Cesar Boccardo, Bird Construction’s senior digital construction coordinator, has received the Digitalization Strategy Award by Building Transformations. Boccardo said the award holds a special place in his heart, and receiving it feels like a dream come true.
Jeffrey Busby has been named TransLink’s new COO. Busby has led the crown corporation’s engineering team for the past few years.
Jeffrey Busby
Kent Ferguson is Suncor Energy’s new senior vice president of strategy, sustainability and corporate development after spending 23 years at RBC.
I would like to thank everyone for the kind words and warm wishes as I embark on a new journey in my professional career. I look forward to working with the UCPG board and the entire UCPG team to build on the success that has been University District and help bring University Innovation Quarter to life.
Novy Cheema, president and CEO, University of Calgary Properties Group
Austin Lee has started a new position as operations manager at Industra Construction. Lee will work closely with the vice president of operations, all project managers and all superintendents on a routine basis, bridging the gap between management and field operations.
Balraj Mann, president of BM Group of Companies, has been named the H.D. Stafford Good Citizen of the Year by the Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce for his philanthropic efforts.
Balraj Mann, BM Group President, attends a fundraiser for Langley Memorial Hospital. – Langley Memorial Hospital Foundation
This recognition, presented annually by the Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce, is a reflection of your exceptional efforts and the positive influence you’ve had on Langley. Congratulations on this well-deserved honour, and thank you for your continued contributions to the community.
BM Group of Companies
Troy Farmer is celebrating 25 years with Bosa Construction where he works as a finishing carpenter foreman. Bosa used these words to describe him: loyalty. results. mentorship. Grit.
He does things the right way, without cutting corners. He goes above and beyond to ensure the product is installed above quality standards. He truly lives and breathes carpentry and is always willing to teach.
Troy Farmer’s team
Matthew McGee has joined Environ-Ex Contracting as vice president of strategic partnerships and client success. He brings with him a wealth of experience in managing large-scale construction projects. The company says he will be at the forefront of expansion efforts.
Gregg Lintern, Toronto’s chief planner, is leaving city hall this month. His colleagues say he will be remembered as one of the most transformative people in the role, helping champion efforts to increase housing density.
Warren Singh, centre, meets with government officials and other leaders in his first few weeks as executive director of the Alberta Construction Association. – Alberta Construction Association
Doug Porozni has announced he will retire at the end of the year as chairman of Ronmore Developers. Doug thanked his partners at Ronmor for their 25+ years of support and providing the opportunity to participate in a variety of development projects in Western Canada.
During his incredible career with Ronmor, Doug transformed the company as we know it today. His keen understanding of the real estate ‘deal’ and his unwavering work ethic allowed Ronmor to grow in unimaginable areas. He truly became the face of Ronmor. It will be a face we will continue to see, but one that we will miss at Ronmor.
Kim Corea has been promoted to chief financial officer at Ecora.
Congratulations to Kim Corea on her well-deserved promotion to CFO at Ecora! Starting as our Director of Finance, Kim has consistently showcased exceptional talent and dedication, playing a pivotal role in steering our financial strategies.
Kelly Sherman, principal and founder, Ecora Group of Companies
Tim Visscher is celebrating 15 years with Wesgroup Properties. Visscher joined Wesgroup in 2008 as a project manager and now works as construction manager.
As we celebrate this milestone in Tim’s career, we extend our deepest appreciation for his unwavering dedication, leadership, and the positive impact he has had on our organization.
Fort Modular has become one of the largest, most successful modular construction specialists in B.C.
Despite this growth, the owners believe that keeping their family-business culture intact is the key to continued success.
The company also believes strongly that there is no substitute for experience, and their decades in the sector allow them to outperform newcomers to the space.
The Whole Story:
Fort Modular is on a trajectory for major growth as modular construction becomes more accepted as a way to rapidly build homes, student accommodations, remote work camps, indigenous infrastructure, social amenities and other projects.
After a decade in business and acquiring assets from several other companies in the modular space, Fort is now the largest locally- and privately-owned modular building supplier in B.C. But as they expand, Fort’s leaders are determined to maintain the family-owned company values that got them there.
Staying small while growing big
Originally established with a focus on renovations and rentals, the company has since expanded operations to include new custom-built structures and permanent solutions to serve a wider array of clients. Fort operates out of a 40,000-square-foot facility located on a five-acre site in Aldergrove and now owns a 17-acre location in Barrière to further cement its reach.
Despite all this growth, brothers and company owners Bryan and Mark DePedrina are adamant that Fort doesn’t become bogged down with corporate complexity and bureaucracy.
The pair have lived and breathed modular work ever since they were kids. Their father got into the modular construction business back in the 1980s and the brothers worked there for a decade, doing projects as far away as Louisiana, Alaska, Russia and Japan.
After their father’s company was bought out, Bryan and Mark decided to go against its new corporate culture and form their own business in 2013. They’ve never looked back. In fact, by coincidence they now work out of the same factory site their father did.
“We are trying to maintain some of those ‘mom and pop’ values while we take the company to the next level,” said Mark. “It can be a challenge, and when all the new people join us, that’s exactly what I tell them. We can’t have it so corporate that everyone feels as if their hands are tied. We empower our employees to do what they were hired to do without micromanaging. These are the things that brought us success in the past and we need to continue with it even through a growth period.”
Bryan explained that this approach allows Fort to move faster than other modular providers by making common sense decisions as our team has direct access to the owners.
“This ‘get it done’ mentality has been a huge reason for our growth on both fronts, custom manufacturing and rentals,” he said.
One of Fort Modular’s units is air lifted into Lytton, B.C. – Fort Modular
Knowing the details
The DePedrinas have been about modular from day one.
“For me, it’s all I’ve done,” said Bryan. “I’ve never had a job outside the industry.”
The brothers believe this in-depth knowledge is another reason for their success.
“Bryan and I did our time in the factory and in the field,” said Mark. “We know. We’ve done this. We’ve seen all aspects of it because we’ve grown up in it. So there’s another level of confidence. We can tell if people’s modular construction project ideas will be successful or not right away. We also educate them about the challenges they may have to face for a successful outcome.”
They noted that many have seen headlines about large, flashy modular projects and tried to enter the space assuming it will be easy.
“We understand what we’re selling, but I feel like there’s a lot of fly-by-nighters right now,” said Bryan. “All the sudden, everyone is a modular provider even though they’re basically acting as brokers and have never been in the industry. You look at these scenarios and you feel bad. Someone is going to learn the tough way about going with an inexperienced group for their large-scale project, which in turn will hurt the industry as a whole.”
Fort also prides itself on being able to provide that expertise to customers without having to go through layers and layers of bureaucracy.
“I think the biggest thing for our clients is our ability to answer questions and make decisions quickly to get things done effectively,” said Bryan. “Fort’s owners are right there in the office. It happens in 30 seconds instead of three months.”
Leadership changes
Diversification has been part of Fort’s strategic strength.
“We have a two-pronged approach to our business with two income streams,” said Bryan. “We have the rental division and the manufacturing division. if you are purely a manufacturer and things slow down you’re taking some punches to the face. It can be very detrimental to the business. Since we have our rental division it can be a bonus. We can build our own inventory during these gaps and breaks. We can avoid the ramping up and down of operations and instead have a steady flow of production.”
The latest part of Fort’s growth strategy has been hiring renowned modular expert Rick Welch as vice president of its permanent modular division and promoting company veteran Greg Tymchyna to vice president, rentals & fleet. Fort believes this will strengthen both parts of its business.
