NEWS & EVENTS
CAA Events & Professional Development Sessions
Edmonton Design Week: MADE Premier Event
CAA & MADE Pecha Kucha: The Buildings We Visit
The CAA is very exited to have partnered with MADE in hosting a MADE Premier Event during Design Week - The Buildings We Visit, a Pecha Kucha style format event (8 presenters, 7 minutes per presentation, 20 slides, 20 seconds per slide) featuring architects and designers speaking about buildings and spaces they have travelled to visit, why they chose to visit them, how these buildings have inspired them and their design practices, and if there are parallels between those spaces and our built environment in Edmonton.
When: Wednesday, October 15, 2025 - 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm
Where: The Citadel Theatre (9828 101 A Avenue, Edmonton)
Cost: $25 per ticket (refreshments included)
Building Community for Aspiring and New Architectural Firm Owners
Coffee Chats
Join CAA Mentorship Sessions: Coffee Chats, an intimate and informal gathering designed for aspiring and newly established architecture firm owners. Held in relaxed settings like coffee shops or pubs, these hour-long sessions foster a sense of community where you can connect with peers navigating similar entrepreneurial journeys.
Engage in open discussions about real-world challenges—such as managing contracts, understanding insurance, navigating regulations, and setting up accounting systems—guided by seasoned industry leaders and specialists in fields like legal, financial, IT, and consulting services. With small groups of 6–8 participants, you’ll enjoy meaningful conversations, practical tools, and strategies to launch or grow your practice with confidence.
Whether you’re laying the foundation for your firm or contemplating the entrepreneurial leap, Coffee Chats offers a vibrant space to share insights, forge lasting connections, and build a trusted network for long-term success. Come for the coffee, stay for the inspiration.
Session 1 Details:
Join CAA Small Business Mentor, Lisa Kellerman, Principal/Owner of Rootstock Architecture Inc. for a roundtable discussion about the challenges of starting and growing a new firm. Come prepared with your questions and current challenges.
When: Thursday, October 23, 2025 - 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Where: Campio Brewing Co. (10257 105 St NW, Edmonton AB)
Cost: FREE for CAA Members, $15 for Non-Members
*Eligible for 1 AAA Structured Learning Unit
Session 1 Mentor:
Lisa Kellerman
Principal/Owner
Rootstock Architecture Inc.
AAA, AIBC, RAIC, CAA, M.Arch, B.BDGS Arts
With a career spanning over 20 years, Lisa has had the privilege of working with architectural practices across Africa, Asia, and North America. Her experience includes large-scale projects, such as the design and master planning of a theme park, a 1 million square foot shopping district, amphitheaters, sculptural obelisks,
officer towers, and residential high rises. In North America, Lisa's portfolio reflects a diverse range of projects, from mid-sized to large multi-family developments, high-rise towers, and private residences, to historic preservation efforts, churches, and various commercial undertakings. Throughout her journey, Lisa has honed her skills in communication, problem-solving, public relations, and leadership, attributes that have played a pivotal role in her capacity to foster collaborative teams and craft innovative design solutions.
November 25, 2025 - 11:30 am to 2:00 pm
SAVE THE DATE: 2025 CAA AGM & PD Sesion
The CAA 2025 AGM and PD Session will be held on Tuesday, November 25th from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm. In person and remote attendance will be available. More details to come soon. Hope to see you all there!
When: Tuesday, September 25, 2025 - 11:30 am to 2:00 pm
Where: In Person at The Derrick Golf and Winter Club (3500 119 St NW, Edmonton AB)
Virtual attendance option available
Cost: AGM Attendance Free
PD Session: $25 for CAA Members, $50 for Non-Members
*PD Session Eligible for 1 AAA Structured Learning Unit
**AGM Attendance Eligible for 1 AAA Non-Structured Learning Unit
Industry News
ASK PAC LIVE - Edmonton Canada Place
Procurement Assistance Canada (PAC), part of Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) is excited to announce the launch of our new sessions called “Ask PAC LIVE” within the Edmonton region. During these sessions, PAC will host a booth in the Edmonton Government Building - Canada Place where suppliers, entrepreneurs and the public can meet with one of our team members to obtain more information on Federal Procurement.
A little about what PAC does: informs, assists, and engages with businesses to help them better understand how the government buys goods and services and how to navigate the procurement process to find and bid on opportunities. Our outreach team consists of Procurement Officers who are knowledgeable about the Federal Procurement process and are here to support small and medium businesses as they navigate the procurement process.
