Canada is facing a major shortage of construction leaders that is forecast to only get worse.
The ICBA’s Construction Leadership Program was created to begin training workers that are on track for leadership roles.
The program was designed to be flexible, allowing students to work at their own pace and take courses online or in person.
The Whole Story:
Skilled construction leaders don’t just walk onto the jobsite or the office. They are built by years of hard work, mentorship and experience.
But with many older workers retiring, Western Canada is facing an unprecedented deficit of these leaders.
To address this, the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association (ICBA) is offering construction companies a streamlined, a modern solution to train up the next generation: the ICBA Construction Leadership Certificate Program
“There’s a shortage of workers across our entire economy and it’s being acutely felt in construction,” said Chris Gardner, ICBA president.
He noted that without immigration, B.C.’s population is shrinking. 2022 was the first year the death rate outpaced the birth rate. In construction, you have about 250,000 men and women working in B.C. and the work they do is roughly 10% of the province’s GDP. Across the whole country, the industry is seeing roughly 60,000 to 80,000 job vacancies. But that’s just part of the challenge. The existing construction workforce is aging; roughly 20% of construction professionals are 55 or older.
“Retirement age is 60 so in the next five years we could have 20% of the workforce retired,” said Gardner. “Combine that with the shortage of workers and you have a dual challenge that’s putting significant pressure on construction.”
In B.C. and Alberta alone it’s expected that around 100,000 construction professionals will retire within the next five years.
Finding workers
Gardner explained that the issue can be addressed in three main ways: immigration, technology and training.
While Canada’s population is growing through record numbers of immigrants, students, refugees and temporary foreign workers, only a fraction are entering the construction sector.
“When you look at it from an economic and labour force perspective, government is not doing a good job at matching skills gaps with the economy,” said Gardner.
On technology, Gardner believes that while construction could adopt it faster and become more efficient at how it builds, it unfairly gets a bad rap for being unsophisticated and slow.
“In reality, we are probably in the middle of the pack as we perform better than entertainment, education, food services and others who have not been as quick to adopt technology as we have,” he said. “Despite that, we can do a better job.”
The final piece is education. But even when workers want to improve their skills, it’s a struggle. Gardner noted that while it should take someone 4 years on average to get their Red Seal, in B.C., it often takes 8 to 10. Training spaces often have long wait lists, and many of the training providers are located in the Lower Mainland, making it challenging for those in other parts of the province.
Streamlining education
After the issue was raised by ICBA members, the association worked with them to develop the ICBA Construction Leadership Certificate Program. The program offers specialized streams to train Project Estimators, Site Supervisors, and Project Managers so companies can get up-and-coming employees the skills they need for leadership roles.
The program is tailored for today’s busy construction professionals familiar with digital tools. Students can advance at their own pace and complete the programs online or in person. If time allows, they can be completed in as quickly as six months, or busy students can space things out over several years.
Participants start with 11 core courses relevant to all streams, and then complete the courses tailored specifically for their career path. The program uses Gold Seal and/or BC Housing-approved course offerings that the construction industry has endorsed.
“A lot of the content and focus was the result of dialogue with construction professionals. We asked them what they are experiencing in their business. And when they think about preparing the company for leadership transition, what skills younger workers will need to assume higher levels of responsibility and leadership,” said Gardner. “We then worked with program and curriculum specialists to make sure these people come out with the practical skills they need to succeed.”
To get started, participants just have to provide a letter of approval from their ICBA employer and begin the program any time. ICBA members get discounted rates. Courses are pay-as-you-go, scheduled several times a year and the ICBA accepts program applications year-round.
Creating well-rounded leaders
Gardner explained that the program is perfect for someone in their 20s or 30s who managers believe has leadership potential.
“When they get to their late 30s or 40s and the time comes for them to take on more responsibility, they not only have the practical experience, but they can have training that fills in the gaps,” said Gardner.
He explained that many workers are great with the technical aspects of construction, but the training program can give them other skills that are needed for managing teams, communicating effectively, addressing someone’s mental health struggles, and more.
“There’s a whole host of soft skills this training involves to help you lead a team, as we know to be an effective leader, you need to understand how to support that team. This is guided by technical expertise and is underpinned by some of those soft skills to ensure well-rounded, capable leadership.”
Learn more about the program and apply for your spot here.
Diversity is a strength when it comes to design and these architects are adding much-needed insight into Canada’s built environment. Many of them have cited nature as a major inspiration for their work as well as Indigenous culture. It’s also worth noting that many of these designers have achieved firsts in their field for Indigenous people and are using their skills to design purpose-built projects for Indigenous communities. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but merely an overview of the impact Indigenous architects are having on the country’s spaces.
Douglas Cardinal
St. Mary’s Parish in Alberta was one of Cardinal’s first projects. – Douglas Cardinal Architect
Calgary-born Douglas Cardinal, who has Blackfoot ancestry, has become a forerunner of philosophies of sustainability, green buildings and ecologically designed community planning. His architecture springs from his observation of Nature and its understanding that everything works seamlessly together. Cardinal’s has countless professional achievements including 20 honorary doctorates, Gold Medals of architecture in Canada and Russia, and an award from United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural organization (UNESCO) for best sustainable village. He was also titled an Officer of the Order of Canada and was awarded the declaration of being “World Master of Contemporary Architecture” by the International Association of Architects.
David Fortin
Fortin worked with Central Urban Métis Federation Incorporated on the Round Prairie Elders’ Lodge in Saskatoon. – David T Fortin Architect
David Fortin of David T Fortin Architect has been on a journey to rediscover traditional Métis architecture. He spent years investigating architecture in the Prairies to uncover what the lives of Métis people were like and how their culture informed the design of their buildings. He is the first Indigenous person to direct a school of architecture in Canada, and was co-curator, with Gerald McMaster, of “UNCEDED: Voices of the Land”, Canada’s official entry to the Venice Biennale in 2018.
Alfred Waugh
Wuagh is currently working on the Indigenous House at the University of Toronto, Scarborough campus. – Formline Architecture
Chipewyan architect Alfred Waugh is the president and founder of Formline Architecture. He and his firm specialize in culturally and environmentally sensitive projects and has extensive experience with First Nations, cultural societies, and educational institutions. Born and raised in Yellowknife, N.W.T, he was the first Aboriginal person to graduate with honours from University of British Columbia’s School of Architecture in 1993 and become LEED certified and a registered architect.
Eladia Smoke, founder of Smoke Architecture, is Anishinaabekwe from the Lac Seul First Nation. She has served on the RAIC’s Indigenous Task Force since its inception, 2015, and is on the UNCEDED international team of Indigenous designers and architects. Her firm focuses on First Nations and Indigenous projects. Most recently, Smoke and her team have been working on a mass-timber, zero-carbon, $112-million addition at Centennial College. The facility will feature a button-activated smudging system that allows for Indigenous people to more easily do traditional smudging traditions.
Brian Porter
Porter and his team are currently working on the Awitgati Longhouse and Cultural Centre in Frederickton, N.B. – Two Row Architect
Brian Porter of the Oneida Nation the the principal for Two Row Architect has told reporters that his goal is to incorporate Indigenous values into his designs. Two Row is named after the Two Row Wampum belt, which signifies a centuries-old agreement between settlers and Indigenous peoples. Since its inception in 1992, the firm has focused on providing services to projects for Indigenous clients as well as those that incorporate Indigenous cultural ideologies and teachings which are manifested in architectural form.
Wanda Dalla Costa
Chippewa of the Thames First Nation Heritage Hub in Ontario was designed by Tawaw, an architecture collective Dalla Costa helps run. – Tawaw
Wanda Dalla Costa, a member of the Saddle Lake First Nation, was the first First Nations woman in Canada to become a registered architect. She has spent nearly 20 years working with Indigenous communities and her company, Redquill Architecture, is based in Phoenix, Arizona. Dalla Costa currently serves as the Visiting Eminent Scholar at the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment at Arizona State University.
Patrick Stewart
Nisga’a architect Patrick Stewart was the first Aboriginal president of an Architectural Association in Canada, the first Aboriginal architect to become the president of the Architectural Institute of BC and the first Aboriginal person in the province to own and operate an architectural firm. He is the founding principal of Patrick R. Stewart Architect (PRSA), a full-service architectural firm, with a First Nations community development focus.
Key Takeaways:
Engineer Eric Wilson says engineering education needs to be expanded beyond just solving technical problems.
He believes issues like housing and climate change are too complex and have so many stakeholders that they require a different method of problem solving.
Currently he is working with a nonprofit and an engineering firm to apply a ‘systems thinking’ approach to First Nations housing projects.
The Whole Story:
In the 1970s, a bridge that served Vancouver Island First Nation was starting to deteriorate.