Tymchyna has been with Fort Modular for 5 years, with 15 years experience in rental and fleet management prior.
Welch has over 30 years of experience in modular construction with a versatile background in education, commercial, industrial, housing and hospitality markets. Bryan and Mark said he is one of the most knowledgeable people in the entire country when it comes to modular structures and will bring a wealth of knowledge to Fort’s operations.
They added that during Tymchyna’s years at Fort, he has embraced the company’s culture, making him an excellent person to lead part of the business.
“While we’re experiencing all this growth and pushing the boundaries, we are still holding true to our core values and beliefs, which has been the best thing about Fort Modular,” said Tymchyna. “And it’s just so much fun. The owners are our friends. We are a family. We are living and working a dream job.”
The DePedrinas believe these leadership changes will help set them up for future success as the growth continues.
“The idea behind some of these hires is to alleviate some of the day-to-day operational work so we can do higher-level decision making and take us to the next level,” said Bryan.
Attracting talent
Arguably one of the nation’s foremost experts in the field of modular construction, Welch felt Fort was the best place for him to be.
“Fort Modular is the fastest growing modular company in B.C. and is a good personal fit for me. The company is privately owned by like-minded brothers, Bryan, and Mark DePedrina,” he said. “Both are long-time modular industry professionals with a proven track record for integrity, humility, partnerships, and customer accountability. Fort Modular’s reputation for their positive work culture also makes it easy to attract and empower employees.”
“The modular industry needs to recognize what it does well: deliver the modular buildings. Unfortunately, some have tried to become a developer or a large general contractor,” said Welch. “So you start competing against stick-build general contractors as opposed to partnering with them.”
If you are looking for a modular specialist to help you rent or build, contact Fort’s team of specialists here. And those who are looking to join Fort’s unique company culture, information about careers can be found here.
With the end of 2023 in sight, it’s time to start planning your schedule for 2024. Here are some fast approaching events you want to keep on your radar for the new year.
CCA Annual Conference
The 2024 CCA Annual Conference is taking place in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic at the Paradisus Palma Real Golf and Resort on March 12-15, 2024. The event will bring together leaders from across the country for incredible content, networking and to celebrate Canadian Construction Association (CCA) member accomplishments through the group’s National Awards program (you can nominate a deserving candidate for one of nine categories here).
Wood Solutions Conference – Ottawa / Calgary
The Canadian Wood Council will host a Wood Solutions conference in Ottawa. It will take place Feb. 1, 2024, at the Shaw Centre. Attendees can learn about the latest in wood innovations from presenters and make industry connections. There will also be a wood design conference and trade show for Alberta which will take place in Calgary and is being hosted by WoodWorks Alberta on January 16, 2024. The specialized design and construction conference is dedicated to showcasing innovative advancements and applications for wood products and building systems in design and construction. It will feature leading-edge experts. The venue is Best Western Premier Calgary Plaza Hotel & Conference Centre.
Navigating Risk in Construction Contracts & Projects
This conference features two days of workshops, case studies and lectures on managing risk in construction. It will feature talks on negotiation skills, supply chains, liens, payment rights, competitive bidding and more. The event takes place Feb 22-23 at the Sandman Signature Toronto Airport Hotel in Toronto. For those who aren’t out east, there is also a Western Canada version in Edmonton Jan. 24-25.
The Construction Expo
The Construction Expo connects buyers and suppliers; planners and contractors; companies and designers – all in the construction industry. The event will focus on innovation, trends, quality materials, contemporary architecture, green technologies and solutions. In addition to exhibitors, the event will features construction seminars. The event takes place in Surrey, B.C. at the Cloverdale Agriplex Building April 6-7.
BUILDEX Vancouver
This is not one to miss for Western Canada. The event features expert-led programming, continuing education credits, exhibits from leading suppliers and industry networking. But if you can’t attend in person, BUILDEX On Demand allows professionals to watch educational sessions and production demonstrations on demand after the show. The event takes place Feb. 14-15 at the Vancouver Convention Centre.
The Canadian Concrete Expo
This national trade show is jam-packed with all the industry essentials. It will feature more than 350 exhibitors, draws a crowd of more than 8,000 and has 300,000 square feet of show floor. It includes conference sessions, live demos and stage presentations. Organizers say they are expanding for 2024 and are bringing back the large equipment demonstrations. The expo takes place Feb. 14-15 at the International Centre in Mississauga, Ont.
CEGQ Convention
Hosted by the Corporation des Entrepreneurs Généraux du Québec, the conference programming combines both a training component, with conferences and expert panels, and a more interactive component, with discussion sessions following each presentation. Throughout the conference, more than 30 expert speakers will address various issues in the construction industry, both at the technical and legal levels and in project management. The event takes place Feb. 14-16 at the Trois-Rivières Delta in Trois-Rivières, Que.
OCA Construction Symposium & Trade Show
The Ottawa Construction Association, along with its eight supporting associations, is hosting its fourth-annual Construction Symposium and Trade Show event at Ottawa’s E.Y. Centre, April, 27. It features a full-day of topical presentations combined with a trade-show floor of 160 exhibitors. Session topics include construction law, cybersecurity, AI, decarbonization and more.
Regional Oil Sands Operating Alliance (ROA) has announced the launch of its industry focused business portal, ROA Supplier Gateway, that will help connect industry suppliers with leading producers in the Alberta Oil Sands Region.
ROA Supplier Gateway will allow businesses from across Canada to register and gain access to opportunities with its participating partners: Suncor Energy, Cenovus Energy, ConocoPhillips Canada, and Imperial Oil. The ROA Supplier Gateway aims to play a pivotal role in fostering opportunity, valuable collaborations, innovation, and supplier inclusion.
“We are proud to offer a new innovative portal for the business community as a way to connect suppliers to our participating producers and reduce barriers of entry including access to relevant industry information, a list of available opportunities, and direct support through our help centre,” said Mark Morrison, chair Regional Oil Sands Operating Alliance. “ROA Supplier Gateway will focus on collaboration, building capability, and increasing exposure for small and medium businesses.”
ROA Supplier Gateway features include a personalized dashboard for all registered businesses, a resource library, an event listing, a business spotlight section and more. All businesses operating within Canada that are interested in gaining access to new opportunities within the Alberta Oil Sands Region with participating partners are invited to register.
“ROA Supplier Gateway is a key resource that’ll increase the ability of businesses within the Oil Sands industry, like Suncor, to connect with a more diverse set of suppliers,” said Steve Hogan, senior vice president, supply chain & field logistics, Suncor Energy. “I believe the efficiency and transparency inherent to the portal will drive innovation and expansion among our supplier base and will ultimately create a more competitive landscape throughout the Oil Sands.”
SiteNews is proud to announce Construction’s Most Influential People, a new awards program that will honour outstanding individuals who are impacting the construction sector.
The annual program will shine a spotlight on Canadians having a massive positive impact on the built environment and the construction process. They are thought leaders, innovators, wizened veterans, young disruptors, politicians, legal masters, inventors, trades advocates and more.
Why it matters
The SiteNews team noted that they want to cast a wide net to capture exceptional individuals that might be getting missed by other awards.
“Most Influential will be open to all ages, all disciplines and all regions of the country,” said Russell Hixson, SiteNews editor. “We want to leave no stone unturned when it comes to celebrating the men and women who are pushing construction forward.”
