Category: People

Kids now have another way to learn about construction in Canada. 

You’ve heard of PAW Patrol, but are you ready for Rubble & Crew? 

Spin Master and Corus Entertainment have premiered Rubble & Crew on Corus’ top kids network Treehouse and STACKTV. The show is a spin-off series from preschool franchise PAW Patrol that follows the adventures of fan-favorite English bulldog Rubble and his construction crew family.

“As a proud member of the PAW Patrol, Rubble has stolen the hearts of preschoolers around the world with his loyal, optimistic nature and penchant for treats,” said Jennifer Dodge, Spin Master’s president of entertainment and executive producer. “Our new series expands Rubble’s world with storytelling that digs into amazing construction projects and the importance of family, combined with high-stakes action, fun adventures and messy demolition that preschoolers will love.”

Set in the community of Builder Cove, a neighboring town to PAW Patrol’s Adventure Bay, Rubble & Crew centers on Rubble, the funny and optimistic leader of the construction crew. In the small, quickly growing town, lots of things are still needed for the community to come together, including a bigger airport, train station, bridges, tunnels, schools, fire stations, parks and more. Rubble and his construction pup family – his pup cousins Mix, Wheeler, Charger, Motor, along with Grandpa Gravel and Auntie Crane – must work together to tackle and build all the projects the town needs.

“For the last decade, PAW Patrol has won over the hearts of families everywhere and established itself as a beloved pre-school favourite,” said Jennifer Abrams, senior vice president of networks and programming at Corus Entertainment. “As we warmly welcome Rubble & Crew to Treehouse, we look forward to continuing to showcase the best in Canadian animation for our viewers.”

I wanted to reflect on some sad news we received over the weekend about the loss of an icon in our industry, someone who gave much to the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association (ICBA), the construction industry, the open shop movement, and to British Columbia.

Over the weekend, Lark Group founder and ICBA Life Member Larry Fisher passed away after a courageous battle with cancer.

Larry was an incredible supporter of ICBA and open shop construction from our earliest days. When he formed Lark in 1972, he quickly became a strong and outspoken advocate for free enterprise – for the investment, jobs and opportunity that result from open and fair bidding on government tendered projects and on an economy founded on free markets.

Not one to stand on the sidelines, Larry’s passion for getting things done and building B.C., led him to unapologetically support Social Credit and, later, the BC Liberal Party.

It’s impossible to overstate how important Larry and Lark Group have been to open shop construction. Larry was one of the leaders who successfully pushed to open EXPO 86 to non-union construction companies. It was a simple proposition – if companies and their workers had the skill and experience to get the job done, why shouldn’t they have an opportunity to work on taxpayer-funded projects? And he practiced what he preached: Lark sites have a healthy mix of open shop and building trades sub-contractors working on their projects. It was hard work and results that mattered to Larry.

His affection for ICBA never wavered, and he always looked back fondly at his work in the 1980s: “Convictions were so strong that we just believed in what we were doing and if you ran across a concrete wall, you’d step back, go sideways and find a hole in the wall and just keep marching on,” he told ICBA in 2016.

I first met Larry in 1990, when he invited Kevin Falcon and me, university students at the time, to meet with him at 6AM in his office in Surrey to talk about politics. Not one for small talk, he got to the point, and our meeting was over in half an hour. While short, it’s a meeting I will never forget.  I will also never forget Kevin and I, who lived on the North Shore and in Vancouver, looking at each other following the meeting and one of us saying, “It’s 6:30AM in Surrey – now what do we do?”

From that first meeting onward, when it came to discussions about construction, building the province or what was happening at City Hall, in Victoria or in Ottawa, Larry’s voice was never too far from the conversations.

In 2019, ICBA wanted a long-term solution for its head office, and we were looking at sites in Burnaby (where we had been for more than 20 years) and Surrey, (where, in our early days, we had a single room office in a basement), so I called Larry. Lark Group was building City Centre 3 across from Surrey Memorial Hospital. And, two weeks before the COVID-19 lockdown, we signed an agreement to purchase the 8^th floor of the new building. The timing was interesting to say the least, but like Larry, we never looked back.

In the summer of that year, Larry called us with the idea for a photo opportunity that only he could have come up with. After workers poured the 8^th floor of our building, he had a desk craned up and placed in the exact location where my new office was to be located. I will always cherish that amazing photo of he and I, in full PPE, proudly standing behind a desk in the open air, with the Lark Group CC1 building looming behind us.

A couple of months ago, as he was fighting cancer, he called me. “Chris, I’m just on hold waiting for the results of my most recent tests, so I thought I would give you a call. I want to talk about what’s happening in Victoria and Ottawa.”

That was Larry – ever driving, persistent, principled, and always fighting for what he believed in.

As I think about Larry now, I am so glad that I answered his call and had an opportunity to speak with him for a few minutes. I will think of him often as I pass by ICBA’s Builders’ Wall and glance up at his name.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Larry’s family, the Lark Group team, and his many friends. He was an incredible builder and a remarkable person. We mourn the loss of a true icon.

It’s hard to imagine what we did on long drives or flights before podcasts. They can be informative, entertaining, funny, short, long and everything in between. Here’s a quick list of some of the podcasts people in our sector are listening to.

Rory Kulmala, Vancouver Island Construction Association CEO

The Way I heard It – Mike Rowe

He tells some great stories that include unknown facts and some surprising endings in a way that only Mike can do!

– Kulmala

Michael Scott, building division vice president, Impact Recruitment

Beautiful Stories from Anonymous People – Earwolf and Chris Gethard

Every human has a story and people have some really ‘odd’ things happen in life. By being able to talk about your life things anonymously for an hour and not be judged is a great healing thing and helps us all to realize that weird stuff happens all around us and to all of us.

– Scott

Yasir Ali, Self Perform Operations at Turner Construction Company

Acquired – Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal

This podcast is a long format episode ~3 hours each compared to the traditional 30-40min episodes of most podcasts. It does a really good job doing a deep dive behind the inception of a business/start up to where it is today with a focus on the people behind it. Would really recommend for an in-depth understanding and behind the scenes decision making that happens when businesses get acquired to also understanding multiple pivots that businesses make in being sustainable and relevant in an ever-evolving market.

– Ali

Shane McKernan, director of construction at Chard Development

Vancouver Real Estate Podcast – Matt and Adam Scalena

This podcast has had great insight to local market conditions and forecasts. They have some really good guests on too that’s worth a listen.

– McKernan

Erik Backstrom, Senior Planner for City of Edmonton

The Ezra Klein Show – Ezra Klein

A podcast with deep, insightful conversations about a wide variety of meaningful issues. 

– Backstrom

Nicholas Tountas, sheet metal worker at Orzech Heating and Cooling

Spitten Chiclets – Barstool Sports

As a huge sports fan I love the Spitting Chiclets Podcast. I love the other side of sports commentary (the absence of cookie cutter responses) and enjoy personal recollections of athlete’s journeys. Dark Topic is a podcast my girlfriend recently got me into. It’s a true crime genre where the hosts cover 911 calls and provide humour to obviously unsettling circumstances.  The banter is great, the stories are often quite disturbing, and the delivery of the show itself always keeps me wanting to hear the next episode.

– Tountas

Thomas Bamber, Air + Light technical lead, Integral Group

Crackdown – Crackdown Productions

It’s a podcast made by and about people in the downtown east side. I have lost track of how many people I’ve recommended this too. I just really admire the people who’ve made it. It has generated a lot of momentum towards helping people like me be less ignorant about the downtown east side community.

– Bamber

Sebastien de Ghellinck, SkillSignal founder and owner

Business Wars – Wondery

I love Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History, but you never know when the next series will come out… so I’ll also mention Business Wars. It makes business history accessible and we can even listen to it as a family on road trips.