Government officials and engineers decided the ideal replacement for the creek would be two culverts as this allowed infrastructure to run through it.
First Nations people were not consulted and the unintended consequences were devastating. Water flow slowed, causing sediment to drop out early. This destroyed the gravel base at the mouth of the creek, ruining salmon spawning areas. Pollution flowed down the creek into the bay, killing off shellfish.
Not only did it hurt wildlife, it interfered with the traditions of the First Nation. While the bridge had allowed canoe access, the culverts blocked it, depriving First Nations people of a critical area for teenagers to receive intergenerational knowledge.
“From that one decision you had these cascading downstream effects that are still felt today,” said Eric Wilson, indigenous projects liaison with RJC Engineers and IPCA infrastructure and systems lead with IISAKK OLAM Foundation. “The culverts are still there and it demonstrates the need to understand context and people.”
Improving education
The culvert story was told to Wilson by an Indigenous leader. He believes it highlights the need to expand engineering education to include more holistic way of thinking about problem solving. Wilson says it’s an approach that is particularly important for engineers who work on projects in Indigenous communities.
Wilson had originally been studying engineering at the University of Victoria with a focus on energy performance but this shifted after taking design thinking classes aimed at business students.
He was taught about “systems thinking”, an approach that helps one navigate the intricacies of the world by focusing on complete systems and their interconnections, rather than breaking them into individual components.
He believes that many of the problems today’s engineers face, including housing, climate change, have many stakeholders with conflicting values. And implementing the wrong solution, even something small like the culverts, can have massive downstream impacts.
“One of the things I realized is that the engineering education that is most prevalent is the engineering science model,” he said. “It does a great job of teaching students how to do with the technical components but it is not a good job of dealing with the social aspects of these interconnected challenges.”
Combining engineering and the nonprofit sector
Wilson’s research and studies now focus on exploring collaborative, empathy-driven projects. He partnered with RJC Engineers and the IISAKK OLAM Foundation to apply the systems thinking approach to First Nations communities that are facing complex housing issues. The unique collaboration combines the engineering industry and the nonprofit sector so problems can be addressed in more holistic ways.
The team is currently working on a major project with a Vancouver Island First Nation that has faced flooding issues that have damaged homes. Rather than approaching it just as a technical problem, the team has been listening to the community about the causes of the flooding, how it has changed over the years and what other impacts it’s causing.
“Right from the start we wanted to go in with this empathy-driven approach,” said Wilson.
The team heard about how the watershed has changed, how logging might be contributing, how the health of residents was being impacted. They also heard a desire for capacity development for sustainable livelihoods. Now apprenticeship programs and watershed restoration are being explored in addition to homebuilding.
“We don’t pursue any avenue of the project without the approval of the Nation,” said Wilson. “We don’t pursue it unless it’s supported. We are there to support their housing goals and needs.”
Wilson praised RJC for integrating this approach into their practice and urged other firms to do the same. He noted that more and more RFPs, especially those from government, are now requiring firms to have a plan for working with and benefiting Indigenous communities.
“It is going to be challenging for organizations who aren’t doing this, but it’s much more than that. It’s just the right thing to do,” said Wilson. “The biggest positive is that it supports First Nations partners, their self determination and being a good ally in industry that answers the call from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.”
Key Takeaways:
The construction industry is increasingly embracing technology, moving from digitizing workflows to adopting tools that fundamentally change the nature of work.
While there is a need for flexibility and adaptation to remote work, maintaining in-person collaboration is crucial for innovation in the construction industry.
As companies grow, maintaining a culture of innovation and involving employees in decision-making becomes increasingly important.
The Whole Story:
The Canadian construction sector’s most cutting edge companies were celebrated in downtown Vancouver last week with an evening of in-depth discussions, networking and awards.
More than 100 construction leaders gathered for the 25 Innovators in Construction Awards Celebration, hosted and organized by SiteNews.
Over 100 leaders from across Canada gathered at Earl’s in Yaletown, Vancouver.
SiteNews Co-Founder Andrew Hansen questioned some of the 25 Innovators In Construction award winners about their thoughts on the future of construction and some of the issues the industry faces.
The first panel, made up of large general contractors and specialized contractors, discussed the shift from merely digitizing workflows to adopting transformative technologies that fundamentally alter the nature of work. It included PCL, Chandos, ETRO Construction, and Pitt Meadows Plumbing and Mechanical Systems.
The speakers emphasized the significance of making jobs easier for individuals and fostering a culture of innovation that prioritizes collaboration and team dynamics.
“For us it was always about people. How do we make people’s jobs easier? How do we make our team’s jobs easier? How do we make it easier to collaborate as a group? And so that was the focus of innovation for us, and it continues to be our focus as we move forward,”
Mike Maierle, president of ETRO Construction.
Mike Maierle, president of ETRO Construction, takes part in the evening’s first panel
The concept of “standard work” was also highlighted as a cornerstone for innovation, establishing agreed-upon processes and encouraging continuous improvements.
“We do standard work so at the end of two weeks we have measured it, we know how long it takes, and now we are looking for a change to make it better,” said Steve Robinson, owner of Pitt Meadows Plumbing and Mechanical Systems. “And once you have encouraged young people to see what real change is and how they can be involved in it, the ideas that come from the floor are mind boggling.”
The speakers also expressed reservations about remote work, emphasizing the critical role of in-person collaboration for fostering innovation. The discussion explored the need to balance the benefits of remote work with the historical culture of on-site presence in the construction industry.
“You cannot get collaboration through a screen,” said Maierle. “However, we are company that is focused on families and we understand that there are things that happen. They have kids, they have lives, so you have to have some flexibility.”
Andrew Hansen (left) moderates the first panel with Mat Chrystian of Chandos Construction (middle) and Aaron Akehurst of PCL Construction (right).
The second panel focused on tech startups and more niche companies with a variety of focuses. It included Brickeye, Crewscope, SALUS and 505-Junk. Much of the discussion focused on how companies can attract and retain employees.
Calvin Benchimol, co-founder and CEO of Crewscope noted that companies need to think differently about how to motivate their workforce.
“Fear doesn’t work anymore,” he said. “We’re in a labor shortage world and it’s easier to find another job. Not sharing information with workers, that doesn’t fly either. We live in a technology age. We expect information to be really quick and accessible and transparent.”
He added that he believes there’s also a misalignment of incentives in the industry.
“Construction projects make money when they stay on schedule, but hourly workers get paid for the time they put in,” he said.
505-Junk Co-Founder Barry Hartman explained that his strategy has been to create skilled workers rather than go find them. He noted that there is no “university of junk” and his company is more interested in someone’s attitude than their resume.
“We’re not hiring really based on skill sets or experience,” he said. “We’re hiring based on people that want to join a fast growing company, an innovative company, and just trust that we have training processes in place to help them get to the next level.”
The event also marked nearly one year of launching SiteNews, a digital publication focused on equipping, educating and elevating the construction sector. The SiteNews team stated that they believe organizing the competition and the event reflected those goals and plan to build on that success going forward.
Event Photos
Wright Construction
Crews with Wright Construction are transforming Evergreen Crossing in Saskatoon into shopping centre.
CarbonCure
CarbonCure is supporting bee colonization at their headquarters in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.
Gerry Enns Contracting
Gerry Enns Contracting honours the Stó:lō Coast Salish peoples, specifically the Ch’íyáqtel First Nations.
Faber Construction
Faber Construction lifts pieces into place at the Duffner Ditch Fish Passage Project on the Guide in Lynden, B.C.
Aecon Group
More green nuclear power is on the way for Ontario. Aecon Group has successfully connected Bruce Power’s Unit 6 Ontario’s electricity grid on ahead of schedule. The life extension of each unit will add approximately 30 to 35 years of operational life.
Metric Civil Contractors
Crew carry out utility installs at the Kitselas Community Centre project site.
The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat
The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat is treated to a tour of The One, a 91-storey condominium, hotel, and retail tower by Mizrahi Developments.
DSM Excavating and Contraction
Sometimes the light hits the dirt perfectly. DSM Excavating and Contraction is moving earth at Guildford Town Centre in Surrey, B.C.
Jakes Construction
It never hurts to double check your plans. A Jakes Construction worker reviews documents at a job site.
Scott Construction
A seen dog is a safe dog. A pup wears a high visibility vest while visiting a Scott Construction Site.
Wilco Contractors Southwest
A worker makes saw cuts to create joints in concrete. This controls where potential cracks might occur, and encourage them to form in the cut rather than randomly in the sidewalk. This allows the concrete to contract while curing without damaging the surface.
The Shot of the Month goes to:
Kiewit
An excavator digs at the Raglan mine Nunavik in frigid weather as the Northern Lights dance above. The mine is in one of the world’s most important nickel sulphide deposits.
