Patrick RoyCanada's hardware and construction materials industry is in the middle of its biggest awareness campaign of the year — and the story it's telling reveals a labour shortage that will affect homeowners planning renovations this spring.
La Quincaillerie en Tête et en Fête: What's Happening This Week
From April 13 to 17, 2026, AQMAT — the Association québécoise de la quincaillerie et des matériaux de construction — is running the sixth edition of "La Quincaillerie en Tête et en Fête," its annual industry mobilization week. The centrepiece is a Congress of Decision Makers running April 15 and 16 in Trois-Rivières, bringing together hardware retailers, distributors, manufacturers, and industry associations to tackle a single pressing challenge: finding the next generation of skilled workers.
According to AQMAT's official announcement, the hardware and construction materials sector employs more than 20,000 people across 1,000-plus merchants, distributors, and manufacturers in Quebec alone. Nationally, the Canadian hardware store market encompasses 1,858 businesses with a total market value of approximately $3.7 billion, according to IBISWorld's 2026 industry report.
The industry is not shrinking. It's struggling to grow fast enough.
A Spring of Big Moves in Canadian Hardware
The AQMAT week comes at a moment of unusual turbulence in the sector. In February 2026, CANAC opened a new $35 million store in Laval at 3400 boulevard Curé-Labelle — its 36th Quebec location. The opening drew more than 3,800 customers on day one, according to reporting by La Presse, signalling strong consumer demand even as broader renovation activity faces headwinds.
Separately, RONA is completing the final phase of converting its remaining Canadian locations to the RONA+ banner throughout 2026. And in the Lanaudière region, Rivest et Fils, a multi-generational hardware company, agreed in February to sell its three locations to Matériaux Pont-Masson — a sign of the consolidation pressure facing independent operators.
The picture that emerges is of a sector where consumer demand remains solid, large chains are expanding aggressively, and smaller operators are under financial and succession pressure — all while the workforce that keeps it running gets harder to recruit and retain.
What This Means for Your Spring Renovation Plans
For homeowners, the hardware industry's labour problem is not abstract. It connects directly to why your renovation quotes may be running longer, why contractor availability has tightened compared to even two years ago, and why the cost per square foot for standard renovation work has climbed to between $125 and $175 nationally, according to Reno Quotes Canada's 2026 cost guide.
The trades that hardware stores depend on — carpenters, masons, electricians, plumbers, roofers — draw from the same labour pool that's being recruited this week in Trois-Rivières. When the pipeline of new tradespeople is thin, wait times stretch, bids go to the highest-priority jobs, and smaller projects get deferred or dropped.
Spring is traditionally the busiest season for home renovation in Canada: longer daylight hours, above-freezing temperatures, and the psychological reset of a new year all push homeowners to tackle projects they've been deferring. In 2026, those homeowners are entering a market where supply hasn't caught up with demand.
The Most Common Spring Projects — and Where to Find Expertise
Despite the tight market, certain renovations consistently deliver strong returns. Kitchen renovations remain Canada's top-performing interior upgrade, with return on investment reaching up to 100% in high-demand markets like Toronto and Vancouver, according to Lighthaus Built's 2026 renovation trends report. Projects that improve energy efficiency — insulation upgrades, window replacements, heat pump installations — are also in high demand as homeowners look to reduce utility costs.
For smaller projects — bathroom tile work, deck repairs, fence installation — the challenge is less about finding materials (hardware stores remain well-stocked) and more about finding a skilled person to do the work correctly. A home improvement specialist or general contractor who knows your local market can help you identify what's feasible this spring, what materials are readily available, and how to prioritize when budget and contractor availability are both constrained.
Why Getting Expert Help Early Matters More This Year
The AQMAT week's focus on talent attraction reflects a structural problem that won't resolve itself before your spring renovation needs to happen. Industry associations can plant seeds for a better-trained workforce five years from now; they cannot put a qualified carpenter in your backyard next Tuesday.
What that means practically: if you have a renovation project planned for spring or summer 2026, the time to consult a home improvement expert is now — not after you've purchased materials or scheduled a project start date. An expert who understands local contractor availability, material lead times, and realistic budgets can help you avoid the two most common mistakes in renovation planning: underestimating cost and overestimating speed.
Canada's hardware sector is big, busy, and actively working to grow its talent base. But the gap between today's demand and tomorrow's workforce will be felt most acutely by homeowners who wait too long to start planning. Getting professional advice early is the most reliable way to make sure your spring renovation actually happens this spring.
