Russell Hixson is an award-winning investigative journalist who spent the early parts of his career doing crime and courts reporting in the U.S. before stumbling into covering Canada’s construction sector. He spent eight years writing for the Journal of Commerce where he became well versed on the industry and its issues. He’s covered the federal budget from Ottawa and documented the early impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic while locked down in his bedroom.
Hixson has developed a passion for the construction industry and seeks to convert others by sharing its stories through SiteNews. When he’s not writing stories, the East Vancouver resident enjoys kayaking, skateboarding and avoiding the neighbourhood skunks.
The companies believe the rapid nature of modular housing and high-tech materials will get housing to communities much faster than traditional methods.
The materials used are also designed for high thermal performance, meaning lower carbon footprints.
Production on the homes for the initiative is expected to start this year.
The Whole Story:
ROC Modular Inc., a provider of offsite construction solutions, is partnering with building technology company ZS2 Technologies Ltd. to launch a new initiative that aims to get Indigenous and northern communities badly needed housing fast.
The initiative aims to take a modular approach to developping many housing units at a rapid rate. The team added that by using the latest proprietary material science from ZS2 Technologies, the homes will be more resistant to the elements, pests and mold.
Utilizing ZS2 Technologies proprietary TechBoard and TechPanels, the homes will also boast superior thermal performance, reducing the embodied carbon footprint of each home.
“More than ever the need for rapid and accessible housing is a critical need for communities across Canada,” said Scott Jenkins, ZS2 CEO and co-founder. “Together with ROC Modular, a true industry leader, we are offering a thoughtfully designed approach that combines modular construction with leading-edge materials based on low-carbon proprietary cement technology. This means not only highly resilient homes that can be rapidly deployed, but also houses that are highly efficient and healthier for the families that will call them home.”
“I am delighted that we can work with ZS2 Technologies to expedite rapid modular residential housing production and provide improved fire resistance, especially in a time of increased wildfire activity,” said Joe Kiss, ROC Modular president and CEO. “Our collaborative offering is uniquely positioned to provide sustainable homes with rapid and cost-effective delivery of much needed housing solutions. This will enable us to deliver a great solution that will provide long-term value to our customers while advancing the sustainability and safety of the off-site construction segment which continues to grow rapidly.”
The collaboration will begin with the construction of the new modular homes at ROC Modular Factory located in Bow Island, Alta., with production starting in 2023.
In 2021, more than one in six Indigenous people (17.1%) lived in crowded housing that was considered not suitable for the number of people who lived there.
Indigenous people were almost twice as likely to live in crowded housing in 2021, compared with the non-Indigenous population (17.1% versus 9.4%). However, the gap between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous population narrowed by 1.7 percentage points from 2016 to 2021.
Multigenerational households were the most common living arrangement among First Nations people living in crowded housing (34.5%), followed by couples living with children (21.7%). Among Métis and Inuit living in crowded housing, the most common living arrangement was couples living with children.
In 2021, 16.4% of Indigenous people lived in a dwelling that was in need of major repairs.
Gas up the car, back your bags or book those plane tickets. Dozens of construction events are taking place all over the country. There are opportunities to network, level up your skills and showcase what you or your company is doing in Canadian construction. Check out some of the events below.
*Editor’s Note: know of an event you think Canada’s builders should attend? Send an email to hello@readsitenews.com so we can add it to this list.
Emerging Leaders Group Mentorship Mixer / June 21 / Vancouver, B.C.
The inaugural Emerging Leaders Group (ELG) Mentorship Mixer will take place June 21st from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The event, organized by the BC Construction Roundtable, will host some of Vancouver’s most influential leaders in the construction industry to discuss topics such as empathy and emotional intelligence, accountability and ownership, and empowerment and delegation. Based on the interests attendees provide in a pre-session questionnaire, they will be paired with three mentors throughout the night, with discussions occurring in small group settings.
Housing Supply Summit / Oct. 12 / Ontario
The Residential Construction Council of Ontario (RESCON) plans to hold its third Housing Supply Summit on Oct. 12. The group is Ontario’s leading association of residential builders. The group stated more details about the event will be shared soon.
BC Construction Health & Safety Conference / Oct. 19-20 / Vancouver, B.C.
The BC Construction Safety Alliance has finalized the 2023 BC Construction Health & Safety Conference speaker roster. The conference will take place Oct. 19-20 at the Pinnacle Harbourfront Hotel in Vancouver. Presented by the Offsite Construction Network, the Offsite Construction Expo will be live in Toronto, Ontario, in June to offer all attendees a focused presentation of the abilities of offsite construction across all markets.
Offsite Construction Expo / June 21 / Toronto, Ont.
The Expo will be a one-day event on June 21 at Toronto’s Westin Harbour Castle. It will feature presentations and exhibits from offsite construction manufacturers and contractors, traditional contractors that have integrated offsite methods, offsite factories, transportation companies, architects, engineers, BIM suppliers, materials suppliers, and consultants of all types of offsite construction processes.
ConEX The Builders Expo / Sept. 28 / Saskatoon, Sask.
ConEX is the first-ever Saskatchewan construction trade show and conference. It will feature more than 100 booths to showcase the newest and most innovative products and services. It also includes networking opportunities, and presentations from public and private sector owners about their upcoming projects.
Canada PropTech Show / Aug. 22-23 / Toronto, Ont.
The Canada PropTech Show aims to bring together the country’s leading real estate owners, operators, developers and tech companies to facilitate technology adoption & innovation. PropTech companies, real estate owners, investors, service providers, startups and other players in the real estate ecosystem will converge in Toronto for two full days of conference, exhibition, networking and awards.
Buildex Alberta / Oct. 18-19 / Calgary, Alta.
Join industry peers from Architecture, Interior Design, Construction, Engineering, Property Management and Homebuilding & Renovation professions at the Calgary Telus Convention Centre for two days of networking, learning and finding new solutions. Buildex Alberta is a major opportunity for architecture, design, construction, and property management professionals to do business-to-business networking.
Trades Expo / Oct. 18-19 / Surrey, B.C.
The largest interactive trades even in the B.C., Trades Expo is for anyone interested in the trades. Youth, Women, Men, newcomers, and career changers, Trades Expo aims to provide a path to a sustainable career.
The Canadian Steel Conference / Sept. 26-27 / Toronto, Ont.
Modelling the best practices of the steel construction industry, the Canadian Steel Conference offers the opportunity for all participants to meet, exchange, collaborate and network with industry leaders and stakeholders. This CISC Conference also offers a comprehensive program of multiple business development, educational, and networking activities.
The Canadian Leadership Institute / Oct. 2-5 / Kananaskis, Alta.
The Canadian Leadership Institute features three intensive days of simulations, instructional time, assessments, and one-on-one coaching. For more than 20 years, FMI Corporation has been presenting Leadership Institutes to the American construction market. Now that training is available in Alberta thanks to a partnership with the Edmonton Construction Association.
The Buildings Show / Nov. 29-Dec. 1 / Toronto, Ont.
For 35 years, The Buildings Show features seminars, informative panels and thought-provoking roundtables. This year’s show will take place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre Nov. 29 – Dec. 1. Last year’s show saw more than 13,000 visitors, 270 speakers and 478 exhibitors.
Road Builders Fall Business Conference / Sept. 17-18 / Kelowna, B.C.
