. He holds a Master of Architecture from the Technical University of Munich and has built a diverse international career across Europe in roles including architect, business developer for a construction machinery supplier, fire protection engineer, and client’s representative for large-scale institutional and infrastructure projects. Stéphane has lectured at the Technical University of Munich and the Munich Fire & Rescue Academy, and is a frequent industry speaker, including presentations at Buildex Vancouver.

    Elisabeth Baudinaud
    Carbon Wise
    Read Bio

    Elisabeth Baudinaud
    Carbon Wise

    Elisabeth is the Principal and Founder of Carbon Wise, a group of energy and carbon advisors providing integrated operational and embodied carbon services. Carbon Wise aims to bridge the gap between the realities of on-the-ground construction and the decisive actions required to meet climate targets.

    Elisabeth and her team have established themselves as leaders in the field, with a strong commitment to knowledge sharing regularly publishing case studies to advance research on high-performance buildings and actively contributing to policy development. Elisabeth is also a regular speaker at industry conferences, including events such as BUILDEX, where she shares practical insights on low-carbon and high-performance construction.

    Their leadership and innovation have been recognized through multiple awards, including the BC Embodied Carbon Award (2023 and 2024) and the HAVAN Trailblazer Award (2024), acknowledging their impact in driving sustainable construction practices forward.

    Bruno Stadler
    Timbase Canada Inc.
    Read Bio

    Bruno Stadler
    Timbase Canada Inc.

    Bruno Stadler is the Canadian Representative for Timbase and works at the intersection of high-performance building design, prefabrication, and Passive House delivery. With extensive international experience, he focuses on translating ambitious energy and carbon goals into buildable, cost-effective construction systems particularly for multi-family and custom residential projects.

    Bruno regularly engages with designers, builders, and developers on topics such as Passive House implementation, prefabrication workflows, and low-carbon construction strategies. He has presented at industry events including the HAVAN Custom Home Builder Event, Lunch & Learn sessions for professional teams, and the RAIC Conference, contributing practical, construction-driven insights to advance high-performance building practices in Canada.

  • 8:30am - 9:30am
    Session 12: Marpole: Building Vancouver’s Next-Generation Community Center
    Caroline Inglis
    Diamond Schmitt
    Neil Norris
    RDH Building Science
    Sherman Wai
    RDH Building Science
    Scott Ghomeshi
    Introba

    Description

    Marpole Community Centre is the first community and recreation center to be built by the City of Vancouver in over a decade, it aspires to set new standards for inclusion, innovation, and performance. Participants are invited to attend a panel discussion including the architect, building envelope consultant, Passive House consultant, and mechanical engineer, who will discuss the challenges of designing and constructing a community building that balances extensive community requirements with ambitious sustainability targets. The project is nearing completion allowing the team to reflect on lessons learned throughout construction and how they maintained a commitment to Passive House standards when issues arose on site.

    Speakers

    Caroline Inglis
    Diamond Schmitt
    Read Bio

    Caroline Inglis
    Diamond Schmitt

    Caroline is a Vancouver based architect with expertise in sustainability and accessibility. She is a certified Passive House Designer, a LEED Accredited Professional in Building Design & Construction, and is a member of Diamond Schmitt’s Sustainability Committee where she plays a vital role in helping project teams achieve ambitious sustainability targets. Caroline is Diamond Schmitt’s first Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification (RHFAC) Accredited Professional and shares her knowledge on creating inclusive spaces with the firm.

    Neil Norris
    RDH Building Science
    Read Bio

    Neil Norris
    RDH Building Science

    Neil specializes in project management and the implementation of Passive House and low-energy building design strategies for new or retrofit buildings, with a focus on thermal bridging and high-performance building enclosures. Neil has provided management and oversight for building enclosure and energy assessments for a wide range of building types across North America, including a variety of institutional and government facilities. Neil leads building enclosure work for Government agencies in BC when high levels of security clearance are warranted.

    Sherman Wai
    RDH Building Science
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    Sherman Wai
    RDH Building Science

    Sherman’s focus is on building energy modelling, thermal modelling, testing, and field review for Passive House design and certification. In the field, Sherman conducts site reviews to ensure Passive House compliance, including thermal bypass review, airtightness testing, and ventilation system commissioning. In addition to his knowledge of Passive House requirements, Sherman is very well-acquainted with the airtightness testing requirements for VBBL and BC Energy Step Code compliance.

    Scott Ghomeshi
    Introba
    Read Bio

    Scott Ghomeshi
    Introba

    Scott Ghomeshi is a Principal and Government & Culture Sector Lead with Introba, bringing extensive experience in project and stakeholder management across the recreation, institutional, civic, and aviation sectors. As a Certified Passive House Designer, Scott is passionate about resilient and regenerative design, striving to integrate passive-first mechanical strategies that align with project and client goals. His expertise in collaborative, integrated design has facilitated the exploration of innovative solutions that enhance building performance without sacrificing occupant health and comfort. Scott’s notable projects include Vancouver’s Fire Hall No.17, a first of its kind facility to achieve Passive House, LEED Gold, and Zero Carbon Building certifications.

  • 9:30am - 10:00am
    Coffee & Networking Break

  • 10:00am - 11:00am
    Session 13: Heat Happens: Lessons on Cooling and Comfort from the Field
    Cara Sloat
    Hammerschlag & Joffe Inc.
    Joshua Vanwyck
    JMV Consulting

    Description

    Many Passive House projects in Canada are discovering that “comfort” is more complex than predicted. This session explores why overheating continues to occur—even in certified projects—and what design teams can do differently. Building on case studies and national practitioner interviews, Cara Sloat (Hammerschlag & Joffe) and Joshua Vanwyck (JMV Consulting) examine how factors like glazing performance, humidity management, and centralized ventilation systems influence cooling outcomes. Attendees will gain practical approaches for modelling, system design, and occupant engagement that better reflect Canadian climates and real-world operation.