– de Ghellinck

Mary Van Buren, Canadian Construction Association president

How to speak so that people want to listen – Julian Treasure

We are all bombarded with communications and much of it is ignored.  In this TED Talk, the speaker points out some simple ways to be more effective.

– Van Buren

Russell Hixson, SiteNews Editor

More Perfect – WNYC Studios

If not for Sebastien mentioning it, I would have chosen Hardcore History which is far and away the greatest podcast of all time, in my opinion. However, as a former crime journalist who spent countless hours in courtrooms, I have a soft spot for anything that digs into the legal system. More Perfect does this.

– Hixson

SiteNews’ very own editor Russell Hixson joined The Site Visit podcast to talk about his background in investigative journalism, joining the publication and his forecast for the 2023 construction season. 

Before reporting on Canada’s construction sector, Hixson spent years in the U.S. as an investigative crime reporter, writing about murder, drugs and disasters. 

“I just got burnt out,” he told hosts James Faulkner and Christian Hamm. “I didn’t know anybody here in terms of the industry. I applied for everything and a construction publication called the Journal of Commerce were the only ones who wanted to hire me.”

After covering Western Canada for the publication for over eight years, he was given the opportunity to help lead SiteNews.

“Over the past nine years I have grown to love it,” he said. “I have met so many cool people, I have learned so much about how the machinery of how the nation works and how the economy works, and about all the wonderful people who build our country and keep it running.” 

Having written at daily, print publications for years, Hixson noted that it was excited to try something new with a completely digital offering.

“Every other publication I’ve worked for has always had one foot in traditional journalism,” he said. “When I heard [SiteNews] was going to build a digital publication from scratch for a more modern consumer, I was really excited to be a part of that.”

Hixson also spoke about his reporting on what industry leaders are thinking going into 2023.

“Despite a lot of the doom and gloom in the general media space around the country, our industry is optimistic,” he said. “Maybe you could couch that as ‘cautious optimism’ but everyone I am talking to is busy. They are still going through backlogs of work and they have lots of work booked for 2023.” 

The conversation also touched on the labour shortage and technology trends. He even shared his experience restarting someone’s heart while writing a story about a paramedic in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Listen below to get the whole conversation.

You can’t celebrate someone’s promotion, retirement or major career change if you don’t know about it.

That’s why SiteNews is introducing ‘People Moves‘. On the third week of every month, we are rounding up all the career announcements we can find and putting them in our newsletter. The inaugural installment of People Moves features announcements from Bird Construction, Infrastructure BC, Kinetic Construction, Tahltan Nation Development Corporation, Wales McLelland, DIALOG, Gensler, COWI North America, Revay and Associates, the British Columbia Institute of Technology and the Ontario Skilled Trades Alliance.

This month’s moves:

Dom Costantini, vice president of operations for Bird Construction’s buildings division, announced he is leaving the company. He wrote that he plans to take some time to reset and begin searching for a new career opportunity. He joined Bird in 2004 as a project coordinator. His role focused on strategic initiatives for the company, particularly leading its special projects division and deep energy retrofits.

Mindy Henyu, Brianna Quock and Edward Van Mierlo have all been appointed to the The Tahltan Nation Development Corporation (TNDC) board of directors. TNDC is one of the biggest Indigenous companies in B.C. It provides heavy construction, earthworks, camp services, air support, aviation, forestry, transportation and fibre-optic communications services.

George Kyriakelis has been promoted to assistant vice president, transportation at Infrastructure BC. He previously was project director, focusing on the health, transportation, and energy sectors. George has been involved in the planning, procurement, and implementation of several health, education, transportation, and energy projects, in various roles.Infrastructure BC supports the public sector by providing leadership in the procurement of complex capital projects.  Before joining Infrastructure BC, Kyriakelis worked with Peter Kiewit Infrastructure Group in various management capacities. 

Mark Liudzius, executive vice president at Kinetic Construction, is retiring after 25 years at the company. He joined Kinetic in 1988 and worked his way through several positions including branch manager and director of operations. Mark also sat as board chair for four years. His retirement is effective Jan. 31. Kinetic was founded in 1894. It employs close to 200 people across three branch offices in B.C. and has over 40 active construction projects in the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island

John Surabathula has been promoted to senior consultant at construction consulting firm Revay and Associates. He has amassed more than 25 years experience in construction, construction management, and program management in LNG, transportation, mining, transmission, hydro and building projects

Ash Kumar has joined Wales McLelland as director of operations. Kumar has more than 25 years of experience in project management, operational efficiency, and business development. He has led teams for work in the commercial, retail, education, healthcare, industrial, hospitality, and institutional sectors. Wales has been operating in the Vancouver area for more than 50 years as a general contractor. 

Sanja Boskovic is the new associate dean of industrial and mechanical trades at the School of Energy at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). She not only holds a PhD in engineering, she also has a Phd in educational technology and learning design. Programs at the School of Energy range from machinist to telecommunications, and chemical and environmental technology to mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and smart grid systems and technologies master program.

Steven Crombie has been appointed chair of the Ontario Skilled Trades Alliance (OSTA). Crombie stated that with Ontario’s labour shortage at an all-time high, it’s more important than ever to break down every barrier that prevents workers from achieving their career goals. Crombie has extensive government relations experience at organizations like the GreaterToronto Sewer and Watermain Contractors Association and the Ontario General Contractors Association.  

14 new associates have joined DIALOG, a Vancouver-based architecture firm: Kyle Auch, Karel Brozik, Gerard Dourado, Amrinder Gill, Mania Javadipour, Rachele Gunderson, Michael Mochulski, Kimberly Russell, Mike Torjan, Mona Lemoine, Edel Naughton, André O’Neill, Steven Prozniak, Holly Shandruk.

John Westphal has joined COWI North America as head of section/associate project director to support the growing southeast transportation team. Westphal has more than 18 years of experience in engineering design, construction, contract administration and construction materials testing. 

Bob Weis, former president of Walt Disney Imagineering, has joined global design and architecture firm Gensler as global immersive experience design leader. Genlser stated in an announcement that Weis’ experience in pioneering large-scale groundbreaking and story-driven experiences further expands its ability to drive design innovation.

*Editors note: do you have a hiring, promotion or retirement announcement you want to make? Let us know at hello@readsitenews.com. Be the first to get People Moves by subscribing to our newsletter below.

Orion Construction is growing – a lot. 

In the past three years they have seen revenue growth of more than 12,000 per cent. This earned the full-service contractor for light industrial and commercial developments the number one spot on the Globe and Mail’s Top Growing Companies list in 2022.

What’s in the secret sauce? Orion says a lot of its success has to do with mastering the design-build model. They explained that the model is an efficient in-house system where all team members collaboratively work together to design and build the project. This helps to manage cost uncertainty and provide efficient delivery to clients.

Laying the foundation

“Design-build has been the foundation of Orion,” said Cameron Archer, Orion’s director of sales and marketing. “It’s where we started and the model we felt would be most supportive to the industry. There are a lot of things that it provides that more traditional models don’t.”

Archer explained that the model removes much of the conflict that can arise between parties in more traditional models where owners, managers, consultants and contractors are separated. 

“What design-build does is it brings a single source of accountability to a complex process. With that single source of accountability, it becomes incredibly collaborative and offers a very team-based approach,” said Archer. “It puts everyone on the same page to get a desired result.”

He noted that this team-based approach means faster designs and higher quality drawings. This all leads to fewer change orders.  

Early engagement 

Archer explained that another huge advantage of design-build is the inclusion of construction and development experts from the very beginning. This is particularly important to succeed in the highly complex and competitive Lower Mainland industrial market. 

“We are in a situation where the land product available is becoming increasingly more complex to navigate,” he said, noting that this includes sites with waterways, wetlands, difficult topography and environmental concerns. 

He explained that having the whole team on board from the beginning allows good data to be gathered and more informed decisions to be made on what solution to implement for a site. 

