EllisDon Community Builders (EDCB) is partnering with local Habitat for Humanity organizations to accelerate homeownership projects.
“There are several obstacles to homeownership in Canada today, including financial impacts from the pandemic and inflation,” said Nicholas Gefucia, vice president EllisDon Community Builders. “Because EllisDon and Habitat for Humanity Canada work on a national scale, we are collaborating to streamline the development process, so more individuals and families will be able to buy a Habitat home of their own.”
Under the partnership, EllisDon will provide advisory services over the next four years. The services will help local Habitat organizations evaluate how to best build for the most impact on specific pieces of land, with key information and advice on planning restrictions, permitted density, and potentially available financing.
EDCB, a division formed within the EllisDon group of companies, provides development management services for clients who wish to deliver affordable and supportive housing to their communities. According to the EDCB website, by combining decades of construction industry experience and development expertise, they provide a holistic and comprehensive approach to delivering high-quality affordable and sustainable community developments across Canada.
Construction is hard work and years of physical labour can take their toll on the body.
One of the most common complaints is lower back pain. Experts like Jack Liney, a physiotherapist at Westcoast SCI Physiotherapy in Vancouver, believe that workers can do a lot to address this kind of pain when it arises and prevent it from happening in the future.
Liney honed his skills working across a whole spectrum of hospital and rehabilitation settings, while also as a pitch side Physiotherapist in semi-professional rugby. Jack has worked with a wide variety of clients, including professional and olympic athletes, and construction workers.
Back pain causes and risk factors
“Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a major cause of work-related disability and lost-time illnesses in the construction industry,” said Liney. “Lower back pain is the most common reason for a construction worker to seek professional input from a physiotherapist. It’s also the number one cause of pain globally and number one cause of disability, affecting 80-90 percent of the world’s population.”
Despite being such a common problem the causes of lower back pain can be hard to determine. Liney explained that this is because the vast majority of time, lower back pain is what we class as non-specific, meaning there is not a single specific structure that we can reliably say for sure is what is causing the pain.
“When it comes to lower back pain, of course the biomechanical and physical factors are important to consider: limb shapes, intensity of the task, a person’s age and experience. However, because of the complexity of pain, this is only one piece of the puzzle,” said Liney. “There are so many other factors to consider other than biomechanical and physical factors, things like: the individual, psychology, tissue pathology, behavioural lifestyles, contextual factors, social and work environment factors. All of these things can increase or decrease someone’s chances of having lower back pain.”
According to Liney, despite the complexity around the causes and risks for back pain, work can often be done to address it.
He explained that lower back pain can be reduced through a gradual exposure to the imposed demands of the job, things like bending forwards and lifting heavy items.
“Injuries occur when the demand placed upon the tissues exceeds its current capacity,” said Liney. “Task specific strength and conditioning, lifestyle modifications and behavioural changes can increase one’s capacity and tolerance and this can reduce the risk of developing lower back pain.”
Back pain misconceptions
Not all back pain advice is created equal. Liney noted that modern research has shown that some common advice may not be that useful. Here are some misconceptions Liney says many have about lower back pain:
Back pain is not caused by poor posture.
There is no evidence that lifting with spinal flexion is associated with more risk of injury or pain.
There is no evidence that certain postures are causative of lower back pain, back pain affects all postures.
Pain with movement and exercise doesn’t mean you’re doing harm.
Pain flare ups don’t mean you’re damaging yourself.
Liney offered this advice for someone suffering from lower back pain:
Have the injury assessed by a professional. A physiotherapy needs to screen for serious circumstances that may require urgent medical intervention or referral to specialist.
Find a physio that you connect with and that you can trust to make these important calls.
Once cleared to start rehabilitation, begin with body weight functional movements, mobility and core exercises before trying resistance based exercises
Find an employer that values good working conditions, with decent pay and regular breaks.
Back stretch routine for construction workers
When it comes to doing regular movement and exercise to prevent lower back pain, Liney said it’s often a no one size fits all approach.
“Human movement is individual based on lots of factors: age, experience, limb morphology, we are all shaped differently and this will affect the way we move,” he said. “For me personally, I like to focus on joint mobility exercises. I like them because they are low intensity and can be done regularly throughout the day. This helps me to avoid sedentary behaviour, a factor that can reduce physical capacity.”
Liney said he thinks of the spine as a multidirectional bike chain, and he offered this set of stretches to cover all directions that the lumbar joints are designed to move in:
Lumbar rotation
Lie on your back. Bend your legs, keeping your knees and feet together. Keep your knees together while allowing your top foot to peel off of the floor as you roll your knees from side to side. Keep your shoulder stable on the floor and rotate at your spine.
Active repeated cobra
Lie on your stomach. Place your hands underneath your shoulders. Maintain your elbows near to your rib cage and keep your shoulders down throughout the movement. Rest the top of your feet down into the floor and relax your legs. Press through your hands and lift your head and upper body, opening your chest and allowing your spine to arch into the Cobra position. Breathe in while arching your spine and breathe out while returning in starting position.
Child’s pose
While on your hands and knees: Move backward, bringing your buttocks towards your heels, lower your forearms to the floor and let your back round. Hold the position for a moment while breathing smoothly. Return to the starting position.
Pelvic tilts
Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Pull your belly-button towards your spine and clench your buttock muscles to roll the tail bone up off the floor. Slowly return to the starting position. Roll your tailbone on the ground until the tip of your tail bone touches the mat. The majority of the effort should come from your abdominal and buttock muscles. Relax and repeat.
Knee hugs
Lie on your back. Draw one foot up and then the other. Bring one knee in towards your chest and then the other, using your hands for assistance to curl yourself in to a ball.
*Editors note: Does your business or employer have a unique way they are addressing workplace injury prevention? Let us know at hello@readsitenews.com.
Key Takeaways:
Lafarge is donating $50,000 worth of low carbon concrete to Pic Mobert First Nation in Ontario.
It is being used to build an on-reserve recreation sports park.
The project will be used by more than 1,000 members of the local Indigenous community.
The Whole Story:
This holiday season, Lafarge Canada is giving the gift of concrete.
