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.
Social procurement and sustainable development were major parts of Chandos’ approach to a new fire hall in Lloydminster, Alta.
The project also had to address supply chain issues and a contractor’s cash flow problems.
Despite these challenges, the project was completed without significant delays.
The Whole Story:
Chandos, the project’s builder, explained in a web post that its team drew on social procurement and sustainable development during the build process so the community could benefit.
Roughly 90 per cent of the building’s materials were bought locally, including lumber, insulation, membrane, masonry and concrete. The team also focused on drawing from the nearby labour pool, hiring five subtrades locally.
“The team worked with various agencies to provide opportunities to at-risk individuals,” said Chandos project manager Michael Lewis. “We also collaborated with the local construction association to ensure local vendors were included as much as possible.”
The team also worked to divert nearly 65 per cent of waste from the project.
The project was not immune to supply chain issues that have been plaguing the sector. When procuring the structural steel and precast portions of the build, Chandos was informed that the roof joists that would be required had a lead time of more than 20 weeks. The wait would have delayed final turnover on the project by nine months.
A photo shows the interior of a new $8.5-million fire hall built for Lloydminster, Alta.
“To mitigate this issue, we went back to the bidders and had them make suggestions,” wrote the builder. “We were able to have the building redesigned structurally by our steel contractor using materials that were available, and then we were able to have the structural steel and precast contracted to be onsite by a specific date.”
While the move secured the schedule, it came at a premium of $250,000. Despite the cost, Chandos said that the reasoning behind it was thoroughly discussed and easily approved by the client.
The project also experienced delays for the main air handling unit, which the mechanical contractor said would be arriving much later than expected. Crews would need to wait to complete the structure and roofing in that section of the build.
“This would have delayed all of the work in the main mechanical area and would have created a domino effect on other contractors,” wrote Chandos.
The team worked with the mechanical contractor and the site superintendent to devise a plan. Crews left a wall section unbuilt so that the equipment could be loaded into the building after the main structure was in place. This allowed for all of the additional work to be completed in that specific area. And, when the air handling equipment arrived, it was installed and the wall sections were closed up.
The project also had to mitigate cash flow issues. The team discovered the project’s drywall contractor was having difficulties and a lien was placed on the project by a rental company due to some unpaid bills.
Chandos assisted by clearing some of the debts the contractor had. The company also had the lien cleared all while keeping the client in the loop throughout. With the issue resolved, it caused no delays.
Key Takeaways:
Dawn Farrell, previously TransAlta’s CEO, will take over as president and CEO of Trans Mountain.
Farrell joins the corporation as the Trans Mountain Expansion Project passes 60 per cent completion.
Officials say interim president Rob Van Walleghem will remain part of the corporation’s senior leadership team.
The Whole Story:
The Trans Mountain Corporation’s board of directors announced that Dawn Farrell has taken over as president and CEO. Farrell will also serve as a member of the board.
Farrell has spent more than 35 years in the energy business.
“I am excited to be joining the team at Trans Mountain as it continues its work of completing one of Canada’s most important infrastructure projects,” said Farrell. “The Trans Mountain Expansion Project has been in planning and construction for the past 12 years and, as it passes the 60 per cent completion mark, I look forward to leading the organization to this project’s end while steering the next phase of the Ccmpany’s future.”
She has held various senior level positions, including most recently president and CEO of TransAlta Corporation where she led the company’s transition away from coal-fired electrical generation. Trans Mountain officials stated that the effort was one of the most significant carbon emissions reduction achievements in Canada’s effort to address climate change.
Trans Mountain officials noted that Farrell’s experience as a high level executive at a large public company will bring deep expertise and significant international business presence to Trans Mountain. Farrell spent three years as TransAlta CEO which included executing complex projects, working with Indigenous communities and completing company-wide cultural transformation.
Trans Mountain officials added that these are all important areas of expertise that will provide benefit. Farrell also has extensive experience with capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, and has led the negotiation and evaluation of a critical, intricate transaction with government.
“We are pleased that Dawn has chosen to join the strong team at Trans Mountain,” said William Downe, chairman of Trans Mountain’s board. “A community builder with a steadfast commitment to strengthening Canada, Dawn has proven to be a dynamic and thoughtful leader, successfully leading organizations through change and revitalization. We are confident that her broad-based knowledge, experience, and her background with governments and Indigenous communities will be a tremendous asset to Trans Mountain as it completes the expansion project and navigates the next stages of the Company’s future.”
Downe thanked interim president Rob Van Walleghem for his leadership of the company during this period of transition and added that he will continue in a senior executive leadership role at the company.