“We are really having to think outside the box for solutions that better support projects,” said Archer. 

One of the early conversations that happens is around a risk matrix that can be forecasted for a project. For Orion and its market, the risk matrix often includes long lead times on materials due to supply chain constraints. Mitigating that means working closely with clients so there is a high level of trust. 

“When they are seeing it work right in front of them, it allows us to push the envelope even further,” he said.

This trust means Orion has been able to purchase materials earlier than usual to ensure the overall health of a project.

Putting the pieces together

The design-build approach paid off in spades during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Orion was working at the Pacific Corporate centre, a large format project that anchors the north east corner of the Campbell Heights business park in Surrey. 

With intense pressure on supply chains, the design-build approach enabled the team to purchase steel, roofing materials, drywall and mechanical units in advance to store near the site. 

“That gave us the opportunity to ensure that our schedule and budgets were going to be met in such an uncertain time,” said Archer. 

In September of last year, years of effort was put into perspective when the company found out they had topped the Globe and Mail’s list of fastest growing companies for 2022. 

“It was an amazing feeling being recognized for a tremendous amount of work that had been put in four years prior,” said Archer. “We worked diligently and stayed focused through COVID – the most uncertain of times. The foundation of Orion is staying focused and accountable to what we say and what we can deliver and I believe those are the two main reasons for that success.”

Assembling a successful team

Archer said these values have been adopted by Orion’s staff. He noted that this is critical for a successful design-build approach. 

“There must be a strong sense of teamwork and collaboration to be successful in a design-build process,” he said. “Because collaboration is so important, all team members must work together to reach a collective project goal. Everyone has to have the ability to do their best work without relying on gatekeepers for information and pool expertise instead. This allows us to priortize meeting those project goals.”

Archer explained that putting together the right team has been important from the beginning of Orion and few have left the company. 

“We have incredible employee retention,” he said. “In five years we haven’t been faced with the loss of a project manager mid-stream on a project which can be so detrimental. You have to have a team of experts who enjoy what they do and that’s what we facilitate here.”

Key Takeaways:

• Indigenous people are far more impacted by the lack of affordable housing in Surrey than non-Indigenous people.
• At least 635 Indigenous individuals are estimated to have experienced homelessness in Surrey in the 2020 regional count.
• The city is calling for immediate coordinated action by the federal, provincial, and municipal governments to create deeply affordable housing.

The Whole Story:

Indigenous people urgently need affordable housing in Surrey, a new report shows. 

According to research by the Surrey Urban Indigenous Leadership Committee (SUILC), at least 635 Indigenous individuals are estimated to have experienced homelessness in Surrey in the 2020 regional count, a rate of 1 in 26 Indigenous people compared to 1 in 239 non-Indigenous people.

“Surrey has one of the largest and fastest growing Indigenous populations in B.C. and I commend the Committee for its meaningful work in identifying priorities to help address the urgent housing need,” said Mayor Brenda Locke. “This information supports our collective efforts to create affordable and appropriate housing for Indigenous people in our City. The City is a proud partner of the Surrey Urban Indigenous Leadership Committee and looks forward to continuing to work together to find solutions.”

City officials noted that housing is an urgent and immediate need for many Indigenous people living in Surrey, but Indigenous homelessness goes beyond being housed. The report, titled “Finding Our Way Home”, noted that the issue is an experience of isolation and interruption from their spiritual, relational, and cultural Indigenous ways of being, including access to land, community, Elders and Knowledge Keepers.

City officials stated that they support SUILC’s two priority recommendations:

• Priority 1: Immediate coordinated action by the federal, provincial, and municipal governments to create deeply affordable housing, with and without supports, in Surrey to offer an exit strategy for Indigenous people experiencing homelessness and to prevent individuals and households from falling into homelessness. Housing is needed for single Indigenous men and women, and low-income families in crisis, especially single-parent families.
• Priority 2: Create and implement a strategy to increase local Indigenous capacity to develop affordable housing in Surrey.

“Finding Our Way Home acknowledges that preventing homelessness is more than helping Indigenous people through individual circumstances, but also addressing societal systems including education,” said Lyn Daniels, co-chair of SUILC. “Indigenous people leave their communities and come to urban centers for educational reasons, however, the desire for education can lead to homelessness because of the lack of affordability and support within Surrey. As an educator, I am committed to working with the city of Surrey and all levels of government to advocate to prevent Indigenous homelessness.”

Samantha Jack, co-chair of SUILC explained that Canada has a long history of apprehending children and placing them in care with non-Indigenous families and disconnecting them from community, culture and language.

“Once they age out of care, our youth experience housing insecurity and are at risk of homelessness. Finding Our Way Home is a great report that addresses the immediate priorities of helping our homeless youth in Surrey,” said Jack. “I am committed to working with the City of Surrey to support our urban Indigenous youth in accessing culturally safe housing to combat Indigenous homelessness.”

The Surrey Urban Indigenous Leadership Committee (SUILC) is a coalition of organizations that have come together to advocate for the urban Indigenous people living in Surrey. 

Are you a proud employee, company owner, or just someone who knows of a construction company office that is a cut above the rest? SiteNews is on a mission to discover the 10 nicest construction company offices in Canada, and we want your help.

From sleek and modern designs to unique and innovative features, we want to hear about it all. It could be an office with a green roof, exposed mass timber, or an innovative layout that promotes collaboration and creativity. Perhaps it’s headquarters that incorporates sustainable building practices, has a storied history or utilizes an iconic architectural style. This is your chance to show it off to the world. 

To submit an office for consideration, send us an email at hello@readsitenews.com with the following:

• Your name
• The construction company you’re nominating and their website URL
• What makes this office so special
• High-resolution photos of their office (the more the better)

Don’t miss your chance to nominate! Make sure you submit by January 31st, 2023. Winners will be announced on the SiteNews newsletter.

It started out as a team of two holding meetings in coffee shops.

Ten years later, Metric has grown into a civil contractor with multiple offices that performs work across B.C. and beyond.

The company founders, Marlon Hall and Chris Veenstra attribute Metric’s success to the strength of its team and its use of technology. While success doesn’t happen in a day, Metric began sowing the seeds early on. 

“When we started, it was just Marlon and I,” said Veenstra. “There was no equipment, no projects on the books, no employees. We really just hit the ground to market Metric, ourselves and the services we could offer.” 

As the first few projects came in, Metric purchased its first excavator and hired a handful of workers. Hall spent much of his time supervising sites while Veenstra did estimating and project management.

“Within the first two years, we grew to the point where we had three to four crews doing bigger jobs,” said Veenstra. “We grew organically by completing projects, getting repeat clients and consistently doing quality work right the first time.”

Doing it right the first time

Metric’s first project came in January 2013 from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Hall, Veenstra and one labourer worked to complete a fuel storage upgrade for the Pacific Biological Station in Nanaimo. 

“Over the next few months, we were awarded other civil projects working for general contractors that helped cement our reputation and capabilities. As we continued to execute and complete each new project, it gave us the confidence to bid on larger projects with varied scopes similar to what Marlon and I had executed at previous civil companies,” said Veenstra. 

Another significant for Metric was c̓əsqənelə Elementary School in Maple Ridge. The $8 million civil scope for the new school project had extremely tight timelines that required calculated coordination. Work included large cut-and-fills, retaining walls, utilities, roadworks, a municipal sanitary pump station and more. 

“It was a big team effort,” said Veenstra. “For significant portions of the project, we had up to three separate crews working in different areas to complete it on time to meet the required school opening date.” 

Metric also was part of the massive effort to repair and clear roads on Highway 1 following historic rainfall and landslides in 2021. 

“That was a lot of teamwork as logistics were changing by the hour for us and our partners, but we helped get it done safely and efficiently,” said Veenstra. 

Cultivating a high quality team

Building a quality team and supporting them has been instrumental in Metric’s success and part of its values since the beginning. 

