CRCA leaders highlight connection at national conference

By The Coffee Shops™ 

CRCA’s national conference gives roofing professionals a forum to exchange ideas and look ahead together. 

On a recent episode of Roofing Road Trips®, Heidi J. Ellsworth spoke with Stephane Poissant, Paul Forgues and Jason Campbell from the Canadian Roofing Contractors Association (CRCA) about the association’s National Conference and AGM in Quebec City. The conversation centered on what contractors can gain when they step away from daily jobsite demands to connect with peers, suppliers and technical experts from across Canada. 

During the conversation, Heidi asked Stephane to unpack what makes the National conference exceptional.  

Q: Why does the CRCA National Conference matter for contractors? 

Stephane shared that the conference brings together professionals from all different parts of the industry. These diverse points of view allow for exciting exchanges of ideas. 

“It was a really interesting conference. it's really a place where we step back from the day to day and we start to look where we are in Canada and what we're looking forward to as the for the roofing industry.” 

Intentionally dedicating time to discuss the future of the industry allows roofing professionals to take a more active role in shaping the road ahead. Stephane explained that rather than just talking about industry trends, attendees can be a part of driving the direction of roofing.  

Q: How does the CRCA expo help professionals connect across the industry? 

The expo portion of CRCA National Conference in comparison to experiences Jason has had at other events across national borders was more all-encompassing than similar events.  

“What's unique to Canada is it combines three different elements. We have a national marketplace, hands-on learning, and peer-to-peer connections. It's really a conduit for us to provide architects and engineers and consultants a chance to see how the products that they specify are installed, and for the contractors, it's an opportunity to view new innovations in the roofing industry and meet.” 

Jason went on to say that he found the most value in seeing new products and equipment, new installation methods or new materials. Having access to professionals across the industry spectrum is a rare occurrence and allows attendees to deepen their knowledge of the industry. 

Q: What should contractors take away from attending these events? 

Paul shared that the conference is a great opportunity for contractors to step back and think about the bigger picture. 

“I see the three advantages for contractors to consider in attending the events. I talk about awareness, access, and alignment. And when I say talk about awareness, it's this understanding where the industry is heading, whether that's evolving codes or standards, maybe some sustainability expectations that are coming up or even like the tariffs and procurement changes that will impact day-to-day business.” 

Other topics like technology and global conflicts were also key focuses of the event, which are sometimes topics that contractors may not consider in their day to day but do have an effect on business.  

The conference discussion showed how CRCA events can turn shared challenges into practical takeaways. For contractors facing workforce questions, code changes, technology shifts and business pressures, the value comes not only from formal education but also from candid conversations with people working through similar issues across the country. 

Watch or Listen to the entire podcast to learn more about CRCA’s National Conference and AGM.