*Editors note: If you want your shots featured in the next edition of SiteViews, email hello@readsitenews.com
Ralph Burton, a project manager, has retired after spending 17 years working for Kinetic. Burton joined Kinetic in October of 2006 as the first office member of the North Island Branch. Since then, Ralph has been an integral part of the successful completion of numerous Kinetic projects.
Raly Chakarova has been named executive director of the Toronto and Area Road Builders Association (TARBA). In this role, Chakarova will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of TARBA’s operations, including industry advocacy, member services and collective bargaining.
“Raly’s results-oriented leadership, passion for critical infrastructure development, and understanding of the unique challenges facing our industry, make her an exceptional fit to represent the interests of our members and drive positive change within our sector. She is the ideal choice to lead TARBA into an exciting new era of growth and advocacy,”
Rick Logozzo, TARBA’s President and Chair of the Board
Monte McNaughton, Ontario’s minister of labour, has announced his retirement from politics. McNaughton’s four years as minister had a heavy focus on construction and the trades and he oversaw a 24% increase in trade apprenticeship registrations. McNaughton says he has accepted a role in the private sector.
Former Ontario Labour Minister Monte McNaughton meets with training group Hammer Heads. – Monte McNaughton / Twitter
Chris Smith and Harrison Glotman have been appointed principals at consulting engineering firm Glotman Simpson. The firm stated that with the pair’s leadership, enthusiasm, and expertise, they are confident in upholding the strong reputation and design excellence they have cultivated since 1964.
Christopher Walsh has joined Delnor Construction as a team leader and senior project manager. According to Delnor, Walsh’s experience as a manager of a special projects division will allow him to move seamlessly into a team leader role.
Pomerleau has announced three major hires for leadership roles: Jaime Freyre De Andrade as chief operating officer for major projects, Éric Gaudet as executive vice-president of operational excellence and strategy, and Vincent Martel, executive vice-president and chief financial officer. Pomerleau officials stated that the hires come as the company is entering a new chapter, which involves more complex projects and innovations.
Marsha Gentile, director of sustainability for Ledcor Construction, is one of two Canadians to be selected as members of the new US Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED v5 Design & Construction Consensus Committee after undergoing an extremely competitive application process. Gentile will be providing her expertise from a Canadian contractor’s perspective in the technical development of the next iteration of the LEED rating system. Ledcor official’s stated that since the company’s first LEED project in 2002, Gentile has been a leader in the sustainable building community, sharing her passion both in-house and industry-wide.
Christine Bergeron has been appointed president and CEO of Concert Properties. The developer stated that Bergeron brings more than 25 years’ experience building and leading financial firms where she guided their strategic development while fostering prudent risk management and thoughtful stakeholder relations. Bergeron was most recently the president and CEO of Vancity, Canada’s largest credit union with over $33 billion in assets under administration.
Rod Bianchini will be retiring from his role as chief strategy and compliance officer for SkilledTradesBC this December. Rod began his career as a roofing apprentice, transitioned through various roles over the years before joining SkilledTradesBC in 2013 as the Manager of Apprenticeships Advisors.
His kind manner, deep passion for apprenticeship and strong moral compass quickly shone through and those three qualities have never wavered during my time working alongside of Rod for over a decade.
Shelley Gray, CEO of SkilledTradesBC
Katie Prueter has joined Falkbuilt to oversee business development on Vancouver Island. Prueter has 10 years of interior design and project management experience. Falkbuilt stated that Prueter’s loves collaborating with clients and consultant teams to develop projects.
Reece McNaughton is Nomodic’s newest project manager. He brings nearly two decades of progressive construction experience to Nomodic’s team, having advanced through the industry as a foreman, site superintendent, project coordinator, and project manager.
Paul Garnier has been promoted to PCL’s operations manager in Calgary. Paul started his career at PCL in 2006 in Calgary as a project coordinator. His career took him to Halifax and Ottawa as a project manager, senior project manager and construction manager. One major project Garnier has been involved in is Ottawa’s historic Centre Block Rehabilitation Project
And if you are seeking a job, check out the full list of available positions.
It’s a job title that you rarely see, but Jeff Sample believes it is necessary. As an industry evangelist he promotes collaboration and the transformation of preconstruction to help project teams reach their potential.
We spoke with Sample about his unique position at Join, a collaborative project delivery platform, and how he transitioned from a more traditional tech career into the construction sector.
Be sure to catch Sample in Vancouver, B.C. for 2023 Independent Contractors and Businesses Association (ICBA) Construction Innovation Summit on October 30th and 31st. He and many other industry experts will be discussing how to push the construction sector forward.
SiteNews: How do you get involved in the construction sector?
Jeff Sample: I accidentally found my way into it. By trade I am an IT architect and I spent some time in the development world building software. As it goes with software, that company was acquired a couple of times and I was looking for a new job. A large masonry contractor contacted me and said we need you. I jumped on board and spent three years there. After some initial struggles getting my head around the business, I fell in love. I saw opportunities ahead and the struggles and honestly I got a wicked taste of the gratification that comes from building things, even though I don’t put the work in place. I helped the people who put it in place and it inspired me and connected me with those people and I want to make their lives easier. It’s a tough job and we don’t respect it enough.
What is an industry evangelist?
It’s part of the maturation of any industry. When I got involved in technology for construction it was very new and the tools were very new. And there is a curve every industry goes through where you have the peak of inflated expectations and the trough of disillusionment and then companies make their way from there. To really do it you need people who are passionate about both sides of the industry and can connect them. I became the head of communications at Join to bring the product to life in the preconstruction market. Once we built that up we realized that we needed to evangelize the change that Join was built for. We were built to solve a problem. Modern delivery methods are changing into more collaborative methods, teaming up earlier together to achieve more predictable and reliable products for owners. To do that we needed a whole new set of tools and Join is one of them. But we realized that the more that idea grew, the more we could grow with it. But it had to be about the industry. The role of “evangelist” was built to raise awareness about the problems and to realize that the boundaries don’t exist, rather than to just sell a product. If someone wasn’t evangelizing the power of this new kind of delivery model for all the stakeholders, it could continue to stall out.
How can the industry bridge the gap between the jobsite and technology?
Since I came from an organization that put work in place, and masonry is one of the last pieces of work put in place, I had this view of the entire process and how technology can help it. But tech can’t just be for tech’s sake. It can make a really bad process suck more efficiently. If your process is broken, it doesn’t matter if I make it faster. The idea is we have to understand your process and see where you are starting from, what is the goal and how we can help you achieve that goal. You need somebody who has free reign and isn’t tied to selling you something or handing something over. If I help them get set up for better, more collaborative delivery models, it plugs into what Join is doing. The difference between selling technology and partnering with an industry is having an evangelist.
What is the future of preconstruction and how do we get there?
It’s the most critical component of construction and that’s why I’ve bet my career on it. Being with trade contractors and working with them so much let me see the impact that happens downstream from poor planning. I had a stint at a project management platform for trade contractors and had this idea of doing integrated labour delivery. Other models have all players at the table at all times, but that is antiquated and expensive. That’s just a bad business model. The reason those contractors are there is because they are waiting for that one thing that’s going to help them be efficient and that they can give input on. And this can have a really high impact on the overall success of a project. But some of these models are like asking everyone to come to Thanksgiving dinner to have a conversation about politics, nothing gets done. But if the team can align early, can trust one another, and they can be empowered to know that when they are needed to collaborate they will be brought in and listened to, and have good decisions made that reduce risk, this can increase the predictability and move the means and methods forward. But ultimately none of this gets done if we don’t break down the barriers and expose the unconscious biases we have had for years. We have operated with our cards up our sleeves for so long, we do it without even knowing. Something will always go wrong on a project, whether that’s rain, late materials, or whatever. If the construction team hasn’t begun with trust at the earliest inception, they have no hope that they can lean on each other to deliver differently. If you want that to happen at the latest stages it has to start in the earliest. That’s why pre-construction is the future. It’s the future because with these labour shortages, we can’t build the same way. We are headed for a cliff of people leaving the industry
What is holding the industry back when it comes to innovation?
One of the barriers we have is that we are profitable this way. I don’t know many contractors that aren’t buying new trucks and beach houses and making money. It’s not as much as they should be making and it’s not sustainable. How many family construction companies have built wealth from generation to generation? That wealth is about to start going away if they don’t innovate and can’t deliver. One of the barriers is business as usual. I think the other is culture. Change is hard. Anyone telling you this is easy probably has a bridge to sell you too. The funny thing is, we are culturally built for this anyways. We bring new people into the industry as apprentices, turn them into journeypeople. We have changed, trained and molded people for years. We just have to look at our entire operations and change management strategies and apply that.