“We treat our employees the way that we would want to be treated,” Veenstra said. “Marlon and I were both employees of civil companies before Metric, so we understand what it takes to keep employees happy. If employees are happy, they will reflect that in the work they do, and with the clients, which will foster an environment where we can all grow together, as a company but as individuals as well.” 

Metric’s multi-faceted workforce comes from a variety of backgrounds and they are encouraged to advance their careers at the company. 

“We have been successful at retaining employees by the work that we do, having a robust safety program, providing competitive compensation and benefits, creating an atmosphere of teamwork and offering opportunities to grow,” said Veenstra. 

Metric has had employees advance from labourer to pipelayer, foreman and supervisor roles. Others have shifted from field work into the office. Retaining employees that are motivated, understand Metric’s systems and who can implement the company’s systems and strategies has been critical.  Hall and Veenstra recognize that employee development will remain a vital component of their growth into the future with today’s labour shortage within the industry.  

“The reason we can do what we do is because of the quality of our people,” said Veenstra. “We hire and retain great employees and then allow them to thrive and grow.” 

Embracing technology 

Technology has also helped the company’s streamlined team get work across the finish line. From day one, Metric was set up so technology could support its growth. The company started by purchasing the critical tools needed for success; 3D cut and fill software for estimating, as well as GPS rovers so it could conduct its own layout and grade control rather than relying on surveyors. This allowed their team to be more efficient and have a high degree of quality control. Metric has since added 3D GPS units to its equipment in the field. They continue to utilize 3D cut-and-fill takeoff software to ensure accurate take-offs, estimates and construction in the field. 

Metric has digitized as much of its business as possible. Cloud-based systems are used for accounting and payroll which allows information and decisions to be made from anywhere. The company’s COR-certified health and safety system also utilizes the cloud to go above and beyond what is required. 

“We have always wanted to get away from paper as early as possible,” said Veenstra. “It makes us more efficient, you aren’t losing information and you can track stats to see where improvements can be made.”

Metric was also careful to choose technology that was scalable from the start, so as the company grew, the team wouldn’t have to constantly be switching over to different systems.  

Known in the industry and community

In addition to their success as a company, Metric’s founders have received dual and individual recognition for their achievements. In 2019, Hall and Veenstra were awarded Young Entrepreneur(s) of the year by the Chilliwack Chamber of Commerce. In 2021, Veenstra was recognized as one of the Top 40 under 40 In Construction by On-Site Magazine / Site Partners. In 2022, Hall was honoured as one of Canada’s top entrepreneurs by being selected as a Quantum Shift Alumni at the Ivey Academy. This prestigious program recognizes up to 50 of the country’s top leaders who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and innovation in their respective fields.   

Part of Metric’s core values are giving back to the communities that they work in, both in time and in a financial capacity.  Hall is currently a VP of the Board at the Chilliwack Chamber of Commerce and Veenstra is currently the VP of Chilliwack Community Services, one of Chilliwack’s oldest and largest non-profits, as well as VP of Chilliwack Bowl’s Hope, which focuses on feeding approximately 900 children in 24 schools every day. 

Expanding beyond the coast 

Metric conducted light civil work in the Fraser Valley and the Metro Vancouver area for most of its first two and a half years. But in 2015, they began to widen their net by taking on a project in Saskatchewan and a two-year project on Vancouver Island. 

Now, Metric not only has offices in Chilliwack and Kelowna, but it has formed a variety of partnerships to carry out work in B.C.’s north, particularly with First Nations groups.

 For its next ten years, Metric will continue with civil works in the lower mainland, but they are focusing on significant growth executing both light and heavy civil projects in the Western Canadian region. 

“In the first year of Metric, if you told us that after 10 years, we would be the size we are with the number of employees we have executing work in all these areas, I would not have expected that,” said Veenstra. “But now that we are here and we have strong team members around us, we are poised for growth as we move forward.” 

Veenstra encouraged anyone interested in working with Metric to visit their website. 

–Sponsored by Metric Civil

Influencers are on the front lines of culture, advocating for construction by being its face.

For the uninitiated, they showcase what the industry is actually like and highlight what makes it great. For the initiated they offer solidarity by sharing their own struggles and help them improve with their wisdom.

Some of the faces on this list you will know, but many of them are so niche that they may have slipped past your radar or they have just begun to take off. If you want high quality construction content and commentary, these are some of the people to follow.

Jamie McMillian

McMillian is a complete and total kicker of ass. Not only is she the founder and primary spokesperson of KickAss Careers, she is a motivational speaker, journeyman ironworker, apprentice boilermaker, outreach specialist and author. Is there anything she can’t do? McMillian spends roughly 30 weeks a year providing keynote presentations and workshops to more than 50,000 students, parents, educators and employers each year across North America. There isn’t enough space to list all the things she does, but it’s important to note she has a cat named Spud Wrench.

The Essential Craftsman

The Essential Craftsman is like that uncle you never had who always knows the smartest way to solve a problem, has hands like thick leather gloves and always seems to finish work early despite never rushing. Scott will teach you how to properly sharpen your chainsaw, the trick to wrapping extension cords and why nails are better than screws when it comes to resisting shear. This is a man that has the confidence of decades in the industry.

Shannon Tymosko 

Tymosko, aka “Lady Voltz”, is a social media whiz. How many electrical apprentices do you know with a TikTok account? The Hamilton, Ont. tradeswoman is constantly producing content showing the daily life of an electrical apprentice, giving her thoughts on tools and encouraging other women in the industry. She is an ambassador for various brands and offers her services as a motivational speaker. 

Adam Savage

Likely the most famous person on this list – and for good reason. Special effects guru Adam Savage became famous for his long run as a host for “Mythbusters” on the Discovery Channel. But long after the show ended, he’s been a staple of the maker community, teaching aspiring builders how to use a lathe, the benefits of jigs for a table saw and why his hammer is so extensive. What drew me in to his channel wasn’t his Star Wars props or cosplay builds. It was years-long journey to hone his machining accuracy to within a few thousandths of an inch. His entire channel is a love letter to tools and the possibilities they present. Heck, he loves tools so much he even makes his own.

James Behnam 

When it comes to intersection of technology and construction, it’s hard to find someone more passionate than Benham. His company JB Knowledge created SmartBid, SmartCompliance, SmartReality and SmartInsight software and mobile apps for construction and risk management. He also launched The Con Tech Crew podcast, wrote a book about how to grow your business and is a sought after speaker. 

Aaron Witt

This man loves to get dirty. Witt, a self-described “Chief Dirt Nerd”, is completely cuckoo for huge machines and what they can do. In 2018 he quit his job to photograph construction and mining projects across the U.S. 

“While I didn’t grow up in the dirt world, I’ve been drawn to it like a bear to honey since my sixth birthday party at our local Caterpillar dealership,” he said. 

His company BuildWitt has morphed into people-centric media, services, and software dedicated to making the earth moving sector a better place. 

“By that, I mean inspiring the next generation, modernizing how blue-collar companies invest in their people, and educating society on what it takes to meet their basic needs,” wrote Witt. 

Sherry Holmes

Sherry has not only followed her father, Mike Holmes, into the trades. She also is a TV star and social media personality in her own right, advocating the trades and helping viewers out with common contracting problems. She also mentors young women through Conestoga College’s Jill of All Trades and acts as an ambassador for Habitat for Humanity’s annual Women Build event, a program that calls on women to help build stronger, safer communities.

MattBangsWood

Matt does indeed bang wood. His YouTube channel, which boasts 286,000 subscribers, offers insight into his job sites, tricks for other contractors and highlights how technology performs in the field. One of his recent videos walks aspiring contractors through how start finding, bidding and winning work. His most popular video, with 3 million views, simply teaches the most common framing methods.

