Ottawa's Building Boom Meets a New Era of Leadership
Ottawa's construction industry is evolving fast — and the man now steering one of its biggest advocacy organizations says it looks nothing like it did a generation ago. Bill Ferreira recently took over as president of the Ottawa Construction Association (OCA), and he's wasting no time making clear that the sector is changing in ways that go far beyond bricks and mortar.
In a candid Q&A with the Ottawa Business Journal, Ferreira laid out his vision for an industry that's embracing technology, attracting new talent, and tackling some of the region's most pressing infrastructure challenges.
'Not Your Grandfather's Construction Industry'
That phrase — straight from Ferreira himself — captures the shift he wants people to understand. The stereotype of construction as a low-tech, brute-force trade is well past its expiry date. Today's job sites run on data, drones, building information modelling (BIM), and project management software that would have seemed like science fiction two decades ago.
"The industry has changed dramatically," Ferreira told OBJ. "We're seeing technology integrated at every level — from design and planning right through to the tools workers are using on site."
For Ottawa, that's especially relevant. The city is in the middle of a sustained construction wave, with LRT expansion, intensification along major corridors, and a federal government increasingly focused on housing supply all driving demand for skilled builders and smart contractors.
Workforce Is the Big Challenge
Ferreira is candid about where the OCA's biggest headaches lie: labour. Like virtually every region in Canada, Ottawa faces a skilled trades gap that's only going to widen as baby boomers retire out of the workforce.
His answer isn't just "recruit more people" — it's recruit different people. That means targeting younger workers who grew up digital-first and might not have considered construction as a career, as well as women and newcomers who have historically been underrepresented on job sites.
The pitch he's making to that audience? The pay is competitive, the work is tangible and meaningful, and modern construction roles often involve as much screen time as sweat.
Advocacy in a Politicized Climate
Running an industry association in 2026 also means navigating a tricky policy landscape. Ferreira flagged that regulatory complexity — from permitting timelines to procurement rules — remains a drag on Ottawa's construction sector, and he plans to push all three levels of government to streamline the process.
With housing affordability front and centre in federal and provincial politics, the OCA has more political attention than ever. Ferreira sees that as an opportunity: when politicians talk about building more homes, the construction industry finally has a seat at the table.
What's Next for the OCA
Ferreira's near-term priorities include expanding the OCA's training and apprenticeship programs, deepening relationships with the City of Ottawa on major infrastructure projects, and pushing members to adopt greener building practices as sustainability requirements tighten.
It's a full agenda — but if his opening salvo is any indication, Ferreira is exactly the kind of forward-thinking leader Ottawa's construction sector needs as the city keeps growing upward and outward.
Source: Ottawa Business Journal — Read the full Q&A
