Circular Economy Leadership Canada is now Circular Construction Canada

With momentum building behind the circular economy in Canada, we are entering a new chapter.

As of January 2026, Circular Economy Leadership Canada (CELC) has ceased to exist in its previous form and has rebranded and refocused as Circular Construction Canada (CCC). This shift reflects a deliberate strategic pivot to double down on an area of rising national importance: construction and the built environment.

Circular Construction Canada is a sector-focused, action-oriented platform dedicated to advancing circularity across Canada’s construction and real estate sector. As an evolution under Generate Canada’s high-impact, deep-dive Solution Space model, CCC builds on CELC’s national leadership, ecosystem convening, and policy influence to help accelerate circularity where material use, emissions, and economic opportunity converge most clearly.

Why Construction, and Why Now

Construction and real estate sit at the centre of Canada’s material use, emissions profile, and economic productivity. They also represent one of the largest untapped opportunities for circular economy solutions.

Our work going forward will be delivered through the Circular Construction Innovation Hub, the first national initiative dedicated to accelerating circular construction strategies across Canada’s construction and real estate sector.

Through strategic convening, regional demonstration projects, and knowledge sharing, the Hub is advancing cost-efficient, market-ready solutions while helping to de-risk investment in circular strategies, practices, and technologies.

Supported by a diverse and strategic Steering Committee and dozens of partners and supporters, Circular Construction Canada is moving quickly from concept to action.

Initial focus areas include:

• Design for circularity: Advancing design practices for new construction and building components, including modular and prefabrication approaches, that align with circular economy principles such as adaptability and disassembly.
• Adaptive reuse of buildings: Transforming existing buildings and structures to extend their lifecycles, conserve resources, and preserve community and heritage value.
• Reuse of materials in construction: Scaling deconstruction practices and the infrastructure needed to recover and reuse construction materials cost-effectively, beginning with wood and expanding to additional materials over time.

As part of this shift, Circular Construction Canada will also take on a different role in the bi-annual Canadian Circular Economy Summit, transitioning from co-owner to strategic partner.

Strengthening Partnerships, Expanding Impact

While our focus narrows to construction and the built environment, our commitment to collaboration only grows stronger. This revised focus opens up new, high-impact partnership opportunities across the circular economy ecosystem.

Our initial funders and founding partners include:

• Alberta Ecotrust Foundation
• Alberta Real Estate Foundation
• Max Bell Foundation
• The Co-operators
• Telfer School of Management via the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC)

We look forward to continuing to build this work together where it makes sense, particularly as it relates to circular construction and the built environment.

Most importantly, we want to thank our network for your unwavering support over the years. The foundation built through CELC made this next step possible. We are excited to continue the journey together as Circular Construction Canada.