Mary-Anne Bowcott

Since 2015 Bowcott has been running her all-female company, Westcom Plumbing and Gas Ltd., on Vancouver Island. She’s a journeyman plumber, class B gasfitter, and certified steep-slope roofer. On Instagram, where she is known as @the_ladyplumber, she opines on tankless water heaters, shows how to adjust a gas range and gushes over her favourite tools. Bowcott is already an icon for the industry. In 2019 she was named Construction Person of the Year by the Canadian Construction Association and is a founding member B.C. Tradeswomen Association. The business owner even finds time to visit Girl Guides’ events to inspire the next generation of tradespeople. 

Mike Rowe

While everyone knows Rowe from his hit TV show “Dirty Jobs” where he highlighted the everyday working people who keep society moving, but following it’s nine season run, he’s become a fierce advocate for trades careers. He started the mikeroweWORKS Foundation which champions blue collar jobs and calls for government to rebuild America’s infrastructure. He is often using his platform to elevate blue collar leaders so they can share their wisdom.

Blacktail Studio

This is one of my guilty pleasures – watching master woodworkers craft massive tables I could never hope to afford. Much of the drama centres around the skill it takes to transform these rare hunks of live edge slabs into the client’s piece. The slabs often costs thousands so the stakes are high. You also get to learn the difference between softwoods and hardwoods, the best tools for prepping a piece and how to prevent common woodworking injuries.

Roger Wakefield

If you like your construction content with a Texas drawl and filtered through a handlebar mustache, Roger Wakefield is your man. Known as “The Expert Plumber”, Wakefield shares plumbing tips and tricks, DIY plumbing, how to become a plumber videos and more to help you grow as a plumber or save some money if you’re a homeowner. He has more than 40 years experience and he wants to help get people into the trades and help them build successful careers.

Colin Furze

Forget “The Lord of the Rings”. One of the greatest epics of all time is Furze’s months-long slog to dig a series of secret tunnels beneath his home. The amount of engineering, problem solving and determination to pull off just that project alone is astounding. ​Furze school at 16 to start his journey to become a plumber – a career he worked at until 2011. That’s when his content making career took off. His goal is simple: inspire the audience to get up and make something.

SiteNews isn’t even a year old yet but we have been very busy.

To kick off the new year we wanted to give our readers a peek under the hood. We pored over the numbers to share our growth and highlight what stories captured the most attention.

Following our website and newsletter launch on Oct. 19, SiteNews staff wrote 220 articles, garnering 150,000+ page views. Our newsletter, which ships to subscribers for free every Tuesday, achieved an industry-leading open rate of 56.8 per cent.

But what exactly are people reading? Here are the top ten most-read articles of last year:

10. ‘Mechanical contractors merge to increase labour force’

In late October, Pitt Meadows Plumbing & Mechanical Systems (PMP) announced it was acquiring WQC Mechanical in an effort to combine labour forces. The company told SiteNews that acquisition would be a growth strategy going forward. 

9. ‘Montreal Holocaust Museum project reveals winning design’

It was announced in September that a design by KPMB Architects + Daoust Lestage Lizotte Stecker Architecture would be used for the $90-million museum. Their vision was guided by the pillars of memory, education and community. Work is expected to begin this year. 

8. ‘7 shining Canadian solar companies to keep an eye on’

The future is looking bright for solar construction. Work was recently completed on Travers Solar, the country’s largest solar project. We put together this list after researching which companies were contributing the most to the sector through projects, technology or development. 

7. ‘The 14 BIGGEST construction projects planned for B.C.’

With its minerals, timber, rivers and access to the Ocean, B.C. is a major epicenter for mega projects. SiteNews went through records of the largest projects in the pipeline, and found that the LNG Canada terminal facility is not only the largest project in B.C. – it’s the biggest project in Canada. 

6. ‘13 HUGE Canadian projects underway from coast to coast’

It’s no secret that the construction industry loves reading about projects so once again a project list made the cut. This time we expanded our scope to the entire country with LNG Canada of course taking the top spot and the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion as the runner up. 

5. ‘Celebrating Canada’s female construction leaders’

With the release of the Top 40 Under 40 Construction Leaders winners, SiteNews decided to zero in on the incredible women who made up nearly one quarter of the list. The piece also featured some of their reactions to receiving the honour. 

4. ‘6 massive construction projects planned for Alberta’

It’s the energy capital of Canada and while it has weathered some tough economic conditions in the past few years, major work remains on the horizon. This includes a possible high-speed rail project that would link Calgary and Edmonton. 

3. ‘12 mass timber businesses shaking up Canadian Construction’

We couldn’t ignore the mass timber movement and decided to research some of the most innovative and important companies doing work in the sector. These included developers, manufacturers, installers and more. 

2. ‘Fluor wins contract for Imperial diesel facility’

Who knew renewable diesel production was such a hot topic? In late October, Fluor won a reimbursable front-end engineering and detailed design, engineering and procurement services contract for Imperial as the company advances plans to develop a renewable diesel complex at its Strathcona refinery near Edmonton. The announcement earned the second spot on this list. 

1. ‘40 Under 40 in Canadian Construction’

How fitting it is that the most read story is you. The 40 Under 40, organized by SitePartners and On-Site Magazine, highlighted the best and brightest young construction leaders. That was more than enough to cement its place as the most-viewed story of 2022. Will it hold the spot again next year?

*Editors note: Happy New Year! We can’t wait to see what 2023 will bring. Do you have a story or topic that you think needs more attention? Let me know at russell@readsitenews.com.

Key Takeaways:

• Construction employment went up in 268 of 358 metro areas in the U.S.
• Officials say the gains would have been higher but demand for new project is outpacing labour availability. 
• Contractors reported this is causing them to pass on projects. 

The Whole Story:

A new report shows labour shortages are suppressing construction in the U.S.

Construction employment increased in 268 of 358 metro areas between November 2021 and November 2022, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of new government employment data. Association officials said the job gains likely would have been higher but that many contractors report that demand for new projects is outpacing the availability of workers in many parts of the country.

“Contractors report they are passing on projects because they do not have enough people to do the work,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Labor shortages are suppressing job gains in the construction industry in many parts of the country.”

Where the gains are happening

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, Texas added the most construction jobs (18,500 jobs or 9 per cent), followed by Dallas-Plano-Irving, Texas (13,500 jobs, 9 per cent); Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, Wash. (10,400 jobs, 10 per cent) and Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Ariz. (9,400 jobs, 7 per cent). 

The largest percentage gains were in Provo-Orem, Utah (23 percent, 6,400 jobs); Anchorage, Alaska (15 per cent, 1,400 jobs), Kankakee, Ill. (15 per cent, 200 jobs), Grants Pass, Ore. (15 percent, 200 jobs) and Providence-Warwick, R.I. (15 per cent, 4,000 jobs).

Construction jobs declined over the year in 45 metro areas and were unchanged in 45 areas. The largest loss occurred in Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Fla. (-8,500 jobs, -10 per cent), followed by Richmond, Va. (-3,300 jobs, -8 percent); Camden, N.J. (-1,700 jobs, -7 per cent) and Austin-Round Rock, Texas (-1,400 jobs, -2 per cent). The largest percentage declines occurred in Orlando, Richmond and Camden.

Contractors passing on work

Association officials said that demand for construction remained relatively strong in many parts of the country, buoyed by robust public construction and infrastructure investments and strength in certain types of private sector development. They cautioned, however, that contractors in parts of the country report they are not bidding on projects because they do not have enough personnel to perform the work.

The association explained that is taking steps to address labor shortages, including running targeted digital advertising campaigns to recruit new workers. Meanwhile, more than 800 firms have signed up for the association’s Culture of Care program to make workplaces more welcoming and inclusive to retain a higher percentage, and more diverse, workforce.

Immigration reform needed

Association officials urged Congress to pass immigration reform to allow more construction workers to enter the country. They also pushed for greater investments in construction-focused training and education programs.

