In this issue:
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What EOs Need to Know about the CHBA Fall Meetings in Ottawa
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Membership Reporting: 2025-2026 Remittance Forms Available
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GrowthZone Call for EOs/HBA Staff: Indicate your availability
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September EOC Call Recap: Roundtable Discussion
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Economic Impacts Fact Sheets
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Free IBS Education for EOs and Staff
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Upcoming Dates + Welcome and Farewells
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What EOs Need to Know About CHBA Fall Meetings in Ottawa
OCTOBER 20-24, 2025 | OTTAWA, ON CHBA is hosting its Fall Meetings in Ottawa from October 20 to 24. The CHBA National Committees and Councils, including the Executive Officers’ Council (EOC), and the CHBA Board of Directors will be meeting to conduct the association's business. These meetings are important for national committee/council members and their associated EOs to attend, as they advance both the business of the national association and that of local and provincial HBAs. The meetings are great for all EOs, even those who don’t have a member on a committee/council, to get up to date on the extensive CHBA activity in support of your members. As an EO, you are a member of the EOC and should have received an invitation to attend the EOC roundtable on Wednesday, October 22, at 5:30 PM ET. All EOs are invited and encouraged to attend all meetings on the Fall Meetings schedule. An “all meetings” schedule for EOs can be found here. CHBA has prepared a wiki article for EOs on everything they need to know about the fall meetings. You can read it here.
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Membership Reporting: 2025-2026 Remittance Forms Available
Visit chba.ca > Resources > HBA Resources to learn how membership reporting to the national level works for those who use GrowthZone, the advantages for your members in reporting monthly for those of you who don’t use GrowthZone (and a new updated reporting template now that RenoMark does not need to be reported), and an explanatory video for how to use the Membership Remittance Forms, which have now been updated for 2025-26. Please note that all membership reports should go to membership@chba.ca.
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GrowthZone Call for EOs/HBA Staff
CHBA is setting up a call for EOs and HBA staff using GrowthZone to ask questions, share information, and crowdsource tips. Those who aren’t yet using GrowthZone but are considering moving to it are welcome to attend as well. If you are interested in attending the session, please indicate your availability in this doodle poll. There will be no formal agenda: this is an open discussion forum, so bring your questions and best practices.
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September EOC Call Recap: Roundtable Discussion
The first call after summer break was a very timely roundtable discussion. The recent announcement on the Build Canada Homes program, which will focus on large-scale affordable and social housing on Crown lands, was discussed. While modular and factory-built solutions are emphasized, private sector partnerships are the key. Changes to CMHC’s MLI Select program were also reviewed, with stricter affordability requirements making rental projects harder to qualify. Advocacy continues for expanded funding. Updates were shared on GST rebate legislation, including discussion around provinces following suit with their own tax relief. Additional topics included development charges, a fall Growth Zone roundtable (see new item above), the relaunch of Renovation Month, and the decision not to host a 2026 Canadian reception at the International Builders’ Show. Got an idea for a topic for a future EOC call? Email us. The call recording can be found here.
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Economic Impact Fact Sheets Available
This is a reminder that fact sheets that reflect the economic contributions of residential construction are posted each year. The most recent 2024 fact sheets are published on CHBA’s website. This includes the economic investment in each region, the number of jobs supported directly and indirectly, and the total wages of those jobs. The value of investment reflects the estimated value of work put in place throughout the year. Feel free to quote these figures and use them as you see fit in your advocacy work. If you have any questions or require changes to the fact sheets' contact information, please contact CHBA.
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Free IBS Education for EOs and Staff
FEBRUARY 17-19, 2026
We recognize many won’t be choosing to go south of the border this year, but IBS is an annual event hosted by NAHB (our American counterparts) that connects, educates and improves the residential construction industry. This year’s event is being held in Orlando at the Orange County Convention Centre. It’s a hub for new product launches, construction demos, industry thought leader sessions, workshops, panel discussions, and more. Registration is free for Canadian HBA staff, and CHBA members get a discount when they register as a CHBA member. CHBA is not hosting a Canada Night Reception this year, but Canadian attendees are encouraged to gather informally – arrangements will be made for an informal meeting spot on the Wednesday. To register, visit the IBS website and select “State and Local Association Staff.” You should then see your province available in the dropdown.