    Speakers

    Cara Sloat
    Hammerschlag & Joffe Inc.
    Read Bio

    Cara Sloat
    Hammerschlag & Joffe Inc.

    Cara Sloat is a Mechanical Principal at Hammerschlag & Joffe Inc., leading mechanical design for high-performance and Passive House projects, including 500 MacNab Street in Hamilton. Her work bridges design, data, and human factors, emphasizing occupant comfort, post-occupancy evaluation, and commissioning. Cara focuses on how system design, internal gains, and humidity interact to affect real-world comfort outcomes. She regularly presents on strategies for maintaining thermal resilience and effective mechanical system integration in Canadian climates.

    Joshua Vanwyck
    JMV Consulting
    Read Bio

    Joshua Vanwyck
    JMV Consulting

    Joshua Vanwyck is a Certified Passive House Designer and Tradesperson, and Principal of JMV Consulting. He has extensive experience in design and construction of large-scale Passive House and Net Zero projects across Canada, specializing in performance modelling, HVAC integration, and commissioning. Josh also teaches building science and practical approaches to constructing high-performance buildings at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). His work focuses on closing the gap between modelled and actual comfort, emphasizing realistic assumptions about glazing, humidity, and occupant use.

  • 10:00am - 11:00am
    Session 14: Caldwell First Nation - Creating a Sustainable Community
    Alan Murphy
    Green Reason Inc.
    Rhett Wibbing
    Quantum Passivhaus
    Paul Weidl
    Baird AE

    Description

    Caldwell First Nation has historically lived in the Point Pelee area of Ontario. After 230 years the Caldwell First Nation settled a long-standing land claim in the Point Pelee/Leamington area in southwestern Ontario. In 2020 CFN achieved reserve status for a 200 acre site in Leamington, Ontario and commenced planning for a new community to bring people home. This community would be the first urban reserve community in Ontario and would be designed and constructed literally from the ground up. This session will explore the process of creating a sustainable First Nation community from a farm field with a focus on the programming, planning, and creation of sustainable design objectives including the design and construction of 28 passive homes for phase 1 of the project with a focus on the process, the successes and the challenges of this historic project.

    Speakers

    Alan Murphy
    Green Reason Inc.
    Read Bio

    Alan Murphy
    Green Reason Inc.

    Alan Murphy brings 30 years of architecture and project management experience in the building industry. Alan’s experience ranges from managing commercial redevelopment to providing sustainable consulting services on projects ranging in size from small cafes to airport terminals. Moving from Architecture to Project Management, Alan gained extensive experience but grew disillusioned with the “business as usual” approach to building design and construction. Believing that change required education from within, Alan founded Green Reason to offer clients smarter, more sustainable building solutions. With passion, drive, knowledge, integrity and attention to detail he built Green Reason's reputation as a leader in sustainable project development. In addition to his role at Green Reason, Alan was a founding director of Passive House Canada, a member of the CAGBC’s Materials and Resources Technical Advisory Group and is a member of the University of Waterloo Faculty of Engineering Dean's Advisory Council.

    Rhett Wibbing
    Quantum Passivhaus
    Read Bio

    Rhett Wibbing
    Quantum Passivhaus

    Rhett Wibbing is a Senior Construction Project Manager at Quantum Passivhaus, one of Ontario's leading Passivhaus-certified prefabricated design-build firms, where he oversees the full lifecycle of high-performance building projects from initiation through to warranty and closing.

    With over a decade of experience at the intersection of sustainable design, prefabricated construction, and project delivery, Rhett has built a reputation for bringing technically complex, energy-efficient builds in on time and on budget — without compromising the rigorous performance standards that define the Passivhaus standard. His work spans every phase of the construction process, including scope development, risk analysis, procurement strategy, quality control, and client relations, giving him a rare end-to-end command of what it takes to deliver prefabricated Passivhaus projects at scale in the Canadian climate.

    Paul Weidl
    Baird AE

    Paul Weidl
    Baird AE

  • 11:00am - 11:30am
    Networking Break

  • 11:30am - 12:30pm
    Session 15: Designing Against Loneliness in Social Housing
    John Wall
    Public Architecture + Design Inc.
    Adrienne Young
    Public Architecture + Design Inc.
    Lee-Anne Michayluk
    More than a Roof Housing Society
    Kelly Walsh
    Scius Advisory

    Description

    Loneliness is not merely a personal affliction; it is a pressing public health concern that frays the social and political fabric. Health risks associated with disconnection—reduced lifespan and increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and dementia—are well documented in a new June 2025 report by the World Health Organization. Contributing factors, such as the decline of faith-based institutions and other ‘third spaces,’ alongside the concurrent rise of social media, remote work, and online learning, gained strength with the COVID-19 pandemic and have been further fueled by AI companions.

    While we are unable to counteract these pervasive and powerful forces, as architects of social housing, we work to make subtle insertions—design features that aim to improve the quality of residents’ lives. For this presentation, we will “walk” participants through 1010 Expo Boulevard and Vienna House, two family-focused, affordable social housing developments, drawing attention to the design features and processes that support social resilience, build community cohesion, and, by extension, give greater dimension and meaning to residents’ lives.

    Speakers

    John Wall
    Public Architecture + Design Inc.
    Read Bio

    John Wall
    Public Architecture + Design Inc.

    John Wall is a founding partner with 30 years of architectural practice. Central to his work is improving the public domain, from the animation of collective space through to the rigorous application of sustainable technologies. John’s inferential and thoughtful contributions, often at the intersection of art and architecture, have helped to earn the firm seven AIBC awards. Born in Vancouver and educated at the UBC School of Architecture, where he was awarded the AIBC Medal in 1994, John continues to have an active role in Vancouver’s design community. He is a past member of the Surrey Design Panel and former chair of the City of Vancouver Urban Design Panel. He is a regular guest critic at the UBC School of Architecture and presents regularly at industry events.

