I’m looking for an accent plant for the front of a light colored house in Canadian growing zone 5b. It must be wind and ice damage tolerant. Because of the light colored house I was thinking something with red / purple or yellow foliage. House is also two story so maybe a medium to large tree. Any recommendations?

Maybe a shubert chokecherry? They have pretty purple leaves as well.

For golden trees maybe a golden catalpa 'aurea'.

There are probably more but these are the few that I know of.

Glen

Although not dark-colored in leaf, many of the deciduous saucer magnolias (Magnolia x soulangiana) look stunning in front or at the corner of white houses. Just make sure you choose a violet-pink blooming cultivar for most effect--such as 'Lennei' or 'Verbanica', 'Alexandrina' or 'Rustica Rubra'.

Crabapples are grand, too. Do ask for a selection that is rust and scab resistant so your tree looks super in summer and fall.

Even if you choose a non-purple leaved accent tree, you can have purple-leaved shrubs to anchor your planting beds around the white house's foundation--sand cherry, leuchothoe, fringeflowers may work, not sure this last one is hardy in zone 5 though.