Advice for companies wanting to innovate
The first step is admitting you have a problem. The second step is asking for help. I don’t expect the owner of a construction company to understand innovation and technology at its core. You don’t have to. You have to be vulnerable. Being vulnerable and leaning into an uncomfortable space is the most powerful thing you can do. You have to be ready to fail. You will fail far more than you succeed but the key to succeed is taking the swing. The other thing is everybody is waiting for the perfect time. That doesn’t exist. There is no perfect time or project. Everytime you say that, you fall behind even more. Do it now. You don’t have to understand innovation or technology. AI is a perfect example of this. I get asked about AI all the time. AI is like a new engine in a car. It’s a cool, fancy thing like a supercharged car engine. But all you have to understand is how that changes driving down the road and how to get your vehicle where it needs to go.
To connect with Sample and other construction innovation experts, be sure to sign up for the 2023 ICBA Construction Innovation Summit. The event runs October 30th and 31st in Vancouver.
Key Takeaways:
The company has rebranded to AtkinsRéalis.
The name AtkinsRéalis is a coined term that combines Atkins, a legacy brand, and “Réalis,” inspired by the city of Montréal and the company’s French-Canadian roots. “Réalis” also resembles the verb “to realize” or “to make happen”.
Company officials noted thatEdwards explained that in recent years, the company has been deliberately repositioned and has exited parts of the business that were not profitable or didn’t align with its strategy.
They have also worked to correct underlying performance issues, doubled down on high-growth global markets and embraced digital transformation.
The Whole Story:
SNC-Lavalin is SNC-Lavalin no more.
The fully integrated professional services and project management company based in Montreal announced that it is rebranding to AtkinsRéalis.
The name AtkinsRéalis is a coined term that combines Atkins, a legacy brand that is well-established across the company’s international markets, and “Réalis,” inspired by the city of Montréal and the company’s French-Canadian roots. “Réalis” also resembles the verb “to realize” or “to make happen” which emphasizes our focus on outcomes and project delivery.
The 36,000-person company stated that the changes build on more than a century of history from brands such as SNC-Lavalin, Atkins, Faithful+Gould, DTS and Atkins Acuity, AtkinsRéalis and bring the whole organization together under one single brand.
“AtkinsRéalis is a new name for a new transformed company: our ability to draw upon such breadth and depth of global capabilities will maximize our ability to work seamlessly and provide one integrated offering for our clients and partners,” said Ian L. Edwards, president and CEO of AtkinsRéalis. “Everything starts with our people; they care about each other, this Company and most importantly, they care about the work we do and believe in our purpose to engineer a better future for our planet and its people. I could not be prouder of our team’s dedication to the success of this company.”
Edwards explained that in recent years, the company has been repositioned and has exited parts of the business that were not profitable or didn’t align with its strategy. He added that the company has also worked to correct underlying performance issues, doubled down on high-growth global markets and embraced digital transformation.
He stressed that the most important change has been redefining the company’s purpose and strengthening its culture.
“We have reached an inflection point so now is the right time to rebrand to AtkinsRéalis and reflect the exciting future ahead of us,” said Edwards.
As of Sept. 13, the company’s new brand and associated visual identity will be used on all communications materials. The Company’s common shares will begin trading on the TSX under the new ticker symbol (TSX: ATRL) prior to market open on Sept. 18, 2023. SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. will not change its legal name until the Company obtains shareholder approval, as required by law, at its 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
SiteNews competition showcases construction trailblazers
The list of winners, which can be found here, cast a wide net over many different fields. They include some of the largest general contractors in the country, tech startups, materials manufacturers, homebuilders, environmental champions and more.
When the competition was envisioned, the SiteNews team sought to create a way to highlight and encourage companies that are blazing a trail for others.
“The 25 Innovators in Construction award serves as a platform to celebrate trailblazers in a sector often perceived as slow-moving,” said Brett Rutledge, SiteNews co-founder. “The truth is, there’s a surge of innovation happening, and we’re delighted to showcase these companies and their achievements.”
The winners were chosen by a panel of five judges who assessed applicants based on five criteria:
Technological innovation
Trailblazing
Workforce development
Sustainability and environmental impact
Collaboration and partnerships
SiteNews Editor Russell Hixson, who has been covering Canada’s construction sector for nearly a decade, was part of the judging staff. He noted that the submissions showed significant breakthroughs in environmentalism, material development, worker health, digitization, training and other areas.
“This isn’t just about our industry,” said Hixson. “Many of these companies are doing things that are addressing the biggest issues our country and our planet faces: CO2 emissions, housing supply, workforce training, safety and more. These leaders are not only elevating construction, they are making society better.”
RAM Consulting co-founder and CEO Joe Di Placito, who also assisted in the judging, was equally impressed by the applicants.
“I was blown away by the innovation that’s occurring across our industry,” he said. “There were some interesting themes when reviewing the submissions from well known general contractors implementing new technologies to new products being created that reduce carbon footprint. My biggest take away was that now is probably the most exciting time to be in engineering and construction as we see innovation disrupt so many aspects of what was previously accepted practices or products.”
Dom Costantini, a 19-year veteran of Bird Construction who now has his own consulting firm, found it challenging to narrow down the submissions to 25.
“The variety in the businesses, the services, products, and technologies were much broader than I expected,” he said. “I am very excited to see the list of 25 Innovators and to meet them in person at the celebration event later this month. Thank you to SiteNews for giving me this opportunity to learn more about the construction industry.”
You’re never too young to give heavy equipment a try. Kiewit employees in Western Canada celebrate Family Day by checking out some of the company’s machinery fleet.
Wildstone Construction Group
This project is a blast from the blast on the banks of the Yukon River. Crews are hard at work restoring the Canadian Bank of Commerce which was originally built in 1901.
Corry Anderson-Fennell / LiUNA Local 1611
Patrick Smalls, 18, practices cement work as part of LiUNA Local 1611’s Training PLUS (Professional Labourers’ Union School) program. After 120 hours of classroom and practical experience, students wrote a final exam and were then dispatched to B&B Contracting.
West Metric JV
Crews install culverts at the Kitselas housing development in B.C.
Gordie Howe International Bridge
Demon is a black lab who patrols the Gordie Howe International Bridge construction site to prevent birds and other wildlife from nesting where they might be impacted by work. Great work, Demon!
Jacob Bros Construction
This month the Musqueam Gathering Place was unveiled at YVR featuring Jacob Bros‘ Musqueam YVR Canoe Build project. The project team collaborated with a team of eight Musqueam Indian Band members, including two artisan carvers, to carve a traditional Musqueam Journey Canoe out of a 35ft section of red cedar.
Indigenous elders mark the start of construction at the Ho’-kee-melh Kloshe Lum project in Vancouver. The name means “to gather, good spirits”. The facility will include 143 low-to-moderate-income rentals, 25 supportive housing units and 80 shelter beds.
Double Black Construction / John Lohan
Crews prepare the steel bones of the new 25,000 square foot Waywayseecappo’s Community Centre. Located 30 kilometers east of Russell, Manitoba, Waywayseecappo First Nation Reserve is a community of slightly more than 3,100 people close to Stony Lake.
Graham Construction
Crews working under a blue and orange sky at the Portage la Prairie Bypass project in Manitoba.
Skills Ontario
Youth learn construction skills at Durham College as part of Skills Ontario’s summer camp program.
EllisDon
The Sam Ibrahaim Building project team sign the last steel beam before it is hoisted into place at the University of Toronto Scarborough.
Par Six Golf
Next time you get a hole in one, thank this bulldozer. Crews carry out work at the Edmonton Country Club.
Does this count as topping off? Faber Construction’s team celebrates reaching the peak of Mount Baker. From top to bottom, the active volcano a 3,288 metre climb.
The Shot of the Month goes to:
Finning
Finning celebrates International Dog Day with some furry friends and Caterpillar machinery.
Key Takeaways:
The extra funding aims to help get at least 100,000 workers free training.
The funding will prioritize programs that propose innovative training solutions to help people on social assistance and with prior criminal records.
It will target critical industries like healthcare, auto-manufacturing, information technology, hospitality and the skilled trades.
The announcement brings Ontario’s total investment in the Skills Development Fund Training Stream to over $860 million.
The Whole Story:
The Ontario government wants to make sure those with a criminal record can get a second chance at life with a career in the skilled trades.
Officials announced plans to invest an additional $160 million in the Skills Development Fund (SDF) to tackle the labour shortage and help at least 100,000 workers get free training. The funding will prioritize programs that propose innovative training solutions to help people on social assistance and with prior criminal records find meaningful employment in critical industries like healthcare, auto-manufacturing, information technology, hospitality and the skilled trades.
