The Canadian Roofing Expo (CRE) formerly Rooftech was held on April 15-16 at the International Centre, in Toronto Canada. Designed by the roofing industry to provide architects, building inspectors, contractors, engineers, property owners, property managers, roofing consultants and specifiers with an educational experience directly related to all aspects of roofing.

The IIBEC Southern Ontario Chapter was in attendance at the Expo and hosted a social event afterwards. The social event was held at the Sheraton Toronto Airport Hotel & Conference Centre, with 85 attendees.

A big thank you extended to all attendees and to our generous sponsors!

Triumph Group Companies – Strategic Sponsor

RMI (Roofmart International) – Corporate Gold Sponsor

Cocktail sponsors – Artistic Skylight and Polyglass

Hors D’ouevres Sponsors – Brault Roofing and Tremco

Industry Sponsor – Soprema

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On February 6th, 2025, the 4th Annual IIBEC SOC Diversity and Inclusion in Building Science Forum was hosted at the Design Exchange, drawing an impressive crowd of over 100 attendees for a day of education and networking.

The event kicked off with an opening speech by the Keynote speaker Miljana Horvat, Dipl.Ing.Arh, MArch, PHD, Professor, Associate Dean, Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science at Toronto Metropolitan University. Professor Horvat spoke about the multidisciplinary nature of building science and raising the profile of the industry to be more widely known and attractive.

Master of Ceremonies Blair Gamracy of Synergy partners introduced the panel discussion including: Jennifer Hogan of Pretium Engineering, Alex Lukachko, of the University of Toronto, and Shristi Joshi of Artistic Skylight. The moderator was Stephanie Robinson of WSP Canada. The panel discussed 

• Diverse Perspectives in Sustainable Design: How different backgrounds and experiences contribute to innovative solutions in building sciences.

• The Role of Diversity in Tackling Climate Challenges: How diverse teams bring varied ideas for energy efficiency, green building, and climate-resilient infrastructure.
• Inclusive Workplaces in STEM Fields: Promoting equity and inclusion in architecture, engineering, and building technology professions.
• Bridging the Gap: How to attract and support underrepresented groups in building sciences.

The 4th Annual IIBEC SOC Diversity and Inclusion Forum was a resounding success, providing a platform for learning, networking, and the celebration of diversity within the IIBEC community. A sincere thank you to all who contributed to the event’s success and to those who continue to champion diversity in our industry.

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The IIBEC Southern Ontario Chapter held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on January 31, 2025, at the Thornhill Curling Club, with over 45 members in attendance. The meeting began with a welcome from the President, followed by the confirmation of quorum, acknowledgment of past presidents, and the adoption of the agenda and previous AGM minutes.

The Treasurer presented the 2024 Financial Statements, the 2025 Proposed Budget, and the approval of auditors for 2025, all of which were accepted following motions and votes. Committee Chairs then provided updates on key areas such as marketing, education, membership, technical advancements, and advocacy. Reports from the Maritime Branch and Region VII were also shared.

The 2025 Board of Directors welcomed new members Kevin Ferreira, Denis Theriault, and Jake Skinner. A call for committee volunteers was made, encouraging further engagement from members. Awards were then presented, including: 

• President Recognition Award – Blair Gamracy
• Outgoing Director Awards – Kevin Voorberg and Gary Hamilton
• Outstanding Committee Chair – Adam Thompson
• Volunteer of the Year – Dave Agnew and Shristi Joshi
• Outstanding Sponsor Award – Triumph Group of Companies (Bobby Sinaroy)
• Lifetime Achievement Award – Gary Hamilton (formal recognition to be held at the CRE Social in April)

Following the AGM, two technical seminars were conducted:

1. Seismic Change in Ontario Construction Law – Presented by Rachel Prestayko, Associate Lawyer at Kennaley Construction Law, discussing upcoming changes to the Construction Act and their impact on the industry. 
2. Understanding RAAC Panels from a Structural Engineer’s Perspective – Presented by Michael Hensen and Marc Winters from Rimkus Consulting Group, providing insights into the design and application of RAAC panels.

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