“We are working hard to recruit and retain a new generation of construction professionals,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer. “Public officials can help put more people into high-paying construction careers by making common sense immigration reforms and investing in domestic construction prep programs as well.”

EllisDon has appointed Michael Casey to the position of senior vice president and general counsel.

“We are very excited about Michael taking on this new role,” says Kieran Hawe, COO and executive vice president at EllisDon. “Michael and the Legal Services team will continue to be an integral part of the EllisDon family as the company continues to grow.”

Casey began his legal career at a private legal firm in Toronto as a member of the Financial Services Group focused on business restructuring and corporate finance. In 2011, Casey joined EllisDon Legal Services as legal counsel before being promoted to senior counsel in 2014, managing director in 2015, vice president and deputy general counsel in 2019, privacy officer in 2020, and currently, senior vice president and general counsel.

In the new role Casey will oversee EllisDon’s Legal Services department and all its functions, including all litigation, Public-Private-Partnerships (P3), corporate, labour relations, international, and insurance claims.

“I am very excited to lead a team of dynamic, intelligent, and like-minded people who do some of the best work in our industry,” said Casey.

Throughout his tenure at EllisDon, Casey has been involved in most aspects of the business, including construction contract negotiations, subcontractor-consultant contractual issues, corporate acquisitions and real estate transactions, corporate secretarial matters, litigation management and claims strategies, enterprise intelligence, and digital services.

As vice president and deputy general counsel, Michael was responsible for leading Legal Services’ litigation and claims functions, in addition to his involvement in various aspects of the legal services group. He was head legal counsel on some of Canada’s largest and most complex construction and infrastructure projects.

Casey will retain the position of corporate privacy officer and remain active on several internal EllisDon committees.

In 2020, Casey was the recipient of On-Site Magazine’s Top 40 Under 40 award for the Canadian Construction industry. He is also a frequent guest lecturer at Osgoode Hall Law School.

An arctic chill has settled over much of Canada, prompting many to install their snow tires, layer up and begrudgingly shovel the driveway.

But we can take comfort in one thing: it could be worse. A lot worse. 

Let’s explore Yakutsk, the coldest city in the world. It sits near the Lena River, in East Siberia. The biggest economic driver in the region is mining as it is rich in coal, gold and diamonds. As such, many mining companies have set up their headquarters nearby.

But housing people and transporting goods isn’t easy when your average monthly temperatures range from 19.9 C in July to −37.0 C in December. The lowest temperature ever recorded there was −64.4 C. Want to drive your car? You better keep it in a heated garage or leave it running outside.

Permanently frozen

The city of Yakutsk has a mixture of modern tall buildings, Soviet time blocks of apartments and old wooden houses. Many of them are brightly coloured in an effort to combat depression and provide landmarks in low-visibility conditions. 

According to the North-Eastern Federal University in Yakutsk, the warm air coming from homes and buildings also causes “habitation fog” because the air is so cold that it cannot rise. 

Yakutsk is the largest city in the world built completely on top of permafrost, a layer of frozen soil hundreds of meters deep which never melts. This requires most structures to be built on top of stilts or piles so that their heat from the buildings does not melt the layers below and cause instability. 

Experts at Siberia Federal University explained that there are many kinds of piles, like bored piles developed by the specialists from the city of Krasnoyarsk. Thanks to this technology, the special auguring drill cuts through the permafrost before reinforced cage is put inside and then filled with concrete.

Now the industry also uses modern concrete compounds, which do not get frosted during the pours. Previously the ground had to be thawed by steaming for months for the piles to be inserted. They noted that pile-supported buildings were first constructed by Michael Kim, a former labour camp prisoner who studied permafrost and was awarded the Lenin Prize, one of the most prestigious honours in Soviet Russia, for his innovations. 

Rethinking design

Solving the issues that the region’s extreme weather present for buildings was a passion for Siberian architect A. D. Kryachkov. When he designed and built structures in the 1910s-1930s, he wanted to use science to prevent damage and durability issues. He studied the behaviour of structural materials and structural elements in the cold climate conditions and incorporated the results into the design process. As a result his buildings have preserved their original image for many decades. 

His research identified important laws of joint work of building structures and components in Siberian conditions. He also demonstrated it is the mid-season with sharp negative and positive temperature changes rather than winter that present a the biggest danger to structures. Since watering in such conditions leads to structure freezing, he argued that architects should consider protection of a building from accumulation of precipitants on its structures and elements. 

Some of his techniques included using a special, semi-flattened plastic with dominating vertical structural elements for building faces. Balconies had a minimal overhang. Flat pilasters and belt courses, horizontal and vertical structural elements, shaped as dumb window sills and frames of windows and pillars, served as the main means of plastic expressiveness for the designer. The buildings had inclined roofing, ventilated attics to prevent rot and were devoid of blind ramparts.

Bridging the Lena

The extreme weather doesn’t stop major infrastructure projects from moving forward. In 2020, a concession agreement was signed for the design, construction and operation of a bridge across the river Lena in Yakutia between the government  and OOO Eighth Concession Company, owned by the VIS Group. The project is structured as a private concession initiative.

The river slices through the Yakutia region cutting off more than 80 per cent of the region’s residents from travel for roughly 6 months each year.

In June, VIS Group announced early work on the project is well underway. This includes land preparation, and removal and reconstruction of utilities. Crews must now move a high-pressure gas pipeline that spans over 900 meters. They are also dismantling and moving high-voltage power lines. Design and construction is expected to take six years and the bridge’s lifespan will be around 19 years. 

The past few years haven’t exactly been a golden age for in-person events. COVID-19 threw all major gatherings up in the air for years. However, we have gradually seen many major events make their return after delays and cancellations. Here are some major ones that are already planned for the coming year.

Canadian Construction Association Annual Conference 

The annual event is organized by the Canadian Construction Association and it features speakers, webinars and networking events. One of this year’s keynotes will be done by Peace by Chocolate CEO and founder Tareq Hadhad who will tell his story of coming to Canada as a Syrian refugee. Session topics include procurement, workforce retention, trade-enabling infrastructure, green public procurement and more. 

When: March 7-10 

Where: The Hilton El Conquistador in Tucson, Arizona 

Register here

CONEXPO-CON-AGG 2023

It’s the largest trade show in North America and it only happens every three years. This year it’s set to break records with 1,800 exhibitors and 150 education sessions during its run. There will be more than 2.8 million square feet of exhibits to check out. Organizers say this year’s focus will be on the next level of sustainability in the construction sector.

When: March 14-18

Where: Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada

Register here

World of Concrete

This is a big one for all things concrete and it’s coming up quick. The event features original equipment manufacturers from around the world and exclusive U.S. distributors of equipment, tools, products and services for the commercial construction, concrete and masonry industries. The event attracts approximately 1,500 exhibiting companies and occupies more than 700,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor exhibit space.

When: Jan, 17-19

Where: Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada

Register here

Canadian Concrete Expo

After concrete aficionados are done in Las Vegas, they can zip over to Toronto to check out this event. This coming year will feature mixed martial arts fighter and actor Georges St-Pierre, a full scale 3D construction printing demo and discussions around the path to net-zero. 

When: Feb. 16-17 

Where: The International Centre in Mississauga, Ont. 

Register here

Pacific Northwest Economic Region Annual Summit 

What: This even brings together U.S. and Canadian industry experts and government officials. More than 550 legislators, business leaders, academics and policymakers will come together to discuss issues that impact the region. 

When: July 16-20

Where: Boise, Idaho

More info

The Good Roads Annual Conference 

Organized by Good Roads, a municipal association concerned with the quality and design of roads in Ontario. The annual conference is three days of speakers and exhibits all centered around the cutting edge of roads. 

When: April 16-19

Where: Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto, Ont. 

