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Through the OHBA Futures Faster Program, OHBA continues to pilot targeted learning streams that respond directly to the realities facing Ontario’s residential construction industry, from housing supply and regulatory complexity to workforce readiness and innovation.
The following specialized streams and micro-credential courses are designed to be practical, applied, and immediately relevant, giving members the tools and confidence to navigate a rapidly evolving housing landscape.
Leveraging content from partners like NRCan LEEP and the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction, Trevor Trainor is working with the Futures Faster team to combine climate resilience with energy efficiency and building science to develop an intro course focused on resiliency. Participants will work collaboratively to identify climate-risk priorities and map them against code requirements, reframing regulations as tools for creating high-performance housing.
The session will be piloted through a collaborative workshop in partnership with Sustainable Buildings Canada, as a kick-off event to the First Nations Housing Conference in Thunder Bay February on the 23rd.
Developed with ReHousing, this new micro-credential addresses a critical industry need: understanding what is realistically feasible on an existing residential lot.
In a short, applied format, participants learn how to interpret zoning permissions, navigate interactive zoning maps, understand key Ontario Building Code thresholds (Part 9 vs. Part 3), and identify viable small-scale housing project types. The focus is on real-world decision-making, not theory.
The goal is to inspire increased confidence at the earliest stages of a project, helping builders, renovators, and housing professionals reduce risk, avoid costly missteps, and identify opportunities more efficiently. As interest in infill, gentle density, and small-scale development grows, this credential provides a scalable, practical foundation for the industry.
Our Better Buildings Boot Camp, led by Sustainable Buildings Canada, paired seasoned mentors/Subject Matter Experts with mentees/industry early career professionals in weekly learning sessions centered on a real-world high-performance retrofit project.
Grounded in the Integrated Design Process (IDP), this six-week learning experience provides early-career professionals with practical exposure and applied knowledge across five core areas of building performance: goal setting, energy modelling, building envelope, mechanical systems and human considerations. Each topic builds on the next to create a comprehensive understanding of an actual high-performance retrofit project.
Through guided mentorship and collaborative problem-solving, BBBC-Pro offers a unique opportunity to upskill, build confidence, and accelerate professional growth in the building sector.
The Better Buildings Boot Camp-Pro (BBBC-Pro) stream is a rare opportunity to gain hands-on experience with a high-performance retrofit project while learning directly from leading sustainability and building performance experts. Participants directly apply what's being learned to a real-world building project, guided by mentors who have designed and delivered high-performance homes and retrofits across Ontario.
Led by the team at Realist.ca the Multiplex Stream focuses on unlocking small-scale, multi-unit housing opportunities that sit between single-family homes and large developments. Through virtual workshops and a capstone experience, participants gained real-world insight into how multiplex housing can be successfully delivered on existing residential lots.
Working closely with mentors, participants built practical skills and industry connections to support their entry into multiplex investing. The stream covered zoning and building code pathways, investment fundamentals, and construction execution, showing how these elements come together on live projects. By reducing early-stage uncertainty and strengthening feasibility decision-making, the Multiplex Stream equips builders and developers to respond confidently to growing demand for attainable housing. As municipalities continue to encourage gentle density, this stream prepares industry professionals to lead—rather than react—to change.
Please note: Submitting this eligibility form doesn’t guarantee a spot in the program, and it’s not your official application or enrolment. There will be additional steps you’ll need to complete before being accepted as a participant.
Created by the Ontario Home Builders’ Association (OHBA), this mentored upskilling program provides career support to help more Ontarians build strong futures in residential construction.