Lafarge announced it is donating $50,000 worth of ECOPact low-carbon concrete for the construction of Pic Mobert First Nation on-reserve recreational sports park.
The park will benefit a local Indigenous community of over 1,000 people in the long-term and it is part of the company’s commitment to support the development of local communities and the future generations.
“We acknowledged the historic challenges experienced by Indigenous Peoples when we developed our organization’s Human Rights action plan for Canada. We recognize the need to support First Nations & Métis Communities as a key focus group, especially when it comes to mental health support for youth. We feel honoured to be part of such an important youth sports initiative in Ontario”, commented David Redfern, president and CEO, Lafarge Canada (East).
ECOPact is sold at a range of low-carbon levels, from 30 per cent to 100 per cent less carbon emissions compared to standard concrete. Where regulatory conditions allow, ECOPact products integrate upcycled construction and demolition materials
“Our community is united in our resolve to provide hope, healing, and health to our People who continue to struggle in so many ways. Increasing opportunities for sports and recreation, especially for our children and youth, is a high priority that will be facilitated by the development of the new sports park. We could not have made this important project happen without the generous donation made by our friends and neighbours from Lafarge,” commented Chief Louis Kwissiwa, Pic Mobert First Nation.
Jared Paris, plant manager for Lafarge’s Hemlo ReadyMix Concrete Plant, noted that the facility has been operating and servicing the traditional lands of the Pic Mobert First Nation for more than 20 years, supplying concrete for new homes, a water treatment plant, and many other projects. The $750,000-project on the Pic Mobert First Nation reserve is being sponsored by a number of companies, including Lafarge Canada customers, showing their support for the Indigenous community.
Pic Mobert First Nation (Netmizaaggamig Nishnaabeg) is an Ojibwe community with two land bases, Pic Mobert South and Pic Mobert North, which lie off Highway 17 approximately 55 km east of Marathon, Ont. along the eastern shores of White Lake.
Key Takeaways:
The changes include empowering the province to set housing targets in key municipalities and changing strata rules to allow more renting.
The new housing targets could come into effect next year while the strata changes would go into effect immediately.
The province is also forming a standalone ministry to address housing issues.
The Whole Story:
B.C.’s new premier is looking to introduce law changes and establish a standalone ministry to address housing supply and affordability.
“B.C.’s housing crisis is stressing out and hurting people while it holds back our economy,” said Premier David Eby. “As a first step in my 100-day plan, we are making changes to deliver more homes for British Columbians, faster.”
Speeding up approvals
The first piece of legislation, the housing supply act, aims to help speed up housing development and increase supply by giving the province the power to set housing targets in municipalities with the greatest need and highest projected growth. Eby says targets will be based on information provided by and in consultation with municipalities. The new housing targets will encourage municipalities to address local barriers to construction so that housing can get built faster, including updating zoning bylaws and streamlining local development approval processes.
A recent study commissioned by the Canadian Homebuilders Association of B.C. recently analyzed 650 individual approvals from13 municipalities. The data showed that it takes on average 13-14 months to approve rezoning and development permits and over 20 months for a subdivision application.
The province plans to monitor progress and work with municipalities to help address barriers to meeting housing targets and to support the increased community needs associated with targeted growth. The act enables compliance options as a last resort, should municipalities with the highest need struggle to create the conditions that are necessary to ensure housing gets built.
If passed, the housing supply act is scheduled to be brought into force in mid-2023. To support implementation, the province will continue to help local governments speed up local approval processes through the continued implementation of the Development Approvals Process Review and work underway to accelerate provincial approvals.
Amending Strata laws
In addition, the province is making amendments to the Strata Property Act to end all strata rental-restriction bylaws and to limit age-restriction bylaws so that the only permitted age restriction is to preserve and promote seniors’ housing through the “55 and over” rule in strata housing. Some buildings have “19+ only” age restrictions that mean couples starting a family have to plan to move out as soon as they become pregnant. Stratas will be able to appear at the Residential Tenancy Branch to evict problem tenants and recover costs of those appearances.
“There’s a lot of things on your mind when you are getting ready to start a family. It can be a very stressful time,” said Sarah Arnold, an expectant mother and condo owner in Victoria. “The last thing you need to think about when you’re preparing to welcome a newborn is finding a new place to live. These unjust age restrictions have hurt a lot of families, and I am pleased to see the Province is taking action to make sure no more couples have to uproot their lives and leave their homes if they decide to start a family.”
In areas where government has data through the Speculation and Vacancy Tax, there are approximately 2,900 empty condos that cannot be rented out because strata rules prevent them from renting out their condo, and government expects there are more empty units in strata buildings in other parts of the province. This amendment will enable owners to rent out these badly needed homes immediately. Government also expects that some owners in strata buildings would choose to rent out a room in their condo if they were given the opportunity to do so.
“Rules that prevent families with children from living in a home or prevent people from renting the unit they own are no longer acceptable in our current housing market,” said Murray Rankin, Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Housing. “These amendments will open up more rental and homeownership options for people at a time when they’re needed the most.”
If approved, the changes to the Strata Property Act would take effect immediately. Bylaws restricting short-term rentals, such as AirBnBs, will continue to be allowed.
New ministry for housing
Eby also announced a new housing ministry as part of his plan to address the province’s housing crisis.
“For too many British Columbians, owning or even renting a good home feels out of reach,” Eby said. “The housing crisis deserves the attention of a full ministry and the resources that come with it. As premier, I am committed to making meaningful progress to make sure everyone in B.C. can afford a good home.”
Premier Eby made the announcement on Tuesday, Nov. 22 during a speech to about 1,400 attendees at the Housing Central Conference at the Sheraton Wall Centre Hotel in Vancouver. The annual conference on affordable housing is held by the BC Non-Profit Housing Association, the Aboriginal Housing Management Association, and the Co-operative Housing Federation of BC.
The minister of housing will be named when Premier Eby announces his cabinet on Dec. 7.
Before being sworn in as premier, Eby was the attorney general and the minister responsible for housing. The current minister responsible for housing is Murray Rankin, MLA of Oak Bay-Gordon Head.