    Adrienne Young
    Public Architecture + Design Inc.
    Read Bio

    Adrienne Young
    Public Architecture + Design Inc.

    As Director of Design Technology at PUBLIC, Adrienne advances digital design integration and technical standards with a particular focus on social housing. She plays a pivotal role in Vienna House, an international research project and learning lab addressing affordability, sustainability, and equity in housing. Adrienne holds a Master of Architecture from the University of British Columbia and brings a deep understanding of how the built environment shapes social interaction and human behavior. She has educated audiences on Building Information Modeling (BIM) and the Digitally Accelerated Standardized Housing (DASH) process through the Vancouver School Board, BC Housing’s Edutalk podcast, and CBC Radio.

    Lee-Anne Michayluk
    More than a Roof Housing Society
    Read Bio

    Lee-Anne Michayluk
    More than a Roof Housing Society

    With over 28 years of community and project development experience in the non-profit sector, Lee-Anne is a dedicated and results driven non-profit executive with a focus on social innovation and community engagement. She is known for her people centred, values centric approach to leadership and her ability to align strategy, culture, and impact in a complex, mission driven organization.

    Kelly Walsh
    Scius Advisory
    Read Bio

    Kelly Walsh
    Scius Advisory

    Kelly researches innovative approaches to improving efficiency and sustainability in construction. Her work includes studies on prefabrication, mass timber, circularity and the use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) to speed permitting and improve productivity. She has been documenting the innovations being applied on the Vienna House affordable housing project for BC Housing since 2020 and is part of the pathfinder team for Digitally Accelerated Standardized Housing (DASH). Kelly earned a BSc in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University and an MBA from the University of British Columbia.

  • 11:30am - 12:30pm
    Session 16: Maintaining Airtightness and Envelope Continuity in a High-Use Educational Workshop
    Cody Akira Belton
    Stantec Consulting Ltd.
    Harold Louwerse
    Stantec Consulting Ltd.
    Jordan Edmonds
    Urban Arts Architecture

    Description

    This presentation examines envelope design and airtightness strategies for a high-use educational workshop building pursuing Passive House performance. The BCIT Robert Bosa Carpentry Pavilion includes complex transitions, large openings, and service-intensive assemblies that increase airtightness risk. Through selected details and coordination examples, the session will illustrate how thermal and airtight layer continuity were maintained while responding to fire separations, mechanical penetrations, and constructability constraints. Emphasis will be placed on practical detailing approaches, interdisciplinary coordination, and lessons learned that can be applied to institutional and workshop-type Passive House buildings.

    Speakers

    Cody Akira Belton
    Stantec Consulting Ltd.
    Read Bio

    Cody Akira Belton
    Stantec Consulting Ltd.

    AScT, PTech, CPHD (PHI), CPHC® (Phius)
    Associate, Building Science Passive House Lead (North America)

    Cody is a Passive House Institute Certified Passive House Designer (CPHD), Phius Certified Consultant (CPHC®) and Building Enclosure Consultant. Bringing over 18 years of collective experience as a Building Enclosure Consultant, dedicated the past 10 years to practicing as a Passive House Consultant, and now serves as the Building Science Passive House Lead for Stantec across North America. In this capacity, Cody provides training, consultation, and implementation of Passive House design strategies for new building construction and retrofit projects. He coordinates design teams and develops custom building enclosure design packages for a range of building typologies. He is keen to share his insights and continue his learning to advance sustainable building practices for communities across Canada and US.

    Cody is the inventor of Akira Window Connection – a market ready punched window installation method that nearly eliminates window-to-wall transition thermal bridging. Also, Cody is the inventor of Akira Shade Connection – patent pending external fixed shading solution offering climate resilience without degrading thermal resistance at opaques walls. Both Akira Window Connection and Akira Shade Connection can help reduce wall thickness, embodied carbon emissions, construction cost, and help projects to meet energy performance targets.

    Harold Louwerse
    Stantec Consulting Ltd.
    Read Bio

    Harold Louwerse
    Stantec Consulting Ltd.

    P.L.Eng, RRO
    Principal, Operations Lead - BSS Western Canada

    A professional engineering licensee, Harold's technical expertise spans roofing, cladding, glazing, and below-grade waterproofing systems. With 20+ years experience, he is highly knowledgeable in building envelope design and field review, with a strong background in quality assurance. He has worked on everything from wood-frame developments to large-scale sports and recreational facilities, healthcare facilities as well as commercial and residential buildings.

    Harold brings a deep understanding of British Columbia’s unique building science challenges and requirements. He has served on the technical committee for the Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA) and is currently serving on the technical committee for the Roofing Contractors Association of BC (RCABC).

    Jordan Edmonds
    Urban Arts Architecture
    Read Bio

    Jordan Edmonds
    Urban Arts Architecture

    Jordan Edmonds is principal and technical director at Urban Arts Architecture (UAA), a small community focused architecture firm based in Vancouver BC, where he leads interdisciplinary teams in the design of housing, healthcare, institutional, and community projects. Jordan’s work is guided by a commitment to creating low-impact, resilient, and affordable buildings shaped by local knowledge and regional approaches to sustainable development.

  • 12:30pm - 1:30pm
    Lunch & Networking

  • 1:30pm - 2:30pm
    Session 17: Central vs. Distributed Ventilation in Multifamily Passive House: Lessons from Vienna House & 981 Davie Street
    Stuart Hood
    Oxygen8
    Patrick Stewart
    AME Group

    Description

    This session compares two Passive House multifamily residential ventilation strategies that continue to spark debate in the Passive House community; centralized ERVs versus distributed in-suite ERVs. Using two landmark mass-timber affordable Housing projects in Vancouver – Vienna House and 981 Davie St. – as case studies, this presentation highlights the strengths, challenges, and trade-offs of each approach. Vienna House employs two centralized ERVs that deliver ventilation, heating and cooling to all suites, while 981 Davie uses in-suite ERVs for ventilation with a VRF system for heating and cooling. Attendees will explore cost implications, real performance data, installation lessons and guidance for choosing the right strategy for future resilient, affordable housing.

