Change Builders Spotlight: Blaise McDonald

Builder. Leader. Volunteer President.

Some leaders step forward because they have to.

Others step forward because they believe in the industry.

In 2023, Blaise McDonald of MAC Reno served as President of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association – Vancouver Island (CHBA VI) — a volunteer role that demands time, energy, and deep commitment to the future of residential construction.

For Blaise, leadership at CHBA VI wasn’t about title.

It was about stewardship.

A Lifetime in Renovation

Blaise has been part of MAC Reno for decades. Not just employed there, but grown there.

He has seen the company evolve. He has worked through changing building codes, shifting client expectations, economic cycles, and rising performance standards. He understands renovation not just as a business model, but as a craft.

Blaise McDonald has built his career around delivering thoughtful, high-quality construction across a wide range of project types  Every project carries unknowns. Every wall can reveal surprises. Every homeowner brings different goals.

That experience shaped Blaise’s leadership style, practical, steady, collaborative.

And that same approach carried into his presidency at CHBA VI.

Leading a Volunteer Association

Being CHBA VI President is not a paid role.

It’s a commitment to the industry beyond your own company.

In 2023, Blaise represented:

• Builders
• Renovators
• Trades
• Suppliers
• Associates
• Emerging leaders
• He worked alongside a volunteer board to support:
• Industry advocacy
• Education and professional development
• Energy Step Code readiness
• Workforce development
• Community engagement

Presidents don’t lead alone, they guide conversation, set tone, and create space for collaboration.

Blaise brought the perspective of a renovator — practical, grounded, solution-oriented.

Representing Renovation in the Broader Conversation

Too often, renovation can be overlooked in conversations dominated by new construction.

But Vancouver Island’s housing future depends heavily on renovation and retrofit.

Existing housing stock.
Aging homes.
Performance upgrades.
Adaptability and aging-in-place.

Blaise’s voice at the CHBA table ensured that renovators were represented in discussions about policy, training, and performance standards.

That matters.

Because improving homes we already have is just as critical as building new ones.

Leadership Through Consistency

He builds systems.
He builds relationships.
He builds trust.

At MAC Reno, that means detailed planning, strong project management, and long-term client relationships.

At CHBA VI, it meant supporting members, encouraging participation, and strengthening the association’s role as a unified voice for the industry.

Volunteer leadership requires humility.It requires believing that the industry is bigger than any one company.

Raising the Standard

During his presidency, the industry continued navigating:

• Performance expectations
• Evolving energy requirements
• Labour shortages
• Economic uncertainty

Through it all, CHBA VI remained focused on education, collaboration, and practical pathways forward.

That’s the kind of leadership Blaise represents, not reactive, but responsive.

Not performative, but purposeful.

Why This Matters

Strong associations don’t run themselves.

They are built by volunteers who give their time while still running businesses, managing teams, and serving clients.

Blaise McDonald stepped into that role in 2023 not for recognition, but because he believes in:

• Professional standards
• Industry collaboration
• Continuous improvement
• The value of community

That’s what a Change Builder looks like.

Someone who builds exceptional homes.

And also helps build the industry itself.