“For too long, too many in our community have been forgotten and treated as second class in their own province. In the middle of a historic labour shortage, we need all hands on deck,” said Monte McNaughton, minister of labour, immigration, training and skills development. “That is why our government is leaving no stone unturned to ensure we give anyone who wants a job and a paycheque they can be proud of a shot at the Ontario dream. Whether you’ve been on social assistance for 10 months or 10 years, we’ll help you.”
The province noted that roughly 300,000 jobs in Ontario are going unfilled every day, which threatens to hurt the economy and stall the government’s infrastructure plans, including building at least 1.5 million homes by 2031. At the same time, more than 800,000 people in Ontario rely on social assistance when the majority are willing, able and eager to work. This includes hundreds of thousands of people with a criminal record and have not reoffended – almost half of whom are on social assistance even 15 years after release from prison.
In response, the fourth round of the Skills Development Fund Training Stream will support programs that help them find meaningful work and tackle the labour shortage.
The announcement was made in Dresden, where the government announced a $465,000 investment through a previous round of the Skills Development Fund Training Stream to prepare 24 young people for well-paying careers in construction and the skilled trades in Chatham-Kent. SkillShift will provide a free six-week introductory course that teaches participants essential skills for construction, such as blueprint reading, scissor lift certifications, as well as financial literacy and soft skills, with mentors, networking opportunities and $1,125 for equipment and transportation. Participants will also receive a paid two-week job placement with a local employer.
“Through this transformative $465,000 investment, the Government of Ontario is shaping brighter futures for 24 youth in Chatham-Kent while invigorating our local construction industry,” said Phillip Mock, executive director at Vision Us. “Vision Us is excited to be leading this investment in our community with our partners.”
“This $465,000 investment in our youth through the Skills Development Fund is a transformative step,” says Trevor Jones, MPP for Chatham-Kent-Leamington. “Empowering youth for rewarding careers in construction and skilled trades not only secures their future but also fuels the growth of Chatham-Kent-Leamington as a thriving community.”
The announcement brings Ontario’s total investment in the Skills Development Fund Training Stream to over $860 million.
Jeannine Martin is the new Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA) president. The group stated that with over twenty-five years of industry experience in private construction and engineering, and leadership on local industry boards, the British Columbia Construction Roundtable (BCCR) and the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies – British Columbia (ACEC-BC), Martin understands the challenges and opportunities facing B.C.’s construction industry.
In her first 100 days with the association, Martin will focus on:
Building connections with VRCA members, stakeholders, and staff
Operationalizing VRCA’s Strategic Plan
Working with the British Columbia Construction Association (BCCA) to advance Prompt Payment legislation and other topline issues including the shortage of skilled trades
Continuing to develop VRCA’s Reconciliation Action Plan
Maddison Sharples has joined the Fengate Asset Management team as director of marketing and communications for its infrastructure business. Previously, Sharples worked as senior manager of marketing and communications for ACCIONA North America.
Aubrey Tucker has announced his return to the architecture, engineering, construction, owner, operator (AECOO) industry with the launch of Tucker Technology Consulting. The firm will help clients deliver BIM projects, make Digital Twins, transform project delivery and find new digital strategies.
Marcia Braundy has been presented with a Lifetime Achievement award by the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum for her outstanding dedication to advancing women in the trades. The group stated that Braundy’s trailblazing efforts in advancing women in trades serve as a remarkable example of the power and impact of women. Braundy was one of the first women in B.C. to become a Red Seal carpenter despite facing severe harassment. Since then she’s spent decades researching, promoting and improving trades careers for women.
Marcia Braundy practices roof framing while attending school in the 1980s. – BCIT Archives
Darryl Conroy is the new president of Professional Excavators & Construction Inc. The company provides earthworks services, site services, concrete flatworks, and asphalt paving for civil and commercial projects within the City of Calgary and throughout the Province of Alberta. Conroy’s previous position was manager of underground construction at Standard General Calgary.
Marco Bolk has been promoted by Burns & McDonnell lead the engineering, architecture and construction firm’s Canadian Construction Group, with Bolk based in Calgary. The firm’s Canadian operations offers full-service engineering, construction and consulting solutions in a variety of sectors. Prior to coming to Burns & McDonnell, Bolk managed regional offices in both Ontario and Western Canada, focusing on turnkey engineer-procure-construct (EPC) solutions.
Daljit Thind, founder and CEO of Thind Properties, has been awarded the Order of British Columbia. It is the highest form of recognition the province can bestow upon a citizen. Thind came to Canada in the 1990s and worked laying tile. He was inspired to build homes for other immigrants and has now created more than $4 billion worth of developments. He has also donated millions to charity.
“His impact on B.C. is seen in many ways: he transforms neglected areas into prosperous ones. He helps thousands of people build their own prosperity; and he focuses on building community instead of only erecting buildings.”
The Province of B.C. on Daljit Thind
Mohamed Adel has been promoted to digital construction director-buildings at Bird Construction. Adel called the position “a dream come true” as he has always been passionate about digital transformation and innovation in the construction industry. Adel joined Bird four years ago as a BIM manager for the Atlantic Region, and since then he has been working on a transformative program to implement true digital construction at the company.
Guido Wimmers has been appointed dean of the British Columbia Institute of Technology‘s School of Construction and the Environment. Prior to moving to Canada in 2007, Wimmers collaborated with multi-disciplinary teams across Austria, Germany, and Italy, focusing on energy-efficient and sustainable building projects. In B.C., he played an instrumental role in the implementation of the International Passive House Standards in the province and across Canada. Wimmers will take over the position from Wayne Hand, who is set to retire in September.
Wayne Hand (pictured) is retiring from his position as dean of the BCIT School of Construction and the Environment. – BCIT
Kirk Fisher has been appointed CEO of Lark Group of Companies. Lark noted that Fisher has been instrumental in shaping the company’s trajectory for decades. His journey began at the King George Mobile Home Park and continued as he played a pivotal role in establishing the Health and Technology District and the HealthTech Connex Inc. group of companies.
Walid Abou-Hamde has been named executive director of the Ontario Road Builders’ Association (ORBA). Abou-Hamde, who holds an Honours Bachelor of Applied Science in chemical engineering, has worked with the provincial government in the Infrastructure and Labour portfolios, as well as Skilled Trades Ontario.
“We are convinced that Walid will be able to leverage the strengths that he has achieved over the past seven years to benefit ORBA and Ontario Asphalt Pavement Council (OAPC) members. ORBA/OAPC priorities over the next several years will focus on contract and risk management, workforce development and sustainability.”
Mario Villeneuve – ORBA President
The first steps have been taken on an ambitious journey to help all industries within health and safety use cutting edge technology to evolve the audit process saving you time and money.
SALUS, a digital health and safety management platform created for the construction sector, is working with software companies and associations in Alberta as part of a new approach to build a more collaborative community to service all industries.
Rather than a typical quid pro quo approach to generate fast revenue or get access to new customer leads, SALUS’ goal is simple: make health and safety in construction and all industries better, together.
They believe that if they can demonstrate their commitment to this goal, it could start a transformation that spreads across all industries and improve it for everybody.
“We have an opportunity to be the catalyst for helping the health and safety industry to evolve to the next level.”
Gabe Guetta – SALUS Founder and CEO
“For us, the industry is what matters — pulling relationships together, creating networks, and creating efficiencies for your customers. If they are happy, we are happy and everybody wins,” said Gabe Guetta, SALUS CEO and founder. “Software companies breaking into the construction industry need to stop focusing on the money. They need to focus on the relationships and the bigger picture of how their products help change the industry. Money comes in the end when those primary objectives have been accomplished.”
Guetta explained that some industries such as the construction industry can be incredibly fragmented. For a project, you often have a general contractor work with dozens of subcontractors. Many are using completely different software systems for health and safety that don’t integrate with each other. Some aren’t using software at all.
“We want to start a process where we can bring things together. This could be the first step towards that,” said Guetta. “We want businesses to partner with us because it makes them better.
There is value that comes from the partnership. They grow better with us compared to going at it alone.”
Partnering with AuditSoft
To kick this process off, SALUS’ team announced a partnership with AuditSoft, which was founded in Alberta. The company’s award-winning software enables best practice safety and compliance auditing at scale, and was launched to make Certificate of Recognition (COR) auditing more efficient and impactful.
AuditSoft’s solution suite drives standardization and inter-auditor consistency, then deconstructs audit scores to analyze the data comparatively.
“We want to aggregate that auditing data to see areas of improvement, drive training and awareness, and see how the industry is moving toward compliance,” explained AuditSoft founder Ben Snyman. “These insights enable data-driven decision-making at both Association and membership level and fuel continuous improvement.”
The collaboration will integrate SALUS with AuditSoft’s Open API, allowing users to access and embed critical safety documents, submitted forms, and worker certificates directly into their audit reports with a click of a button. This enhanced functionality alleviates the burden of manual data transfer and optimizes audit workflows.