The SiteNews team explained that there are so many different roles and responsibilities that go into getting a project built, that there should be a holistic program to recognizing excellence. These roles include tradespeople, supervisors, educators, lawyers, engineers, financial experts, investors, technologists, developers, architects, researchers, politicians and more.
How will winners be chosen
The criteria and process are simple. Winners will be those in any industry, position or discipline whose efforts are generating a positive impact on the construction sector. SiteNews will be soliciting nominations from the industry and winners will be chosen by a panel of SiteNews staff.
This includes SiteNews co-founders Andrew Hansen and Brett Rutledge, and Hixson, who have spent their careers saturated in the construction sector in a wide range of roles. The team noted that they plan to build on the success of SiteNews’ 25 Innovators in Construction awards program, which recognized companies, by zooming in on individuals.
Coming together
Encouraged by their 25 Innovators in Construction awards event that maxed out capacity in Vancouver earlier this year, the SiteNews team is planning to take its in-person events one step further by hosting a celebration for Most Influential winners. More details will be released on this in the coming months.
To nominate someone you think is deserving, fill out this form. Winners will be announced early next year.
Ghella
Ghella crews lift part of a tunnel boring machine at the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension project.
Shindico
Asphalt placement has officially begun at 990 Taylor Avenue in Winnipeg, marking a significant milestone in the construction of Shindico‘s flex building at Grant Park Pavilions.
AECOM
AECOM celebrated the start of passenger service on the $1.8 billion Valley Line Southeast Light Rail Transit line. AECOM served as lead of the owner’s engineer team.
JEN COL
The JEN COL crew is hard at work on the initial phases of the new Fort McMurray 468 First Nation’s Nikinan Community Building, making the most of the sunny weather on the site shores of Greoire Lake in Fort McMurray, Alta.
Axiom Builders
Crews celebrate the structural completion of Building 1B at RC at CF Richmond Centre. So far, the Axiom team has excavated a total of 300,000m3 of dirt and installed 16,500 metric tonnes of rebar.
Drew Monnier / Graham
Crews work on the Portage la Prairie Bypass project. Traffic driving is now driving in all directions after 18 months of work. Graham said it worked closely with Meseyton Construction Ltd., many other key trade partners, Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure (MTI) and Dillon Consulting Limited.
Teleo
Eddie Duff, a veteran operator with John Aarts Group in Ontario, loads a concrete plant with Teleo‘s remotely-operated heavy machine technology, a first for the concrete industry.
Emil Anderson Construction
Emil Anderson Construction crews are getting treated to fall colours at the Jaffray Overhead project. The team the midst of installing two new bridges just outside of Jaffray, B.C.
Chandos
Chandos crews have unearthed hundreds of fossils during excavation work for cables and piping in Edmonton, Alta. They include evidence of dinosaurs, prehistoric plants, extinct horses, bison, and elk. Chandos worked with their archaeology partners, Aeon Paleo, to safely remove the remains so its team could continue work.
Apprentice electrician Dee Durant enjoys a sunset from her jobsite in Oakville, Ont.
Jacob Bros
A Jacob Bros worker lifts a piece of pipe for the Gilbert Trunk Sewer – Phase 2 South Project in Richmond B.C.
DSM Excavation and Contracting
Bright lights, big trucks and falling rain make a great combo. DSM Excavation and Contracting announced plans to to expand its trucking division with some epic evening vehicle shots.
The shot of the month goes to…
BC Hydro
Crews use a 550-tonne crane to install three transmission towers on the intakes at the Site C Dam in B.C. Eleven towers and three new transmission lines will send electricity generated inside the powerhouse to the nearby substation. The three-layered background of white sky, grey water and brown earth is beautiful. The orange-clad workers in the foreground pop against it, suspended in the sky. Truly an epic shot!
Key Takeaways:
SiteNews’ newsletter is expanding with another weekly email, Talent Thursdays.
It will feature popular topics around the ‘people’ part of construction, including professional updates, job postings, in-person events, labour data and more.
The SiteNews team believes Talent Thursdays will streamline its existing newsletter and provide valuable insight for subscribers.
The Whole Story:
One year after launch, SiteNews is expanding to better fulfill its mission to equip, educate and elevate the Canadian construction sector.
To serve its thousands of newsletter subscribers and respond to industry trends, the digital publication’s team is launching a second newsletter blast, Talent Thursdays. The weekly email will spotlight everything to do with labour and professional development in construction.
It will feature weekly People Moves, which gives updates on hiring, promotions, retirements and awards. Subscribers will get data, studies and updates on the efforts to recruit, train and retain workers. It will also include Hot Jobs, a regular round-up of high-level construction job postings.
SiteNews stated that their own analytics show there is high demand for stories and content centered around people and their work. This includes job postings, personal achievements, in-person events and information on how to address the industry’s workforce challenges.
With so much news and information coming out about Canadian construction, the team also wanted to make sure content is streamlined, focused and useful for subscribers.
“We’re really inspired by the sense of community we’ve encountered over the last year. The industry genuinely loves celebrating the people who bring these projects to life,” said Brett Rutledge, SiteNews co-founder. “Construction isn’t just about buildings; it’s about the individuals and the relationships they form. This newsletter is a tribute to that human element.”
According to BuildForce Canada, overall hiring requirements in the industry are expected to exceed 299,000 by 2032 due to the retirement of approximately 245,000 workers (20% of the 2022 labour force) and growth in worker demand of more than 54,000. They are predicting a possible retirement-recruitment gap of more than 61,000 workers.
SiteNews editor Russell Hixson explained that getting enough skilled workers to meet construction demand has easily emerged as one of the industry’s biggest challenges.
“It’s a complete misconception that anybody can walk onto a jobsite and do construction work. The complexity, size and performance requirements for the built environment are skyrocketing,” he said. “This requires sophisticated, skilled workers. These people take years and years to create and many workers with these skills are reaching retirement age.”
Hixson noted that as technologies like artificial intelligence, robotics, 3D printing, prefabrication and more become adopted, jobsites will require workers with even broader technical skills.
To subscribe to Talent Thursdays and SiteNews’ weekly flagship newsletter for free, visit here.
Mary Van Buren is leaving her role as president of the Canadian Construction Association (CCA) after six years in the position. Van Buren made history as the group’s first female president. She will be leaving the association in the spring. A search process is underway with a goal of a smooth transition and continuing the positive momentum gained under Van Buren’s leadership.
The construction industry is essential to Canada’s economic success and quality of life, yet it doesn’t always get the credit it deserves. I am so proud to have brought more attention to an industry that has such a profound impact on our country and affects positive change in our communities every day.
Mary Van Buren, CCA president
Mary Van Buren
Al Norgaard, president and general manager of Norgaard Ready-Mix, announced he will be closing his the family business after after 60 years. The sand, gravel, specialty aggregates, precast product and ready-mix concrete provider was part of major B.C. projects, including the Railyard Mall, Nicola Valley Institute of Technology, the original Coquihalla Highway and the recent Coquihalla Highway rebuild.
the trucks at Norgaard Ready-Mix will pour their last loads of concrete on December 22, 2023 and the business will close on January 12, 2024. – Norgaard Ready-Mix
It is definitely with mixed emotions that we close the business, but it feels like the right time to move onto the next chapter and spend more time with my partner, kids and grandkids. It’s a hard choice for me to close the business, but we’re wrapping up work on the Coquihalla rebuild and it feels like the right time.
Al Norgaard, president and general manager, Norgaard Ready-Mix
David Howard been promoted to senior project superintendent after more than eight years at Bird Construction. The Metro Vancouver resident has more than 18 years of experience in site supervision.