    Speakers

    Stuart Hood
    Oxygen8
    Read Bio

    Stuart Hood
    Oxygen8

    Stuart is a professional mechanical engineer based in Vancouver, BC, and the Design Director at Enersolv, a design-build mechanical contractor. He also serves as a product development adviser at Oxygen8, a manufacturer of high-performance energy recovery ventilation systems. With over 30 years of experience in high-performance building design, Stuart is a Certified Passive House Designer and a recognized expert in Passive House mechanical systems.

    His portfolio includes numerous certified public and private sector projects, such as Coal Harbour School and Housing, Gastown Childcare, Clayton Community Centre, Vancouver Fire Hall 17, and several single-family and multifamily residential projects, including Vienna House. Stuart is a frequent speaker and educator at Passive House and high-performance building conferences across North America and Europe.

    Patrick Stewart
    AME Group
    Read Bio

    Patrick Stewart
    AME Group

    Patrick Stewart is a Professional Mechanical Engineer based in Vancouver and Principal at AME Group. With more than 15 years of experience in high-performance building design, he is a Certified Passive House Designer with extensive experience delivering Passive House projects across British Columbia.

    His portfolio includes a range of Passive House projects, including UBCO Skeena Student Residences, Chief Leonard George, 1220 Seymour, Vancouver Fire Hall No. 8, and 981 Davie Street.

  • 1:30pm - 2:30pm
    Session 18: Lessons Learned From a Passive House 4-plex Utilizing a Panelized, Low-Carbon, Prefabricated Building Envelope
    Jan Pratshcke
    Collective Carpentry
    Graeme Verhulst
    GMV Architecture
    Taylor McCarthy
    Frontera Homes

    Description

    Attendees will learn about a 2025 family-oriented urban 4-plex in Victoria built to the Passive House Standard, designed by Waymark Architecture

    Developed by a consortium of building professionals, this project serves as a test case for bringing energy-efficient, gentle density, and missing middle housing solutions to urban neighborhoods across BC.

    The presentation will feature the architect, general contractor, structural engineer, and panel prefabricator. They will share lessons learned regarding development, design, and construction challenges, focusing on successes and opportunities for improved collaboration in tackling this new building typology.

    Speakers

    Jan Pratshcke
    Collective Carpentry
    Read Bio

    Jan Pratshcke
    Collective Carpentry

    Jan is at the helm of a growing manufacturing enterprise with multiple award-winning projects. Collective specializes in high performance, closed-wall panels for part 9 custom and standardized home designs, as well as large, complex low-rise buildings.

    Graeme Verhulst
    GMV Architecture
    Read Bio

    Graeme Verhulst
    GMV Architecture

    Graeme is a founding principal of Waymark Architecture and a keen advocate for advanced building science. He is one of the first architects in BC trained to design to the stringent International Passive House Standard, the world’s leading approach to energy in buildings. Graeme is also past chair of the Vancouver Island Chapter of the AIBC and sits on the Township of Esquimalt's Design Review Committee.

    Taylor McCarthy
    Frontera Homes
    Read Bio

    Taylor McCarthy
    Frontera Homes

    Taylor founded Frontera Homes in 2015, bringing strong foundations in business, fine carpentry, sustainable building. Frontera is quickly becoming known as one of the foremost custom sustainable homebuilders in Victoria, delivering exceptional homes many of which are built to the Passive House Standard.

  • 2:30pm - 3:00pm
    Coffee & Networking Break

  • 2:30pm - 5:30pm
    Exhibitor Open House

    Description

    We’ll open our exhibit hall doors to local industry professionals, including those who are not Conference attendees, allowing everyone a chance to network and find out more about building to the Passive House standard.

    Please share with your network!

  • 3:00pm - 3:30pm
    Session 19: Technical and Economic Lessons from Halifax’s Falkland Retrofit
    Lorrie Rand
    Habit Studio / The ReCover Initiative

    Description

    The Falkland Retrofit, Nova Scotia’s first EnerPHit principles project, transformed a mid‑19th‑century timber-frame home into a high‑performance office through an envelope‑first strategy. Interior insulation assemblies, foundation upgrades, and smart vapor control enabled dramatic energy and GHG savings in Halifax’s mixed‑humid climate. An economic analysis informed the project and compared capital and life cycle costs with a hypothetical code minimum renovation and a new build. This case study provides replicable technical details and financial insights for scaling deep retrofits across Canada’s diverse building stock.

    Speakers

    Lorrie Rand
    Habit Studio / The ReCover Initiative
    Read Bio

    Lorrie Rand
    Habit Studio / The ReCover Initiative

    Lorrie Rand is the cofounder and Director of Sustainability at Habit Studio, an award-winning design practice specializing in sustainable renovations and custom Passive House projects. She is also cofounder and Senior Advisor of the ReCover Initiative, a non-profit deep retrofit accelerator advancing scalable retrofit solutions across Atlantic Canada.

    A Certified Passive House Designer and Tradesperson, Lorrie is recognized for her expertise in building science, deep energy retrofits, and high-performance building design. Her work focuses on integrating Passive House principles, smart enclosure strategies, and biophilic design to create healthy, resilient, and low-carbon buildings.

    Lorrie has been a leading advocate for high-performance retrofits in Canada, contributing as an instructor with Passive House Canada and volunteering on the board of Retrofit Canada. She also serves on the National Research Council’s National Model Codes Committee for Climate Mitigation.

  • 3:00pm - 3:30pm
    Session 20: Finding the Balance: Operational and Embodied Carbon
    Bryn Davidson
    Lanefab

    Description

    How do we best balance embodied carbon with energy efficiency and reductions in operational emissions?
    We'll look at the question through the lens of current and past Lanefab projects in Vancouver.