The Sustainable Buildings Institute created the Better Buildings Boot Camp to bring together graduate and diploma students to learn how they can take responsibility for better buildings in the future. The program was created with input from sustainable building subject matter experts and faculty from George Brown College, Seneca College, University of Toronto, Toronto Metropolitan University and York University.
Meet the GC / Sept 13. / Ottawa, Ont.
Meet the GC is a new event designed to support meaningful connections between the Ottawa Construction Association’s general contractor members and its trade contractors, manufacturer and suppliers, and Industry service providers. This event will be part of a series that focuses on networking and connections. Each general contractor will be invited to the stage to give a brief summary of their firm, current and upcoming projects, and expectations for business in the year ahead. This will be followed by a networking opportunities. These events will be hosted multiple times across the calendar year.
Ontario Association of Architects Conference / June 21-23 / Sudbury Ont.
The OAA 2023 Conference takes place in Sudbury from June 21 to 23. In addition to special events, award celebrations (including the SHIFT 2023 Health & Architecture Challenge), and networking opportunities. The event offers the opportunity for delegates to earn Structured ConEd hours in award-winning buildings, university campuses, and rugged settings in an experiential learning approach, with rich sessions covering a range of topics from long-term care and livability to cultural integrity and design in a post-COVID environment.
Key Takeaways:
Research shows the city’s average approval timeline for developments is 15.2 months.
The tools will help applicants determine if their applications are complete and compliant.
They also can identify potential costs, map out timelines, and determine project feasibility before submission.
The city is also implementing changes to make regulations simpler.
The Whole Story:
Vancouver is partnering with an Australian technology firm that specializes in artificial intelligence to help speed up building permitting.
Officials announced that they are launching a Project Requirements Exploration Tool (PRET) and eComply. These two new digital tools are expected to reduce staff manual review time and provide residents and businesses with confidence that their application is compliant and complete.
PRET will allow applicants to explore and understand regulations and requirements for locations throughout Vancouver. Applicants can identify potential costs, map out timelines, and determine project feasibility – all before they pursue a potential application.
eComply is an online design compliance check tool, developed by Archistar. eComply will allow applicants to upload their designs and drawings, check if they meet city regulations, and receive a compliance report.
According to the city, Vancouver is the first municipality in North America to partner with Archistar to improve its permitting process. The first iteration of PRET is slated to launch later this summer, while eComply’s initial component will be available early next year.
“Embracing technology for permitting will have a huge impact for Vancouver’s residents and businesses,” said Mayor Ken Sim. “Applicants will receive feedback on any items that are incomplete, missing or not permitted so they can resolve it before they submit their application.”
The complexity of some applications can result in multiple rounds of manual review between staff and applicants. The interactive PRET and eComply will help to reduce this complexity.
“Our partnership with the City of Vancouver will help Vancouver residents and businesses to assess land potential at the click of a button,” said Ben Coorey, Archistar chief executive. “Anyone will be able to instantly pre-check their plans for compliance, ultimately making the approval process faster, easier, and cheaper.”
Vancouver officials offer a sneak peek at new digital tools designed to speed up permitting. – City of Vancouver
In addition to the tools, Vancouver is also looking to make its regulations simpler. “On average, more than 70% of the processing time for laneway and low-density homes remains outside of the city with applicants,” said Andrea Law, general manager, development, buildings and licensing. “To help applicants, we continue to simplify policies and guidelines so the application process is less complex.” Here are some of the actions the city is taking:
Exploring options to simplify and align existing regulations across all low-density (RS) zones by removing 17 design and administrative requirements so housing can be built faster.
Streamlining engineering review requirements in all development permit (DP) applications, including removing 20 per cent of conditions and moving an additional 25 per cent to risk-based review. Proposing shifting rainwater management requirements from the DP application process to the plumbing permit for new complex buildings in Vancouver so that applicants begin work on their projects sooner.
Providing in-person permitting info sessions at the Development and Building Services Centre for applicants to meet with staff about their specific project.
Creating supports to help applicants quickly pay and resolve deficiencies so their application can be processed.
“Feedback from some members of late have noted improvements on permit processing with one member citing a turnaround for comments from city of Vancouver in less than 16 days,” said Ron Rapp, CEO of the Homebuilders Association Vancouver. “With the recent announcements from the Province the need to develop effective and positive working relationships between the City and our members is more important than ever.”
While staff prepare to launch PRET and eComply, applicants are encouraged to book an appointment with the Services Centre to address any questions or concerns before submitting their application. Future info sessions for those interested in learning more about commercial and residential renovations, laneway homes, secondary suites, and multiplexes will be available in early fall.
Vancouver has been criticized for its long permitting process. According to the Canadian Home Builders Association (CHBA), the city’s average approval timeline for developments is 15.2 months.
A recent study showed Vancouver was roughly in the middle of the pack for its approvals process. – CHBA
Key Takeaways:
Saint-Gobain also recently acquired Kaycan and CertainTeed as part of its Canadian business strategy.
Saint-Gobain plans to add $435 million to its leadership in Canada, where it already has around $1.4 billion of sales, primarily gypsum, insulation, ceilings and siding.
Saint-Gobain stated that the acquisition completes its offering of solutions for light and sustainable construction in Canada.
The Whole Story:
International building materials giant Saint-Gobain announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement for the acquisition of Building Products of Canada Corp. (BP Canada) for $994 million in cash.
The company is a privately owned manufacturer of residential roofing shingles and wood fiber insulation panels in Canada. Saint-Gobain said the acquisition will reinforce its leadership in light and sustainable construction in the Canadian market.
“Today marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in the history of Building Products of Canada,” said Yves Gosselin, BP Canada president and CEO. “Our focus on delivering the best solutions and satisfaction to our customers has enabled us to become a leading player in roofing in Canada. The opportunity to join Saint-Gobain, the worldwide leader in light and sustainable construction, and which is investing significantly in Canada, is the perfect next step to further enrich our offer by leveraging Saint-Gobain’s innovation and technology.”
BP Canada is a leading roofing and exterior building products player in Canada with three manufacturing plants – Montreal, Edmonton, Pont-Rouge – and 460 employees. It has a leading position in asphalt shingle roofing in Canada and offers a comprehensive range of exterior building products including wood fiber insulation panels and acoustic panels. It sells through more than 1,200 points-of-sale across home center retailers and specialty distribution channels.
Saint-Gobain plans to add $435 million to its leadership in Canada, where it already has around $1.4 billion of sales, primarily gypsum, insulation, ceilings and siding.
“This is an important and logical step for Saint-Gobain, allowing us to establish a leading position in roofing in Canada, completing our offering for the building envelope which we have reinforced with the recent Kaycan and GCP acquisitions,” said Benoit Bazin, Saint-Gobain CEO. “It completes our offering of solutions for light and sustainable construction in Canada as we have done successfully in the United States.”
Key Takeaways:
Ontario’s apprenticeship registrations have increased 24 per cent in the last year
The second year of province’s skilled trades career fairs for students will see the program expand into more cities.
Officials say recruitment is key as Ontario will need over 100,000 new skilled trades workers this decade if it hopes to achieve its infrastructure goals.
The Whole Story:
Ontario’s approach to increasing trade apprentice numbers appears to be working.
The province reported apprenticeship registrations have increased 24 per cent in the last year – from 21,971 to 27,319.
In addition, the second year of the province’s skilled trades career fairs for students will be expanding to even more cities around the province.