Rick Welch has joined the Fort Modular team and Greg Tymchyna has been promoted. Welch has been hired as vice president of the permanent modular division. Tymchyna has been promoted to vice president of the rentals and fleets division.
Fort Modular has spent November raising funds for men’s health with its special Movember units. – Fort Modular
Nick Marini is stepping into a new consultative role as director of property management at Macdonald Property Management Group and Zora Chen is taking on overall management responsibilities at the company’s signature property management group. In his 23 years with the organization, Marini has worked to build a comprehensive third party property management and strata services business representing clients both locally and globally from around the world. Chen has been with Macdonald for nearly a decade and has become an accomplished property and strata management professional.
Sean’s leadership style — characterized by respect, constructiveness, and enthusiasm, and guided by our corporate objectives — is instrumental in nurturing and building valuable relationships with the Nation and our external partners.
Nch’ḵay̓ Development Corporation
Cheryl Schindler is MBC Group‘s new director of business development of engineering in B.C. Schindler brings with her 27 years of experience. Her past projects include work in institutional, commercial, residential, transportation, water/wastewater treatment, and industrial industries and she has been involved in major projects with budgets exceeding $5 billion in Canada and internationally.
I’m beyond grateful to the team at VRCA for welcoming me as their new Marketing and Events Specialist. Can’t wait to discover all the opportunities ahead of me in this next phase of my career
Maddy Jamieson, VRCA marketing and events specialist
Whether forging connections between FNMPC members and the private sector, championing Indigenous economic inclusion in the Canadian economy, or instrumentalizing the 5% procurement precedent with the federal government, JP’s tireless efforts have indelibly shaped and uplifted Indigenous nations, leaving an enduring legacy that resonates throughout Canadian society.
First Nations Major Projects Coalition
Darcy Waters has begun a new position as marketing coordinator for Anthem Properties. Waters previously worked as a digital marketing coordinator for Alberta homebuilder Mattamy Homes.
On behalf of the OSSGA Board, we are pleased to have Michael as our new ED at this pivotal moment in our sector’s history. Ontario Stone Sand and Gravel Association finds itself at a crucial moment in time as all three levels of government are committed to the largest infrastructure investment and spend that our Province has ever seen.
OSSGA Board of Directors Chair Rob Pierce
Scott Henson and Chris Davis have joined CarbonCure Technologies as chief operating officer and vice president of carbon products and public policy, respectively. The company says the pair bring big tech expertise to scaling CarbonCure’s climate tech. Both new additions offer a wealth of experience, including tenures with tech giants Amazon and Microsoft.
Their impressive backgrounds demonstrate their ability to drive innovation, execute strategy and deliver results with a focus on innovation and sustainability. Together with our talented team, they will play a pivotal role in our work to transform concrete into a climate solution.
CarbonCure Technologies
CarbonCure recently signed an agreement Heirloom to permanently store atmospheric CO2. – CarbonCure
Alexander Annikov will take over as Dream Industrial‘s new president and CEO in the new year. Sannikov has been with Dream for 15 years, since joining in 2008. He joined the Dream Industrial management team in 2019 and is currently serving as the president and chief operating officer.
Xavier Lissoir has joined Stack Modular as its new pre-construction manager and Santiago Lazala-Silvahas joined as its new marketing specialist. Lissoir is a certified project management professional with a Masters in Civil Engineering and 14 years of experience overseeing building, marine, and civil works. Lazala-Silva is a communications professional with more than five years of experience specializing in graphic design, web design, marketing and corporate identity development.
Joël León Danis has been appointed executive director of the Toronto Society of Architects (TSA). The group stated that Danis has served the TAS as programming director for the last three years, and as a volunteer since 2016.
Joël’s advancement to Executive Director recognizes his extraordinary efforts in supporting the TSA’s mission including ongoing membership and audience growth, the continued variety, excellence and relevance of the organization’s programming offerings, and the positive impact of its educational and advocacy efforts on discourse on the built environment within our City and region.
Toronto Society of Architects
Joël León Danis
Elise Mailloux has been named Craftsperson of the Year by the General Presidents’ Maintenance Committee for Canada and the National Maintenance Council for Canada. The announcement was made at the annual Canadian Safety Achievement Awards. The award goes to a Canada Building Trades Union member who shows outstanding craftsmanship, professionalism and safety leadership through their performance or contribution on a maintenance job. Mailloux made history in 1998 when she became the first fully certified female ironworker in the nation.
Gordon Stifanyk has joined Burns & McDonnell as the leader for the firm’s transmission & distribution group in Canada. During his 20-year career, Stifanyk has supported clients and gained experience in high voltage interconnection, with utilities and renewables clients across North America and Australia.
Gord brings a unique blend of experiences that will be extremely valuable as he steps into his role as a leader within Burns & McDonnell,” says Darcy Wagner, managing director for the firm’s offices in Canada. “Gord has worked with Burns & McDonnell in various facets throughout his career — he knows how we operate. I’m confident that his experience and leadership will be a catalyst for our continued growth and success.
Darcy Wagner, managing director of Burns & McDonnell offices in Canada
Paul Crane, founder of Crane Steel Structures, is celebrating 50 years as a Certified Engineering Technologist. Before founding his Brandon-based company in 1981, Paul worked with a consulting engineering firm for ten years.
Charlie Webb, president and CEO of Anderson Webb Limited, has been elected president and chair of the MCAC Board of Directors for 2023-2024. He is preceded by Derek Ermen of Moncton, N.B.
I am very excited to be stepping into the role of MCAC President during this busy and transformative time for the mechanical contracting sector in Canada. Across the country our industry is dealing with unique challenges alongside exciting opportunities. Our sector has an essential part to play for a healthy Canadian economy, and our association is well-positioned to maximize that role on behalf of our members.
Charlie Webb, president and CEO, Anderson Webb Limited
I truly never expected to be in this position and it’s an absolute honour to be recognized, as this award validates all that I have done and all that I have achieved,” explains Laronde. “I love what I do, and I love the construction industry, but I cannot deny my belief that as a whole it needs to do more to promote women in leadership roles.
Lisa Laronde, RSG International president
Chris Gower has been promoted to deputy chief executive officer at PCL after 28 years with the company. Gower previously led the organization’s buildings division in Canada, the U.S. and Australia. He is a CCA Gold Seal certified estimator and project manager and was recognized as one of Canada’s Top 40 under 40 leaders.
Todd Craigen has been appointed COO and president, corporate services at PCL. Craigen has been with PCL for 27 years and most recently served as president for Eastern Canada. In this new role, Craigen will continue to oversee the Toronto and Solar districts and take on responsibility for corporate services departments including business technology, human resources, professional development, integrated construction services, and marketing and communications.
*Editor’s Note: Contact us at hello@readsitenews.com with your fundraising details so we can add you or your company to the list.
Men’s health issues are construction issues.
More than 86% of the construction workforce is male, making the industry acutely impacted. For many, November is a month to highlight the many struggles men face and raise money to combat them. Many of these efforts are organized by Movember, a leading charity for men’s health. Since 2003, Movember has funded more than 1,250 men’s health projects around the world.