Key Takeaways:
B.C. will spend $7.1 million to support Métis citizens seeking jobs training.
The funds will support apprenticeships, trades, skills upgrades, certificates and recertifications, micro-credentials and other courses.
The province anticipates the funding will assist approximately 1,000 participants.
The Whole Story:
B.C. wants to provide more trades training opportunities to the Métis community.
The province announced changes that will allow more Métis citizens to access funding support to gain job-ready skills training.
Officials are contributing $7.1 million to the Métis Nation British Columbia’s (MNBC) Ministry of Skills Training, Employment, and Post-Secondary to support Métis learners. Anna Kang, minister of advanced education and skills training made the announcement during a reception commemorating the life of Louis Riel. Riel was a Canadian politician, a founder of the province of Manitoba and a political leader of the Métis people.
“We honour Louis Riel’s sacrifice and courage. We honour the significant contributions of the Métis people to British Columbia, and we acknowledge the struggles that Métis people continue to face,” said Kang. “Our government is committed to working together to make life better for Métis people throughout B.C., including through critical investments in education and skills training.”
The funding will support Métis learners in occupational skills training programs, such as apprenticeships, trades, skills upgrades, certificates and recertifications, micro-credentials and other courses leading to employment. Approximately 1,000 people are expected to participate in the program. This program will support Métis citizens looking to advance their education and training, and equip them with job-ready skills.
“At a time when we see such a large investment in infrastructure from the Province, it is paramount that we can equip our citizens with the job-ready skills needed for these projects,” says Paulette Flamond, MNBC’s minister of skills training, employment, and post-secondary education. “This additional round of funding will pay dividends and benefit our Nation for generations to come.”
Ledcor is celebrating its 75th anniversary by focusing on others.
The Ledcor Group of Companies announced that in honour of the milestone, it will donate $3 million over four years – $750,000 a year – to support charities that focus on pediatric healthcare initiatives across their office locations in Canada and the U.S.
“We are very proud to be entering our 75th year in business,” said Dave Lede, chairman and CEO at Ledcor Group. “Giving back to the communities where we live, and work is part of our DNA – this contribution continues Ledcor’s legacy of donations over the years to various children’s charities across North America. For 75 years, Ledcor and our employees have assisted others in need by coming together to support organizations that have a special place in our hearts, helping to move our communities forward.”
Since 1947, The Ledcor Group of Companies has grown to become one of North America’s most diversified construction companies serving the civil and infrastructure, oil & gas, pipeline, building, mining, power, and telecommunications sectors. Ledcor also owns operations in property investment, forestry, aviation, and marine transportation services.
The company noted that over the last 75 years, it has sought to prioritize community giving through several employee-led initiatives and programs. As a part of the employee-led program Ledcor Cares, over the last decade Ledcor and its employees have invested over $24 million to more than 200 charities across North America, as well as supporting communities through various professional development, sustainability, research, and initiatives.
Ledcor stated that it will continue to celebrate its anniversary throughout the year with a variety of events and programming. More information will be available throughout the year on the company website.
Key Takeaways:
Movember campaigns highlight often overlooked men’s health issues.
Fort Modular is encouraging their customers to contribute to Movember causes through a new campaign.
The company noted that construction workers have been hit particularly hard by mental health and substance use issues.
The Whole Story:
You’d be hard pressed to find another building this handsome.
Fort Modular, a B.C.-based modular building supplier has started a new initiative to raise money for and to bring awareness to men’s health issues.
“The guys really wanted to lean into a charity that was relevant to the industry,” said Fort’s business development and indigenous relations manager. “We have done Movember in years past but we thought about how we could take it to the next level. The idea was to put a giant mustache on buildings to market it to different people in the industry, create some buzz for the foundation itself and get people excited about it.”
The team collaborated with men’s charity Movember to create Movember Modular Space Solution units with giant mustaches on the side. Clients who rent the handsome, groomed units commit to an annual donation of at least $1,000 to support the Fort Modular campaign while the buildings are on their job sites.
“The construction industry needs this more than anyone else,” said Brezden. “Lots of guys are stressed out, they don’t get to take breaks, they don’t talk about their personal life or how they are feeling. We want to create space in a funny way for guys to open up to other guys about struggles they might be dealing with.”
The modular units are also intended to educate. They display the following stats about men’s health in the construction sector:
30 per cent of opioid deaths are from the construction industry.
83 per cent of construction industry workers have experienced some form of moderate to severe mental health issue.
Suicide rates in the construction industry are up to 3 time higher than in other industries.
At least one in five construction workers suffer from mental illness.
Only 17 per cent of construction workers said they would discuss mental health issues with a supervisor.
Those looking to donate to Fort Modular’s campaign directly can do so here.
“Men are really struggling lin this industry and there isn’t a lot of support when it comes to health and wellness,” said Brezden. “They guys are really busy and people are starting to realize that in order to keep their guys healthy and working, they have to check in and make sure they are doing OK.”
Key Takeaways:
Construction safety tech company SkillSignal is working with Princeton University in New Jersey on addressing mental health struggles in the construction sector.
The company won a one-year fellowship with the school to launch the Construction Wellbeing Initiative.
They will study industry efforts to address mental health issues and evaluate their effectiveness.
The Whole Story:
Mental health struggles are impacting construction workers far beyond Canada’s borders.
A construction safety tech company was awarded a one-year fellowship with Princeton University to address the worsening mental health crisis in the sector. SkillSignal, a construction safety and compliance platform, is now asking the entire industry for its input.
Through Princeton’s Jay Sugarman Practitioner in Residence Program, SkillSignal is partnering with Princeton’s Kahneman-Treisman Center for Behavioral Science & Public Policy. The effort is called the Construction Wellbeing Initiative (CWI)
Princeton noted that studies from the Association of General Contractors (AGC) and the U.S. Department of Labor (OSHA) show rapidly growing numbers of clinical depression, anxiety, and burn-out among construction workers.
Moreover, frequent physical injuries and strains as a result of the nature of the work often result in spiraling alcohol and opioid dependence. This creates a situation where distraction, accidents, safety hazards, stress, injury, violence and death are more likely to happen. According to the Centers for Disease Control, construction has one of the highest suicide rates of all industries, at 53.2 suicides per 100,000 workers (CIASP).