Farrell is currently the chair of the board for The Chemours Company and Portland General Electric. She has held past board positions including the Business Council of Canada, Alberta Business Council, Calgary Stampede, Conference Board of Canada, Mount Royal College/University Board of Governors and Foundation Board of Directors, Fording Coal Income Fund, New Relationship Trust, and Vision Quest Windelectric. Farrell has contributed to electricity and environmental policy development in Alberta, B.C. and federally.
Farrell is currently the chancellor for Mount Royal University and a member of the Trilateral Commission, a non-governmental, policy-oriented international forum, as well as community champion for Momentum.
Key Takeaways:
CN Rail and Keyera are jointly exploring a new Alberta rail terminal.
It would be built in Alberta’s first designated industrial zone and carry conventional and clean energy products.
The companies believe it could handle six inbound and outbound trains each day.
The Whole Story:
Keyera Corp. and CN Rail announced that they have signed a deal to leverage their joint expertise to evaluate the creation of a specialized energy terminal near Edmonton. The new infrastructure would aggregate conventional and clean energy from multiple sources to support the transportation of energy products.
“This project capitalizes on a core CN strength: sustainably moving Canadian natural resources safely and efficiently to domestic and international markets,” explained Tracy Robinson, CN’s president and CEO. “We are pleased to be working with Keyera on this project which will benefit Alberta and the Canadian economy. The project will offer a unique opportunity to aggregate products from multiple producers and will provide an efficient mechanism to not only support Canadian industry but also further global energy transition.”
Officials at CN and Keyera stated that the facility would be an efficient solution for industrial players to connect and transport a range of specialized low-cost sustainable energy products to key markets domestically and globally.
The facility would be built on adjoining lands belonging to Keyera and CN. The companies noted that the benefits of this strategic location include opportunities for product aggregation through close proximity to large industrial operators, existing infrastructure to support the terminal and its customers including carbon sequestration, and direct access to the CN rail network. The companies added that the anticipate the facility would be capable of handling six inbound and outbound high-capacity trains daily.
“This agreement builds on the strengths of each partner and allows for the most efficient solutions for the industry to achieve both the needs of today’s market and the future of clean energy,” said Dean Setoguchi, Keyera’s CEO. “Together, Keyera and CN demonstrate how collaboration is key to creating sustainable solutions, meeting the evolving needs of our customers, and transporting high value products locally and abroad while supporting Canada’s path to net-zero.”
Key Takeaways:
Alberta is a launching a new campaign to attract workers from the coasts.
The campaign will highlight wages, housing affordability and low taxes.
The messaging will target workers digitally, on the radio and in high traffic areas in Vancouver and Toronto.
The Whole Story:
The province is launching its Alberta is Calling campaign in Toronto and Vancouver. Officials stated that the campaign will focus on highlighting the Alberta’s advantages, including high wages, low taxes, affordable homes, short commutes, growing industries and access to mountain recreational activities.
“In Edmonton, you can own four homes for the same price as one in Vancouver,” boasts the campaign’s website.
The province also highlighted its $1,251 average weekly earnings are the highest in the country. The second highest is Ontario at $1,197 per week. In third is Alberta’s close neighbour, B.C. at $1,159 per week.
According to Statistics Canada’s 2020 Canadian Income Survey, released this March, Alberta families earned a median after-tax income of $104,000 in 2020, which is more than $7,000 higher than Ontario and nearly $10,000 higher than B.C.
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney launches the Alberta is Calling campaign to draw workers to the province. – Government of Alberta
Officials noted that over the past three years, Alberta has seen growth in sectors including film and television, technology, agriculture, renewable energy, aviation and logistics. They believe this diversification means that job seekers have more opportunity to expand their skillsets and succeed in their chosen field.
The $2.6-million dollar campaign will target workers on social media and other digital spaces, on radio, and in high traffic locations across Vancouver and Toronto. It will roll out in two phases with additional high impact tactics in both markets.Recent data shows businesses are feeling the labour crunch. The Business Council of Alberta’s latest survey of employers showed that 78 per cent of respondents are having trouble meeting demand due to labour shortages. The Conference Board of Canada estimates there will be a shortage of one million workers in the trades and related occupations within twenty years.
The report highlights the initiatives that Minto has undertaken during the 2021 calendar year. It’s the company’s 13th annual report and 67th year as a business.