    The city of Vancouver has a density bonus system for certified Net Zero or Passivhaus projects, and in 2026 they will be bringing in an additional requirement for modelling embodied carbon and meeting a benchmark 40% reduction to achieve the density bonus.

    Lanefab has been designing and building certified passive house and net zero homes for years, and on our current batch of projects we're looking at combining the passive house LEB (Low energy building standard) with an embodied carbon target of 130kg/m2 (EC130). The W18th triplex will be the first project in the city to use this combined approach to certification.

    Speakers

    Bryn Davidson
    Lanefab
    Read Bio

    Bryn Davidson
    Lanefab

    Bryn Davidson is co-founder and Lead Designer at Lanefab, a Vancouver based design-build firm crafting custom homes, multiplexes and infill laneway houses that blend west coast modernism with climate friendly passivhaus design principles.


    Bryn has degrees in Mech. Engineering (from UC Berkeley) and Architecture from UBC.
    Bryn’s 2014 TEDx talk laid out the firm’s goal of creating projects that go beyond Net-Zero, to have a Net-Positive impact on the climate crisis.


    In 2010 Lanefab completed the City of Vancouver’s first Laneway House, and the team recently built the first certified Passivhaus (Passive House) in both New Westminster and Burnaby. Bryn’s design team is currently working on several multiplex projects in the City of Vancouver.


    Lanefab’s approach to green infill housing has been profiled in the New York Times, Forbes, and Dwell and won them numerous awards – including the Arthur Erickson Memorial Award and Scotiabank EcoLiving Prize.

  • 3:30pm - 4:00pm
    Networking Break

  • 4:00pm - 4:30pm
    Session 21: Passive House in Action: Global Highlights and What's Next
    Vanya Chan
    Passive House Institute
    Edward Lowes
    Passive House Institute

    Description

    Join the Passive House Institute (PHI) and the International Passive House Association (iPHA) for an update on the latest developments across the global Passive House community. This session will showcase recently completed and emerging projects from around the world—including new building typologies such as aquatic centres, large-scale residential, and institutional buildings. Learn how Passive House continues to expand into new sectors, and hear updates on PHI’s work advancing components, design tools, and capacity building to support high-performance, low-carbon buildings worldwide.

    Speakers

    Vanya Chan
    Passive House Institute
    Read Bio

    Vanya Chan
    Passive House Institute

    Vanya Chan joined the Passive House Institute’s certification team in 2023. With over 20 years of architectural experience, her passion for energy-efficient design started with sustainable custom homes in Ontario. After earning her Certified Passive House Designer credential in 2017, she subsequently focused on Passive House certified projects in Germany. Now, as an accredited certifier, she specializes in building certification and project consultancy, especially for multi-zoned projects with indoor pools. She is dedicated to advancing sustainable architecture through the Passive House Standard.

    Edward Lowes
    Passive House Institute
    Read Bio

    Edward Lowes
    Passive House Institute

    Edward Lowes is a façade engineer and research associate at the Passive House Institute, where he has worked since 2016 as part of the component certification team. He studied at the University of Liverpool School of Architecture and Rosenheim University of Applied Sciences. His work focuses on the development and certification of Passive House windows, doors, façade and construction systems, with a particular interest in the low-energy refurbishment of existing building envelopes.

  • 4:00pm - 4:30pm
    Session 22: The Confluence – Combining Passive House and Expressed Mass Timber in Non-Residential Development
    Lukas Armstrong
    Stand Architecture
    Dave Fraser
    Peel Passive House Consulting Ltd.

    Description

    “The Confluence” demonstrates how Passive House Certification and Expressed Mass Timber construction can elevate Institutional buildings. The Passive House envelope and highly efficient mechanical systems cut energy use, enhance comfort, and reduce operating costs, while Certification ensures measurable, long-term performance. Expressed Mass Timber enables low-carbon construction, while CNC-fabrication allowed the project’s complex, mountain-inspired geometry to be delivered on time and on budget. Together, Passive House and Mass Timber create a cost effective, high-performance, climate-resilient, sustainable, biophilic and architecturally distinctive home for Castlegar’s Chamber of Commerce, demonstrating a powerful model for sustainable Institutional development.

    Speakers

    Lukas Armstrong
    Stand Architecture
    Read Bio

    Lukas Armstrong
    Stand Architecture

    Lukas has been creating Certified Passive House projects since 2012. His own home was Canada's first certified Multi-Family Residential Building. He also completed a beautiful river -front certified tri-plex in Nakusp BC. He was the lead designer on the worlds first certified car dealership for Subaru in the challenging climate of Red Deer AB. "The Confluence", located in Castlegar BC, is his fourth certified project. He started the project while at his previous firm, Cover Architecture, and it is the first certified project he has completed under his new firm, Stand Architecture Inc.

    Lukas has presented his work at the Canadian Passive House Conference in both Vancouver and Toronto. He has presented at the North American Passive house conference in New York. He presented at Buildex in Calgary, as well as the Nelson Green Home Show and the Kimberley Green Hooke Show. He has also presented at the Selkirk College Tedx event, and to the Selkirk College Timber Fabrication course in 2024 and 2025.

    Dave Fraser
    Peel Passive House Consulting Ltd.
    Read Bio

    Dave Fraser
    Peel Passive House Consulting Ltd.

    Dave is a PHI accredited Consultant, Certifier and Trainer at Peel Passive House Consulting experienced in energy efficient building design and construction. At Peel, Dave manages certification and consulting projects ranging in size and complexity from SFH’s to non-residential and mixed-use. In addition, he supports training activities through development and delivery of Passive House focused courses. Dave has spoken at multiple Passive House conferences both domestic and abroad, delivering technical presentations and workshops.

