Last month in Ottawa, at the 2025 Passive House Canada Conference, we saw powerful examples of how Passive House design is shaping the future of affordable housing in Canada. Several sessions focused on the intersection of building performance and social and community housing – a conversation that culminated in a tour of two remarkable projects by Ottawa Community Housing.
The first, Gladstone Village, is under construction with more phases in the pipeline. The second, Mosaïq Phase 1, is already completed and occupied. These projects – and others like them – offer more than just technical inspiration. They are a tangible, hopeful signal of how Canada can move forward in addressing its housing crisis. They prove that when we build to Passive House standards, we don’t just build better buildings – we build smarter, more resilient communities.
What makes these projects especially compelling is how thoughtfully public dollars are being used. Passive House construction isn’t only about initial investment; it’s about long-term returns. This is where “passive” design becomes truly active – reducing operational costs and carbon emissions, improving air quality and thermal comfort, extending building life, and lowering energy demands. These benefits matter – especially for those who need housing security most.
There’s growing evidence that improved air quality, sound control, and thermal consistency can support better mental health outcomes. It’s a reminder that Passive House design doesn’t just protect the planet – it protects people.
At a time when the national dialogue is increasingly focused on how to build more affordable housing, faster, these social and community housing projects show us what success can look like. I recently read an article ranking Canada among the top six countries in the world for building better. Denmark ranked first; Canada, fifth. The article highlighted B.C.’s Step Code and work in Indigenous communities as key reasons – I would add our growing portfolio of high-performance, community-led housing projects to that list.
One standout story from the conference came from CityHousing Hamilton. Their projects at 1620 Main St. E and 55 Queenston were highlighted in a session that illustrated what’s possible when procurement and performance go hand-in-hand. For example, the RFP for 1620 Main wasn’t built around a fixed dollar amount. Instead, it asked: How many units can you deliver within this envelope? The result? A target of 29 units was surpassed – they got 42. Same spend, more housing. That’s impact. That’s replicable.
And if you’re near Hamilton on Thursday, June 19, don’t miss our Passive House Pulse event, where you can tour both of these inspiring projects in person.
Together, we are seeing a growing body of evidence that Passive House isn’t a costly, luxury standard – it’s a practical, proven path forward for housing in Canada. When we continue to champion these solutions, we help ensure they become the norm, not the exception.
Warm regards,
Michael Quast
CEO, Passive House Canada
