SiteNews competition showcases construction trailblazers
The list of winners, which can be found here, cast a wide net over many different fields. They include some of the largest general contractors in the country, tech startups, materials manufacturers, homebuilders, environmental champions and more.
When the competition was envisioned, the SiteNews team sought to create a way to highlight and encourage companies that are blazing a trail for others.
“The 25 Innovators in Construction award serves as a platform to celebrate trailblazers in a sector often perceived as slow-moving,” said Brett Rutledge, SiteNews co-founder. “The truth is, there’s a surge of innovation happening, and we’re delighted to showcase these companies and their achievements.”
The winners were chosen by a panel of five judges who assessed applicants based on five criteria:
- Technological innovation
- Trailblazing
- Workforce development
- Sustainability and environmental impact
- Collaboration and partnerships
SiteNews Editor Russell Hixson, who has been covering Canada’s construction sector for nearly a decade, was part of the judging staff. He noted that the submissions showed significant breakthroughs in environmentalism, material development, worker health, digitization, training and other areas.
“This isn’t just about our industry,” said Hixson. “Many of these companies are doing things that are addressing the biggest issues our country and our planet faces: CO2 emissions, housing supply, workforce training, safety and more. These leaders are not only elevating construction, they are making society better.”
RAM Consulting co-founder and CEO Joe Di Placito, who also assisted in the judging, was equally impressed by the applicants.
“I was blown away by the innovation that’s occurring across our industry,” he said. “There were some interesting themes when reviewing the submissions from well known general contractors implementing new technologies to new products being created that reduce carbon footprint. My biggest take away was that now is probably the most exciting time to be in engineering and construction as we see innovation disrupt so many aspects of what was previously accepted practices or products.”
Dom Costantini, a 19-year veteran of Bird Construction who now has his own consulting firm, found it challenging to narrow down the submissions to 25.
“The variety in the businesses, the services, products, and technologies were much broader than I expected,” he said. “I am very excited to see the list of 25 Innovators and to meet them in person at the celebration event later this month. Thank you to SiteNews for giving me this opportunity to learn more about the construction industry.”
See the full list of 2023’s winners.
Buckle up. We have big news for tool and workwear aficionados.
SiteNews is excited to join forces with Akribis Leather for an exclusive, summer giveaway. We’re offering a one-of-a-kind opportunity to win a premium leather toolbelt, handcrafted with care in Summerland, B.C.
Due to overwhelming demand, Akribis Leather’s inventory is currently sold out, making our giveaway a rare golden ticket to snag one of these sought-after tool belts. It’s the perfect addition to any construction professional’s gear, or a unique gift for the industry enthusiast in your life.
The winner of this exclusive giveaway will be announced on July 19th, so make sure you’ve registered by then! Enter here for your chance to win.
Hot Jobs is a weekly segment that showcases a selection of the top positions that have been recently posted on SiteNews Jobs, a Canadian construction job board we launched last month.
Here’s this week’s hottest jobs:
- Senior Estimator – Edmonton, A.B. – PCL Construction
- Project Director – Major Projects – Richmond, B.C. – Bird
- Principal Project Control Specialist – Calgary, A.B. – Mott McDonald
- Director of Pre-Construction – Remote / Toronto, O.N. – Prodigy Group
- Senior Project Manager – Québec, Q.C. – Progesys
- Engineer – Project Manager – Building Services, industrial sector – Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Q.C. – BBA Consultants
- Senior Project Manager – Ottawa, O.N. – PCL Construction
- Construction Risk Manager – Saskatoon, S.K. – PCL Construction
- Director, People & Projects – Winnipeg, M.B. – Sigfusson Northern
If you are looking to build your all-star team, try posting your role on the job board or connect with our specialized recruitment experts to find industry-leading talent for your business.
And if you are seeking a job, check out the full list of available positions.
There’s no better time to check out what construction companies are hiring on SiteNews Jobs, a Canadian construction job board we launched this month. “Hot Jobs” is a weekly segment that showcases a selection of the top positions that have been recently posted.
Here’s this week’s hottest jobs:
If you are looking to build your all-star team, try posting your role on SiteNews jobs today. And if you are seeking a job, check out the full list of available positions.
To stay updated on the latest jobs and get the biggest stories in construction, make sure to subscribe to our industry leading newsletter.
An ambitious move by Ontario is set to become a catalyst for recruiting internationally trained engineers, as the province drops the requirement for Canadian work experience for their licensure. The new policy, touted as a “game changer” by Labour Minister Monte McNaughton, is expected to expedite the filling of approximately 7,000 vacant engineering positions across the region.