“We started to uncover this mental health crisis that we have been plagued with through conversations with clients and statistics we dug up,” said Vivian Burgnon, co-founder of SkillSignal and We realized we were going into some dark territory coming out of the pandemic.”
She noted that while other industries shutdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, construction continued and workers put in long hours.
“We decided to take this on as a passion project and see what we could do,” she said. “We are a safety and compliance company and we felt like this falls under safety and protecting workers.”
The team is currently working on bridging some sort of mental health component into its digital platform.
This fall, Burgnon and SkillSignal’s other co-founder Sebastien de Ghellinck convened over 50 construction professionals at the School of Public and International Affairs in a full day of learning and sharing sessions. The event marked the launch of the Construction Wellbeing Initiative (CWI), combining academic and policy-focused resources from Princeton University, cutting-edge technology from SkillSignal, and the collective intelligence from construction professionals from every field: C-suite, risk management, safety, insurance, operations, training, and technology.
Joining the launch event were representatives from the Structure Tone Building Group, Turner Construction, Skanska, Gallagher Basset, AXA XL, Holt, Zurich NA, EW Howell, Consigli, P Agnes, The New York City Department of Buildings, Prosafety, and others.
Through the initiative, Burgnon and de Ghellinck are looking to understand the sources of this crisis, to compile industry experience, and analyze field-tested solutions that will increase the physical and mental wellbeing of construction workers on job sites around the nation. The team plans to publish a comprehensive online repository of these interventions, which could be used as a public resource available to anyone desiring to increase the physical and mental wellbeing of construction workers on job sites.
Burgnon explained that investing in the mental health of construction workers is critical for the construction sector which has a workforce already getting spread thin and more labour shortages on the horizon.
“Why go into the trades and put yourself through this stressful, hard job?” said Burgnon. “We are really seeing that if we don’t change the culture we have now there is going to be a domino effect and we won’t be able to keep up with demand.”
The issue hits close to home for Burgnon, who’s father has been a carpenter for more than 40 years.
“I’ve seen my dad go through the highs and lows of being in construction and on the flip side, my mother works in mental health as a counselor with a substance abuse background. I have that bridge between the two,” she said. “When we first started the company we always had the worker in mind to make sure they go home to their families the same way they came. We wanted to create technology that could better facilitate that. So when we started to get into these mental health stats, it was a no-brainer.”
Some of the next steps for the initiative are to begin gathering info on what actions the industry has taken to improve mental health for workers and evaluate what the best solutions are. The group plans to also hold regular meetings with construction leaders and stakeholders to get updates and hear from speakers.
Burgnon encouraged construction leaders in Canada to reach out with their own advice and programs here.
Whether it’s to gain some knowledge or escape into another world, books can offer new ways to look at things. From sci-fi novels to gritty autobiographies, check out what page-turners construction leaders have tucked away on their bookshelves.
1. Yasir Ali, Self Perform Operations at Turner Construction Company
“A really good read from a business standpoint on when you need survival war time strategic leadership, and when a more long-term sustainable leadership and decision making is needed. Sometimes you need to pivot from one to the other depending on where your business is at, and having the self-awareness and cognizance on having those key folk in your team will help you ride those waves.”
– Ali
2. Shane McKernan, director of construction at Chard Development
“I read this book in high school and it has stuck with me since. My interest in construction was inspired by Follett’s descriptions of gothic architecture in the cathedral they built.”
– McKernan
3. Mary Van Buren, Canadian Construction Association president
“Incredible to hear about what creates belief in people and how dreams evolve and become realities and the grit it takes to be successful in business or in general life.”
– Scott
5. Sebastien de Ghellinck, SkillSignal founder and owner
“This autobiography covers the journey of Goggins (whose childhood was riddled with abuse, poverty, harassment, and racism) who believed he was worthless. He overcame all odds by pushing the limits of his body and mind. It resonates with me because I’ve utilized many of his anecdotes to carve my own path through areas of my life I felt could not be overcome.”
– Tountas
8. Erik Backstrom, Senior Planner for City of Edmonton
“This book is an extraordinary sweeping overview of the relationship between fossil fuels and political institutions and it was hugely epiphanic. It made me understand so much about the history of Britain, the U.S., the current status quo in the Middle East and just how horrifically unable we are to wean ourselves off fossil fuels.”
“An interesting meditation on the value of the working with your hands. While my tool of choice may now be a keyboard, I look back so fondly on all those summers doing physical labour as a student in Halifax. The author examines the long term trend of parents urging their children to become informational workers, and why a career in the trades deserves much more consideration than it gets. The book might be 12 years old – but with massive tech layoffs happening every day and a continuous shortage of labour in construction, many of his points are more relevant now than ever.”
– Rutledge
*Editors Note – Check out the first part of this series, which highlighted songs recommended by construction leaders .
Key Takeaways:
B.C.-based Strategic Natural Resource Consultants is a majority Indigenous-owned company and employee-owned company.
Ehattesaht Chinehkint Nation has been a long-term client of the firm.
Strategic officials say the move will greatly help the firm’s ability to navigate relations with Indigenous communities.
The Whole Story:
The Ehattesaht Chinehkint Nation has purchased a majority interest in Strategic Natural Resource Consultants.
The Ehattesaht Chinehkint Nation is a northern Nuu-chah-nulth Tribe whose traditional territory covers 750 square kilometres in Esperanza Inlet between Nootka Island and Kyuquot Channel in B.C. The main community, Ehatis in Zeballos where they have owned and operated forest licenses since the 1970s, has equity investments in hydro power production, fisheries, aquaculture and tourism.
Strategic is one of the largest resource management consulting firms in B.C. with 190 employees in offices in Fort St. John, Prince George, Port McNeill, Nanaimo, and Campbell River.
“Our staff here at Strategic are pleased that our long-term client has become a partner in our business,” said the company in its announcement. “We know our new partners will bring a lot of new energy to the firm that will help us strengthen how we do business and our relationship with our clients.”