Address: 9700 Jasper Ave, Edmonton (AB) T5J 4C1 (Canada Place)
Time: 1:00PM – 3 :00PM MDT
Dates: First Wednesday of every month
Location: Booth will be set up on the main floor near the security desk
*For more information, please visit their event page here.
This offering provides participants the opportunity to:
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Drop in for information nuggets related to procurement
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Ask questions on how to sell goods and services to the Government of Canada
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Learn about tools, resources, and innovative funding programs
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Pick up tips on finding opportunities, bidding best practices, and more
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Connect with one of our knowledgeable team members in-person
PAC welcomes everyone to come chat with them.
CAA Consulting Agreements Reference 2025
October 6th in Edmonton!
Diverse and Indigenous Supplier Information Sessions
Procurement Assistance Canada (PAC), part of Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) is pleased to host two in-person seminars on October 6th! We ask that you share this information with your member networks.
PAC is here to make it easier for smaller and diverse businesses to bid on federal contracting opportunities.
Diverse Suppliers Information Session
Time: 9:30am – 12:00pm (MDT) (*doors opens at 9:15am)
Location: Queen Elizabeth II Building located at 9820 107 Street NW Edmonton, AB T5K 0G1(Capital View Room – 2nd floor)
The aim of this session will be to provide key information on the federal procurement process, upcoming procurement opportunities, and will include time for you to participate in discussion around how we can support diverse businesses and organizations to work with the federal government now and what federal procurement should look like in the future. We will also be joined by the Business Development Bank of Canada and Innovations, Science and Economic Development Canada for information on funding.
English registration click here!
Inscription en français cliquez ici!
Indigenous Suppliers Information Session
Time: 1:30pm – 4:00pm (MDT) (*doors opens at 1:15am)
Location: Queen Elizabeth II Building located at 9820 107 Street NW Edmonton, AB T5K 0G1(Capital View Room – 2nd floor)
The aim of this session will be to provide key information on the federal procurement process, upcoming procurement opportunities, and will include time for you to participate in discussion around how we can support Indigenous businesses and organizations to work with the federal government now and what federal procurement should look like in the future. We will also be joined by the Business Development Bank of Canada for information on funding.
English registration click here!
Inscription en français cliquez ici!
*Please note, both sessions will be delivered in English.
Registration is limited, so secure your spot today!
If you have any questions related to the upcoming event, please contact us at SACOuest-PACWest@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca.
Thank you, we look forward to hosting you!
Procurement Assistance Canada – Western Region
Public Services and Procurement Canada | Government of Canada
SACOuest-PACWest@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca 1-855-281-6763
City of Edmonton – Supplier Performance Management Workshop 2025
The City of Edmonton recently hosted its 2025 Supplier Performance Management (SPM) Workshop, led by Mike Pearman and Lindsay Williams. The session introduced updates to the City’s SPM program, which measures and manages supplier performance on City contracts.
The program is designed to strengthen supplier relationships, promote collaboration, and improve service quality while reducing costs for Edmontonians. Updates for 2025 include the introduction of the Supplier Performance Rating (SPR)in procurement decisions, a new sustainability KPI, revised scorecard weightings, enhanced training resources, and expanded SAP Ariba/Business Network support.
Suppliers learned how performance is evaluated through scorecards that measure quality, delivery, financial management, relationship management, and—where applicable—health, safety, environment, and sustainability. Results directly influence procurement opportunities, with past performance scores now factored into supplier selection.
The workshop also highlighted expectations for suppliers, including regular evaluations, transparent communication, and opportunities for improvement. A clear process for probation, suspension, and appeals was outlined, ensuring fairness and accountability.
By recognizing strong performance and addressing challenges early, the SPM program creates opportunities for innovation, efficiency, and long-term partnership success.
For resources, training, and ongoing updates, suppliers can connect via the City’s Supplier Management team at suppliermanagement@edmonton.ca.
Updated debrief request process and advancing Supplier Performance Management
As a continuation of our commitment to keeping you informed of The City’s Operational Excellence project, I’m pleased to share the following updates.
Initiative #1: Enhanced bid debrief request process
We have heard feedback from our supplier community about our bid debrief process and the turnaround times. In response, we have enhanced the way suppliers can request a debrief to receive feedback on their bids. This updated process aims to improve communication and transparency between The City and its valued suppliers. It will also streamline debrief coordination, reduce our cycle times and will provide a greater opportunity to improve bid responses for future procurements.
The process includes notifications at two bid phases:
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Negotiations phase: We will notify unsuccessful bidders that The City has selected the highest-rated proponents to enter negotiations for a given RFx and a debrief request can be submitted once the contract has been awarded. Please note, to maintain the integrity of the procurement process, The City will not be disclosing the name of the highest-rated proponent at this stage.