“We are all part of the ecosystem of data and don’t really need to compete. This adds value to all the stakeholders,” said Snyman. “We have a long term view. We believe in what SALUS is doing and believe over time the value will be reciprocal.”
Working with Certifying Partners
But SALUS hasn’t stopped there. Their team is also working with the Alberta Association for Safety Partnerships (AASP), one of Alberta’s largest official certifiers for the COR program, to streamline access for members. AASP CEO Ray Gaetz explained that the association was an early AuditSoft adopter and he is excited to see it integrated into other software that can be made available to all members in all industries.
“If you don’t have a good management system with a good dashboard that can help you manage details at your fingertips, it’s like herding cats,” he said. “Any company that is growing their health and safety program wants to save time, money and ensure that they can follow up on things in a timely fashion. You can’t afford not to have it.”
The integration comes at an auspicious time for the province. Ray explained that the COR certifying partners and government officials have been holding meetings on how to harmonize efforts and improve health and safety for everyone.
“We are now working towards the possibility of accepting other province’s COR certifications,” he said. “If we can do that across Canada that will be a huge win.”
Part of this effort has been AASP’s input on AuditSoft and pushing to make it available to every certifying partner. But after spending two decades working in human resources and overseeing COR certifications, Gaetz is cautious about what he recommends for members. He believes that AuditSoft and SALUS can help the industry achieve its safety goals for years to come.
“They knew who we were, how we operated, and shared the same values. And that is what I see in SALUS: a very customer service focused, cutting edge technology, and a quality product that they support,” he said. “They say they are in it for the long haul and that’s very important to us, having someone that won’t just disappear. Collaborating with companies like that is very important.”
Guetta explained that its collaborative approach in Alberta is just the beginning. SALUS plans to approach each major construction market in a bespoke way to try and bring its health and safety stakeholders together.
One of the big challenges is getting direct competitors to work together. Guetta believes that over time SALUS can knock down those walls with their actions.
“We have an opportunity to be the catalyst for helping the health and safety industry to evolve to the next level,” he said. “We can help power that change. And you have to look at that as the value, not the money. If you can help bring everyone together and create this community and bring change, that is powerful.”
There are still some weeks of summer left and we want you to make the most of it. Check out some upcoming events for construction professionals all across Canada.
ICBA Construction Innovation Summit / Oct. 30-31 / Vancouver, B.C.
The Independent Contractors and Businesses Association is hosting a massive, two-day event for construction leaders who want to push the industry forward. The Construction Innovation Summit will feature North American Industry thought leaders, executive leadership panels, and construction-specific leadership topics from field leadership to pre-construction. It includes more than 20 keynotes and panels, dozens of innovation exhibitors and tons of networking opportunities. One of our panel picks is “Rising to the Challenge – Building a Thriving Workforce in the Midst of the Labour Shortage”.
CCA Annual Conference / March 12-15 / Dominican Republic
The 2024 Canadian Construction Association (CCA) Annual Conference is taking place in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. In addition to many panels, speeches, awards and networking opportunities, the Group’s National Advisory Council (NAC) meetings and Annual General Meeting (AGM) will also take place at the same location.
VRCA Awards of Excellence Gala / Oct. 17 / Vancouver, B.C.
The Vancouver Regional Construction Association’s Awards of Excellence Gala is returning to the Vancouver Convention Centre West on Tuesday, October 17th, 2023. The event will recognize individual and company achievements in the local construction industry. It is one of the premier awards shows for B.C.’s construction sector.
Ontario General Contractors Association (OGCA) members will head to Halifax next month for the group’s Annual General Meeting & Conference. The conference aims to bring together professionals from various fields to exchange ideas, explore new trends, and foster collaboration. Organizers say attendees will have the opportunity to gain valuable insights, learn from industry leaders, and enhance their professional network. It will include a pub crawl, legal workshops and more.
Interdisciplinary Symposium on Smart & Sustainable Infrastructures (ISSSI)
Sept. 4-8 / Vancouver, B.C.
The primary objective of ISSSI 2023 is to create an environment of mutual cooperation between experts in materials and structures and provide a forum for active dialogue. The organizers believe that it is only through a multi-disciplinary approach that significant cross-fertilization of ideas can occur and innovative solutions to infrastructural inadequacies can be found. One special part of ISSSI 2023 is the presence of industry and government on a common platform with the academia. Topics include high carbon emissions from the construction industry, sensors, robotics and AI.
Toronto Mass Timber Conference / Sept. 7-8 / Toronto, Ont.
This two-day live event is all about exploring mass timber design and construction methods, learning about the latest mass timber developments, and networking with like-minded professionals and over 18 guest speakers. The conference, co-organized by Rothoblaas and the Brookfield Sustainability Institute (BSI), will feature presentations, discussions, and plenty of networking opportunities.
Tunnelling Association of Canada Conference / Sept. 24-26 / Toronto, Ont.
The theme for the association’s 2023 conference is “Smart Solutions, Future Growth”. Organizers say this theme be highlighted throughout the event through keynote speakers, plenary presentations, technical sessions, networking, and a trade exhibition to showcase tunnelling and trenchless technology throughout Canada and around the world.
Housing Supply Summit / Oct. 12 / Virtual
The Residential Construction Council of Ontario (RESCON) plans to virtually hold its third Housing Supply Summit on Oct. 12. The theme of this year’s virtual conference is “Driving Solutions to the Crisis”. Topices include a residential market update, government taxes, development approvals, modernization and digitization, construction innovation and technology.
BC Construction Health & Safety Conference / Oct. 19-20 / Vancouver, B.C.
The BC Construction Safety Alliance has finalized the 2023 BC Construction Health & Safety Conference speaker roster. The conference will take place Oct. 19-20 at the Pinnacle Harbourfront Hotel in Vancouver. Presented by the Offsite Construction Network, the Offsite Construction Expo will be live in Toronto, Ontario, in June to offer all attendees a focused presentation of the abilities of offsite construction across all markets.
ConEX The Builders Expo / Sept. 28 / Saskatoon, Sask.
ConEX is the first-ever Saskatchewan construction trade show and conference. It will feature more than 100 booths to showcase the newest and most innovative products and services. It also includes networking opportunities, and presentations from public and private sector owners about their upcoming projects.
BUILDEX Alberta / Oct. 18-19 / Calgary, Alta.
Join industry peers from Architecture, Interior Design, Construction, Engineering, Property Management and Homebuilding & Renovation professions at the Calgary Telus Convention Centre for two days of networking, learning and finding new solutions. BUILDEX Alberta is a major opportunity for architecture, design, construction, and property management professionals to do business-to-business networking.
Trades Expo / Oct. 18-19 / Surrey, B.C.
The largest interactive trades even in the B.C., Trades Expo is for anyone interested in the trades. Youth, Women, Men, newcomers, and career changers, Trades Expo aims to provide a path to a sustainable career.
The Canadian Steel Conference / Sept. 26-27 / Toronto, Ont.
Modelling the best practices of the steel construction industry, the Canadian Steel Conference offers the opportunity for all participants to meet, exchange, collaborate and network with industry leaders and stakeholders. This CISC Conference also offers a comprehensive program of multiple business development, educational, and networking activities.
BUILDEX Vancouver / Feb. 14-15 2024 / Vancouver, B.C.
Planning is well underway for BUILDEX Vancouver. Organizers are looking to finalize their speaker line up by the end of August. The even will explore the future of design, construction, architecture, engineering, homebuilding & renovation, and property management. The show will offer a comprehensive educational program with skills building seminars, workshops, panel discussions, and engaging keynotes to enable you to compete in today’s evolving market.
Beyond the BILD Conference / Sept. 14-17 / Banff, Alta.
This fall industry members will gather in one of the Alberta’s most picturesque locations to celebrate, network and learn at BILD Alberta’s annual conference event. The multi-day event will feature learning sessions, a trade show, a golf tournament and more. You can be a part of the event by becoming a sponsor or exhibiting in the trade show. But this is not an event to wait on. Hotel rooms at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel are currently sold out. A waiting list and instructions will be provided upon registration along with alternative hotel options.
The Canadian Leadership Institute / Oct. 2-5 / Kananaskis, Alta.
The Canadian Leadership Institute features three intensive days of simulations, instructional time, assessments, and one-on-one coaching. For more than 20 years, FMI Corporation has been presenting Leadership Institutes to the American construction market. Now that training is available in Alberta thanks to a partnership with the Edmonton Construction Association.
The Buildings Show / Nov. 29-Dec. 1 / Toronto, Ont.
For 35 years, The Buildings Show features seminars, informative panels and thought-provoking roundtables. This year’s show will take place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre Nov. 29 – Dec. 1. Last year’s show saw more than 13,000 visitors, 270 speakers and 478 exhibitors.