Here’s what men are up against:
1 in 9 Canadian men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime
Testicular cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in young Canadian men
In 2019, over 3,050 men died by suicide, nearly 59 men per week
In Canada, 3 out of 4 deaths by suicide are men
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among Canadian males aged 15–44 years
Canadian builders aren’t sitting idly by. Check out some of the companies and individuals doing their part to raise funds for Movember:
The Canadian Construction Challenge
Before we dive into a few of the companies that are raising funds, it should be noted that dozens and dozens of construction teams are fundraising together in friendly competition, the Canadian Construction Challenge. The challenge consolidates the industry’s fundraising efforts in one place. As of Nov. 7, Canadian construction companies listed had raised a combined $71,317.
Gillam Group
Progressive construction management company Gillam Group has emerged as an early juggernaut for this year’s Movember fundraising efforts. These efforts have been led by Craig Lesurf, Gillam Group president and cancer survivor, who personally has raised more than $11,000.
In most cases, the outcome for men with testicular cancer is positive, but 1 in 20 won’t make it. I’m one of the 19 lucky ones & now 10 + years cancer free. Know the facts and take action early.
Craig Lesurf, Gillam Group President
Ledcor Group of Companies
Ledcor stated that its safety slogan “Think Safety, Work Safely” describes not only what they do, but its values and culture. Their Movember team explained that the company’s most important asset is its people, so they strive to ensure that each and every worker makes it home safely. This includes addressing men’s health issues. This year, Ledcor will match all employee donations up to $50,000.
Ritchie, was a Husband, Father, Brother and Friend. He taught us what it was to be a family and a friend. He was proud to have joined our family, instilling qualities in all of us that we will all cherish. He enjoyed the simple things in life, such as opening presents, puzzles, and yard projects. Island Boy at heart, and craftsman, Ritchie struggled internally with an illness that none of us could see, and we lost him Feb 2017. This charity will be ongoing until there is a cure.
Bryce Borgel, Project Coordinator, Ledcor
Team Cinnamon & Oak
Taylor Smith, pre-con & estimating manager at Tahltan Nation Development Corporation, is continuing his long tradition of organizing friends for Movember fundraising with Team Cinnamon & Oak. Many members have been directly impacted my suicide, cancer and other men’s health issues during the 15 years they have been fundraising.
Each year, Movember becomes more and more personal, and the mission to stop men dying too young gains additional meaning. Just over 2 years ago, my dad was diagnosed and passed away from cancer in a less than 4 month span. I have an uncle who is living with cancer. I have friends, family, and coworkers who have been impacted by prostate and testicular cancer. I’ve worked with and been friends with people who have lost their lives to suicide. Too many lives lost far too soon.
Taylor Smith, Pre-Con & Estimating Manager, Tahltan Nation Development Corporation
Hall Constructors
Hall Constructors, part of the Hall Group of Companies, has come out the gate swinging. Their team has already raised more than $5,000 for men’s health issues. Hall is also helping build the Cowichan Hospital in Duncan, B.C. which is another win for men’s health.
My motivation for raising funds for Prostate Cancer is my Father. He lost his battle with prostate cancer in 2019 when the cancer spread from his prostate to the rest of his body. He was pivotal in my life, and I miss him every day. Globally, more than 1.4 million men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year. Movember is working to reduce the number of deaths from prostate cancer, and I want to help them get there. Help me stop men dying too young.
Ford Chamberlain, Project Manager, Axiom Builders
Graham Construction
Graham’s bearded employees in Winnipeg gathered in the cold earlier this month to reset their beards for Movember. They plan to grow fresh facial hair for the cause and move 60 km for the 60 men who are lost to suicide each year globally. The various Graham teams will be documenting their weekly beard moustache progress to see who can grow theirs the quickest. Which office will take the win?
Pitt Meadows Plumbing & Mechanical
The Pitt Meadows team is in its fourth year raising money for Movember. The company is challenging all its employees team to raise funds during the month of November that will be donated to a charity focused on men’s health. The company noted that men’s health issues are particularly important as approximately 85% of its workforce is male. All donations up to $10,000 will be matched by the company. From 2020 to 2022, the team was able to raise over $72,000.
My Motivation this Movember is my Nephews Kayden and Kohyn. I want them to grow up in a world where men don’t feel uncomfortable talking about their feelings or their health. Where it’s braver to be honest about how you are doing as opposed to hiding it to seem stronger. I love these boys so much and want them to always have the resources for help readily available.
Things are getting fuzzy for Multiplex’s Canadian operations. Terry Olynyk, president and managing director of Canada for the company, announced that the group’s Movember campaign is in full swing. Established in Australia in 1962, Multiplex has delivered more than 1,100 projects with a combined value in excess of US$100 billion.
Fort Modular
Fort Modular is continuing its support of Movember with its own unique fundraiser. In addition to traditional fundraising, the portable building manufacturer has special Movember branded units for rent that support the cause.
JEN-COL Construction
JEN-COL is holding it down in Alberta for Movember. The commercial construction company specializes in building schools and critical public facilities. Support their team here.
To me Movember is a time to remember the men we’ve lost along the way. The men that have struggled with cancer and the terrible affect it has on us physically and mentally. We sometimes forget that it’s ‘OK not to be OK’.
George Legault, IT Manager, JEN-COL Construction
PCL
It’s no surprise that PCL, one of the country’s largest general contractors, is getting in on Movember fundraising efforts. The company, with teams across the nation, has already raised nearly $10,000 but they are looking to raise $50,000 by the end of the month.
My father beat prostate cancer last year. Luckily, we caught it early enough to take action. Unfortunately, in generations before our family wasn’t so lucky. Prostate cancer runs in our family, and I feel the need to encourage my fellow brothers out there to get checked early. We need to break the stigma behind Men’s Health and take action.
Steven Webber, HSE Coordinator at PCL Industrial Management
Vanessa Werden is a partner at construction law firm Jenkins Marzban Logan LLP. Named one of the Top 40 Under 40 in Canadian Construction in 2020, she is licensed to practice in B.C., Alberta, the Northwest Territories, and Ontario. Earlier this year she was ranked by Lexpert as one of two “Leadings Lawyers to Watch” in Construction Law in BC, and one of five “Lawyers to Watch” in Infrastructure Law in Canada.
Whether a small residential development or a complex infrastructure upgrade, many factors contribute to the overall success of a construction project: relationships, weather, site conditions, labour productivity, availability of materials, and cost escalation – to name a few. One of the most challenging phases of embarking on a new project is negotiating risk allocation in the contract. Consider the following strategies to put your project team in a better position to anticipate and manage risk allocation at the outset and throughout project delivery.
Proactively negotiate the contract
Disputes arise, and are often protracted, as a result of inconsistencies and gaps between the intentions of one or more project participants. While it may be tempting to accept a contract as presented, there is often an opportunity to negotiate and make changes. A project team can be well positioned for the successful management and execution of a project when the contract documents have been carefully reviewed and negotiated prior to entering into the contract. A large part of dispute prevention is setting expectations at the outset of the relationship.
Review each contract and its supplementary conditions with a view to your risk tolerance. Consider the willingness of the other party to consider amendments and approach contract negotiations with a list of priorities, much like you would a Christmas wish-list. Even if only a few of the most burdensome provisions are struck or modified, you will be in a better position to protect your bottom line.
Drafting and re-use of old forms of supplementary conditions are often problematic. Terms that modify standard form contracts are often rife with inconsistent language, provisions that conflict with the delivery model set up by the standard form, and wholesale reallocations of risk. Review proposed supplementary conditions with an eye for provisions that:
Limit or preemptively waive claims, and in particular claims for delays, changes, site conditions, and toxic or hazardous substances;
Unreasonably shorten notice periods;
Impose obligations that are inconsistent with standard form contract terms; or
Reallocate risk for design errors to a party that had no role in the preparation of the design.