The firm explained that they are now uniquely structured as a majority Indigenous-owned and employee-owned natural resource service provider.
“Our relationship with the Ehattesaht Chinehkint Nation has grown over the years and when they approached us, we were both honoured and excited,” said Niels Jorgensen, founder and managing partner at Strategic. “With one of the partners wanting to move on, the timing worked out well and our staff across B.C. are excited. I think everyone is viewing the Nation’s move as a validation of how our company has operated over the years. Having new directors will let us navigate the changing landscape of relations with BC’s Indigenous communities.”
Chief Simon John of the Ehattesaht Chinehkint Nation stated that he believes the partnership will help both parties.
“Our membership has asked us to find investments and opportunities that will help our Nation grow and we saw a perfect fit,” said John. “We think the strengths they have as a company are really aligned with what we need as a Nation, but we are more excited about having a company that is successful across the province, works for a lot of industries and has great leadership and a team who want to embrace new technologies.”
Earlier this year, the BCCR announced the formation of the Emerging Leaders Group (ELG). The ELG is intended to serve those at the intermediate stage in their careers.
“The BC Construction Roundtable recently launched their Emerging Leaders Group, supporting members with ~8 to 20 years of experience in the construction industry,” said Jeannine Martin, BCCR president. “The importance of succession within industry, and BCCR itself, highlighted the need to create opportunities for emerging leaders in the construction industry to undertake professional development, be mentored and enlarge their networks.”
Martin added that the ELG Committee is planning events for the coming year, starting with their Kick Off Event on Nov. 17, where they will be asking emerging leaders how the group can best serve industry.
The main objectives of the ELG are to:
Create opportunities for emerging leaders to undertake professional development, create mentoring opportunities, and establish personal connections with other emerging leaders.
Promote and provide opportunities for succession planning both within the BCCR and industry.
Understand, promote, and grow the relationships between all sectors of emerging leaders in the BC construction industry.
The ELG will be supported by a new BCCR committee.
Key Takeaways:
Many workers are dealing with mental health challenges, personally or related to a loved one.
This can be particularly challenging in a remote camp environment.
The program aims to get people help and keep them in the workforce by training employers, owners and co-workers to provide support.
The BTA will use a $650,000 grant from Alberta Health to create the Building Resiliency program which will promote and raise awareness about the importance of mental health, wellness, resiliency and recovery.
Ian Robb, chairman of the board for the BTA, explained that workers in Alberta – especially those doing remote work in camps – face many pressures and are often kicked aside if they reach out for help.
“You got a guy or a gal that’s thousands of kilometres away from home, their family, their friends and they are in a camp in Northern Canada,” said Robb. “They are working and then staying in a little room, worried about their family and friends. They may not be having an issue. It might be their kid or spouse having an issue. It makes them crazy and takes their eye off the game.”
He added that if they come out and say they have a problem it is often frowned upon and they are told to “suck it up” or “tough it out.”
“They should be ready to deal with this person. Instead, everybody hides it until they break,” he said.
The Building Resiliency initiative will promote and raise awareness about the importance of mental health, wellness, resiliency, and recovery-informed workplaces for its membership through customized learning modules.
The BTA aims to work with owners and contractors to establish a peer support program to champion recovery and resiliency. Participants will receive training and certification on mental health, wellness, and recovery coaching for identified peer supports on major worksites. The program will also provide specialized training to contractors and owners on recovery-informed workplaces.
The initiative includes an anonymous, self-guided and interactive digital service called Breaking Free, to reduce drug and alcohol use, reduce substance dependence and improve mental health, quality of life and social functioning. The digital services are also available for members reaching out for assistance for the first time.
“It’s an all encompassing new way of doing business,” said Robb. “They know there is a job for them to go back to, the company knows when they are coming back and how to handle it. The win there is the worker keeps their dignity and livelihood, the contractor keeps their contract with the owner and the owners get some real productive folks that just need a hand so they aren’t constantly in that retraining and searching-for-labour hamster wheel we are all going through.”
Robb noted that hundreds and hundreds of people in the oil sands and remote site world are site banned because of mental health issues.
“They are working somewhere else and hiding it and the same owners are coming to us asking why we can’t supply people,” he said.
November will be spent training for owners and sites. Next the group will focus on peer support training. They then plan to launch the Breaking Free app in early 2023. By early march the BTA expects to have recovery coaches trained up.
“You get a healthier workforce that performs better, is more productive and is more respected. The owner makes more money and gets more product to market,” said Robb. “The contractor can get more contracts. Everybody can win here.”
Key Takeaways:
Jason Idler has been promoted to chief operating officer of heavy industrial at PCL.
He is taking over for Roger Keglowitsch, who is retiring after 30 years at the company.
Idler has been working as PCL’s president of U.S. heavy industrial operations.
The Whole Story:
PCL Construction announced that Jason Idler has been promoted to chief operating officer and will lead the organization’s heavy industrial sector as part of the organization’s overall succession planning strategy. Jason succeeds Roger Keglowitsch who is retiring after 30 years with PCL.
“Jason possesses a wealth of knowledge in the Heavy Industrial world,” said Dave Filipchuk, PCL’s president and CEO. “His deep experience and substantial knowledge of our operations across North America will be essential as he works to extend our reputation as industry leaders. We are proud to welcome him to the PCL office of the CEO leadership team.”
Jason brings a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Saskatchewan and more than 30 years of experience to his role. He joined PCL in 2008 as vice president of PCL Intracon Power. He was appointed regional vice president in 2013. The next year he joined the board of directors and assumed executive sponsorship for large-scale industrial projects, some of the largest PCL has executed among them.
In 2017, Jason was named executive vice president for Canada and then president of U.S. heavy industrial operations, based in Houston.
Jason is responsible for PCL’s portfolio of work in the oil and gas, power, renewables, chemical and petrochemical markets. He works with a team of regional executives to oversee all aspects of project planning and delivery including oversight of engineering, project controls, quality, procurement, construction execution, risk management, and health, safety, and environment (HSE).