Road Builders Fall Business Conference / Sept. 17-18 / Kelowna, B.C.
Meet the GC is a new event designed to support meaningful connections between the Ottawa Construction Association’s general contractor members and its trade contractors, manufacturer and suppliers, and Industry service providers. This event will be part of a series that focuses on networking and connections. Each general contractor will be invited to the stage to give a brief summary of their firm, current and upcoming projects, and expectations for business in the year ahead. This will be followed by a networking opportunities. These events will be hosted multiple times across the calendar year.
*Editor’s Note: know of an event you think Canada’s builders should attend? Send an email to hello@readsitenews.com so we can add it to this list.
A landmark study commissioned by on substance use in the construction sector is shedding new light on the issues the industry faces and suggests efforts to improve worker health need to be expanded.
The researchers found that that marijuana and alcohol may be larger risks for construction workers than previously thought.
The report, Construction Safety & Substance Use: Blueprint for Action in B.C., was commissioned by the B.C. Construction Safety Alliance. Itincluded responses from 639 workers and interviews with 35 industry leaders from a variety of industry segments from many different parts of the province.
Dr. Julian Somers, one of the study’s authors, explained that the workers filled out questionnaires while the industry leaders participated in semi-structured interviews. These interviews were then analyzed using special software and compared to the questionnaires.
“They are in tight agreement around what the problems are related to substance use,” said Somers. “The Blueprint Project found that cannabis and alcohol accounted for the vast majority of safety and health-related risks faced by workers in the B.C. construction sector.”
Cocaine use was far more commonly reported than opioid consumption among 639 workers from around BC in diverse jobs. About one in nine had heard of a drug overdose ever occurring on a jobsite. Insights from industry leaders reinforced the message that other drugs, rather than opioids, were of greatest concern.
Somers, a professor at Simon Fraser University, has been working in the field of mental illness and substance use since the 1980s. He was director of the University of British Columbia’s Psychology Clinic, president of the BC Psychological Association, and founding director of the Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addiction.
“We were aware of claims before we started that people in construction were somehow disproportionately associated with the drug poisoning crisis,” said Somers. “I saw the dynamic, especially with me, working in construction as day labourers. They come out of court or simply while on probation, and they are often encouraged to go to temporary labour agencies that can connect them with work on sites. That was one hypothesis that we considered which might explain the overlap.”
However, when the team began analyzing the evidence, they were not convinced. He believes that whether or not someone is employed is a much more important factor.
“Going back to addiction literature, the headline from these analyses talking about any form of job should be that poisonings overwhelmingly affect unemployed people and there should be a focus on ways of creating opportunities for employment,” said Somer.
He noted that the research shows individuals who used drugs shortly before or after work reported that at work they felt that they did not have control over what they were doing, they were typically younger, had lower levels of formal education, they did not feel that excellence was valued at work and did not feel like there were opportunities for advancement.
“Alcohol – by leaps and bounds is the number one problem.”
– Anonymous informant for the Blueprint study
“This shows that the spotlight really needs to be shone in a diff direction,” said Somer. “We didn’t say anything in the report about deemphasizing opioids or that we should scale back the effort and money being spent. But we did say that it is unlikely to help the vast majority of people experiencing poisoning, mainly because those individuals are unemployed.”
The report concludes by saying that the narrative of substantial overlap between poisonings and construction appears to be a disservice to the vast majority of those who are at risk of poisoning, and diverts attention from more robustly demonstrated safety and health-related risks in the construction sector.
“Rather than implicating the construction sector in the current poisoning crisis, the available results emphatically demonstrate the need for employment and related supports among people who are at risk for fatal poisonings,” reads the report. “And in that regard the construction sector is an important potential ally in reducing the death toll, by providing opportunities for those at risk, most commonly young men, to receive training and support for well-paying, satisfying, and in demand jobs.”
Mike McKenna, BCCSA executive director, explained that the research suggests the industry needs to come up with new ways to help improve worker health.
“This research changes the narrative about the type of substance use we’re seeing in the construction industry,” says Mike McKenna, executive director, BCCSA. “With guidance from the evidence collected under the research program to date, we believe we’ll be able to devise programs that more effectively target substance use in the industry.”
The BC Building Trades took issue with the report, stating that it contradicts their experience in the construction industry. BC Building Trades union members access confidential counselling and addiction support services from the Construction Industry Rehabilitation Plan (CIRP). Each year, CIRP serves approximately 220 construction workers. Since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared in March 2020, CIRP’s intakes have increased by 64%.
“Opioid use has a significant impact on many of the people who work in the construction industry,” said the group. “The vast majority of scientific research confirms that fact. Studies from the American Journal of Industrial Medicine, The National Safety Council, the BC Centre on Substance Use and the Public Health Agency of Canada all reinforce that workers in the construction industry face unique risk factors when it comes to drug use, including stigma.”
The group noted that majority of members seeking addiction support services are seeking supports for alcohol, cocaine and marijuana, but argued that this does not mean that its members are free from the dangers of B.C.’s poisoned drug supply.
“It doesn’t matter if we’re talking about opioids, cocaine, or any other substance,” they said. “If people are using drugs, whether during downtime or on the job, there’s a good chance they contain fentanyl or fentanyl analogues. And that means those drugs can kill them.”
The group added that it does not want the construction industry to use the study to divert treatment and harm reduction resources from the sector.
Canada’s Express Entry system is now tailored to provide a streamlined pathway for individuals with expertise in critical fields, including construction.
Federal officials stated that by prioritizing the invitation of skilled newcomers with experience in the trades, Canada aims to meet the increasing demand for talent and fill key positions that contribute to the nation’s economic growth and advancement.
On May 31, the Sean Fraser, the previous minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship, announced changes to Express Entry through category-based selection. Fraser noted that these changes help address labour shortages that support an identified economic goal by inviting candidates with specific work experience or French language ability to apply for permanent residence.
Today, current Minister of Immigration Marc Miller announced the first trades round for category-based selection will open this week. Miller said that the focus on candidates with trades expertise—including carpentry, plumbing, and welding—will help Canada’s construction sector attract the skilled talent it needs across the country.
These category-based selection rounds will continue throughout the year, alongside general invitation rounds, and more details will be announced in the coming weeks.
“It’s absolutely critical to address the shortage of skilled trades workers in our country, and part of the solution is helping the construction sector find and maintain the workers it needs,” said Miller. “This round of category-based selection recognizes these skilled trades workers as essential, and I look forward to welcoming more of these talented individuals to Canada.”
Philippe Adam will be Pomerleau’s new CEO starting this August. Pierre and Francis Pomerleau will gradually withdraw from their operational roles. In addition to remaining the company’s principal shareholders, they will continue to play an active role on the Board, with Pierre serving as Executive Chairman and Francis as Executive Vice-Chairman. Philippe Adam joined Pomerleau in 2021 as executive vice-president and chief financial officer.
From left to right : Philippe Adam, Francis Pomerleau and Pierre Pomerleau. – Pomerleau
Chris Erbus has joined Graham‘s Winnipeg office as operations manager. Erbus’ project experience includes museums, galleries, historical buildings high rise towers, renovation and hospital/healthcare. He also has a background in carpentry.
Jesse Unke has been named president and CEO of Maven Consulting Limited. Unke will succeed co-founder Trevor St Germain who will continue to act as a member of the board. Unke is an engineering and construction executive with over 20 years of experience.
“I am excited to take Maven to the next level by driving our strategy, strengthening and developing our corporate culture, and further building on Maven’s profile in our industry as a leader in engineering, project management, and construction services for power utilities and municipal infrastructure.”
– Unke
Russ Wlad will be Allnorth‘s chief growth and strategy officer. Wlad has than 35 years of experience in public and private sector consulting. He was key to leading Stantec’s canadian operations, working strategically with business partners to achieve growth in new sectors, markets and geographies. Allnorth stated that he will play a pivotal role in enhancing Allnorth’s organic and acquisition growth.
Fiona Blondin has been appointed director of High Frequency Rail‘s board of director. She currently serves as vice president, Indigenous strategy at Cormorant Utility Services. High Frequency Rail is the largest transportation infrastructure project that Canada has seen in decades, and would be the biggest investment in Canadian passenger rail in a generation.
Steve Saddleback has been hired at the senior advisor for external affairs at the First Nations Major Projects Coalition. Saddleback is from Samson Cree Nation, where he has played an instrumental role in fostering economic growth and empowering Indigenous communities. He also a partner at Opimoyaso Group, a 100% owned Indigenous Firm.
Andrew Hall has joined Wildstone Construction Group‘s Whitehorse office as vice president of Yukon and business development. Hall said he will be focusing on growing Wildstone’s business in the energy, renewables and infrastructure markets.