“As we build a stronger Ontario that works for everyone, we need to ensure students and jobseekers know about the rewarding life-long careers waiting for them in the skilled trades,” said Monte McNaughton, minister of labour, immigration, training and skills development. “There is as much merit in being an electrician or a carpenter as there is in being an architect or a lawyer. I’m thrilled more young people are waking up to the promise of good pay, pensions, and purpose-driven work that the skilled trades offer.”
Officials stated that in order to help deliver the Ontario’s infrastructure plans, including building 1.5 million homes by 2031, Ontario will need over 100,000 new skilled trades workers this decade. The historic increase in apprenticeship registrations, including a 28 per cent jump among women, follows more than $1 billion in investment in the skilled trades over three years, along with the launch of a new agency: Skilled Trades Ontario.
“We are taking action across the board by making it easier for students to have apprenticeships, skills and credentials recognized towards their Diploma,” said Stephen Lecce, minister of education. “This builds on Ontario’s recent decision to require all students to take at least one technological education course, opening up the horizons and opportunities of all students into good-paying STEM and skilled careers.”
Ontario’s skilled trades career fairs for students will be returning for the second year in a row and in more cities. More information on the 2023 fairs, cities, and dates will be announced later this summer. The events are intended to reduce the stigma related to the trades and make more students, teachers and parents aware of these career opportunities
“Now is the time to build a rewarding career in the skilled trades,” said Melissa Young, CEO and registrar of Skilled Trades Ontario. “With record investments being made in infrastructure, we urgently need skilled workers to meet demand. Skilled Trades Ontario is thrilled to be partnering with the Ministry to promote these exciting opportunities, break down barriers and empower the next generation of skilled trades professionals to succeed.”
Students in grades 7 to 12 will have the chance to learn about the 144 different skilled trades through interactive exhibitions and hands-on activities while hearing directly from tradespeople and local employers about these lucrative careers. Last year, 12,800 students, parents, friends, and teachers visited events in Thunder Bay, Sudbury, London, Mississauga, and Ottawa.
Justin McConnell has combined two of his passions, construction and photography, into a project that aims to put Toronto’s blue collar workers in the spotlight. McConnell’s company, Toronto Beyond Media, uses cameras, drones and his years of job site experience to capture the complex and dizzying work being done high above the city. To see more of McConnell’s work, check out his Instagram account.
SiteNews: How did you get your start in the construction sector?
Justin McConnell: Got my start in the tower crane / construction sector about five years ago after deciding to make some big changes with my life. Moved into the city from Peterborough, Ont. after a little help from a good friend of mine who was a safety supervisor within one of the tower crane companies.
Was fear of heights something that you had to overcome or did this kind of work come naturally to you?
I’d be a liar if I said heights didn’t bother me at the start. But with a lot of experience and day to day work involving working at extreme heights, you just learn to focus on the task in hand, and heights just become an everyday thing to deal with.
Photographer and crane mechanic Justin McConnell adjusts his camera during a shoot. – Toronto Beyond Media
What sort of skills does it require to do crane erecting/mechanical work?
Skills involved with everything to do with tower cranes can range from being physically fit, problem solving, mechanically inclined but with that said, it’s very task-specific with cranes. These machines are changing every year and getting more and more computerized then ever. We all learn new things everyday which makes it more rewarding going into work everyday. Working within a team is extremely important as well. I could sit here until my fingers hurt trying to explain how tower cranes get erected, dismantled, climbed and jumped which is terms used to basically raise the crane up within the buildings. Some tower cranes climb on the external side of buildings which is a whole other world of raising the cranes up higher.
Has this sort of work given you a different perspective on the city of Toronto?
This line of work has given me a massive change in my view of the city. Literally. But just learning the process from the engineering, working with all the different trades that it takes to build these massive buildings is honestly more of an honour to be a part of.
How did you get interested in photography?
My story on the interest of photography is kinda funny actually. I was literally just laying there on a Saturday night not being able to sleep. Looking for another change. Something more. A hobby basically. I always knew I liked photography but there was just something sitting in the back of my mind with it all. So the next day I woke up bright and early and went to Henry’s downtown Toronto and purchased my first camera which is a Canon R6 mark 2. Working in the industry I do, there was this lightbulb that went off. I could give people a different look as to what these hard working men and women went through. Getting to know the right people I was able to go out alongside these men and women on my free weekend and take action shots. First the photos started. I made a social media account and wanted to stay blue collar specific. Unions started to see them, other companies started to see them along with just the general public. More and more people started to see what I was able to have access to with these amazing heights and Job locations. My first photos were published within the local 793 Operating Engineers Union Magazine and I couldn’t believe what was happening. But once again wanted to show more. I wanted to be “ that guy” that when I show up to a job site, everyone knew who I was and what I was showcasing to the world. So then came along the drone which the skills and knowledge involved with these amazing toys if you will, all just came as a natural talent for me. I was obsessed and in love with this passion that I had no idea was inside of me. I showcased to the world my first video of tower crane erectors prepping a tower crane downtown Toronto that no one in my mind in the GTA has seen before. The views and likes, comments and shares of this video blew up. And this is how Toronto Beyond Media came about. A hidden passion within myself that has lead me to meeting some amazing people and new friends. Where this is going to lead me, who knows. But I know it’s going to be somewhere I’ll never forget.
A a worker shields their eyes while doing their tasks. – Justin McConnell/Toronto Beyond Media
Why did you decide to start Toronto Beyond Media?
Toronto Beyond Media is Candid photos and action shots within the blue collar industry. It has started out with tower crane erectors, welders, iron workers and so on. I want to showcase anything and everything involved. It also involves video being captured with a DJI drone, and that to me has really given the people an amazing view and perspective on these extreme workers.
Did your experience in the construction industry help your videography/photography career?
I think my experience within my industry gives me a huge advantage with the general person that wants to film. I say this because when I film a dismantle or a tower being erected, I know all the different timelines and steps that are involved. So knowing when to fly at specific times and knowing what exactly to shoot, gives people the idea of how all this goes down.
What has been your most difficult/complex shoot so far?
I can’t say there’s really been a difficult shoot. I say this because wind, rain, and bad lighting all come into effect. If I know its going to be bad with any of these, the shoot just won’t happen. I am able to be alongside these men and women at their extreme heights to fly and capture images so obstacles that may come into effect, I am always aware of. I am honestly proud of every video and photo I take. And that’s because of the love I get from the fans of my work.
What do you find most visually interesting in construction as a photographer/videographer?
I think the most interesting part of all this is just how much the general population doesn’t know how much work, or what kind of work goes on within these industries.
What do you want to show about blue collar life through your images?
And once again, I wanna be the person who provides the utmost amazing, realistic, up close and personal views of these industries. I wanna “wow” people and really bring a new respect for these hard working men and women.
A worker makes adjustments with a wrench while another person assists. – Justin McConnell/Toronto Beyond Media
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.
And if you are seeking a job, check out the full list of available positions.
An Ontario developer is no longer allowed to sell or build homes in the province after an investigation revealed a pattern of illegal and unethical actions.
These practices included gouging customers on prices, forging building permit applications and failing to warranty homes.
Mississauga-based Pinetree Developments Inc. was investigated by the Home Construction Regulatory Authority (HCRA) after complaints from purchasers.
HCRA found that Pinetree had raised the price of a home under construction – despite a signed contract – and then attempted to resell that same property at a higher price when the original purchaser refused the increase and launched litigation. The company also falsified building permit applications, failed to enrol properties with Tarion as part of its warranty obligations, ignored City of Mississauga orders and repeatedly failed to respond to HCRA inspection letters and compliance orders.