“Jason is deeply involved not just in the work of construction, but also in how PCL partners with clients and stakeholders to build a sustainable energy and resource future,” said the company in a press release. “For him that means attention to people, to community and to PCL’s role in the energy transition. From planning to fabrication to execution and ongoing maintenance, Jason, along with the entire heavy industrial group, promises clients a fully tailorable project solution.”
Key Takeaways:
Mr. Service Ltd., Granby Bobcat Service Ltd. and Hexcel Construction Ltd. all won awards.
This was because of their excellent safety records and efforts to promote safe excavation.
It is the awards’ first time returning since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Whole Story:
FortisBC is honouring the best in the excavation business with its excavation safety awards. This year’s winners – Mr. Service Ltd., Granby Bobcat Service Ltd. and excel Construction Ltd. – received high praise for their exemplary safety records.
Every year, FortisBC crews repair approximately 1,000 third-party damages to natural gas lines. To date in 2022, these damages have cost over two million dollars in repairs, with each incident endangering the public.
FortisBC’s excavation safety awards recognize companies who have assembled stellar safe digging track records over the past year, and have also taken steps to promote safe excavation practices and education.
FortisBC is awarding Mr. Service Ltd., Granby Bobcat Service Ltd. and Hexcel Construction Ltd. with the 2022 Excavation Safety Awards for their safe digging practices over the past year. It is the first time FortisBC’s damage prevention team is bringing back the awards since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“These organizations have established themselves as leaders in safe digging and excavation, and are role models for other construction companies,” said Tanya Kowalenko, public safety manager with FortisBC. “I’d like to thank Mr. Service, Granby Bobcat Service and Hexcel Construction for their commitment to digging safely, and encourage everyone hearing of these awards to reflect on what they themselves can do to dig safer.”
ForistBC officials explained that Kamloops-based Mr. Service Ltd., holds a mission to guide their customers through renovations with education, in order to reduce any stress and help them understand the process.
“After damaging a natural gas line once, Mr. Service Ltd. has always reached out to BC 1 Call before doing any digging to gather location information on buried natural gas lines and other utilities,” said FortisBC. “Adhering to the information BC 1 Call provides, Mr. Service has not damaged any natural gas lines ever since.”
Granby Bobcat Service Ltd. is a family owned and operated business serving the Nanaimo, Ladysmith and Chemainus areas. Since 2002, Granby Bobcat Service Ltd. has provided services in excavating, landscaping, hauling and much more. Operating for around 20 years, Granby Bobcat Service has also never damaged a natural gas line.
Hexcel Construction Ltd. was first established in 1985, and is a full service civil construction company specializing in general contracting and construction management. They currently operate in the Lower Mainland, with most of their projects located in Richmond, Delta and Burnaby. ForistBC noted that Hexcel Construction Ltd. is committed to continuously educating and training their employees on safe excavation practices. The organization has often invited FortisBC to educate staff on safe digging practices as part of ongoing training.
“While these awards are for construction companies, we ask all homeowners to dig safely to help avoid the safety hazards and costly repairs associated with damaging buried natural gas lines or other utility lines,” stressed Kowalenko. “Anytime you’re planning to work in your yard—such as building a deck or even just planting a few perennials—you must reach out to BC 1 Call in advance to request the location of underground gas and other utility lines on your property.”
FortisBC’s public safety team presented these awards at the Canadian Common Ground Alliance’s 2022 Damage Prevention Symposium on October 27. For more information on safe digging practices, go here.
Key Takeaways:
Construction recorded its lowest ever level of unemployment this summer.
BuildForce Canada anticipates 113,000 workers will need to be added by 2027.
To address the issue, the CCA has been working on a series of recruitment initiatives and is calling on government to take action.
The Whole Story:
The Canadian Construction Association (CCA) is sounding the alarm on unprecedented demand for scarce construction labour.
“Canada is facing its most severe labour shortage in over 50 years – nearly 1 million jobs are unfilled,” said Mary Van Buren, CCA president, in a statement to media. “The situation is especially acute for the construction sector – we have over 81,000 openings now. This also means the essential infrastructure projects that 38 million Canadians rely on every day risk being cancelled or delayed.”
The CCA urged everyone in the industry to join its ‘Rebuild Canada’s workforce NOW’ campaign. The campaign will see industry representatives meet with parliamentarians for CCA’s Hill Day on Nov. 15 where they will urge the federal government to:
modernize Canada’s immigration policy and point system to better recognize tradespeople and construction labourers.
work with the provinces to ensure skills matching is properly funded and supported; and
update the Temporary Foreign Worker program to allow seamless access for the construction industry.
The group stated that the demand for labour in non-residential construction is increasing thanks to the post-pandemic boom experienced by the construction industry.
The CCA cited data that shows job vacancies currently sitting at 84,585 while the value of monthly building permits reaching $3.9 billion. That’s a 17 per cent increase over its highest recorded level seen since 2019.
BuildForce Canada forecasts that given the current demand for non-residential construction, the industry will need to add 113,100 workers by 2027. The first 35,500 workers will be needed to meet the rising demand, while the remaining 77,600 are required to make up for the same number of workers set to retire over the same period.
A graph charts construction employment from 2016 to 2022. – Canadian Construction Association
“This may prove difficult in current market conditions,” said the CCA in an announcement, noting that a July report by Statistics Canada the construction industry documented its lowest ever level of unemployment.
“Low levels of unemployment indicate the supply of workers is insufficient to fill current vacancies,” said the association. “Given this trend, the construction industry is already facing the negative impacts of low unemployment, which include greater difficulties in recruitment and retention, lower productivity gains, and rapid wage growth.”
The group added that the construction sector contributes $152 billion, or 7.5 per cent of Canada’s GDP, annually.
“The industry has immense growth potential but is facing fierce competition for talent,” CCA officials said.
CCA has been working on several initiatives to build a pipeline of skilled, unskilled, and professional talent. Our Talent Fits Here initiative is a national public awareness campaign designed to attract workers by positioning construction as a career of choice. The association is also advocating for changes to the Canadian immigration system to facilitate the entry of skilled immigrants interested in working in the construction sector.
“The future of Canada’s economic growth depends on our ability to attract, develop, and retain top talent,” they said.
