Advancing practical solutions: Highlights from CCA’s inaugural Best Practices in Construction Symposium
Last month, over 100 construction professionals gathered in Toronto for the inaugural Best Practices in Construction Symposium, hosted by the Canadian Construction Association (CCA). With content designed by practitioners for practitioners, the event gave site supervisors, project managers, estimators, and contractors a rare national forum to speak openly about the real challenges facing today’s job sites.
Real-world insights, not theory
The symposium focused on fostering dialogue around innovative approaches, standards, and efficiency improvements that are shaping the future of construction.
By prioritizing practical insights over theory, attendees were able to exchange actionable strategies that can be implemented immediately within their organizations. Topics explored included data-driven decision-making, green building, risk management, equitable procurement, integrated delivery models, and smarter project execution.
The symposium opened with a compelling keynote by Dan Playfair, Vice-President of Major Component Replacement Future Unit Planning at Bruce Power. His insights into large-scale, safety-critical infrastructure highlighted the importance of planning discipline, cross-functional teamwork, and innovation in complex projects.
Collaboration was a recurring theme, with many speakers emphasizing the need for stronger partnerships across the value chain. Attendees stressed that successful project outcomes increasingly depend on trust, transparency and early alignment – not just technical expertise.
One of the clear goals for future editions is to bring more owners into the room, ensuring that conversations about best practices include those who set project expectations from the outset.
What’s next
As the construction sector faces rapid change, the symposium has already proven its value, addressing a critical need for a national forum focused on practical, on-the-ground challenges. With over 100 delegates engaging in open dialogue, the event was a powerful reminder that when practitioners come together to learn from each other, the entire industry benefits.
Planning is already underway for next year, with a focus on expanding the conversation to include more stakeholders of construction, to make this a cornerstone annual gathering for the entire construction community.
A big thank you to our sponsors
CCA extends its sincerest thanks to the event’s sponsors: Cassels, MNP, Northbridge Insurance, Platform, Pomerleau Construction, and Procore. Their support helped make our inaugural symposium a success.