    His presentation experience includes:
    - Passive House Canada Conference 2025
    - Buildex AB 2025
    - Spanish Passive House Conference 2025

  • 4:30pm - 5:00pm
    Networking Break

  • 5:00pm - 5:30pm
    Session 23: Rethinking Passive House Performance for Resilient Design in a Warming Climate
    Parvin Asadi
    RJC Engineers

    Description

    Even well-conditioned spaces can feel too hot or too cold, and with climate extremes intensifying, this gap between design intent and occupant experience is becoming more critical. This session explores why comfort must be a central performance metric in Passive House and resilient building design. We examine emerging comfort challenges in compact urban housing, high-glazing designs, and buildings exposed to increasing heat waves and winter cold snaps. Through practical examples and monitoring insights, the presentation offers designers concrete strategies to anticipate comfort risks, verify real-world performance, and create buildings that sustain comfort, health, and adaptability throughout the year.

    Speakers

    Parvin Asadi
    RJC Engineers
    Read Bio

    Parvin Asadi
    RJC Engineers

    Parvin Asadi, P.Eng., is a Project Engineer at RJC Engineers, specializing in energy modeling and performance analysis for new construction and retrofit projects. She integrates mechanical systems and building enclosures to optimize energy efficiency, thermal comfort, and overall building performance. With experience across residential, commercial, and institutional projects, Parvin has contributed to improving energy performance and sustainability across hundreds of designs. An experienced speaker, she has presented at leading industry events including the World Conference on Timber Engineering, the Passive House Conference, and Buildex, sharing insights on innovative energy strategies. Known for delivering high-performance, low-carbon solutions, she is passionate about bridging the gap between design intent and real-world performance. Parvin also mentors junior engineers and advances best practices, supporting the transition to more energy-efficient, resilient, and occupant-focused buildings.

  • 5:00pm - 5:30pm
    Session 24: 837 Beatty St. – An Innovative Hybrid Mass Timber Heritage Rehabilitation and Addition
    Shaun St. Amour
    ETRO Revive
    Bryan Lemos Beça
    Office of McFarlane Biggar Architects + Designers

    Description

    This presentation explores the rehabilitation and addition of 837 Beatty St, a heritage warehouse originally designed to grow taller. It uses hybrid mass timber construction to facilitate the adaptive reuse of the existing heavy timber and masonry structure, and Passive House strategies to deliver a durable, high-performance addition that will sustain the building’s longevity. The exposed heavy and mass timber provides a biophilic environment that enhances occupant health and reduces embodied carbon. Delivered by an architect and builder, this session will discuss how ambitious design objectives were realized on site to deliver a project built to last another century.

    Speakers

    Shaun St. Amour
    ETRO Revive
    Read Bio

    Shaun St. Amour
    ETRO Revive

    Shaun is highly dedicated to resilient prefabricated Passive Houses and currently serves as the Manager of REVIVE at ETRO Construction. Prior to focusing on retrofits, he held the position of Vice President of Operations at Clay Construction Inc. He also gained experience as an Outreach and Education Associate at 475 High Performance Building Supply. Shaun earned a degree in Wood Products Processing from The University of British Columbia and is a certified Passive House Tradesperson. Additionally, he obtained an Associate Certificate in Building Construction Technology from BCIT while working at Viceroy Homes and BOSA Construction. He has also operated as a general contractor under Footprint Sustainable Housing Corp. Shaun is actively involved with the Passive House Accelerator and Offsite Dirt initiatives. Outside of work, he enjoys coaching softball with his daughters and attending to his hubby-do list.

    Bryan Lemos Beça
    Office of McFarlane Biggar Architects + Designers
    Read Bio

    Bryan Lemos Beça
    Office of McFarlane Biggar Architects + Designers

    Bryan is an Associate Principal with the Office of McFarlane Biggar Architects + Designers (omb). As a licensed Architect, Certified Passive House Designer, WELL Accredited Professional, and Project Management Professional, Bryan brings diverse experience across Canada from complex heritage renovations to large scale urban development and masterplans. His expertise in sustainability combines the technical knowledge required to achieve high-performance buildings and support occupant health and well-being with a commitment to circular construction and low carbon building. Bryan has been an Adjunct Professor with the University of British Columbia School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, and a visiting guest critic at the Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design, and the Waterloo School of Architecture. Bryan organizes a regular sustainability lecture series at omb called Future Building Fridays and has presented at events including the ZAK World of Facades conference in Vancouver.

  • 7:30am - 8:30am
    Breakfast & Networking

  • 8:30am - 9:30am
    Session 25: Tall Timber, Deep Roots: The Chief Leonard George Building, Canada's First Tall Mass Timber Passive House
    Sherman Wai
    RDH Building Science Inc.
    Michael Wilkinson
    RDH Building Science Inc.
    Achim Charisius
    GBL Architects
    Brenda Knights
    BC Indigenous Housing Society

    Description

    The Chief Leonard George Building sets a new standard for sustainable and culturally resonant development. As Canada's first mixed-use tall mass timber Passive House building, it champions environmental excellence and innovation. Tall timber structure slashed the embodied carbon footprint by 75%, while the Passive House design ensures superior occupant comfort, indoor air quality and minimal operational emissions. Precision and efficiency were maximized through robotic premanufacturing, significantly reducing traffic, waste, and noise on-site. The building's design honors the Coast Salish people, with the mass timber façade envisioned as a beautifully woven cedar basket. Crucially, it provides vital intergenerational housing for the Urban Indigenous community alongside a childcare facility dedicated to teaching their language and culture.

    Speakers

    Sherman Wai
    RDH Building Science Inc.
    Read Bio

    Sherman Wai
    RDH Building Science Inc.

    As a Passive House Consultant, Sherman specializes in building energy modeling, thermal modeling, testing, and field review to support Passive House design and certification.

    Sherman works closely with the RDH energy team, offering his expertise in Passive House design and certification throughout the project lifecycle. He helps guide design teams from schematic design through to design development and final certification by building energy models in PHPP and optimizing junction details. Additionally, Sherman prepares thermal bridging models for building enclosure assemblies, ensuring they meet Passive House standards using advanced heat transfer simulation software. In the field, he conducts site reviews to ensure compliance, including thermal bypass checks, airtightness testing, and ventilation system commissioning.