“Any one of these actions would be cause for concern. Together they show a company unfit for a licence,” said Wendy Moir, the HCRA’s CEO and registrar. “Consumers must be protected from dishonest, unethical and unprofessional conduct, so the HCRA is revoking Pinetree’s licence to build and sell new homes.”
In December 2022, the HCRA commenced an inspection into Pinetree’s business operations, which uncovered a series of unethical and illegal activities:
Despite a binding Agreement of Purchase and Sale (APS) on a Mississauga property, Pinetree sought to significantly increase the price.
Pinetree refused to close the transaction and, despite numerous extensions, construction is not complete. The HCRA cannot confirm the cause for the delays because Pinetree failed to produce documents and respond to the HCRA’s concerns despite a Compliance Order requiring them to do so.
After the purchaser refused to agree to the price increase, Pinetree listed the property for sale at a higher price on Realtor.com, despite the binding APS and a Certificate of Pending Litigation being registered.
In order to obtain building permits from the City of Mississauga, Pinetree falsely identified the name and credentials of another builder, without their knowledge.
Pinetree has started construction on or already built at least five homes without enrolling the homes with Tarion, as required by law.
The HCRA received a complaint from the city of Mississauga indicating that Pinetree began construction on a home before the city issued a building permit. Once the City discovered that Pinetree had done so, it issued an order to immediately stop construction. Pinetree did not. The City then issued a second order but Pinetree still continued to build.
Pinetree has never provided the HCRA with any documents or information to address the HCRA’s concerns.
“One of the standards for a licence is financial viability and responsibility,” Moir said. “Pinetree’s failure to produce relevant financial documents during the HCRA’s inspection created serious doubt about their ability to meet this standard.”
These are not the first infractions for Pinetree. In 2018, the company was charged and convicted in provincial court for illegally acting as a vendor of a new home. Patricia Perruzza, a principal, officer, and director for Pinetree, was also charged and convicted of two counts of illegally building and selling a new home, in relation to a previous licence held by Pinetree.
“Pinetree had the opportunity to appeal the HCRA’s formal notice that their licence would be revoked but did not do so,” Moir explained. “Under those circumstances, the licence revocation is automatic and immediate.”
Key Takeaways:
The project simulated large earthquakes on a 10-story mass timber building, the tallest ever tested on a shake table.
RJC’s role was testing the energy performance of the building envelope before and after an earthquake.
The firm said this information is critical for B.C. where a building energy performance requirements are getting higher.
The Whole Story:
What happens to a mass timber building’s energy performance when it is hit by an earthquake?
RJC Engineers, a Canadian-based building structure and enclosure engineering firm, aims to find out.
The firm was recently in San Diego participating in the historic Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure (NHERI) TallWood research project. The project is a National Science Foundation-funded research effort that aims to investigate mass timber buildings’ earthquake resilience by simulating large earthquakes on a 10-story mass timber building, the tallest ever tested on a shake table.
Terry Bergen, managing principal at RCJ, explained that part of the firm’s team bumped into the test’s organizer’s and asked if they could participate.
The tests will provide information on how a compromised building envelope leads to decreased energy efficiency, and what can be done in the future to mitigate a loss of energy through new design decisions.
“Being a structural engineering firm, everybody was more than happy to have us but testing the envelope wasn’t initially part of the program,” said Bergen. “They were just kind enough to let us exercise our curiosity as well.”
Crews prep for the Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure (NHERI) TallWood research project in San Diego. – LEVER Architecture
The building includes 3-stories of enclosure systems to assess their interaction with the structure to develop and validate seismic design methodology, while also researching the impact on building enclosure. This first-of-its-kind initiative is expected to transform sustainable building design, and reduce the carbon impact of the construction industry in Canada.
RJC’s team is studying the impact of the earthquake testing, ranging in magnitude from 4 to 8, on the integrity of windows, a critical component to the overall energy efficiency and safety of a building.
“We want to learn how well the envelope will work afterwards and how it will affect performance,” said Bergen.” The energy performance might not decline, and things may or may not be visible. We want to determine if there is a degradation of performance and if we can see it insitu. If they don’t perform well post-event, we would really like to know.”
The firm noted that the Insights gleaned from the testing are particularly crucial in B.C., where new code changes require developers to commit to greenhouse gas intensity targets, with Canada as a whole currently targeting harmonized implementation by the 2030 code cycle. Following a seismic event, even if unbroken, windows can sustain damage causing air to escape through the seals, leading to unseen breaches that are expensive to repair. If state-of-the-art building energy performance schemes stop working as a result, this could drive up carbon emissions through fuel consumption and require repairs.
“When we consider that our carbon-reduced future will require high-performance buildings, none of those envelope systems used to manage our interior climate will work without enhanced air tightness and moisture control,” said Bergen. “If that fails, it isn’t optimized and operational carbon loads go up and it defeats the purpose of energy efficiency codes.”
Bergen said the team has returned from the tests and is currently working on writing up the results.
Key Takeaways:
The ACE Program gives teens the chance to explore architecture, construction, and engineering careers through a combination of sector aligned courses and work experience.
18 Students will spend the summer completing the curriculum portion of the program before they are placed with industry partners through two 6-month paid internships.
The program aims to offer recent graduates options to explore careers that require less financial and time commitments.
The Whole Story:
The British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) has launched a new pilot program to encourage high school students to get a taste of the construction industry while they decide on a career.
The Entry Skills for Architectural, Construction, and Engineering Fields (ACE) Microcredential program is a unique entry level educational program with integrated hands-on learning, designed to offer high school students an exposure to the spectrum of careers that exist within the architecture, construction, and engineering fields through a combination of sector aligned courses and work experience.
“The ACE program is an opportunity for high school students to learn more about careers in the Architecture, Construction, and Engineering fields while gaining paid, industry work experience,” said Laurie Therrien, manager, corporate training and industry services, BCIT. “This also allows companies in those fields to introduce more young people to these exciting careers – all of which are a tremendous win for students, industry, and education. In fact, it’s long overdue.”
This summer over 18 high school students from Burnaby, Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, New Westminster, Richmond, Surrey, and Vancouver will take part.
The program is aimed at providing eligible high school students, specifically recent graduates, with introductory design and technical skills in the fields of architecture, construction, and engineering. Students will spend the summer completing the curriculum portion of the program before they are placed with industry partners through two six-month paid internships. Throughout the internships, students gain real-world experience working on the job while continuing their studies in a part-time, online model.
The school noted that B.C. expected to have over one million job openings in the next 10 years based on the latest Labour Market Outlook Report. The school sees the ACE microcredential as a solution in supporting the province and industries to fulfill the workforce gap.
School officials stated that the microcredential helps remove barriers to education for the youth by requiring less financial and time commitment, and encouraging students who are unsure if a particular program/field is right for them to try a variety of career paths before committing to further academic avenues.
“BCIT is excited to be spearheading this unique ACE initiative that offers motivated high school students a deeper understanding about career opportunities in Architecture, Construction, and Engineering,” said Wayne Hand, Dean, School of Construction and the Environment. “Access to paid, industry work placements provide young learners the insight, experience, and connections needed to make informed decisions about their career and education pathways, while giving industry partners the opportunity to attract young people to their vibrant sectors.”
Modular construction methods are being applied to a wide range of projects including homes, schools, hotels, correctional facilities and even nuclear reactors.
