RC120 SeptOct 2025 - Magazine - Page 50
PEOPLE & EVENTS
EVENTS
The winners of the 2025 CAGBC Awards honoured the outstanding individuals and groundbreaking projects reshaping Canada’s green building sector.
VANCOUVER
GREEN BUILDING is no longer just an
environmental concern—it’s a business
imperative. That was the overarching
theme at Building Lasting Change (BLC)
2025, where industry leaders showcased
how sustainability is limiting risk and
driving innovation, investment and longterm value in Canada’s built environment.
Hosted by the Canada Green Building
Council (CAGBC) in Vancouver, the annual
conference focused on actionable solutions
for delivering energy-e昀케cient, low-carbon,
resilient and healthy buildings that create
value for owners and developers.
BLC also rea昀케rmed its role as a catalyst
for industry alignment, collaboration and
meaningful progress. Over three dynamic
days, forward-thinking organizations
and innovators from across the sector
announced major developments—including
signi昀椀cant research 昀椀ndings, an ambitious
cross-sector collaboration, expanded
certi昀椀cation frameworks, and new funding
commitments. The event culminated with
the prestigious CAGBC Awards Gala,
celebrating outstanding leadership and
design excellence in sustainable building.
“Building Lasting Change makes it clear
year over year: sustainability and business
50—RENEW CANADA – SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2025
go hand in hand,” said Thomas Mueller,
CAGBC’s president and CEO. “We’re not
just addressing climate related risks and
solutions—we’re strengthening Canada’s
economy, creating business value for
owners and developers, and future-proo昀椀ng
valuable assets. The momentum we saw at
this year’s conference re昀氀ects a sector that’s
ready to deliver—with smart strategies
and technologies, scalable innovation, and
a shared commitment to building a more
resilient, competitive Canada.”
The winners of the 2025 CAGBC Awards
honoured the outstanding individuals and
groundbreaking projects reshaping Canada’s
green building sector.
“The CAGBC Awards spotlight the
innovators transforming Canada’s building
industry,” said Mueller. “This year’s winners
exemplify extraordinary commitment and
leadership pushing beyond industry limits
to deliver the next generation of sustainable
buildings in Canada.”
The CAGBC Awards were presented
in two categories: Green Building,
recognizing standout projects that
demonstrate innovation and performance,
and Leadership, honouring the individuals
and teams leading Canada’s green
building transition. CAGBC also presented
its Lifetime Achievement Award to Jonathan
Westeinde, CEO and founder of Windmill
Development Group.
A pioneer in sustainable real estate
development, Westeinde has led more than
$5 billion in high-performance, socially
responsible building projects across
Canada. His leadership has driven the
creation of innovative 昀椀nancing models to
support green development, including zero
carbon district energy systems, geothermal
energy services contracts, and green loans.
Most recently, he co-launched the One
Planet Living Real Estate Fund, a $1 billion
impact investment vehicle focused on
building sustainable communities across
the country.
“Jonathan Westeinde has spent his
career proving that developing sustainable
market housing and pro昀椀tability can go
hand in hand,” said Mueller. “Through his
work at Windmill and beyond, he’s helped
rede昀椀ne what’s possible in green residential
development. His leadership has not only
delivered exceptional residential projects but
also created new pathways for 昀椀nancing and
scaling low-carbon development projects in
Canada.”
RENEWCANADA.NET
CAGBC
Building Lasting Change 2025