    Michael Wilkinson
    RDH Building Science Inc.
    Read Bio

    Michael Wilkinson
    RDH Building Science Inc.

    Michael plays a central role in shaping the development of high-performance building enclosures at RDH. From innovative Passive House projects like the Doig River Cultural Center and the Gastown Childcare Centres to new building designs, Michael’s expertise ensures that every project meets the highest standards of quality and performance.

    He works closely with architects and developers, helping to guide projects from the early design phases all the way through to the field review and testing stages. As a Certified Passive House Designer, Michael has a knack for identifying energy-efficient solutions that not only elevate the sustainability of each project but also enhance long-term performance.

    Outside of RDH, Michael enjoys giving back to the industry by teaching building science and construction technology at the BC Institute of Technology, where he passes on his knowledge to the next generation of builders.

    Achim Charisius
    GBL Architects
    Read Bio

    Achim Charisius
    GBL Architects

    Achim’s work has encompassed project types from Master-Planned Communities to complex-mixed use developments, residential and commercial projects. He has been instrumental in iconic and award-winning designs both nationally and internationally and is adept at leading multi-disciplined teams.

    His most recent projects include Khupkapay, an innovative pre-manufactured mass timber development in Vancouver which is aiming for Passive House certification, as well as Brentwood 3 - which is a multi-phased residential tower/park development in Burnaby. He has received the RAIC National Urban Design Award for his work on the Blatchford Redevelopment in Edmonton.

    Achim earned his architectural degree from ETH Zürich, Switzerland. Achim is a registered architect with the Architectural Institute of British Columbia, a member of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, a Certified Passive House Designer and LEED AP. He has served on the New Westminster Advisory Design Panel.

    Brenda Knights
    BC Indigenous Housing Society
    Read Bio

    Brenda Knights
    BC Indigenous Housing Society

    Brenda Knights is the Chief Executive Officer of the BC Indigenous Housing Society, where she leads transformative efforts to provide safe, affordable, and culturally resonant housing for Indigenous communities across British Columbia. In 2024, under her visionary leadership, BC Indigenous Housing Society was recognized as the Housing Provider of the Year, a testament to her commitment to excellence, community empowerment, and innovative housing solutions. In 2025, Brenda was also selected by Business in Vancouver's 2025 BC500 list of leaders.

    In addition to her role at the Society, Brenda serves on the boards of Canada Lands, Legal Aid BC, and the New Relationship Trust as a Federal and Provincial appointee. She volunteers for the Orange Shirt Society, the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade - Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Council as well as the BC Chapter, Institute of Corporate Directors - Chapter Director. With extensive governance experience, she is a steadfast advocate for Canadian and Indigenous peoples, championing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in all aspects of her work. Through these roles, Brenda has driven initiatives that foster sustainable community development and advance inclusive policymaking.

    As a dynamic speaker and thought leader, Brenda shares her insights on Indigenous housing, community development, and the importance of DEI. Her work not only inspires change within the housing sector but also sets a benchmark for how collaborative efforts can catalyze meaningful social transformation.

  • 8:30am - 9:30am
    Session 26: Innovative HVAC Solutions for Passive House Multi-family Buildings - Part 2: Implementation
    Andrew Peel
    Peel Passive House Consulting
    Dave Fraser
    Peel Passive House Consulting

    Description

    This seminar is a continuation of the presentation at PHCC 2025 which introduced an innovative combined all-electric heating, ventilation, air conditioning and domestic hot water system for new and existing affordable and market rate buildings. It will explore the specification, costing, installation, commissioning, and monitoring setup of the system on six pilot projects across Canada. These projects represent a mix of tenancy types (affordable, market rental, and condo), climate zones (moderate, cold, very cold), provinces (BC, AB, ON, NS), size (2 to 8 units), and build type (new and retrofit).

    Speakers

    Andrew Peel
    Peel Passive House Consulting
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    Andrew Peel
    Peel Passive House Consulting

    Andrew is a seasoned Passive House Certifier, Consultant, and Trainer with over 18 years of experience in the Passive House industry. His professional and academic experience ranges from consultancy, programme management, building certification, business development, technical and non-technical articles and publications, lecture and workshop delivery, and technical research. He has spoken at dozens of Passive House events on various topics, including many Passive House Canada conferences. Andrew is particularly passionate about finding ways to make Passive House more cost effective to support broader adoption across the industry.

    Dave Fraser
    Peel Passive House Consulting
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    Dave Fraser
    Peel Passive House Consulting

    Dave is a Passive House Consultant, Certifier and Trainer with 4 years experience in the Passive House industry, preceded by an Advanced Diploma in Sustainable Energy and Building Technology from Humber College. He graduated with a keen interest in Passive House buildings after working on an EnerPHit project in his capstone course and has been immersed in the industry ever since. Dave has since returned to the college to speak to future professionals about the benefits and pathway to becoming a CPHC. At Peel Passive House, Dave manages certification and consulting projects varying in size and complexity. He supports the training department through development and delivery of Passive House focused courses. Dave has spoken at numerous conferences, including PHCC 2025 and Buildex Alberta.

  • 9:30am - 10:00am
    Coffee & Networking Break

  • 10:00am - 11:00am
    Session 27: Hinsley Lane: A New "Community of Communities" for University Students in Cambridge, UK
    James Bennett
    Allies and Morrison
    Matthew Traub
    Allies and Morrison

    Description

    Hinsley Lane is Cambridge’s largest Passivhaus neighbourhood, accommodating 245 students from various University Colleges. Residents occupy terraced townhouses accessed from shared gardens, each connected to a new lane. The project addresses complex challenges common to educational institutions: sensitively integrating new academic communities within existing neighbourhoods, supporting the physical and mental wellbeing of a diverse student body, and meeting strict institutional decarbonisation targets while working within budget. The resulting scheme provides a model for navigating these demands through a careful appreciation of context, community, long term value and the rigor delivered through Passivhaus design and construction.