“As we put another pandemic year behind us and look optimistically toward the future, we continue to build on our ESG strategy and make progress in key areas like building our business resilience, impacting our communities, and reducing our environmental impact,” said Michael Waters, Minto Group CEO. “As a conscientious leader in our industry for over 67 years, we’re incredibly proud to be an ethically responsible, forward-thinking business with a clear path toward building a better tomorrow, today.”
A rendering shows the design of Minto Westside, a Minto project completed in 2020. – Minto Group
2020 marked a significant shift as Minto began developing a new ESG strategy. The company stated that in 2021 its team shifted focus to defining priorities so its ESG program could advance. This included clear performance targets, comprehensive reporting frameworks and strong governance.
The report highlighted the company’s inaugural Diversity and Inclusion Survey, a historic $25 million donation to the Ottawa Hospital Foundation and reductions in the environmental impacts of buildings. This included offerent net-zero and net-zero ready options for homebuyers and geo-exchange community energy systems.
Some other environmental highlights included 7 per cent lower energy consumption from 2019 levels, 8 per cent lower carbon intensity from 2019 levels and 81.8 per cent construction waste diversion.
Key Takeaways:
Calgary is asking for ideas to redesign 8 Street SW.
The corridor was hollowed out over the years by high office vacancies.
Officials want the redesigned corridor to connect people, parks and neighbourhoods.
The Whole Story:
The city announced it is seeking proposals from design firms to help reimagine 8 Street SW, between 17 Avenue SW and the Bow River.
Officials noted that the neighbourhood corridor is a vital place that will be central to the re-invention of the western part of Calgary’s downtown. It is an area that has hit the hardest by office vacancies. In recent years the city has seen its office vacancy rate peak above 30 per cent. The city added that the street is also an important connector between the Beltline and the Bow River pathway system.
“It’s time to rethink 8 Street SW,” said Thom Mahler, Director, downtown strategy. “Calgary’s Greater Downtown Plan identified it as an important downtown street to transform into a complete street with accessibility for all modes of transportation and as a linchpin of The City’s goal to create a green network of tree-lined, pedestrian-friendly streets connecting downtown’s diverse neighbourhoods and inventory of parks, outdoor spaces and pathways.”
Mahler explained that the project is an update of the 8 Street Corridor Public Realm Master Plan, completed in 2016 that included the reconstruction of the 8 Street underpass. Calgary’s Greater Downtown Plan, approved by city council in 2021, identifies public realm improvements to 8 Street SW as a priority. According to the plan, the street holds importance as a potential green network, a pedestrian-focused space, and a neighbourhood hub in Calgary’s Downtown West and Beltline.
Officials explained that their vision is for the street to create a “contemporary, pedestrian focused urban destination area with a distinct identity that connects people, parks and neighbourhoods, supported by vibrant retail experiences, and a variety of transportation modes.”
They believe the redesign will support private investment along the street and create a high-quality north-south pedestrian route from 17 Avenue SW to the river.
“A lot has changed since the 8 Street Corridor Public Realm Master Plan was developed, with the westside of Calgary’s downtown changing significantly since 2016,” said Shannon Reid, project manager for the 8 Street SW Public Realm Improvement Project. “We’re excited to launch this project to help shape the future of downtown and support community vibrancy in this important downtown neighbourhood.”
The objective of the 8 Street SW project is to execute the planning, design, and implementation of the remaining public realm improvements identified in the 8 Street Corridor Public Realm Master Plan – including the redevelopment of the streetscape and adjoining riverfront park.
The project’s design team will be chosen through a request for proposal process.
Key takeaways:
Nearly 600 square km near Edmonton will be Alberta’s first designated industrial zone.
Projects in the zone will benefit from shared infrastructure and streamlined regulatory processes.
Participation in the zone means agreeing to some environmental conditions and coordinated planning.
The Whole Story:
The province is launching a new pilot project to create its first designated industrial zone (DIZ).
Officials say facilities located in the DIZ will benefit from optimized regulatory approvals, shared access to infrastructure and resources and minimized cumulative environmental impacts.
The province is calling the new zone, just northeast of Edmonton, the Industrial Heartland.
It extends into five different municipalities, including 533 square km within the city of Fort Saskatchewan and the counties of Lamont, Strathcona and Sturgeon. About 49 square km resides in a section of Edmonton known as the Edmonton Energy and Technology Park.
So what’s the catch?
Proponents in the zone must agree to zone specific environmental assessments, topsoil management guidelines, air emissions requirements, water quality management and financial or human resources for implementing environmental management programs
The province said it created the new zone in part because the Edmonton Metropolitan Region has grown into the country’s largest hydrocarbon processing region and is home to world-scale oil and gas refineries, and chemical and petrochemical facilities.