Why are clients turning to modular companies to deliver these projects? Several themes emerge. First, many of these projects need to get built fast. Second, they are often in remote or intense environments that are difficult to access and present weather challenges.
With modular construction, much of the work can be done off-site under controlled conditions. These projects tend to use the same materials and are designed to the same codes and standards as conventionally built facilities – but in about half the time.
Many of these projects are also able to achieve extremely high levels of performance.
Micro-modular reactor
Experts say small modular reactors could be ideal to power remote communities. – Government of Canada
Aecon Group Inc. is partnering with E.S. Fox Limited to build North America’s first grid-scale small modular reactor (SMR) Ontario’s Darlington New Nuclear Project (DNNP). Through the IPD partnership, Aecon has formed a teaming agreement with E.S. Fox to jointly fabricate steel components offsite at Aecon’s fabrication facility in Cambridge and E.S. Fox’s Port Robinson facility. These components will be welded into sub-assemblies and shipped to the DNNP project site where they will be built into larger modules on-site and used to construct the primary steel structure of the reactor building. Leveraging a modular approach to help build the BWRX-300 SMR, a new class of nuclear reactor, is expected to achieve reduced construction costs.
East King Edward Avenue
The building will be collaboratively operated by Vancouver Native Housing Society and Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society. – Stantec
Bird Construction has been chosen to help build a 14-storey modular project in Vancouver – the tallest of its kind in Canada. The company announced it has been awarded a construction management services contract for BC Housing‘s Permanent Supportive Housing Initiative, located on East King Edward Avenue in Vancouver. The 14-storey modular project is valued at approximately $50 million. The project is part of a joint agreement between the city of Vancouver, BC Housing, and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) to deliver a minimum of 300 permanent supportive homes on five city-owned sites.
Speedstac
The Speedstac system has garnered interest from war-damaged communities in Ukraine. – Sparkbird
Speedstac is a modular construction system developed by Sparkbird, an innovation lab hatched from Toronto architecture firm WZMH. The system allows for rapid and efficient construction of buildings using prefabricated modules. The modules are designed as light, self-contained rooms with built-in electrical and plumbing services, making them easy to transplant into existing building infrastructure. Speedstac can be rapidly deployed to first analyze a damaged or partially destroyed building, then fabricate a module to replace rooms without the need to demolish the entire building.bArchitects in Ukraine are beginning to design new buildings using the Speedstac system in several projects ranging from single-family homes to schools.
Selkirk College
One module can contain as many as six student rooms. – ROC Modular
Modular methods are being used by Selklirk College to house students at its Nelson and Castlegar campuses in B.C. The first project, a $33.9-million facility is being constructed by Scott Builders and ROC Modular in Nelson, saw units being lifted into place last month. Built indoors at a massive temperature-controlled facility in the community of Bow Island, the modular units come complete with drywall, insulation, windows, cabinets, interior paint, electrical/plumbing and flooring. The Castlegar project is expected to be assembled this month.
Calgary Khalsa School
When this Khalsa Sikh faith-based school required an expansion of their existing facility to accommodate increasing student enrollment numbers, it turned to NRB Modular Solutions. Prefabricated modular construction facilitated an expedited schedule during the summer holidays. Located just outside of Calgary, the cold climate means that the building includes several thermal performance upgrades, from energy-certified windows and doors to extra insulation in all walls to boost R-values. Other features included high-efficiency HVAC systems for heating and warmth retention. The design team also incorporated traditional Sikh colors: blue, which is the color of the warrior and orange, which represents knowledge and wisdom.
Nanaimo Courtyard by Marriott
The 172-room hotel broke ground in 2020 and was completed this Summer. – Nexxi
Nexii partnered with PEG Companies to deliver the exterior building envelope for the long-awaited Courtyard by Marriott hotel in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. The nine-storey hotel includes 750 exterior panels. Pieces were manufactured off-site at Squamish-based Nexii production facility with integrated finishes, services and windows. Nexii’s proprietary system allows high-tech panels to fit together like jigsaw pieces onsite to create an airtight building envelope. The hotel’s opening was recently celebrated with songs and blessings from Snuneymuxw First Nation.
My Home Place
The far north location of this project prompted the team to compete as much of it in a factor as possible. – Modular Building Institute
My Home Place is a supportive housing project in Dawson Creek, B.C. The 3-storey, permanent modular building features 32 self-contained studio homes, including 2 accessible units. It houses people experiencing homelessness and provides support programs to community members in need. The NRB Modular Solutions project went beyond the stringent criteria of the BC Energy Step Code and achieved Passive House-level airtightness. The design team’s goal for the project was to increase the overall performance of the building through sustainable construction materials and improved energy efficiency.
Thunderbay Correctional Facility
The correctional facility took 517 days to complete. – Modular Building Institute
Officials in Thunderbay, Ont. turned to Stack Modular when they were planning to replace a correctional complex to improve the facility’s health, safety and security. Stack allowed the build to be 80% offsite modular, greatly minimizing schedule, labor and seasonal challenges common in northern Ontario. In a rare move for a correctional facility project, the Stack/Bird team engaged with local indigenous communities to incorporate their ideas into the design. The project features wayfinding in multiple languages including Cree Ojibway, Michif, French and English. It has circular smudging rooms, indigenous Art opportunities, landscapes that included fire pits, sweat lodges, and teepees. The indigenous communities also had a major influence in selecting the prominent plants throughout the exercise yards design.
Secwépemc Child and Family Services Agency building
Another project by NRB Modular, the Secwépemc Child and Family Services (SCFS) Agency building was carefully designed to not interfere with the archaeological sensitive zones of the property according to the heritage conservation bylaw. Work on the Kamloops, B.C. project was immensely streamlined as as the modules were constructed at a factory two blocks from the site. NRB was able to produce one module a day on average in their heated plant. The project also includes a state-of-the-art Kaba Access Control System for getting in and out of the building.
Cedar Valley Lodge
The lodge can house 4,500 LNG Canada project workers at a time. – Canada LNG
With an estimated price tag of $40 billion, LNG Canada is literally the largest project underway in Canada. And modular construction is helping house the thousands of workers needed to get it done. The more than 86,000-square-foot facility was built through the COVID-19 pandemic and working offsite helped prevent the spread of illness. Stack Modular stated that the inherent capabilities of its steel frame design and Asian-based manufacturing lent themselves perfectly to the region’s climactic concerns and the turnkey furniture, fixtures and equipment opportunities.
Norway House Cree Nation
Both metal and spray foam insulation also make these units rot proof, mould proof, and rodent proof. – Bison Modular Homes
Norway House Cree Nation, a community roughly 800 km north of Winnipeg, need housing and they needed it fast. To address the crisis, they partnered with Bison Modular homes to develop a modular system that would provide safe, mold-free homes. The steel panel units can be shipped anywhere the nation need them. The project has been so successful that officials want to move some of the Bison Modular Homes manufacturing closer to the Nation so that residents can be more involved in the process.
Key Takeaways:
The BCCA has given away more than $5 million to employers that took on first year apprentices
469 employers have registered a total of 692 apprentices in B.C. so far
The most registrations are for carpenters, construction electricians, and plumbers.
The Whole Story:
A Vancouver Island construction company found itself in the spotlight last month as it received what turned out to be the 5 millionth dollar paid out so far under one of the most far-reaching Red Seal apprenticeship drives undertaken in B.C.