    Speakers

    James Bennett
    Allies and Morrison
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    James Bennett
    Allies and Morrison

    James has presented all aspects of the Hinsley Lane scheme to the wider studio on several occasions: from first design principles, to outlining key issues that emerged during the construction phase and how they were managed, and the lessons that we learned at all stages of the project.

    Matthew Traub
    Allies and Morrison
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    Matthew Traub
    Allies and Morrison

    As a Passivhaus Designer, Matthew has led the delivery of a number of significant Passivhaus student residential developments in the UK, one of which (Cranmer Road) he was honoured to present at the Passive House Canada Conference in 2020. We have also presented our PassivTower research at the Passive House Canada Conference in 2018, the NAPHN Conference in 2018, and the CTBUH Conference in 2024. Currently Matthew contributes to a number of high density residential led projects, offices and labs, that are all pursuing Passivhaus.

    Having spent a number of years living and working in Vancouver after completing his Masters, Matthew has a personal connection to Canada.

  • 10:00am - 11:00am
    Session 28: Canada's 1st Cold Climate EnerPHit(+i) Retrofit: Timber-frame Upgrade in Montréal
    Fabrizio Maso
    Idea Construction

    Description

    This presentation showcases the first EnerPHit-certified Passive House retrofit completed in a cold climate in Canada, on a timber-frame building insulated exclusively from the interior. It examines the architectural and technical strategies used to achieve exceptional energy performance, airtightness, and occupant comfort within an existing building.
    Attendees will learn how the design team balanced Passive House principles with the realities of retrofit constraints—addressing envelope upgrades, detailing challenges, and integration of mechanical systems.
    The session provides key insights into applying building science, precision detailing, and creative problem-solving to push the boundaries of sustainable retrofit design in cold climate architecture.

    Speakers

    Fabrizio Maso
    Idea Construction
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    Fabrizio Maso
    Idea Construction

    After having founded and operated his architectural millwork business for 12 years and worked as a project manager in some of the largest cabinetmakers in Quebec, he created Idea Construction in 2016. With his rigorous, creative and environmentally conscious approach, he is determined to do residential renovation differently. He minimizes the ecological footprint of his projects with practices such as selective deconstruction, recycling and material revaluation, making him a true pioneer in the industry. Always on the lookout for the latest advances in construction science, he makes energy efficiency his hobbyhorse and obtains a certification from the Passive House Institute in 2024. Today, he is doing the first EnerPHit renovation in Canada and is determined to teach his peers that high performance retrofit must become the new standard.

  • 11:00am - 11:15am
    Break

  • 11:15am - 11:30am
    Conference Closing

    Description

    Passive House Canada will share some final thoughts, followed by the Passive House Institute handing out certificates for recently certified components and buildings.

  • 11:30am - 12:00pm
    Closing Keynote: The Passive House Effect 2.0
    Alfred Jury
    Passive House Consultant

    Description

    Imagine a future where Passive House is just the building code standard. The way everyone builds because better buildings make for better communities, better cities and a better healthier planet. We are moving the industry in the right direction towards efficient building practices that result in healthy, comfortable and efficient buildings. Let's talk about how we not only keep this momentum going, we scale it up!

    Speakers

    Alfred Jury
    Passive House Consultant
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    Alfred Jury
    Passive House Consultant

    Passive House Consultant at EuroLine Windows in Vancouver. I am a life long entrepreneur in the construction industry from a multi generational family of builders. My experience led me down the path to high performance, low energy building technology and it’s important impact on the environment. Our homes are our refuge and deserve to be built as such. I am an avid outdoors person and our pristine natural world is always on my heart and mind.

    Working in the Passive House domain has changed the way I view each project and how we all can work together to create peaceful, quiet and healthy homes.

  • 12:00pm - 1:00pm
    Lunch & Networking

  • 1:00pm - 6:00pm
    Project Tours

    Description

    Attendees can join one of two afternoon Passive House project tours where we'll visit three buildings via chartered bus.

    Tour Option 1: Downtown Vancouver
    Tour Option 2: Regional Vancouver

    Additional registration is required, and both tours are currently sold out.

    Project Tours Page

  • 8:00am - 12:00pm
    Workshop – EnerPHit: Retrofitting Comfort and Sustainability
    Edward Lowes
    Passive House Institute
    Vanya Chan
    Passive House Institute

    Description

    Passive House Institute’s Jessica Grove-Smith and Vanya Chan will walk workshop attendees through the EnerPHit standard for Passive House retrofits. They’ll explain the pathways of EnerPHit certification for different climate zones, based on either component qualities or on energy demand targets. The workshop will include examples of how to plan, model, and apply for pre-certification of phased retrofit projects with the PHPP. Common pitfalls and challenges in Passive House retrofits and EnerPHit certification will be discussed, as well as examples of solutions employed by practitioners.

    Additional registration is required.

    More Info & Registration

    Speakers

    Edward Lowes
    Passive House Institute
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    Edward Lowes
    Passive House Institute

    Edward Lowes is a façade engineer and research associate at the Passive House Institute, where he has worked since 2016 as part of the component certification team. He studied at the University of Liverpool School of Architecture and Rosenheim University of Applied Sciences. His work focuses on the development and certification of Passive House windows, doors, façade and construction systems, with a particular interest in the low-energy refurbishment of existing building envelopes.

    Vanya Chan
    Passive House Institute
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    Vanya Chan
    Passive House Institute

    Vanya Chan joined the Passive House Institute’s certification team in 2023. With over 20 years of architectural experience, her passion for energy-efficient design started with sustainable custom homes in Ontario. After earning her Certified Passive House Designer credential in 2017, she subsequently focused on Passive House certified projects in Germany. Now, as an accredited certifier, she specializes in building certification and project consultancy, especially for multi-zoned projects with indoor pools. She is dedicated to advancing sustainable architecture through the Passive House Standard.