Start your day your way. Choose between a Mental Health & Wellness Session or connect over Breakfast and Speed Networking with CAWIC.

If you haven’t already done so, drop by the registration desk to pick up your name badge, conference materials, and delegate giveaways. 

Fuel up for an inspiring day at the 2026 CAWIC Annual Conference with a delicious breakfast and great company. Join us in the morning to connect, recharge, and get ready for a full day of learning, networking, and celebration.

Join us as we officially open the 2026 CAWIC Annual Conference with a welcome and opening remarks. We’ll set the stage for what’s ahead at this year’s event. 

Breaking barriers and building futures

Contractor, TV personality, and passionate advocate for women in the skilled trades, Sherry is helping redefine what the future of construction looks like.

Since starting her construction career 15 years ago alongside her father, Mike Holmes, and brother, Michael Holmes Jr., under the television spotlight, Sherry Holmes has forged her own path. A passionate advocate for youth and women in the skilled trades, she uses her platform to drive change. From her latest show Holmes on Homes: Building a Legacy, her web series Summer Holmes, and partnerships with organizations like Skills Canada, Sherry is helping build a more inclusive, resilient industry—one project at a time.
 
 Sherry will share insights into navigating and succeeding in dominantly male workplaces, her career journey, and her perspective on what our industry and each of us can do to attract and support more women in the construction sector.

• Sherry Holmes, Contractor | TV Personality

Take a break, grab a coffee, and make the most of this time to connect with fellow attendees and explore the CAWIC Exhibitor Centre. Discover innovative products, services, and opportunities from industry-leading organizations. 

Canada is entering a period of significant opportunity for construction, driven by growing demands for housing, infrastructure, trade, defence and economic growth. But turning that ambition into projects will require the industry to address some significant challenges. This session will explore the current state of Canada’s construction industry, the economic and policy forces shaping its future, and the critical issues of workforce, supply chains, infrastructure investment and procurement. We’ll also look at what the industry itself needs to do to build the capacity, talent and leadership required for what comes next.

• Nicole Emmett, Vice-President, Communications, Marketing and Member Services, Canadian Construction Association

Take a pause and enjoy a delicious lunch while connecting with fellow attendees. Whether you’re continuing the conversation from the morning sessions or meeting someone new, this is your chance to recharge, refuel, and build meaningful relationships.

Breakout Session 1 – Leadership: Strategic Influence: Leadership Tools that Move Projects Forward

• Dawn Sweany, Strategic Coach for Women in Business, Rodina Ventures Ltd

Breakout Session 2 – Skills Enhancement: From the Field to the Future: Leading Through Change, Ambiguity, and AI 

• Holynde Smiechowski, Corporate AI Lead, PCL Constructors Inc.

Breakout Session 3 – DEI: Cultivating Brave Spaces 

• Reva Bond, Founder, Halcyon Homesteading 

Breakout Session 1 – Leadership: Two Pathways, One Pipeline: Supporting Youth and Women Entering the Skilled Trades
Speaker:

• Susan Crowley, Executive Director, CWB Foundation

Breakout Session – Skills Enhancement: Tools For Change

• Naomi Jehlicka, Director, External Relations and Development, Women Building Futures 

Breakout Session 3 – DEI: The Blueprint Approach. How to Build Inclusive Workforce Systems in High Demand Industries

• Stacey Noronha, Senior Manager of Partnerships and Business Development

Take a break, grab a coffee, and make the most of this time to connect with fellow attendees and explore the CAWIC Exhibitor Centre. Discover innovative products, services, and opportunities from industry-leading organizations. 

Blaze Your Own Trail: Break Through Past Limits to Transform Your Future
Dr. Samra Zafar is passionate about helping people live and lead with courage to become agents for change. She will explore how to unlearn self-limiting patterns, embrace authenticity, and move forward with greater courage and confidence. 

What could become possible if you stopped letting past limits define your future? In this powerful, thought-provoking keynote, Dr. Zafar will explore how to break free from self-limiting patterns, embrace your authentic self, and move forward with greater courage and confidence. Through practical, science-backed strategies, attendees will learn how to strengthen relationships, overcome internal barriers, trust their intuition, and lean into purpose.

• Dr. Samra Zafar – Physician | Expert on Authentic Leadership and Inclusive Wellness | Bestselling Author

Join us for a reception before dinner to unwind, connect, and toast to an inspiring day. Enjoy great conversation and casual networking as we transition into an evening of celebration and connection at the 2026 CAWIC Annual Conference.

Get ready for an unforgettable evening at the 2026 CAWIC Gala Dinner & Awards! Join us as we come together to celebrate the achievements of extraordinary women and allies in construction. Enjoy a memorable night of fine dining, entertainment, and inspiring moments.

Keep the celebration going and join us after the Gala for a relaxed and fun after-party! Whether you’re in the mood to chat, or just kick back with colleagues, this is your chance to wind down in great company. A perfect end to the day.