Register here

Western Canada Roadbuilders & Heavy Construction Association Conference

Pack your snorkel for the Hawaiian beaches if you plan on attending. Gary Mar, president & CEO of the Canada West Foundation will kick this event off by talking about the Role Western Canada should play in global trade. Other speakers include CCA president Mary Van Buren, former Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall and Perrin Beatty, president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. 

When: Feb. 5-9

Where: Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort in Waikiki, Hawaii 

Register here

Buildex Vancouver

It’s all about the built environment at Buildex. The series of shows features panels, seminars, workships, innovation showcases and more. The upcoming conference includes a greenbuild pavilion, the climate resiliency and retrofit learning lab and showcases of construction software.

When: Feb. 15-16

Where: Vancouver Convention Centre West, Vancouver, B.C.

Register here

Buildex Alberta

Who could forget B.C.’s neighbour to the east? Buildex is Alberta’s largest B2B construction event. It covers construction, architecture, engineering, design and property management professions with live demos, activations and installations. It will have more than 100 speakers and more than 1,400 participants. 

When: Oct. 18-19

Where: Calgary Telus Convention Centre in Calgary, Alta.

Register here

Groundbreaking Women in Construction Conference 

Organizers state that the conference serves as a catalyst for women to expand their presence, influence and career success in an ever shifting industry. They added that It also has grown into the leading talent development and networking event for construction industry professionals. The 2023 event will be kicked off by Nancy Bray, an industrial engineer and 33-year NASA veteran. 

When: May 11-12

Where: Hilton San Francisco Union Square in San Francisco, California  

More info

Construction Specifications Canada Conference 

This conference promises education, professional development, networking, entertainment and fun. Topics include design considerations for current construction trends, smart buildings, mentorship, material transparency and more. 

When: May 24-28

Where: The Westin Calgary Hotel in Calgary, Alta. 

Register here

The Buildings Show

This massive show has been around for more than 30 years. It features industry experts sharing their knowledge about the built environment. Speakers and sessions are geared towards design, architecture, construction, renovation and property management professionals, experts and suppliers. 

When: Nov. 29 to Dec. 1

Where: Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Ont. 

More info

Expo Grands Travaux 

Eastern Canada’s largest heavy equipment industry trade show includes major industry OEMs and dealers, and tons of big iron. Attendees can check out educational seminars, plus the all-new Demo Zone to watch equipment live in action.

When: April 21-23

Where: Espace Saint-Hyacinthe in St-Hyacinthe, Que. 

Register here

ROOFtech

Roofing experts, this one is just for you. ROOFtech is dedicated to Canada’s roofing industry. It includes a trade show and educational sessions. The show features more than 150 exhibitors and live demonstrations.  It is produced by the Canadian Roofing Contractors Association, Informa Connect, and the Ontario Industrial Roofing Contractors Association

When: April 4-5

Where: The International Centre in Toronto, Ont. 

More info

CSAM: The Safety Conference

Organized by the Construction Safety Association of Manitoba, the event aims to provide participants with education and practical hands-on training. Each year the conference issues 2500 training certificates and sees more than 1,500 registrants. Organizers say it is the largest construction safety conference in North America. 

When: Feb. 14-15

Where: RBC Convention Centre in Winnipeg, Man. 

Register here

Camosun College just received a massive funding boost to help aspiring B.C. tradeswomen. 

The college announced they have received a $1.285 million gift to help open the doors to more women pursuing a career in a range of Red Seal trades programs.

The donation comes from the Gwyn Morgan and Patricia Trottier Foundation. It is the second time the foundation has supported the Empowering Women in the Trades program and is a five-year commitment. It represents the largest philanthropic gift in the history of the college outside of estate gifts.

“The Empowering Woman in the Trades program has changed my life in such an incredible way, words can’t express the gratitude I have,” says Sarah Cooper, who completed the Women in Trades sampler in 2021 and who will soon be returning to the college for her next level apprenticeship. “I don’t know where my family and I would be there today without the ongoing mentorship and financial support that I’ve been given throughout my time at Camosun.”

In 2017, the Foundation made a $1,000,000 pledge to create program. Camosun officials said the second pledge will ensure the program will continue to grow and support women over the next five years. 

“We saw the tremendous impact the first gift had on the lives of women over the last five year and how it encouraged more women to enter trades so it made sense to do it again,” says Gwynn Morgan. “It is important to ensure the Empowering Women in the Trades program can continue to raise the quality of life for tradespeople and their families, as well as ensure employers and industries have a workforce to draw upon.”

School officials explained that government programs often assist with tuition costs but Empowering Women in Trades breaks down additional financial barriers facing women in the trades and assists with areas such as transportation, child care, living expenses and the cost of protection equipment and tools. The goal is to allow more women complete their Red Seal certification. While financial assistance is one barrier, Empowering Women in Trades also offers one on one support, networking, and mentoring opportunities as well as employment support. 

“Given the opportunity, a career in the trades can be life-altering for women, who unfortunately have historically faced obstacles,” says Patricia Trottier. “At a time when Canada is facing a skilled trades shortage impacting almost every industry and employer it is critical that women are given the chance to help close the skills gap and achieve their own personal and professional goals.”

As a result of the women-specific programs at Camosun, over 1,000 women have gone on to pursue a career in high-demand areas such as automotive, carpentry, professional cooking, sheet metal and welding. Some alumni have even come full circle by returning to Camosun to instruct the next generation of skilled trades people.

“Camosun is very proud of its work to improve access for students, particularly among underrepresented groups, and giving them the skills to thrive,” says Lane Trotter, president of Camosun. “The generous support of donors like the Gwyn Morgan and Patricia Trottier Foundation is making a life changing difference to women seeking to complete Red Seal apprenticeships. Thank you.”

Camosun offers apprenticeship training in 20 distinct trades, including 12 trades with the Interprovincial Red Seal Endorsement.

Key Takeaways:

• Last year more than 2,800 people died in Ontario from opioid-related causes.
• 30 per cent of these deaths were construction workers.
• The province will require naloxone kits for at-risk workplaces starting June 1, 2023.

The Whole Story:

Ontario wants to reduce drug overdose deaths by requiring naloxone kits at “high risk” workplaces. 

The new government program will encourage compliance by first making naloxone kits and training available for free at workplaces where there is a risk of staff witnessing or experiencing an opioid overdose.

In 2021, 2,819 people died from opioid-related causes in Ontario – the highest number on record and up from 366 in 2003. Naloxone is a life-saving medication that can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose, restore breathing within two to five minutes, and allow time for medical help to arrive.

Of the workers who died from opioid-related causes last year, 30 per cent were employed in construction – by far the most impacted industry. Bars and nightclubs have also seen increased opioid usage and accidental overdoses, often because of recreational drugs laced with deadly opioids such as fentanyl and carfentanil.

“Ontario, like the rest of Canada, is in the middle of an opioid epidemic made worse by a toxic supply of recreational street drugs,” said Monte McNaughton, minister of labour, immigration, training and skills development. “That’s why our government is the first in North America to require naloxone kits be accessible in at-risk workplaces by June 1, 2023, to raise awareness for those struggling with addition, reduce stigma and save lives.”

For up to two years, Ontario will provide free nasal spray naloxone kits to businesses at risk of opioid overdoses through the Workplace Naloxone Program and free training needed to equip staff with the tools to respond to an opioid overdose.

Businesses can determine if they are eligible for the program and find additional information on accessing naloxone kits and training at Ontario.ca/workplacenaloxone. Once the requirement is in effect, government inspectors plan to take an education-first approach to enforcement.

According to Health Canada, these are some common symptoms of someone who is having an overdose:

• Difficulty walking, talking, staying awake.
• Blue or grey lips or nails.
• Cold and clammy skin.
• Dizziness and confusion.
• Extreme drowsiness.
• Choking, gurgling or snoring sounds.
• Slow, weak or non-existent breathing.
• Inability to wake up, despite being shaken or shouted at.