Training and legal education
Many industry associations offer courses, and conferences often have a legal education component. Take advantage of these continuing education opportunities. Having an understanding of fundamentals such as key terms, how to read supplementary conditions, the importance of contractual notice requirements, change order processes, and dispute resolution procedures can make your team more confident, prepared, and effective when issues inevitably arise under the pressures of schedule and budget constraints.
Read the contract – and keep it handy
Do not let the contract collect dust. On projects of lengthy duration, the project management team should review the contract at regular intervals. The contract should serve as the primary resource to determine rights, obligations, and process concerning payment, changes, extras, schedule, and claims.
While the contract often holds the answers in terms of legal liability and primary obligations, consider creating internal policies or protocols for specific situations so that the project team understands the precise steps to follow to preserve contractual entitlements and comply with obligations. These may include:
Creation of notice letter templates;
Assigning responsibilities to specific team members for considering potential claims;
Diarizing time limits and notice periods that reflect the contract terms;
Creating and updating your project accounting system to include event or condition-related cost codes; and
Keeping a real-time journal of events.
Implement document management policies – and follow them
Construction disputes are inherently document-intensive. The rights and interests protected by the contract terms are often only as effective as the contemporaneous documents available to support them. Project records are necessary to establish time and cost-related claims. Baseline and updated schedules, weekly look-ahead and other planning documents are critical to delay claims. Timesheets, labour and equipment invoices, and other cost records are critical to cost overruns, extras and change order disputes. At the outset of each project – and as the project evolves – ask the following questions:
What documents do we need to generate on this project?
Who is responsible for generating, tracking, organizing, and preserving the documents?
What systems or software will the responsible personnel use for document management?
Comprehensive and consistent document management practices can sometimes expedite dispute resolution processes, and most importantly, place a party in the best positon possible to advance or defend a claim. If it becomes necessary to engage a lawyer, these practices will also help limit legal fees to locate and reorganize tens of thousands to millions of project records. It is far more cost effective to create and maintain a system to organize contemporaneous documentation.
Be ready to adapt as the project and potential claims evolve. Do you need to establish a different coding system to track an ongoing impact? Do you need daily photographs to document the discovery of a geotechnical site condition? Do the superintendents need to create a separate daily report specific to a disputed change? Should you update a particular item at weekly site meetings?
Be mindful of the notice and dispute resolution provisions in the contract
Construction contracts often require strict compliance with dispute resolution steps on short timelines, including notice in writing within a fixed period of time, in a specific form, delivered to a specific person or place. Construction contracts often contain strict mandatory steps – in other words, non-compliance may be a bar to recovery. While you may be able to put together an argument that the other party had substantive notice, the best approach is strict adherence to contractual notice provisions so that you can avoid adding the unnecessary layer of non-compliance to a dispute. Consider diarizing deadlines and creating checklists to make the procedures more intuitive for the project team.
When in doubt, send a letter
A well-drafted and thoughtfully considered contract can go a long way to early resolution of disputes, or prevent disputes altogether. Regardless of the project records generated and the relationship between the parties, never assume that the parties have agreed to waive a contractual requirement for formal notice. Protect your interests and preserve claims by committing the details to contemporaneous correspondence that complies with the contractual requirements.
Quebec plans to pay students training in critical trades $750 per week to get a professional studies certificate.
Officials noted that province is short about 6,500 construction workers.
The province hopes the funds will help training 4,000 to 5,000 new tradespeople.
The Whole Story:
Quebec wants to fast-track construction careers by paying aspiring tradespeople to get training.
Premier François Legault announced the province’s new plan to train 4,000 to 5,000 new carpenters, excavator operators, heavy machinery operators, refrigeration technicians and tinsmiths.
Legault told reporters that this will be supported by accelerated training programs where students in those trades will receive $750 per week to obtain a professional studies certificate.
Those who enrol could be eligible for scholarships of between $9,000 to $15,000 upon graduation.
Legault said the program is important as the province is short about 6,500 construction workers.
The announcement was celebrated by the Association de la construction du Québec (ACQ)
“For the ACQ, being able to count on a well-trained workforce in the construction sector is fundamental to building the Quebec of tomorrow,” said the group. “In this sense, the training announced will allow, among other things, those wishing to redirect their career towards the construction sector to realize this dream while being paid. This initiative highlights the Quebec government’s commitment to promoting the growth of the construction industry while offering new professional opportunities to workers.”
The program is expected to cost roughly $300 million.
Key Takeaways:
The report asks city officials to increase the total housing target to 65,000 new rent-controlled homes by 2030.
The city predicts that meeting those goals would cost between $28.6 billion and $31.5 billion across the next seven years and requires contributions from all levels of government.
The report recommends 22 actions for the city, as well as the federal and provincial governments to address the affordable housing crisis.
The plan will be put in front of the city’s Executive Committee next week (Oct. 31) in front City Council next month.
The Whole Story:
The city of Toronto has released a $30-billion plan to address the region’s affordable housing crisis.
The report responds to the City Council’s direction to develop a plan to approve 25,000 new rent-controlled homes in addition to what was already planned, thereby increasing the city’s total housing target to 65,000 new rent-controlled homes by 2030.
Of the overall 65,000 new rent-controlled homes target, funding has already been secured to deliver 4,455 homes. The estimated cost to deliver the remaining 60,545 homes is between $28.6 billion and $31.5 billion across the next seven years and requires contributions from all orders of government.
“We urgently need to build more affordable housing faster, so people in our city can find a home they can afford,” said Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow. “That’s why we’re leading a generational shift in both how we deliver housing and the type of housing we’re going to build. We’re coordinating all City divisions to pull in one direction – building housing faster – and we’re setting new priorities to build rent-geared-to-income and not-for-profit housing.”
The report will be considered by the City’s Executive Committee on Tuesday, Oct. 31 and by City Council at its meeting from Wednesday, Nov. 8 to Friday, Nov. 10.
The report describes how Toronto’s housing system could be strengthened with a higher degree of coordination among city divisions, agencies and corporations, as well as other orders of government and the not-for-profit, co-op and private sectors. The report also recommends an increased role for the city in the direct delivery of housing with staff to explore a city-led development model at five “housing ready” sites.
The actions in the report are focused on increasing the supply of non-market homes (homes owned by the public, not-for-profit and co-op sectors), protecting existing rental homes and supporting renters. Key actions include:
Accelerating the development review and approval of new homes.
Working with the federal and provincial governments to increase access to funding and low-cost financing to move projects from approval into construction.
Establishing a more robust role for governments in both delivering and supporting the delivery of new homes.
Developing new and sustainable funding models.
The report recommends 22 actions for the city, as well as the federal and provincial governments, including:
Dedicating more city-owned land to create new affordable homes.
Accelerating the delivery of “housing ready” projects on City and not-for-profit owned land.
Streamlining and optimizing people, processes and technology to expedite approvals and housing delivery.
Developing new and sustainable funding models to expand the delivery of affordable and RGI homes within mixed-income and sustainable communities.
Supporting the not-for-profit and co-op housing sectors.
The report proposes increases to the city’s previous HousingTO Plan target of approving 40,000 affordable rental homes by 2030. The combined new target is now 65,000 rent-controlled homes including a minimum of 41,000 affordable rental, 6,500 RGI homes and 17,500 rent-controlled market homes.