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Award phase: We will email bidders that the contract has been awarded and include a link to a debrief request form. The debrief request form will also ask the bidder to complete a short survey and provide feedback on the procurement process as The City strives towards continuous improvement.
The new process will come into effect for contracts awarded from August 25, 2025.
This enhanced process is part of a broader effort by The City to improve how we communicate to suppliers throughout the procurement process. We are actively updating our systems to ensure bidders are shared information at each stage. Additional improvements will be released in Q4 2025.
Initiative #2: Advancing Supplier Performance Management
We have completed our pilot Supplier Performance Management (SPM) project with a construction supplier partner. We are reviewing the feedback and learnings as we move into the next phase, where we will expand our efforts with more construction suppliers and extend to consulting suppliers whose projects span multiple business units across The City. We will be inviting industry input through a survey and workshop over the coming weeks to help us understand the needs and expectations from the consulting supplier community as we advance our SPM project work. The anticipated launch of the next phase of the SPM project is early Q4 2025.
As we are continuing to work with the first pilot group for the SPM project, we are also working to improve the process based on the learnings and feedback from all parties. More information will be provided as the project matures.
If you have any questions about the above initiatives or the Operational Excellence program, contact Operational Excellence Leader Sheldon Chow at Sheldon.Chow@calgary.ca.
Thank you for your continued support and commitment to mutually improving the way we work together. The insights from you and your team are valuable to The City improving our processes.
Saqib Tariq
Manager, Procurement (Capital), Supply Management
Corporate Planning & Financial Services
Industry Events
Edmonton Design Week
October 14-19, 2025
Edmonton Design Week started as a way to celebrate design in this great city. Over the years it has evolved to become a showcase for all things design in Edmonton.
Edmonton Design week is hosted by Media Architecture Design Edmonton (MADE).
Explore Edmonton’s diverse design world through interactive exhibitions, events, and talks by industry leaders. Our goal is to allow you to become part of the design process and shape your own future with design through ideation and creation.
Tickets are available for individual events, or Grab your VIP Pass to get access to all six Premier MADE events and get your hands on exclusive EDW swag.
AWMAC AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE GALA TICKETS NOW ON SALE
Tickets are now on sale for the AWMAC Northern Alberta Chapter Awards of Excellence Gala, taking place on Friday, October 17th, 2025, at the River Cree Resort and Casino.
Join AWMAC for an unforgettable evening as they celebrate exceptional craftsmanship in architectural woodworking.
Ticket & Hotel Info:
Tickets: $75 each + taxes & fees
Special hotel rate: $199/night + taxes & fees
Special Note: Only a limited number of tickets available this year — once they’re gone, they’re gone!
Buy Tickets Here
Book Your Hotel Room
October 22-23, 2025
BUILDEX Alberta
BMO Centre at Stampede Park, Calgary
Taking place at the BMO Centre at Stampede Park in Calgary on October 22-23, 2025, BUILDEX Alberta returns as the province’s largest exhibition and conference, bringing together more design, construction, and real estate management professionals than any other. As the largest annual gathering of building and construction professionals in Alberta, BUILDEX is the dynamic epicenter where industry visionaries and innovators unite to explore exciting possibilities, share groundbreaking insights, and discover the brilliant future ahead for residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial building sectors across our thriving province.
Claim Your Free Trade Show Pass!
Access: https://www.microspec.com/reg/BXA2025/API/?code=CAAEXPO
Learn more and register for a free Trade Show Pass using promo code: CAAEXPO
Infrastructure Partners Conference
Early Bird Rates end October 1, 2025!
Join us on November 5-6, 2025 at the Edmonton Convention Centre for the 2025 Infrastructure Partners Conference. This conference is a forum for partners in the building and infrastructure industry to share information, perspectives and discuss topics of common interest, develop innovative solutions, recognize excellence and build relationships. The event will offer a comprehensive program that includes a reception, awards, plenary and breakout sessions and engagement with the Minister of Infrastructure and representatives from Alberta Infrastructure.
Secure your spot today and be part of shaping the future of public infrastructure in Alberta.
Attendees can earn Professional Development Credits at this Conference.
Register Today for Early Bird Pricing!
Registration Includes:
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Cocktail reception, dinner, Minister of Infrastructure address and award presentations
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Plenary and breakout sessions
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Breakfast, lunch and coffee break
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Earn Professional Development while attending! A Certificate of Attendance is available upon request - please indicate this during registration.
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A certificate of attendance is available upon request—please indicate this during registration.