The company, The Muchalat Group of Companies, has registered four first year apprentices through the BC Construction Association (BCCA) Apprenticeship Services, and received a total of $40,000 in financial incentives as a result. The fourth payment hit the $5 Million milestone at BCCA.
“This is an easy program for employers to take advantage of, and I encourage any contractors who are getting ready to register first year Red Seal apprentices to contact BCCA first,” said Tania Formosa, owner of The Muchalat Group of Companies. “If you don’t, you’re leaving money on the table plain and simple. I don’t know any contractors who can afford to do that these days.”
The BCCA will pay employers $5,000 for each first year apprentice registered in any of 39 construction Red Seal trades, and an additional $5,000 if the apprentice self identifies as part of an equity deserving group, with funding received from the Government of Canada Apprenticeship Service.
BCCA, which launched its program in October 2022, has already sent payments to 469 employers who have registered a total of 692 apprentices in B.C. so far.
“We’re thrilled to reach the $5 million milestone and ready to send millions more to BC construction employers before the program ends March 31, 2024,” says Chris Atchison, BCCA president. “There are no strings attached to how the funding should be spent once it’s received, and we’re hearing from employers that the extra cash is very welcome right now.”
So far, the BCCA program has registered apprentices in 33 trades, with the most registrations happening for carpenters, construction electricians, and plumbers. The apprentices are from across BC, range in age from 16 and up, and are 47.8% equity deserving groups. Adding diversity to BC’s construction industry, which is 96% male, is one of the goals of the program, but the funding is available to support all new apprentices regardless of demographics.
“I’m excited to become a first year apprentice and glad that my employer is able to access this money to offset the cost of training me,” says Amanda Muise, a newly minted first year carpentry apprentice. “The funds made it an easier decision to promote me and the three other apprentices that my employer has registered through the program.”
The Muchalat Group of Companies has operated on Central Vancouver Island since 1979 providing general contracting services, construction management services, and building envelope renovations.
This opportunity is funded by the government of Canada’s Apprenticeship Service, which has provided $21 million in funding to the BC Construction Association to operate as an intermediary with employers.
Graham Infrastructure LP will help prepare the way for Calgary’s Green Line.
The Green Line Board selected Graham to build the 78 Avenue S.E. Grade Separation and Ogden Pedestrian Tunnel Project.
Before building the Ogden LRT station and tracks, the 78th Avenue Project will complete vehicle and pedestrian tunnels under the Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railway (CPKC) railway corridor to enhance mobility and pedestrian safety around the future Green Line LRT Ogden Station.
The city noted that Graham, which is based in Calgary, brings its extensive experience from major infrastructure projects across North America to the Green Line LRT Project. With approximately 26 trains per day operating on CPKC’s main line, the complex enabling works project is expected to reduce project and schedule risk as Green Line prepares for main LRT construction. Once the tunnel at 78 Avenue S.E. is complete and open to traffic, the vehicle crossing at 69 Avenue S.E., east of Ogden Road, will be permanently closed.
“Green Line has prioritized opportunities that advance construction, reduce risk, and support local job creation. Partnering with Graham to deliver this critical project speaks directly to this commitment,” said Darshpreet Bhatti, CEO, Green Line LRT Program.
With construction beginning shortly and extending through to summer 2025, the Green Line plans to work closely with the Ogden community to mitigate impacts, as best as possible.
The city noted that as Green Line moves through the Development Phase for Phase 1, from Shepard to Eau Claire, additional opportunities for local contractors, trades and suppliers will continue. Officials said the start of the Implementation Phase and main construction remain on track to begin in 2024.
Key Takeaways:
The survey included 275 construction companies
73 per cent think that the construction industry in Canada lags other countries in digital technology adoption
Approximately 80 per cent of construction firms expressed excitement and support for new technologies
The Whole Story:
Canadian builders believe digital technology can help solve some of the industry’s largest challenges.
A recent survey by KPMG found that Canadian construction companies are counting on digital technology to help address the backlog of Canadian housing and infrastructure projects bogged down by unprecedented demand and a chronic shortage of skilled labour.
The accounting firm’s survey of 275 companies shows that nearly nine in 10 say the lack of skilled labour or trades is impacting their ability to bid on projects and/or meet project deadlines and that digital technology can help make their labour force more effective to address these shortages.
The survey respondents included general contractors (38 per cent), owners (28 per cent), suppliers (13 per cent), subcontractors (11 per cent) and consultants, such as engineers or architects (11 per cent).
“Technology can help the construction industry address Canada’s housing and infrastructure challenges,” says Tom Rothfischer, partner, and national industry leader, building, construction, and real Estate, KPMG in Canada. “Digital tools, if used smartly, save time and money, reduce waste, and improve worker safety and productivity. In short, they help get projects done on time or ahead of schedule and on budget.”
Rothfischer noted that many technologies employed in the manufacturing sector can be deployed by the construction industry to increase productivity and reduce costs. He cited several examples:
3D printing has been adapted to lay concrete and build complex steel shapes. Robots can lay bricks and tie steel reinforcement bars.
Drone-based surveying can help contractors quickly and accurately layout work, measure quantities, and monitor progress.
Building information modelling (BIM) allows project teams to collaborate more effectively to develop innovative solutions to optimize project cost and schedule.
Digital twin technologies build on BIM to integrate real-time data from a built asset with its exact 3D virtual replica to test ‘what-if’ scenarios, including the impact of design changes, construction sequencing, weather disruptions, and operational changes.
KPMG stated that, as in other countries, Canada’s construction industry has been slow to adopt new digital technologies. However, the firm noted that the pandemic, combined with the intensifying labour shortage, has proven to be the catalyst the industry needed to rethink how they go about their business.
“We’re seeing a definite recalibration taking place in the construction sector,” said Rothfischer. “While many are still just at the beginning of their digital build, leaders see the power of technology to reshape the way they work and plan to invest heavily in the coming years. But having the technology is only half the battle. The real advantage will come to those firms who effectively integrate it into their operations – from the back office to the construction site.”
KPMG’s key survey findings:
73 per cent think that the construction industry in Canada lags other countries in digital technology adoption
67 per cent say the impacts of the pandemic prompted them to invest in technology
86 per cent agreed that disruptive technologies can generate savings and efficiency, of whom 50 per cent agreed strongly
85 per cent believe disruptive technologies could make their companies more competitive
81 per cent say their management and back-office teams and 80 per cent say their project teams and labour are excited about and supportive of new technologies and approaches
46 per cent plan to spend more than 11 per cent of their corporate operating budget on tech and digital transformation, 33 per cent anticipate spending between 6-10 per cent, and 20 per cent plan to spend up to 5 per cent.
“Leading firms are already adopting technology to improve productivity and project management, safety on worksites, and decision-making,” said Mary Van Buren, president of the Canadian Construction Association (CCA). “There is a cost however to investing in digitization that isn’t necessarily shared among all parties in the procurement process. Margins are slim in construction, especially for the small- and medium-sized contractors, making it increasingly difficult for them to adopt these types of innovations in their business operations. This is why CCA continues to work with federal departments in an effort to modernize procurement processes that encourage innovation by supporting shared risk.”
“Leading firms are already adopting technology to improve productivity and project management, safety on worksites, and decision-making. There is a cost however to investing in digitization that isn’t necessarily shared among all parties in the procurement process.”