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Reminder: update your HBA’s calendar and add eoc@chba.ca to your newsletter’s distribution list so CHBA is aware of your HBA’s activities, too!
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Mark Your Calendars!
CHBA staff and the EOC Management Committee organize timely and informative programming for HBAs on various topics related to HBA operations, membership, and professional development. Please let us know if you have a topic you would like the EOC to explore through a call, workshop, or webinar. Also, a reminder to update your HBA calendar so everyone is aware of the great things you're doing at your local HBA and add eoc@chba.ca to your newsletter distribution list so National can see the great things you’re doing.
Below are notable dates and upcoming sessions:
- October (date TBD): GrowthZone User Group call
- October 20-24: CHBA National Fall Meetings | Ottawa, ON
- Dates for Standing EOC Calls (third Tuesday of every month at 2 pm ET, topics TBD): 2025: November 18, December 16; 2026: January 20, February 18, March 17, April 21
- February 17-19, 2026: IBS | Orlando, FL
- May 4-8, 2026: CHBA’s Home Building Week in Canada | Quebec City, QC
- EOC Professional Development Forum: June 9-11, 2026 (Dates and location TBC soon, official Save the Date to follow)
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Welcome and Farewell!
With over 50 local and provincial associations, there are always EOs heading off to new opportunities and new EOs joining the family.
Joining the HBA family is not a new EO but a newly merged, bigger association: the Guelph & District Home Builders' Association, the Guelph Wellington Development Association and the Greater Dufferin Home Builders' Association have recently merged forces to form the Grand Highlands Home Builders’ Association. Melissa Jonker is the CEO of the newly formed association. Congratulations Melissa!
CHBA also has two new staff members to introduce, but first, we say farewell to Leah Nord, CHBA’s Senior Director, Operations, who is taking a position at BILD Alberta. Since she joined the national team three years ago, Leah has been a big contributor to our operations, streamlining processes, heading up CHBA’s advocacy on labour/workforce, helping to create the Women in Residential Construction Council, leading the organization of Home Building Week in Canada, and much more. We’re sad to see her go, but happy that she’ll stay within the CHBA family.
We also say farewell to John Bos, CHBA’s Director of Finance, who is retiring after an incredibly impressive 40 years with CHBA. Not only has John kept CHBA in the black for four decades, he was always willing to lend a hand no matter what the task, and his institutional memory has been invaluable. We were pleased to present John with a CHBA Lifetime Achievement Award at our national conference in Victoria in the spring. We wish him all the best in his retirement.
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Meagan Rockett Meagan is an award-winning event professional with more than 15 years of experience creating impactful in-person, hybrid, and virtual events. She has a strong background in sponsorship strategy, program design, and member engagement, with a track record of producing events that align with organizational goals. At CHBA, Meagan will be managing CHBA’s Home Building Week and other CHBA events, including the EOC Professional Development Forum, delivering innovative experiences that connect members and advance the industry.
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Olikha Mawji
Olikha joined the CHBA in August as the Director of Finance. With over 25 years of leadership experience in the nonprofit sector, Olikha bring a dynamic blend of financial acumen, strategic insight, and operational excellence to every initiative. Having held senior positions at various not for profit organizations throughout her career, Olikha brings a unique blend of expertise across Finance, Human Resources, Operations Management, and Digital Transformation and has been recognized for her ability to bridge fiscal responsibility with mission-driven impact, building resilient systems that support long-term sustainability and growth.
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The Canadian Home Builders' Association
141 Laurier Avenue West, Suite 500
Ottawa, ON K1P 5J3
communications@chba.ca
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