About this Event
The State of Green Building Certifications in Ottawa
Ottawa is raising the bar on sustainable development — and the data proves it.
Join us for the next Better Buildings Breakfast as we unveil the findings from the City of Ottawa’s 2025 Green Building Certifications Report, prepared in collaboration with JJ McNeil Commercial.
This session will highlight Ottawa’s progress toward climate and net-zero goals through leading certification programs, including LEED, BOMA BEST, ENERGY STAR, Passive House, and Net Zero. We’ll explore how certified buildings across the residential, office, industrial, and retail sectors are shaping a low-carbon future — and where key opportunities for leadership and investment exist.
What to Expect
✅ The latest data on Ottawa’s certified buildings and residential units
✅ Market trends, adoption pathways, and growth insights
✅ Real-world perspectives from green building program leaders
Presenters
- City of Ottawa & James McNeil, JJ McNeil Commercial — Report Highlights & Market Trends
- Suhaila Cappuccino, Senior Manager, Operations, BOMA — BOMA BEST: A Tool and Roadmap for Improving Building Operations and Sustainability
- Brent Gilmour, Chief Commercial Officer, Canada Green Building Council — Unlocking Sustainability as a Competitive Advantage in a Shifting Market
Event Details
📅 November 25
⏰ Doors open at 7:30 a.m.
Event 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
📍 Algonquin College — Nawapon Room (Building C)
1385 Woodroffe Avenue, Ottawa
Join us for fresh insights, great conversation, and valuable networking as we explore how Ottawa is leading the way in advancing high-performance, low-carbon buildings — and where we go next.
Let’s keep building a greener capital — together.
Speakers
James McNeil is the founder and principal of JJ McNeil Commercial, an Ottawa-based commercial real estate brokerage specializing in sustainable and high-performance buildings. Over more than 14 years working independently, James has helped advance green building adoption across the National Capital Region, supporting owners, tenants, and institutions in achieving market-leading sustainability outcomes.
A recognized leader in Canada’s climate and real estate community, James is a Clean50 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient and Clean50 Community Service Award honouree, and was named a Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) Building Champion for his long-standing contributions to advancing low-carbon real estate and policy innovation.
James is also the founder of the Better Buildings Breakfast series, a platform fostering collaboration across government, industry, utilities, and the development community to accelerate climate action in the built environment.
As the Chief Commercial Officer for the Canada Green Building Council (CAGBC), Brent provides strategic direction for market-facing programs and groundbreaking initiatives that drive green building growth. With 20 years of leadership experience, Brent plays a vital role in CAGBC’s mission, overseeing and directing all business lines.
Before joining CAGBC, Brent was the executive director of QUEST, the voice for the Smart Energy Communities marketplace. Brent was responsible for overall corporate strategy, operational direction, and stakeholder engagement, helping guide QUEST from a concept to an established non-profit organization.
A passionate champion for sustainable development, Brent has also worked with the Canadian Urban Institute, the University of Toronto’s Sustainability Office, and as an independent research consultant. Brent continues to remain involved in community development as a registered professional planner and, in 2018, was a recipient of the Clean50 Outstanding Contribution to Clean Capitalism for Cities.
As Senior Operations Manager at BOMA Canada, Suhaila leads operations and projects for the BOMA BEST Sustainability Certification Program. Under her leadership, the team has earned a growing reputation for advancing sustainability and operational excellence across the globe. Suhaila regularly works with leading building owners and managers across North America to help turn their properties into high performers — leveraging smart technologies, resilience, and risk mitigation. She is fluent in English, French, and Spanish.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Algonquin College - Ottawa Campus, 1385 Woodroffe Avenue, Ottawa, Canada
CAD 37.61 to CAD 61.68