The report also recommends that on a go-forward basis, all new affordable homes meet the city’s income-based definition of affordable housing.
To deliver all the homes, officials expect between $28.6 billion and $31.5 billion in funding must be secured in the next seven years. The city expects this will require contributions from all levels of government. The report includes estimates that each government stakeholder will need to deliver between $500 million and $800 million in funding per year, in addition to repayable financing.
Shaun Fantauzzo has been named vice president of policy and major projects for First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC). Based in Toronto, he will steer FNMPC’s policy objectives and play a key role in advancing Indigenous opportunities for economic and equity participation in major projects. Fantauzzo spent nearly a decade in progressively senior positions in the federal government, notably at the Finance Canada and Natural Resources Canada.
Dan Mott, president of Mott Electric, has been inducted into the Electrical Contractors Association of BC’s Hall of Fame. Dan’s grandfather William founded Mott Electric in 1930 and passed the company to his son, Don who ran it before Dan took over from his father in 1986.
Mott Electric president Dan Mott is honoured by the Electrical Contractors Association of BC. – ECABC
Dave S. Dulay, vice president of project delivery (major projects) and alternative project delivery at McElhanney, has been selected as the new chair of Transportation Association of Canada (TAC’s) Geometric Design Revisions and Additions Subcommittee. The group supports TAC’s Geometric Design Committee in developing and improving Canada’s geometric design guidelines to enhance road operations and public safety while considering environmental, social, and economic impacts.
Jennifer Campeau is Aecon’s new vice president of indigenous relations. Campeau is a member of the Anishinaabe from Yellowquill First Nation with kinship ties to the Eastern Region III Metis Nation of Saskatchewan. With over 20 years of Indigenous policy experience, she will oversee and evolve Aecon’s Indigenous Relations activities – driving Aecon’s Indigenous partnerships and organizational actions supporting its Reconciliation Action Plan.
Barbara James, whose ancestral name is Ma̲lidzas, has been awarded the Outstanding Student Leadership Award by the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). The Red Seal carpenter and BCIT faculty member has taught high-performance building to students and trainers alike for the BCIT School of Construction and the Environment, participated in instructional videos with Nuxalk youth at BCIT, and was involved in the Building a Greener Future Together pilot project with the Institute.
Of Barbara’s many successes, she is most excited to return to her hometown of Port Hardy, B.C. to use her skills to help the Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nation—from which she descends—rebuild the nation’s Big House, where traditional Indigenous ceremonies such as potlatches are held.
– BCIT
Mathew Raso has been hired as senior vice president of roads at Infrastructure Ontario. Raso, a design and construction expert, has over 16 years of experience in the industry and a civil engineering degree. His last position was lead project manager for Green Infrastructure Partners.
Jacob Bros has announced three additions to its executive team. Matt Buechler has been promoted to vice president of pre-construction services, Tony McCadden is now director of Major projects, and Todd Strynadka has been named vice president of JT Ready Mix & manager of technical services.
Jacob Bros crew prepares for demobilization at the Woodfibre LNG project site in Squamish, B.C. – Jacob Bros.
Borja Franco is ACCIONA’s new head of business development for ACCIONA Concessions in North America after spending a decade in Australia. With over 14 years’ experience at ACCIONA in the origination, development, and financing of major infrastructure and PPP projects, Franco has been responsible for managing multiple consortium stakeholders including consortium partners, subcontractors, investors and lenders throughout the procurement phase of large infrastructure projects.
Dan Valin has joined the Cement Association of Canada as its new director of communications and marketing. Prior to joining the association, Valin was a senior account director for Alphabet.
Darcy Kray has decided to retire from his role as president of Durwest Construction Management after 40 years in the industry. Kray co-founded the company in 1983. Zoe Mitchell is Durwest incoming president, effective this month. A CPA by trade, Mitchell recently spent six years as the president of CCH Management Group of companies.
We are immensely grateful for Darcy’s dedication and leadership. He is an expert in his field and his vision, passion, and unwavering commitment to delivering quality work has been instrumental in shaping Durwest’s legacy.
Tammy Amstutz is joining the Calgary Construction Association team as director of workforce strategies. Prior to the announcement, Amstutz was working as chief people officer at ThinkTech Software Inc. where she played a pivotal role in the company’s rapid expansion over the last year. The association stated that part of her focus will be on helping address construction labour shortages and recruit more people into the industry.
Monte McNaughton has joined Woodbine Entertainment as their new vice president. McNaughton recently left a 15-year career in politics, notably as Ontario’s minister of labour, immigration, training and skills development. Woodbine operates like a not-for-profit organization with the sole mandate of sustaining and growing horse racing in the province.
This year’s Top 40 Under 40 in Canadian Construction didn’t just showcase some of most accomplished young leaders in the industry. It highlighted some of the incredible women who are helping build some of the country’s largest projects. In fact, 25% of the whole list was women — even more than last year’s list.
As an industry, construction has long sought to increase diversity. According to the latest data from BuildForce Canada, the entire Canadian construction industry includes 12.8% women. To celebrate Women’s History Month we wanted to introduce you to all the female leaders who made the 40 Under 40 List.
Allison Hurley first joined EllisDon as a co-op student in 2010 and has worked her way up by excelling in several positions requiring multidisciplinary leadership, including project coordinator, bid manager, and business development manager. She has been instrumental in a series of successes for EllisDon, from building the company’s reputation in the B.C. market to shepherding successful bids for a wide variety of big-ticket civil projects in Ontario and Quebec. Her educational background is equally diverse. Having earned an honours degree in applied bio-molecular science from Lakehead University and an MBA from Vancouver Island University, and increased her industry knowledge with construction related courses. Hurley also finds time for mentoring, volunteering, contributing to industry groups, and sharing knowledge on new contracting models.
Annik Forristal
Equity Partner and Co-Group Head, National Infrastructure and Construction Group at McMillan LLP
Annik Forristal was an engineer before she became a lawyer, giving her unique perspectives for construction clients. Her clients include Rogers Stadium Limited Partnership (renovation of Rogers Centre) and The Hospital for Sick Children (including its Project Horizon campus redevelopment). Forristal also worked with the Ontario Association of Architects to update their standard form contracts. Recognized by multiple organizations as one of Canada’s leading construction and infrastructure lawyers, she also received McMillan’s in-house Leadership in Mentoring Award.
As a lawyer with Singleton Urquhart Reynolds Vogel LLP in Toronto, Labiris has been using her legal talent to assist some of the country’s largest construction projects. She has been involved in several successful, nine-figure settlement negotiations, and co-led the negotiation and settlement process in relation to resolving over 100 discrete claims totaling over $1 billion. She is also part of Canadian legal history with her involvement in the first-ever COVID-19 application in North America. With Labiris’ assistance, Singleton Reynolds was successful in overturning the contractor’s successful COVID-19 application at the Ontario Court of Appeal, which involved the declaration that COVID-19 was an emergency, and that the owner directed the contractor to perform additional and overriding procedures.
Earlier this year, Laura Samson made history by becoming the first female director of infrastructure under 40 at The Calgary Airport Authority. Her journey at YYC began in 2013 as a project coordinator. Alongside her team, she spearheads terminal construction, airside construction and tenant development at both the YYC and YBW airports. This year her team is leading the delivery of 35 capital and 182 tenant projects. This includes the rehabilitation of Canada’s second longest runway, YYC’s West Runway, a $201 million, five-year project from design to completion. Through these projects, Samson’s commitment to sustainability has led to the implementation of sustainable construction practices and pursuit of cutting-edge technologies.