A map shows Alberta’s new designated industrial zone near Edmonton. – Government of Alberta
Proponents in the zone could see environmental approval renewals take just 6 months instead of the average 18 months.
They would also be part of careful planning that aims to create industrial clusters so resources and infrastructure costs could be reduced and shared. It also lessens the environmental impact of facilities. Cluster infrastructure initiatives focus on creating regional water supply infrastructure, shared wastewater treatment options and electricity solutions.
According to Alberta’s Industrial Heartland Association, a non-profit that is working to promote industrial development, the province’s petrochemical sector could attract more than $30 billion in capital investment by 2030 if supported.
“By designating the Heartland an industrial zone, the region emerges as a competitive force through regulatory efficiency and scaled infrastructure, unlocking Alberta’s potential to be a world leader in responsible energy,” explained Dean Setoguchi, CEO of Canadian energy giant Keyera. “This aligns with Keyera’s plans to leverage our pipeline infrastructure and nearly 1,300 acres of undeveloped land in the region for a low carbon vision that will position us as a significant player in Alberta’s energy future.”
Key Takeaways:
Calgary-based Carbon Upcycling will have its low-carbon concrete tested for three years on U.S. highways.
The company uses CO2-enhanced fly ash to reduce cementitious material.
Their method will be compared to 14 other low-carbon alternatives as well as traditional concrete.
Researchers plan to publicly release the study results.
The Whole Story:
Carbon Upcycling, a waste and carbon utilization company commercializing a portfolio of circular and CO2-embedded materials, has wrapped up work on a concrete demonstration project led by the National Road Research Alliance (NRRA).
The project carved out an active section of highway road along Interstate-94 to trial 14 unique concrete mixtures, including Carbon Upcycling. The section of highway is located at the Minnesota Road Research Facility (MnRoad) in Albertville, Minn.
Mixing it up
Researchers chose 14 mixture designs that employ a variety of methods to decarbonize concrete, including the utilization of supplementary cementitious materials, portland limestone cement, alternative supplementary cementitious materials, alternative cement and liquid carbon dioxide – all for the purpose of reducing the lifecycle carbon footprint of concrete.
Researchers are comparing each mixture to a conventional concrete mixture design prepared using portland limestone cement and fly ash.
Carbon Upcycling utilizes CO2-enhanced fly ash in its concrete. The company stated that this method has seen double-digit reductions in total cementitious material – an industry leading achievement for low-carbon concrete.
Down the road
“This demonstration project is intended to give companies an opportunity to put forward the most sustainable concrete mixtures their technologies and materials can achieve, without sacrificing performance,” said Larry Sutter, principal engineer for Sutter Engineering and the demonstration’s technical manager. “Carbon Upcycling has submitted a very impressive mixture design. Their material embeds co2 in the concrete, thereby accomplishing carbon sequestration. Additionally, their process improves the SCM reactivity, allowing for significant reductions in the portland cement used.”
Sutter noted that Carbon Upcycling’s mixture design accomplished the highest reduction in total cementitious materials of all mixture designs submitted. He added that the data collected from the project will be critically informative to the cement and concrete industry and will facilitate implementation of these new materials as the industry works to reach its ambitious 2030 CO2 reduction targets.
Rolling out data
The NRRA and Mnroad project includes three years of testing and data collection to assess the different mixture designs. They plan to make results publicly available.
“Carbon Upcycling aspires to be the most impactful carbontech company of this decade,” said Apoorv Sinha, Carbon Upcycling co founder and CEO. “Third-party verified data like this further reinforces the industry’s confidence in our solution, and we will be announcing our first commercial-scale projects with engaged partners later this year.”
The company announced that Richard Hunter will take over the role.
Hunter has 40 years of manufacturing leadership and experience with large manufacturing companies, including Forterra, Trinity Industries, Terex Corporation, Danaher Corporation, Delphi Corporation and General Motors Corporation. Most recently, Hunter provided consulting services focused on business transformation and growth.
“I’m excited to welcome Rich as our new COO. Together with his extensive manufacturing experience, Rich’s track record of engaging teams and building healthy, performance-driven culture makes him a valuable addition to DIRTT,” said Benjamin Urban, DIRTT CEO. “Rich will be a key part of DIRTT’s growth as we unlock manufacturing capacity. His collaborative and inclusive approach will drive improvements in efficiency as DIRTT continues to focus on our strengths, delivering an agile construction system to our clients.”