John Phillip wanted to work.

He was living in transitional housing and working construction through a temp agency. But his safety gear situation was precarious. Not only was the agency charging him a steel-toe boot rental fee, many pairs had holes in them. 

For B.C. charity Working Gear, that wasn’t good enough.

They got him outfitted with free boots, pants, a vest and a rain jacket. He eventually was able to secure permanent, full time employment with the company and now volunteers helping others who are looking for construction careers. 

He isn’t the only one who’s needed gear help. According to the charity’s latest annual report, it assisted more than 1,100 marginalized and low-income people as they re-entered the workforce during the past fiscal year.

Growing need for construction gear

Working Gear believes that clothing and equipment costs shouldn’t be a barrier to getting on a job site.  And over the years their team has had to pivot its services as construction jobs have grown in popularity.

“We learned fast that the needs of our clients weren’t necessarily for the office,” said Sarah Beley, Working Gear executive director. “It was actually lots of people getting back to construction.” 

Working Gear provides industry appropriate clothing free of charge to help individuals enter the workforce in the Lower Mainland – whether it’s a suit for an interview or construction clothing and steel-toed boots for a job in the trades. All its clients are sourced from a list of 71 referral agencies that serve Indigenous people, refugees, those struggling with mental health issues, those struggling with homelessness and more. 

Located in Vancouver’s downtown eastside, Working Gear also runs a barbershop and provides hair services onsite for clients to assist them in their job searches.  

Focusing on low income and marginalized people

The charity originally was focused on regular work clothes but found there was a major need for construction gear. They also found that that many women were looking to transition into construction roles.

“For women getting into construction it tends not to be their first career,” said Beley. “They have done hospitality or customer service but it wasn’t giving them stability. That’s more of the trend.”

She noted that this was especially true during the pandemic, when many hospitality and service jobs were severely impacted. 

“With men, it’s everything from newcomers, those with substance use challenges, those with mental health challenges, people who have been through the criminal justice system, people who have aged out of foster care and don’t have the supports that others have,” said Beley. 

These men are often older and the 55+ demographic of clients has been growing, she added. 

Creating community

Beley herself knows about some of the challenges life can throw at you. Her father died when she was nine, her mother suffered from mental illness and her uncle disappeared in Vancouver’s downtown eastside. Beley says her experiences have given her a unique lens into the trauma, pain and helplessness of marginalized people in society, and the negative impact this has on their mental health and economic prospects.

“I did not have the best childhood,” said Beley. “I was in foster care. I know the feeling of being helpless. People often just don’t know how to help. This is a simple solution. Once people see it for themselves, it is easy to understand.”

Beley noted that the charity has created a community where clients can feel safe to ask for help.. 

“It’s a safe space to be vulnerable,” she said. “The majority of clients are guys and we find they have a hard time asking for help. When they come in it’s embarrassing for them but after a bit they open up and are at ease.”

How to help

For construction, the charity accepts donations of steel-toed work boots, high-visibility vests, work overalls, rain gear, work gloves, tool belts, hard hats and goggles. But Beley stressed that boots and hardhats are the most in-demand items and they must be new as they are critical safety gear.

The charity also needs volunteers with construction experience who can give their clients advice on the gear. The charity is at 475 Main Street in Vancouver. They can be reached by email at info@workinggear.ca

Increasing female participation in construction has long been an industry goal. According to BuildForce Canada, only 11.6 per cent of the entire Canadian construction workforce are women. Site Partners and On-Site Magazine recently highlighted some of the industry’s best and brightest stars as part of the Top 40 under 40 in Canadian Construction. Here are all the women who made the list:

Cheyanne Hammell – Special projects manager for PCL Construction

Hammell first came to PCL years ago as a student but after climbing the ranks, she was recently promoted to special projects manager. She has worked on some of the company’s iconic projects, including renovating the CN Tower.

“Extremely honoured to be part of this amazing group of leaders and grateful for the opportunities and challenges PCL Construction has provided me throughout my career to get me where I am today.”

-Hammell

Katie Dempster – Vice president of industrial relations and development at Graham

Dempster’s focus at Graham is new business acquisition, customer retention and organic growth opportunities. Her efforts are working. she has helped her division build a backlog of business of over $2 billion while achieving $1.2 billion in annual revenues. Outside the office, Dempster is involved in the Construction Owners Association of Alberta (COAA), Canadian Heavy Oil Association (CHOA) and Calgary Women in Energy (CWIE).

Janice Chuang – Vice president of infrastructure investments at Ledcor

Chuang is a financial whiz. She first joined Ledcor as its treasury manager. Her financial strategies helped deliver a series of projects in anticipation of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. By 2021 she was promoted to her current role where she guides the company’s financial strategy for infrastructure. 

“What an honour and privilege this is!”

-Chuang

Alexis Barr-Gusa – Partner at Dentons Canada LLP

Barr-Gusa helps negotiate and draft project agreements, including complex multi- phased engineering, procurement and construction contracts and P3 transactions worth billions. Beyond her regular work, she is a coach and mentor, and a member of her firm’s WomenLEAD as well as its Indigenous Inclusion Working Group.

“I am so humbled to be included in this amazing group of people. Thank you On-Site Magazine & Site Partners for this recognition.”

-Barr-Gusa

Anya Barkan – Sustainability Manager at Multiplex Construction Canada Ltd.

Barkan was instrumental in helping Multiplex achieve this year’s Green Building Pioneer Award. She joined Multiplex this January after eight years as a construction manager with Toronto Community Housing.

“It is an honour to be recognized among this inspiring group of Top 40 under 40 in Canadian Construction. Congratulations to all the winners! Thank you SitePartners and On-Site Magazine for the recognition. And special thank you to the Multiplex team for all the support in getting me here.

-Barkan

Agnes Wietrzynski – President and CEO of QM Environmental

Wietrzynski first arrived in Canada as a refugee and immigrant. After more than a decade in the environmental sector, her sharp leadership abilities caught the attention of Wes Hall from CBC’s “Dragons’ Den”. Hall put her in charge of QM Environmental, an environmental and industrial services company with more than 600 employees. She also finds time to serve as a board member of the Ontario Environment Industry Association (ONEIA). 

Briar Beers – Vice president at Cutting Edge Consulting Inc. 

Beers joined Cutting Edge after working as a senior project manager. She developed its safety program and helped it achieve COR certification. She also helped create the company’s project management and estimating programs and fostered its growth over a five-year period from a single employee to a company with more than 60.

“What an honour this has been for me. Thank you SitePartners and On-Site Magazine for this opportunity. Congratulations also to a partner/client of ours Rick Morrison from Quattro Constructors for also being selected.”

-Beers

Cayley Van Hemmen – Interiors and special projects division manager at Canadian Turner Construction Company

Van Hemmen began her Turner career as a business unit intern in 2013 and worked her way up to being in charge of a whole division which she helped restructure. She also serves as the co-chair of the mentorship committee at the Urban Land Institute.

“I feel very honored to have been selected for the Top 40 Under 40 in Canadian Construction award this year. It’s been an incredible ten years working for Canadian Turner Construction Company and seeing this company grow from 7 people in Vancouver to the 145+ strong force we are today. Can’t wait to see what the next ten years looks like!”

-Van Hemmen

Mi Kim – Senior Commercial Manager at Jacob Bros Construction

Kim, who is also a professional engineer, is experienced in project controls including contract management, schedule analysis and cost control. Kim is passionate about mentoring young female engineers and is active with Women in Engineering at the University of British Columbia. 

“Truly humbled and honoured to have been selected as part of this group of talented individuals in Canadian construction by On-Site Magazine and SitePartners. Congratulations to the Class of 2022 Top 40 Under 40. A big thank you to all of those who have guided and supported me along the way and let us all continue to strive for excellence in this beautiful industry.” 

-Kim