Lauren Cooper has taken on many challenging projects during her 11 years in the construction industry. Starting with project managing a 10-million-dollar facility at the Calgary Airport as a student intern, she has overcome everything from COVID-induced delays to poor site conditions to deliver for clients. Taking on increasingly challenging and larger projects, she is now working on a unique multi-hundred-million-dollar tower in downtown Kelowna, B.C. as one of Ledcor’s youngest senior project managers. Outside the job site, Cooper keeps busy organizing and supporting many communities through charity fundraising events.
With over 17 years of experience in the construction industry, Lesley Whitten has an impressive track record that includes leading project management, field operations, engineering and construction on multimillion-dollar grain handling, fertilizer and processing facilities in Western Canada. Whitten brings a passion for construction execution as she leads the operations for all of Todd & Sargent in Canada, a key and critical player in agricultural industrial construction. Whitten is passionate about the connection between the field staff and the office staff, believing that the key to a successful project is having close connections between the two. Her leadership skills are not only based on experience, but her ability to influence people around her to develop their own soft skills including intuition, conflict management, negotiation and relationship building with the consistent goal of achieving win-win outcomes.
Maraika De Groot excels at many things, but perhaps her greatest skill is getting other people to do the same. In addition to leading safety services and project delivery accounts for several clients, she hired 60% of Maven’s workforce in just three years, and her efforts to develop its corporate culture have resulted in multiple “Best Place to Work” awards. She began her career as a geological engineer and has business operations experience in various industries including academia and finance. All of these elements have made her a well-rounded leader with a penchant for recruiting quality applicants, then helping them to fully harness their talents. In addition to her engineering degree, De Groot also holds a masters in management, innovation and entrepreneurship, and her industry and volunteering credits are too numerous to list.
Sarah Haque
Senior Manager, Talent Development & Total Rewards at FLINT Corp.
Joining FLINT in 2013 as a recruitment administrator and quickly growing into a management position, Sarah Haque is a trailblazing human resources professional whose acumen and leadership have helped FLINT successfully navigate a series of high-profile advancements fostering the company’s growth. Haque led the integration of more than 700 new personnel during company acquisitions and has made a tangible impact on retention of certain trade positions by pioneering an apprenticeship program with targeted incentives. Sarah’s influence expanded through the introduction of a company-wide competency framework to improve staff development and implementing efficiencies in the human resources function through the enterprise system. Through Haque’s success in delivering on initiatives to support FLINT’s objectives, she is engaged by all levels of the company for input into strategic objectives.
Sharelle Dayco embarked on her professional journey as an educator but has since dedicated the past 18 years to the world of construction. Her pivotal role at Novacom has been to develop a highly skilled team while fostering a people-centric culture, something that the company says has been instrumental in driving its success and creating a thriving work environment. Beyond her professional achievements, Dayco’s unwavering commitment extends to philanthropic endeavours. She contributes her time and effort to Women in Construction events, building homes in El Salvador, and lending her support to initiatives addressing housing challenges in Canada. Dayco is a strong advocate for fair and equitable hiring practices, particularly in championing the cause of underrepresented groups in the workforce.
It would be impressive enough if Tamara Gavrilenko simply found success in a project management position at EllisDon where she assisted with applying prefabrication methods to long-term care projects. Instead, she has gone much further, founding and running TGV Construction Group Inc. Over the years she has worked to grow her business into a multi-million-dollar company, expanding it from a focus on emergency restoration to offering general contracting services. She also uses her business to benefit the community, and strongly advocates for underrepresented groups in the construction sector.
Editor’s note: See the full list of 40 Under 40 winners here.
Construction workers on B.C. job sites will soon be getting upgraded bathrooms.
Premier David Eby announced his government will be bringing in a legal requirement for flush toilets on all construction sites with 25 workers or more.
The move comes after years of pressure from groups like the BC Building Trades.
“The ability to go to a clean bathroom with a flushing toilet is a basic requirement for a decent job site,” said Eby. “Thank you to the [BC Building Trades] for their advocacy on this issue. Current conditions are unacceptable and we will take action on that.”
I’ve been at a lot of jobs where the washrooms are so bad that you just have to hold it. Being forced to use porta-potties is degrading and dehumanizing.
Peter White, ironworker
The union group published its first report on job site bathroom sanitary conditions in 2021. It examined the existing approaches used by employers in providing washrooms to workers on B.C. construction sites, and the governing regulatory framework under the Workers Compensation Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation (OHSR) together with the related guidelines.
Following the report, WorkSafeBC conducted a washroom facility inspection initiative. Additionally, WorkSafeBC has issued an updated guideline on construction site washroom facilities pertaining to maintenance.
“Enough is enough. Nearly every other industry from film to events and tourism has found a way to bring clean, flushing toilet facilities to mobile sites,” said Brynn Bourke, BC Building Trades executive director, just days before the announcement. “Construction workers deserve flush toilets now.”
Job site bathrooms have been a major issue in other provinces as well.
In 2015, Quebec passed an amendment to the Construction Code, addressing the requirement for flushed toilets for construction sites where there are or will be more that 25 workers. The Code also includes specifications covering the following: one toilet for every 30 workers, portable washrooms will only be used where flushed toilets cannot be connected to a water or sewer system, they must be within 500 feet of the worksite and have specific levels of maintenance, lighting, location, temperature, ventilation, supplies and general cleanliness.
Porta-potties make you feel like a second-class citizen. Office workers wouldn’t accept these kinds of conditions.
Matt Baron, electrician
According to the BC Building trades, in practice, contractors use toilet trailers or single units where connection to the sewer system is not possible. Both options allow users to activate a flushing system with a foot pedal. They also provide for hand washing stations in the unit and overhead lighting. Many include heating as well.
In 2022, the Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario passed a resolution calling for a Canada-wide washroom improvement program. In response, the province embarked on a bathroom inspection blitz at more than 1,800 locations that uncovered 244 violations.
Ontario introduced the following requirements that went into effect this summer:
Doubling the number of washrooms on construction sites
At least one female-only bathroom
Adequate lighting stipulations
Hand sanitizer where there is no running water
Single toilets to be completely enclosed
Repair for urinals and facilities, including additional sinks
This year’s best and brightest young construction leaders have been announced for the Top 40 Under 40 in Canadian Construction, now in its fourth year.
The annual list is a collaboration between On-Site Magazine, a publication that covers Canada’s construction sector and SitePartners, a marketing firm that specializes in industrial clients. The winners were chosen by a panel of judges based on professional achievements, innovation, leadership and community involvement.
This year’s list featured professionals from companies like PCL Construction, Kiewit, EllisDon, Pomerleau, Aecon Group, Graham, Deloitte and more. The winners included lawyers, human resource experts, engineers, project managers, supervisors, contract specialists, entrepreneurs, apprenticeship trainers and others.
We are so proud of the men and women who are becoming the next generation of construction leaders. They represent some of the incredible opportunities this industry has to offer and we want to make sure that their achievements don’t go unnoticed.
Andrew Hansen, CEO and Founder of SitePartners
Russell Hixson, editor of SiteNews, assisted in judging the competition. He noted that it was encouraging to see diversity not only in the career paths of applicants, but in their backgrounds as well.
“Construction is for everyone,” said Hixson. “It was amazing to see so many women, immigrants and other diverse professionals reaching some of the highest levels in their respective fields. I hope that this inspires other underrepresented groups to consider a career in the industry.”