Prioritizing skills over location
“This change signifies a pathway for numerous qualified immigrant engineers to pursue their dreams over the coming years,” McNaughton declared during a press conference. It effectively removes a significant impediment for immigrants aspiring to secure well-paying jobs in their field of expertise.
The mandate for Canadian work experience, formerly a prerequisite set by various regulators, had been a notable barrier. The shift has been applauded by the Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO), which has transitioned to a competency-centred model over one reliant on geographic experience.
“Professional Engineers Ontario is the first regulatory association to adopt this change,” McNaughton pointed out, a transition that aligns with Ontario’s legislation introduced in October 2021. This legislation prohibits regulated professions and skilled trades from mandating Canadian experience qualifications.
Wide impact beyond engineering
The legislation has wide-reaching impacts, covering over 30 non-health-care-related professions and trades, including architects, accountants, and electricians.
“The move will serve the public interest, ensuring all licensed professional engineers meet rigorous qualifications and that only properly qualified, competent, and ethical individuals practise engineering,” stated Christopher Chahine, Vice-president of the PEO, at the news conference.
In Ontario, around 300,000 jobs currently remain unfilled, and only a quarter of internationally trained immigrants work in professions they studied. McNaughton said, “It doesn’t take a math major to figure out these numbers don’t add up.”
A welcome move by advocates
Sara Asalya, executive director of Newcomer Women’s Service Toronto, called the change a “huge win” for advocates working for the removal of unfair measures that face internationally trained professionals. “We look forward to seeing other regulatory bodies continue to work to remove these Canadian experience requirements,” Asalya said.
The provincial government shared that in 2019, engineers were the fourth largest regulated profession in Ontario, with 85,649 members, and of those, there were 24,258 internationally trained members registered in the profession.
The labour minister expects regulators in Ontario to proactively drop any existing Canadian experience qualifications before the end of the year. This move marks a major shift in recognizing international qualifications and experience and could signal a new era for internationally trained professionals in Canada.
Summer is heating up and so is SiteNews Jobs, a Canadian construction job board we launched just days ago. To highlight some of the best roles, we are starting a new weekly feature: Hot Jobs.
Don’t have time to scroll through all the postings? No problem. Every week, we will round up some of the top senior-level construction jobs that we think deserve some extra attention. Could that be the boost needed to connect the perfect candidate with the perfect role? We hope so.
Here’s the hottest jobs from our launch week:
If you are looking to build your all-star team, try posting your role on SiteNews jobs today. And if you are seeking a job, check out the full list of available positions.
Exxon Mobil announced on Thursday that it will invest roughly $560 million in a new Canadian renewable-diesel facility through its majority-owned affiliate, Imperial Oil Ltd. The move is the latest in Exxon’s efforts to boost biofuel production and curb greenhouse gas emissions.
The facility, which will be located next to the Strathcona refinery near Edmonton, Alta., is now expected to start production in 2025, later than the original target of 2024. The facility is projected to produce 20,000 barrels of fuel daily, utilizing primarily local feedstocks and incorporating hydrogen and carbon capture and storage.
We are making strategic investments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from our own operations and to help customers in vital sectors of the economy reduce their emissions.
–Brad Corson, CEO of Imperial
According to Exxon, renewable diesel has the same chemical make-up as conventional diesel but is considered a more environmentally friendly fuel source. Produced from feedstocks such as vegetable oil, it can be seamlessly used in regular engines compared to biodiesel.
“The Strathcona project is another example of how we are investing in advantaged facilities and applying our leading technology and decades of experience to develop lower-emission solutions for customers. We continue to focus investments on markets like Canada, where well-designed policies support technologies that reduce life-cycle emissions,” said Karen McKee, president of ExxonMobil Product Solutions.
Are you a proud employee, company owner, or just someone who knows of a construction company office that is a cut above the rest? SiteNews is on a mission to discover the 10 nicest construction company offices in Canada, and we want your help.
From sleek and modern designs to unique and innovative features, we want to hear about it all. It could be an office with a green roof, exposed mass timber, or an innovative layout that promotes collaboration and creativity. Perhaps it’s headquarters that incorporates sustainable building practices, has a storied history or utilizes an iconic architectural style. This is your chance to show it off to the world.
To submit an office for consideration, send us an email at hello@readsitenews.com with the following:
- Your name
- The construction company you’re nominating and their website URL
- What makes this office so special
- High-resolution photos of their office (the more the better)
Don’t miss your chance to nominate! Make sure you submit by January 31st, 2023. Winners will be announced on the SiteNews newsletter.