Ever wonder what engineers, CEOs and tradespeople listen to at work? Now you don’t have to. We reached out to every corner of the sector for this special Spotify playlist. Throw it on at the jobsite, in the office or while you’re on the road.
1. Mary Van Buren, Canadian Construction Association President
Unstoppable – Sia
Great motivator to kick off the day.
– Van Buren
2. Shane McKernan, Director of Construction at Chard Development
Die Hard – Kendrick Lamar
My go-to song to crush work to.
– McKernan
3. Sebastien de Ghellinck, SkillSignal Founder and Owner
Sabotage – Beastie Boys
I’ve been a Beastie Boys fan since I was 14. My absolute favourite is Sabotage. That song is 200 per cent pure energy and fun. It can pick me up in any mood I find myself stranded in and never ever gets old.
– de Ghellinck
4. Rory Kulmala, Vancouver Island Construction Association CEO
Friends in Low Places – Garth Brooks
Always been one of my favourites! Serenaded my wife with this song some 20+ years ago 😊
– Kulmala
5. Nicholas Tountas – Sheet metal worker at Orzech Heating and Cooling
Take ‘Em Down – Dropkick Murphys
I’m a diehard Dropkick Murphys fan and most of their music is obscure to most people. What the Murphys stand for resonates with me more than any singular song. They’re a very pro-union and pro-worker’s rights band and one song in particular, “Take ‘em Down”, really solidifies their views on the power of organizing and protecting your rights. It’s an older song, but the message is one that never ages.
– Tountas
6. Erik Backstrom – City of Edmonton Senior Planner
Light Up My Room – Barenaked Ladies
A romantically-infused reflection on urban infrastructure that has always resonated with me.
– Backstrom
7. Thomas Bamber – Air + Light Technical Lead for Integral Group
Soul Brother – Dalton
This is just a really great song. That’s all I really have to say. I don’t know who Dalton is. It’s been used in a couple of mixes I found here and there and I Shazam’d it and it’s just the nuts.
– Bamber
8. Michael Scott, Vice President of Impact Recruitment’s Building Division
Jane Says – Jane’s Addiction
Love how such a powerful band and sounds can produce something this chill and melodic but still has deep meaning behind it. Great driving song!
– Scott
9. Russell Hixson, SiteNews Editor
The Less I Know the Better – Tame Impala
This song is such a vibe. It just flows and puts me in a very calm mood. Great to listen to while I’m writing up notes or doing research.
– Hixson
*Editor’s Note – Listen to the whole Spotify playlist here. This is the first part of a three-part series that will highlight different media recommendations by construction leaders. To make sure you don’t miss out, subscribe to our newsletter below.
Key Takeaways:
The $15 million will be spent on 12 new and existing partnerships over the next three years.
The funding comes after a recent report showed a 35 per cent decline in apprenticeship enrolment over the past five years in the province.
The news brings total new funding for apprenticeship education to $30 million over the next three years.
The Whole Story:
Alberta is looking to boost apprenticeship with a series of new training partnerships.
The province will spend $15 million over the next three years to fund 12 new and existing community partnerships.
Officials stated that these partnerships help promote and build awareness for skilled trades professions and expand support for Albertans wanting to register for apprenticeship education programs.
“We are elevating apprenticeship education and making sure Albertans understand the great value in training for a career in the skilled trades. Demetrios Nicolaides, minister of advanced education. “Alberta’s continued economic growth depends on the development of a highly trained workforce to meet increasing labour market demands.”
This grant funding builds on the recently announced $15 million in funding to expand apprenticeship opportunities, bringing the total new funding for apprenticeship education to $30 million over the next three years through the Alberta at Work initiative.
Funding comes from the Alberta at Work initiative introduced in Budget 2022 and provides $5 million a year for the next three years to fund existing and new apprenticeship partnership grants.
Community Partner Grants and funding amounts:
Alberta Ironworkers Apprenticeship and Training Trust Fund (Pre-Apprenticeship Gladiator Program, Recruitment & Marketing Strategy): $488,866
Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (Pre-Employment Pipe-Trades Training Program): $1,205,475
Christian Labour Association of Canada (Train to Employment Program): $796,500
Electrical Industry Training Centres of Alberta (Pre-Apprenticeship Candidate Training Program): $626,940
Lethbridge College – Centre for Trades (STEM Program): $1,385,500
Momentum Community Economic Development Society (Women and Self-identified LGBTQ2S+ Participants Program): $727,282
The Educational Partnership Foundation (Trades Careers Program – Indigenous Partnerships): $1,109,700
Women Building Futures (Women and the Emerging Energy Future Program): $840,000
Skills Canada-Alberta (Try-A-Trade Takeout and Skills Exploration Days Programs): $4,302,737
CAREERS: The Next Generation (High School Integration for Work Integrated Learning): $1,260,000
An inquest is being launched to investigate the death of an Ottawa construction worker.
Dr. Louise McNaughton-Filion, regional supervising coroner for the East Region, Ottawa office, announced an inquest will be conducted for the death of Olivier Bruneau. The 24-year-old died in hospital on March 23, 2016, from injuries sustained while working at a construction site in Ottawa.
Bruneau died after he was hit by a 12-metre-long piece of ice that slid off the wall of the Claridge Icon condominium construction pit.
Officials noted that an inquest into Bruneau’s death is mandatory under the Coroners Act.
The inquest will examine the circumstances surrounding Bruneau’s death and the jury may make recommendations aimed at preventing future deaths from occurring in similar circumstances.
The inquest is expected to last nine days and hear from approximately 16 witnesses.
The inquest will start at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 11, 2022. Dr. Geoffrey Bond will be the presiding officer and Jai Dhar will be inquest counsel.
The inquest will be conducted by video conference which the public will be allowed to view.
Alberta construction sector advocates and trade unions will help guide the province’s approach to skills training with positions on a new council.
Premier Jason Kenney announced the Premier’s Council on Skills will have 11 industry stakeholders who will be tasked with helping the province better understand the challenges, opportunities and changing needs of Alberta’s workforce.
Officials explained that the council’s advice will be provided to the premier, through the minister of advanced education, to reinforce post-secondary programming and align Alberta with current and future industry demand.
