The Canadian Polyurea & Protective Coatings Association (CPCA) is proud to announce a significant milestone: membership has surged by 34% in the first half of 2025, bringing our national network to over 420 certified applicators, manufacturers, and industry suppliers coast to coast.
“This growth reflects the incredible momentum we’re seeing in protective coatings adoption across Canada,” said the CPCA executive director. “From waterproofing critical infrastructure to agricultural containment and residential applications, polyurea is being recognized as the gold standard.”
What’s Driving the Growth?
Several factors are contributing to the industry’s expansion. The federal government’s $12 billion infrastructure rehabilitation fund has created enormous demand for high-performance coatings. Municipal water authorities in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia have increasingly specified polyurea coatings for cisterns, manholes, and pipe rehabilitation projects.
Additionally, the growing awareness of polyurea’s advantages over traditional materials — including its rapid cure time, extreme flexibility, and superior chemical resistance — has converted many specifiers who previously defaulted to epoxy or cementitious solutions. For a detailed comparison, see our article on Polyurea vs. Epoxy.
Regional Chapter Updates
The CPCA now operates seven regional chapters: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan/Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Atlantic Canada, and a newly formed Northern Territories chapter. Each chapter hosts quarterly technical meetings and bi-annual certification workshops.
The Ontario chapter alone added 47 new applicator members this year, driven largely by increased demand for concrete rehabilitation projects in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area.
Upcoming National Summit
The CPCA National Protective Coatings Summit is scheduled for September 18-20, 2025 in Calgary, Alberta. This year’s theme is “Infrastructure Resilience: Coatings for the Next 50 Years.” Early registration is open to all members and industry guests.
The event will feature hands-on application workshops, technical seminars, supplier exhibitions, and the annual Canadian Polyurea Excellence Awards. Last year’s summit attracted over 600 delegates — a record that organizers expect to surpass.
New Certification Programs
In response to member demand, the CPCA has partnered with SSPC and NACE International to offer joint certification pathways. Members can now earn a Canadian Polyurea Specialist (CPS) designation through an expanded curriculum covering surface preparation, application techniques, quality control, and compliance under Canadian regulations.
For information on becoming certified, visit our Become an Applicator page.
The Manitoba/Saskatchewan chapter has welcomed 8 new companies in 2025 alone. The agricultural sector growth has driven a lot of this — farmers and co-ops are actively seeking certified applicators for grain storage and livestock facility work, which is creating pull-through demand for new entrants to seek certification. This is very different from even two years ago when new member companies were primarily coming from the industrial sector.