Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Ottawa Construction Association (OCA) is starting 2026 with new leadership, reporting a record number of members and strong financial health after a busy year focused on industry advocacy.
Dan Leduc from Soloway Wright LLP has been elected as the OCA chair for 2026, officially succeeding 2025 chair Ken Crawford from C & M Electric. This leadership change comes alongside a significant transition in the association’s executive team. John De Vries has stepped down as president and general manager after nearly 28 years of dedicated service.
John De Vries (Photo by i Shoot Events)
Bill Ferreira has taken over for De Vries. Ferreira joined the OCA after spending eight years at Build Force Canada and also has experience with the Canadian Construction Association.
“I don’t have to tell you what a contribution he has made to this association, to our local industry and to the community at large in that period of time,” Crawford mentioned about De Vries in the association’s 2025 annual report.
Ferreira steps into his new role at an association that is seeing steady growth. The OCA ended 2025 with a record-breaking total of 1,190 member firms, gaining 20 new companies over the year. The membership now includes 370 trade contractors, 368 manufacturers, services and suppliers, 184 general contractors, 169 mechanical and electrical contractors, along with 99 roadbuilders and heavy construction contractors.
The organization is also on solid financial ground. According to its financial statements for 2025, the OCA brought in total revenues of $3,226,560 against operating costs of $3,103,059, resulting in a surplus of $123,501. At year-end, the association’s total net assets stood at a robust $8,020,748.
The regional construction market kept its momentum going too. In 2025 alone, the City of Ottawa issued 7,492 building permits worth just over $3.25 billion. While this marks a four percent drop from the previous year’s figures, it still represents the seventh consecutive year that permit values have surpassed $3 billion. Likewise, activity in the OCA’s plansroom rose nearly three percent with hosting of 2,769 projects throughout the year.
Ottawa mayor Mark Sutcliffe with John De Vries. Photo by i Shoot Events.
The OCA also achieved notable advocacy successes for its members during 2025. The association successfully challenged the City of Ottawa’s plan to sole-source a $15 million newcomer reception centre to Toronto-based BLT Construction using a pre-engineered “sprung structure.” After public pushback from both the OCA and General Contractors Association of Ottawa regarding assumptions that local industry couldn’t handle such projects properly, city officials cancelled that contract.
Additionally, thanks to lobbying efforts by the OCA , changes were made to liquidated damages provisions related to Lansdowne’s redevelopment-worth over $300 million-ultimately awarded to EBC Inc.-removing unpredictable risks that exceeded standard delay costs.
Apart from its advocacy work , the OCA continued its tradition of supporting local charities through corporate philanthropy efforts. In fact , the association donated more than $113 ,000 in support during `25. This included an impressive record donation amounting up-to `50 ,000 directed towards the Ottawa Food Bank that was raised during an extensive spring golf tournament which saw participation from 648 players across three different local courses.
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