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney announces the Premier’s Council on Skills. – Government of Alberta
Officials noted that as a key liaison between industry and government on skills development, the council will provide critical industry input to inform government policies. The new premier’s Council on Skills members include:
Dennis Perrin, Alberta and Prairies director, Christian Labour Association of Canada – council chair
Brent Allison, CEO, Long View Systems
Glenn Feltham, interim city manager, City of Medicine Hat – council vice-chair
Ken Gibson, executive director, Alberta Construction Association
Ron Koslowsky, vice-president, Manitoba division, Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters
Jason Krips, president and CEO, Alberta Forest Products Association
Gurpreet Lail, president and CEO, Petroleum Services Association of Canada and principal of Lail Consulting
Terry Parker, executive director, Building Trades Alberta
Darren Reeder, president and CEO, Tourism Industry Association of Alberta
Tom Snell, president and chair of the board of directors, Columbia College Calgary
“Our government is obsessed with attracting new investment to fuel our economy’s diversification,” said Kenney. “We need skilled workers to fill the high-wage jobs that are being created in record numbers in Alberta. This council will help us to rise to the challenge in developing and retaining these skilled workers.”
Key Takeaways:
Ontario construction workers made up nearly 8 per cent of Ontario’s overdose deaths between 2018 and 2020.
Researchers found that these workers often were young, male and using non-prescription drugs alone.
The report also found that nearly 80 per cent of workers who died had recently had a pain-related injury.
The Whole Story:
Ontario construction workers are being disproportionately impacted by non-prescription drug overdoses, a new report shows.
The report, which was released this summer, found that close to 1 in 13 opioid-related deaths in Ontario between 2018 and 2020 occurred among construction workers, and among construction workers who died over half were employed at time of death.
The research was conducted by experts from the Ontario Drug Policy Research Network (ODPRN) at St. Michael’s Hospital, ICES, the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario and Public Health Ontario.
Unregulated drugs
The report shows deaths among construction workers are primarily being driven by the unregulated drug supply rather than pharmaceutical opioids prescribed for pain.
Researchers found that cocaine and alcohol were more commonly involved in opioid toxicity deaths among construction workers when compared to those not working in the construction industry.
“The disproportionate impact of Ontario’s overdose crisis among people working in the construction industry demands further attention,” said Dr. Tara Gomes, lead author of the report and a principal investigator for ODPRN. “Importantly, despite a high prevalence of pain among workers, prescription opioids are not driving the patterns seen in this industry, with most deaths involving a combination of opioids with other drugs and alcohol.”
Gomes suggested that this could reflect a reliance on non-prescription opioids to manage unresolved pain in a sector where workplace culture and lack of job security can lead to under-reporting of injuries and pressure to minimize recovery time.
428 workers lost
Researchers identified people who worked in the construction industry who died of an opioid toxicity in Ontario between July 1, 2017 and December 31, 2020. The researchers defined construction workers as individuals who were employed or previously employed in the construction industry prior to death, as determined by the investigating coroner. This includes work in a trade, equipment operation or general labour.
Over the study’s 30 month span, 428 Ontarians with employment history in the construction industry died of an opioid toxicity, accounting for nearly 8 per cent of opioid toxicity deaths during that time.
An infographic breaks down substance use by construction workers. – Ontario Drug Policy Research Network
In contrast, people working in the construction industry represented only 3.6 per cent of the entire Ontario population and 7.2 per cent of all employed people in Ontario in 2021. Researchers noted that previous reports have shown that one-third of people who died of opioid toxicity and were employed at time of death worked in the construction industry.
Using data from ICES and the Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario, researchers dug into the circumstances surrounding the deaths and found:
They found that fentanyl and cocaine involvement were significantly higher among those with construction work backgrounds compared to those without. Alcohol also directly contributed to one in five opioid toxicity deaths among construction workers, which was significantly more common compared to those without a history of employment in construction
Using alone
Nearly 80 per cent of opioid toxicity deaths among construction workers occurred in private residences, most often the individual’s home, and rarely at construction sites or hotels used for work purposes.
Among cases where an individual was present to intervene in the overdose, naloxone administration decreased slightly over time among those who died of an opioid toxicity and had worked in the construction industry, suggesting the need for increased accessibility to naloxone in this population, including in people’s homes and not just on work sites.
Only one in six construction workers with an opioid use disorder (OUD) diagnosis who died of an opioid toxicity had accessed treatment in the month before death, which is lower than what was observed among those with no history in construction.
Breaking down the demographics
The report also describes demographic characteristics of people who worked in the construction industry who died of opioid toxicity:
Nearly 60 per cent of individuals in the construction industry were employed at the time of opioid toxicity death, compared to only 12 per cent of those with no employment history in the construction industry.
Pain was highly prevalent among construction workers who died of opioid toxicity – almost 80 per cent experienced a pain-related condition or injury in the five years prior to opioid toxicity death, which was similar to those with no employment history in construction.
Opioid toxicity deaths were more concentrated among those aged 25 to 44 years, with almost two-thirds of deaths among people who worked in the construction industry falling in this age group.
Over 98 per cent of construction workers who died of an opioid toxicity were male, compared to 72 per cent among those without a history of employment in the construction industry. This is consistent with the sex distribution of the construction industry workforce in Ontario.
The reports authors called for industry-level response in the construction industry that recognizes the stigma around drug use, which may make people less likely to engage in treatment and harm reduction services offered through their employer.
The researchers added that the response should included a plan to naloxone access at home, raised awareness about drug use safety, and low-barrier access to evidence-based treatment. This includes removing the requirement to go to a pharmacy to consume a daily dose methadone or buprenorphine under medical supervision as well as pain management and mental health supports.
“The report shows that young men continue to die from preventable opioid-related deaths. Each death is a person who lost their life,” said Dr. Dirk Huyer, chief coroner for Ontario. “Their families have lost a loved one, their communities have suffered a loss, and coworkers have lost a colleague and friend. Developing policies to address the stigma and provide support and harm reduction services at the workplace will help prevent further opioid-related deaths.”