Mary Van Buren – Canadian Construction Association president
The KPMG survey found a Canadian construction industry grappling with a double whammy of unprecedented increased demand for housing and infrastructure projects, and a severe labour shortage that’s challenging the ability of companies to bid on projects and/or meet project deadlines.
To address this, almost all contractors are examining ways to alleviate current labour constraints to meet demands.
“The efficient allocation of trades is one of the industry’s most-pressing challenges and opportunities,” says Jordan Thomson, senior manager, infrastructure advisory, KPMG in Canada. “Many companies are deploying or planning to deploy digital tools to better improve efficiency on site and do more with less. The application of data analytics, wearables, and internet of thing sensors, and BIM can help to improve productivity, schedule efficiency, and quality, minimize waste, and improve worker safety.”
Thomson noted that as companies embrace technologies, the composition of the workforce will also need to undergo change to incorporate new roles, such as software engineers, BIM designers, data analysts, and drone operators into the project team.
“With so many construction projects on the horizon, the only way companies will be able to compete, and finish the job on time and within budget is by digitizing and modernizing their operations and ensuring they fully harness the potential of digital technologies,” he says.
Other survey findings:
90 per cent of construction companies are currently experiencing a shortage of skilled labour or trades
86 per cent say that the shortage of skilled labour or trades is impacting their ability to bid on projects and/or meet project deadlines
86 per cent say that given current labour constraints, they may need to consider other alternatives, such as prefabrication and modularization and/or innovative new tools and machinery
89 per cent agree that better project management tools, such as analytics, BIM, digital twins, helps to address labour shortages and improves employee productivity
91 per cent believe the education system needs to be “much more flexible” to allow young people to pursue the trades
77 per cent say that digital transformation will require hiring new talent within their organization to a “great” and “considerable” extent (44 per cent), and to a “moderate” extent (33 per cent)
The respondents included general contractors (38 per cent), owners (28 per cent), suppliers (13 per cent), subcontractors (11 per cent) and consultants, such as engineers or architects (11 per cent).
When it was started by drywall taper Garth Robertson in a B.C. shed, Robertson Wall & Ceilings did one residential job at a time.
45 years later it has grown into so much more.
The contracting company has gone on to work on some of the largest, most complex projects in the country: Mills Memorial Hospital, Royal Columbian Hospital, St. Paul’s Hospital, The Stack in Vancouver, Amazon’s Vancouver headquarters, LNG Canada, Oakridge Centre and the list goes on.
Garth’s sons, Rod and Larry, joined the wall and ceiling business in the early 2000s and have had a front row seat to the company’s growth. When the two came on board, Rod was an apprentice framer and Larry was an apprentice taper and finisher.
“We did the hard yards and whatever we had to do to make the company run,” said Larry.
When the olympics were announced for Vancouver, the Robertsons saw a major opportunity to go for the gold.
“We decided, all three of us, that we were going to do as much as we can and take on as much Olympic work as we could,” said Rod. “We got a lot of random requests and we didn’t say ‘no’ to any of them.”
This strategy brought in large projects, and the size and scope of the work the company could take on grew.
“It’s been perseverance, hard work, but also not saying ‘no’ to opportunities,” said Larry. “To this day, if a customer has an out-of-the-box request, we look at it, analyze it, and if it makes sense, we do it.”
Rod explained that the company has kept the same attitude and continues to push for work outside what they are used to.
“We had some opportunities come up in Kitimat, big opportunities, and we looked at it, weighed the risk, analyzed it and went for it. Now we’ve opened up a whole new revenue stream outside of Metro Vancouver. It’s pushing the comfort zone,” he said.
RWC’s team works at a site in B.C. – RWC Systems
During the past 45 years, construction itself has changed. Projects have increased in complexity and digital tools are required by sophisticated general contractors. Rather than resist, the company has risen to the challenge. In 2015 a general contractor on Nordstrom’s Vancouver location pushed the company to use tablets.
“Nordstroms was a complex project, and what really impressed us was how they forced tech on us but we’ve never looked back,” said Larry.
Rod explained that the company now employs full-time BIM experts, has gone paperless for many of their processes, prefabricates difficult gypsum work and even uses GPS-assisted digital tools for layout.
“Vancouver has become a real world class city in the past 15 years and the things designers are making are quite unique,” said Larry. “Sometimes they don’t make sense and it adds a layer of complexity that we have embraced as a company. Somebody has to build these buildings and customers are expecting you to step up to the plate.”
The brothers noted that the company has grown from a small family business into a large modern contractor with an experienced team. To represent this shift, the company recently launched a new name and new brand: RWC Systems.
“The company is a lot bigger than it used to be,” said Larry. “The Robertson name helped propel us to where we are but the company, but there are a lot of names in the business that aren’t Robertson. It brings fresh energy into the business and it’s a great, modern logo that represents quality and strength.”
Rod emphasized the immense value of RWC’s team. The company is careful about who they pick to join, are willing to promote from within and have no problem hiring from outside RWC’s niche of walls and ceilings. He noted that one foreman has been with the company for 17 years and now his two children also work for the company – one in the office as a coordinator and one in the field as a lead hand foreman.
“When it comes to our longevity, a huge part of it is our staff,” said Rod. “Some of them have been with us for 25 years. “We do a lot of promoting from within. We train people up, promote them, and they often stay with us. This has helped us build a formidable force in the industry.”
The pair believe in their team so much that the eventual plan for RWC will be to transfer the reins over to them. But in the meantime, RWC is full speed ahead building.
“Looking ahead, we really want to be even more of a leader in the market we serve,” said Larry. “And also, potentially spreading to other parts of B.C. and Western Canada.”
Canadian investment and advisory firm Hillcore has completed the acquisition of Alberta-based Thompson Construction Group.
Thompson was established in Barrhead, Alta. in 1964 with a handful of employees and a couple pieces of heavy equipment. It has been headquartered in Spruce Grove, Alta. since 1984 and has grown to include 1,500 employees and 2,000 pieces of equipment.
The heavy civil contractor focuses on heavy civil earth moving, infrastructure construction, oil sands reclamation and plant construction.
Hillcore, which has partnered with Thompson’s existing senior management team on the acquisition, stated that Thompson’s long-standing history of operational excellence, safety, and quality will continue. Hillcore will work with the management team as it builds its service capacity to support its growing customer base through capital expenditure, acquisition, and geographic expansion plans.
“We are excited to partner with such a great leadership team and an industry leader and see tremendous opportunities to grow this platform,” said Russell Negus, Hillcore chairman. “We welcome Thompson’s 1,500 employees to our existing family of over 3,500 employees across our affiliated businesses.”
Negus gave a special thanks to Larry Thompson for building the business and said that Hillcore is committed to being first rate stewards and custodians of the business as it continues to grow.
“I am thrilled that the Hillcore Group is dedicated to continuing the vision of Thompson, supporting all the great staff and clients in the excellent work we do,” said Larry. “I also want to thank all Thompson employees past and present who have been instrumental in delivering so many successful projects to our long list of great clients over the years.”
Key Takeaways:
This year, category-based selection invitations will include those with experience in the trades.
Officials chose the categories after hearing from employers across the country who are experiencing chronic labour shortages.
2022 legislative changes allowed for the selection of immigrants based on key attributes that support economic priorities, such as specific work experience.
The Whole Story:
Immigrants with experience in the trades will have a faster pathway to living and working in Canada.
The Government of Canada has announced the first-ever launch of category-based selection for Canada’s flagship economic immigration management system, Express Entry. Category-based selection will allow Canada to issue invitations to apply to prospective permanent residents with specific skills, training or language ability. Further details on the timing of invitations for individual categories and how to apply will be announced in the coming weeks.