Hunter has an MBA in operations and strategic planning from Purdue University, a master of science degree in manufacturing management from Kettering University, and a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from Michigan State University.
Key Takeaways:
By 2025, new buildings in Victoria, B.C. must be zero carbon.
This is part of larger plans to be completely on renewable energy by 2050.
The move would make it one of the first B.C. cities to have a zero carbon construction standard.
The Whole Story:
Starting in 2025 Victoria will require all new construction to be zero carbon. The city noted that the new goal is part is of its accelerated climate action plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50 per cent before 2050.
The requirement will come on the heels of the the BC Building Code carbon pollution standards that start this year.
The zero carbon standard is five years ahead of B.C.’s carbon requirements. The city stated that the new requirements are expected to significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions from new buildings. By 2050 the city plans to also switch over to 100 per cent renewable energy. The switch could trip up to 7 per cent of the total community emissions needed to reach those 2050 goals.
A chart from the Global Alliance For Buildings and Construction shows emissions from the built environment. – Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction
The city boasted that it is one of the first municipalities to establish a zero carbon polluting standard for construction and steer away from fossil fuels for water and space heating.
The requirements and schedule were set after an engagement process with the local building industry, co-led by the city of Victoria, the district of Saanich and the district of Central Saanich with support from the Capital Regional District (CRD). The engagement focused on how best to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from new construction through the BC Energy Step Code and the forthcoming carbon pollution standards.
According to a report by the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction, buildings were responsible for 38 per cent of global carbon emissions in 2020. This was followed by the transportation industry, which contributed 23 per cent of emissions. The report accounted for emissions produced during construction as well as operation, including natural gas heating or coal-powered electricity.
Key Takeaways:
B.C. is boosting efforts to upskill workers for mass timber projects with $250,000 in funding for additional educational programming.
The province is also helping fund the school’s Tall Timber Student Housing Project which is being built at its Burnaby Campus.
Crews broke ground on the housing project in 2020.
The Province currently has spent $732 million to fund 10 projects that involve mass timber at post-secondary institutions throughout B.C.
The Whole Story:
“We are investing in new post-secondary training for students to become leaders in mass timber construction, which will help people succeed and be future ready in a sector that is setting the example of how to build a better British Columbia for all,” said Anne Kang, minister of advanced education and skills training. “We’re also investing in student housing and projects that involve mass timber at post-secondary institutions, including providing $108.8 million toward BCIT’s new Tall Timber Student Housing, which is currently under construction.”
Logging On
Kang recently visited the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) Applied Mass Timber Build open house, where she announced $250,000 in funding to support the development of additional programming. Officials noted the programming will build on the new construction of mass timber structures associate certificate.
“This program is a game changer for our construction industry and our growing mass timber sector here in B.C.,” said Ravi Kahlon, minister of jobs, economic recovery and innovation. “This investment will help ensure B.C. has enough workers with the right skills to build our buildings of the future – providing clean, inclusive, sustainable economic development in every corner of the province.”
The associate certificate was designed as a part-time, blended six-month program. The certificate is delivered online and then culminates in a two-week practicum at the BCIT Burnaby campus, where students get hands-on installation experience with mass timber structures. Officials say a cohort of 12 to 24 students will begin their studies in January 2023.
New Growth
The province estimates that the growing mass timber sector could be a boon for the economy, supporting more than 4,000 jobs across B.C. in manufacturing, technology, forestry, design and engineering. By 2035 the sector is projected to be with a projected worth of $403 million.
“As the largest provider of trades training in Western Canada, it’s critical that BCIT is delivering relevant, hands-on training to help learners master in-demand skills, while contributing toward an agile workforce with sustained and meaningful impact,” said Wayne Hand, dean, BCIT’s school of construction and the environment. “This investment from the Province of British Columbia allows more trades professionals in upskilling to advance mass timber innovation, clean-energy solutions, as well as the economic prosperity of B.C.”
Carrying the load
Mass timber products have been found to be useful as solid, structural load-bearing components, such as columns, beams and panels used to construct residential, commercial and industrial buildings. Recent years have seen landmark mass timber projects, like Brock Commons, an 18-storey mass timber structure used as housing for students at University of British Columbia.
“The BCIT introductory studies in mass timber construction micro-credential provided me with practical, industry-focused competencies to drive innovation in the growing field of mass timber,” said Mike Metcalfe, foreman for Seagate Mass Timber. “An expansion-education program, such as the construction of mass timber structures associate certificate, which I’m completing, will increase accessibility for professionals across sectors to be job ready in supporting new opportunities and demands of the workforce.”