This year, category-based selection invitations will focus on candidates who have a strong French language proficiency or work experience in the following fields:
Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions
Trades and contractors like carpenters and plumbers
Transport
Agriculture and agri-food
Healthcare
Officials explained that category-based selection will make Express Entry more responsive to Canada’s changing economic and labour market needs, while building on the high human capital approach.
“Everywhere I go, I’ve heard loud and clear from employers across the country who are experiencing chronic labour shortages,” said Sean Fraser, minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship. “These changes to the Express Entry system will ensure that they have the skilled workers they need to grow and succeed. We can also grow our economy and help businesses with labour shortages while also increasing the number of French-proficient candidates to help ensure the vitality of French-speaking communities. Put simply, Canada’s immigration system has never been more responsive to the country’s social or economic needs.”
In June 2022, the Government of Canada made changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to allow for the selection of immigrants based on key attributes that support economic priorities, such as specific work experience or knowledge of French.
Legislative requirements to use these new authorities include that the minister engage in public consultations, prior to establishing a new category, with provinces and territories, members of industry, unions, employers, workers, worker advocacy groups, settlement provider organizations, and immigration researchers and practitioners. Each year, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) must also report to Parliament on the categories that were chosen during the previous year and the selection process, including the rationale for choosing them.
The categories have been determined following extensive consultations with provincial and territorial partners, stakeholders and the public, as well as a review of labour market needs. A complete list of eligible jobs for the new categories is available online. The first category-based invitations to apply are expected to be sent this summer.
Key Takeaways:
Kelowna officials are partnering with Microsoft to develop AI tools that make building permitting faster.
The tools include a chatbot to answer bylaw questions and an AI tool that checks applications in real time.
The city says the tools could speed up the process by 20% to 30% right off the bat.
The Whole Story:
There’s a new project development ally at the city of Kelowna that wants to help get you building – and it’s not human.
The city has partnered with Microsoft to be one of the first cities in the world to use artificial intelligence to speed up its project development process. The project includes two areas of focus. The first is an information bot and the other is AI assistance for applications.
“Each municipality, including Kelowna, have their own bylaws that relate to building, their own nuances that can make it tough to understand what applies to your building,” explained Jazz Pabla, the city’s director of information services.
The information bot can receive inquiries and, based on what is written, give answers comparable what a human would. Rather than having to pore over bylaw documents, users can simply ask the bot.
“This first part of the project is purely informational,” he said. “It breaks down the barrier between information the government has and what information people want. It’s a more conversational approach to getting that data.”
The second phase of the project aims to put a dent in building permit wait times by trimming down the back and forth between the city and builders. This tool shadows applicants as they fill out their forms and tells them in real time if they are compliant or not.
“If you can get the application close to 100% compliant and stop the back and forth, what happens is it goes through the system quicker.”
Pabla said the city is hoping to have some product to show by the end of the year as right now the focus is on the information bot piece.
The city is also modernizing its back-end system to include the ability to tag applications coming through with AI assistance. Pabla said the thinking is that since those applications are likely to be more complete than other ones, it could change in how the city handles them.
Another time saver will be the fact that the AI tools can be available online, anytime.
“24/7, 365, there could be an assistant with stuff to get you going,” he said.That is beneficial as not everyone is available between 8 a.m and 4 p.m.”
Kelowna’s team is working directly with Microsoft’s Redmond, Washington headquarters on the project. The goal of the project, which is to take the project
“They recognize that this could significantly increase the amount of housing available in communities if the black and forth were to stop and permits could get out quicker.”
The city plans to share their solutions, which have been funded by grants, with other municipalities. The city also intends to look at doing automated plan checking which would check for initial application drawings for compliance to eliminate time spent going back and forth there as well.
“For something as basic as a deck, why would you ever need to talk to someone at City Hall?” he said. “Especially if the drawing and application are done correctly. We should be able to issue that right away. That is the goal: to issue as fast as we can. We want to make developers’ lives easier and we see AI doing that significantly. We also want to make sure we are building well-constructed stuff so we want to balance that.”
Pabla believes that the tools are likely to generate 20% to 30% time savings right off the bat and that is likely to improve as they get better.
“We get confidence scores on answers it delivers and we are updating it daily where if it gets an answer wrong, we point it out,” he said. “There could be a world where the applications that come in are fully done properly in AI. It could be sped up and there is a really good use case to have that.”
Thinking of switching things up this summer? Check out what construction companies are hiring on SiteNews Jobs, a Canadian construction job board we launched last month. “Hot Jobs” is a weekly segment that showcases a selection of the top positions that have been recently posted.
The company stated that the $1.7-billion solar-energy plan would be the largest of its kind in Canada. Officials noted that the batch of solar projects is the first transaction Mytilineos has made in North America, following its international strategy to seek opportunities in countries and areas with high commercial interest and business-friendly environments.
The transaction is to be completed by way of a share purchase. Westbridge will retain ownership of the SPVs and continue to lead the development of the Projects until closing, which is subject to certain conditions, including regulatory approvals.
Projects covered by the purchase include:
Georgetown – Solar power plant with a capacity of up to 230 MWac, located in Vulcan County, Alberta;
Sunnynook – Solar power plant with a capacity of up to 280 MWac, located in Special Area No. 2, Alberta;
Dolcy – Solar power plant with a capacity of up to 200 MWac, located in the municipal district of Wainwright, Alberta;
Eastervale – Solar power plant with a capacity of up to 300 MWac, located in the municipal district of Provost, Alberta; and
Red Willow – Solar power plant with a capacity of up to 225 MWac, located in Stettler County No. 6, Alberta.
Together, the projects are expected to generate 2.1 terawatt-hours (TWh) per year of renewable energy, equivalent to the electricity necessary to provide power to 200,000 Canadian homes for one year.
Mytilineos expects the two most advanced projects, Georgetown and Sunnynook, to be ready to build status by end of this year, while the remaining three projects (approximately 800 MW) are in advanced development status and likely won’t be shovel ready until mid 2024.
All of the projects have applied for and/or been permitted for the installation and use of a battery and energy storage system, with a total anticipated combined storage capacity of 1,200 MWh for the total portfolio.
The company cited Canada’s recently announced the Clean Technology Investment Tax Credit and Clean Electricity Investment Tax Credit as factors in the decision. It noted that the policies may provide a refundable tax credit of up to 30% on the eligible capital expenditures. This would be $430 million based on the estimated costs.
“The selection of Alberta has been the obvious choice for Mytilineos, as the area has some of the highest irradiation in Canada, making it an ideal location for the development of solar projects in the country,” stated company officials. “Alberta is one of the fastest growing renewable energy markets in North America and has a target, as per its Renewable Electricity Act, to achieve 30% production from renewable energy sources by 2030. In Mytilineos’ view, the province of Alberta has established a streamlined permitting process which favours appropriate planning and predictability.”
The announcement marks the first portfolio monetization for Westbridge. The company stated that the sale its Alberta portfolio underscores the Westbridge team’s meticulous planning, diligent execution, and deep understanding of market dynamics.
“Westbridge recognized the strong potential of Alberta to become a significant jurisdiction for solar development,” said the company. “By garnering critical mass in the province and partnering with Mytilineos, Westbridge has demonstrated its value and will play an important role in Canada’s transition to net-zero.”