Clarissa Wong is starting a new role as Graham‘s vice president of finance (industrial) and financial services. Wong is a financial professional with global accounting, finance and leadership experience including financial planning and analysis, reporting and forecasting, controllership, internal controls and audits, merger integrations, public filings, system conversions, implementation and integration of shared services teams.
Joe Williams is retiring from Lafarge Canada after 47 years of service. Williams is a millwright worker at Lafarge’s Bath Cement Plant. Williams said he’ll definitely miss daily interactions with colleagues from various teams and the tight-knit community at the plant. Lafarge officials stated that his commitment to teamwork and troubleshooting has significantly impacted its operations.
Joe Williams stands in front of the Bath Cement Plant in Loyalist, Ont. – Lafarge Canada
Nigel Shrive, PhD, a professor emeritus at the Schulich School of Engineering, member and former head of the McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health, was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Canada for groundbreaking contributions to structural mechanics, notably his translational and multidisciplinary research in both biomedical and civil engineering.
Sean Strickland has been elected chairman of BuildForce Canada‘s board of directors. Strickland says he looks forward to continuing his work with his colleagues on the board to advance the organization’s strategic priorities and to ensure BuildForce Canada continues to support the construction industry with up-to-date labour market data, development, and training.
Ted Davis has been appointed CEO of Avison Young’s Canadian operations. The company stated that since joining the firm in 2010, Davis has been instrumental in bringing teams together to create value for clients in his market, and they are excited to see him do this at the national level.
Dan Baxter is joining the Progressive Contractors Association of Canada as its new regional director for B.C. Baxter has served as president and CEO of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce, as well as policy analyst, director, and interim CEO at the B.C. Chamber of Commerce.
Dan Chyzowski has been promoted to vice president of construction at ETRO. Company officials stated that Chyzowski has been instrumental in building ETRO into what it is today. The added that he’s a natural leader with an innate talent for project management in a truly collaborative manner and has been a fantastic mentor to many.
ETRO Construction’s team celebrates reaching 100 employees in seven years in business. – ETRO Construction
Eduards Miska has been tapped by Aecom to be its director of engineering for B.C. Miska spent 30 years at B.C.’s Ministry of Transportation, eventually serving as its acting assistant deputy minister. He has held leadership and support roles with the Transportation Association of Canada, Intelligent Transportation Systems Canada, and the Canadian Institute of Transportation Engineers.
Amir Abd El-Halim has joined WSP’s Canadian leadership team as the new regional leader for Ontario and the Atlantic. WSP stated that El-Halim will use his 20+ years of industry experience to provide invaluable leadership to its teams in those regions.
Sean Smithson has joined Pomerleau‘s Toronto team as the new regional vice president. Smithson previously spent 11 years with Modern Niagara, reaching the role of executive vice president for the GTA and Southwestern Ontario region.
With the Toronto team, I’ll be continuing my adventure in the construction industry, in a market where the possibilities are endless. I am looking forward to working with my new colleagues, to shape the future of the GTA Region building the infrastructure our growing region needs! Let’s do this!
– Smithson
Paul Halliday is taking over the role CEO at NorLand Limited as Dave Reynolds enters retirement. Officials noted that Reynolds played a pivotal role in driving the company’s unprecedented growth and establishing a shared purpose and corporate vision.
For the uninitiated, the concept of SiteViews is simple. Leveraging both the remarkable submissions from our readers and our team’s diligent internet sleuthing, we curate a monthly showcase of some of the industry’s finest photos. Have a submission? Those can be sent to hello@readsitenews.com.
Axiom Builders
The first tower crane is up and ready to go at Neighbourhood Two by SHAPE as part of the The Amazing Brentwood development in Burnaby. Two tower cranes that will be erected for this phase. The crane currently standing at 180 feet but it will eventually reach 740 feet as the tower is built. New Firmus, Rapicon West and Mammoet assisted with the crane erection.
Erik Millette
Ontario crane operator Erik Millette shows his view from high above Toronto.
SkilledTradesBC / Construction Foundation of B.C.
Youngsters learn to measure twice and cut once at the Discover Trades Summer Camp for Young Women in North Vancouver, B.C. The free camp was led by Red Seal Electrician Lisa Scott. Participants used various tools to create beautiful copper bracelets, aluminum bowls, extension cords, corn hole boards and more.
Lafarge Canada
Crews oversee a pour for the Ottawa Midtown Rapid Bridge Replacement Project. The team utilized a time-sensitive concrete solution from BMQ.
British Columbia Institute of Technology / Derek Klassen
Carpentry Instructor Derek Klassen takes a selfie with Carpentry Foundation students as they celebrate the completion of their final project, a suspended slab framework.
Graham Construction
Graham’s crew complete a complex concrete pour for the structural slab of a new wastewater equalization tank in Gimli, Man. The pour took several weeks of planning as well as collaboration with the project owner, design team, trade partners, suppliers and Graham’s in-house forces.
Ledcor
Despite the name, Ledcor crews were treated to some clear skies this month in Rainy River, Ont. The team is busy constructing stages 4 and 5 tailings dam raises at a mine site.
Fort Modular
Fort Modular crews treated a statute to a fresh new look while supporting 150 West Georgia, a 17-storey office tower at B.C. place in downtown Vancouver.
Beedie
Crews are making progress on Calgary’s RISE at Point Trotter project. The project team is on track to deliver the first of two state-of-the-art industrial buildings by the end of the month.
True North Scaffold & Insulation / Mathias Jonsson
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Sunny skies, still water and scaffolding – what more could you ask for? True North Scaffold & Insulation have completed scaffolding for a bridge-widening project in Fort Fraser, B.C.
Syncra Construction
Workers dismantle a crane at The Fifteen, a four-storey mixed-use concrete development in Vancouver’s Dunbar neighborhood by Wave Developments.
Pitt Meadows Plumbing and Mechanical Systems / Take Off Photography
Crews lift district energy system components into place at the Gilmore Place development in Burnaby, B.C.
Shindico
A drone captured the early stages of Shindico‘s work on Winnipeg’s Water Tower District. The 165-acre mixed-use development includes multi-family housing, retail, office, parklands and industrial.
Aecon
The Site C Dam near Fort St. John B.C. is nearing the finish line. Aecon showed off some of the recent construction progress.
Norland Limited
A behemoth excavator reaches deep on a site in Vancouver.
The Shot of the Month goes to:
StructureCraft
This 80 metre clearspan timber footbridge in Banff has been shortlisted in the Project & Technology awards from the IABSE – International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering – Pedestrian and Cycle Bridges division. The project team designed an extremely shallow, pure arch using stepped Glulam girders and weathering steel haunches. The bridge was prefabricated and assembled into two sections, placed simultaneously.
In 2021, La Lloreria was a project that aimed to remove stigma around mental issues in the country. It was a pink-hued warm room, an open space that anyone could weep into.
That same year I was working as a property manager in Vancouver. A colleague and I would often joke that our office needed a designated Crying Room because there weren’t enough papers floating around to wipe our tears with. If we knew about La Lloreria then, I would have booked us one-way flights.
Could Canada adopt Spain’s idea of “The Crying Room” into our own real estate developments? If not literally, at least in any figurative sense? Is it possible to construct a “Mental Health Conscious” building?
Density (of the brain)
Living in a city can have its shares of pros and cons on mental health. While there is generally better access to health care and amenities, research also shows that the risk of mental illness is higher in cities than it is in rural areas.
In April 2023, the City of Vancouver proposed an increase in density bonus rates in popular areas such as the Cambie Corridor, False Creek and Mount Pleasant. So if more people are moving here, then why is it still so impossible to make new friends as an adult?
Developers seem to be attempting to answer this call by designing more inclusive community-oriented spaces such as rooftop communal gardens, lounges and commercial spaces for people to come together and connect. Will it be enough to save our mental health? I guess we’ll have to wait for the 2060 study on millennials and loneliness to find out.
Noise and the city
If I had a dime for every noise complaint I received from residents during my tenure as a Property Manager, I’d have like, $50. According to a podcast that I listened to recently (probably at too high of a volume), the average level of car noise in a city is the equivalent of having your TV on at high volume… all the time. But with all the city noise, municipal noise bylaws and soundproofing building processes, are we actually hearing each other?
My husband and I recently moved to a condo in Port Moody. When we moved in, we complied with all strata bylaws and never did any unpacking before 9am or after 9pm. Still, we were greeted by a wonderful card from the neighbours below asking us to “kindly stop digging our heels in” and advised that “this is a nice community and if we wanted to be a part of that, we should be mindful of our noise”. What a difference it could have made in welcoming us if we were greeted with compassion and understanding rather than assumptions and accusations. If they just knocked on our door, introduced themselves and talked to us, we would have actually listened.
There have to be better places to cry than inside a portable toilet
A 2020 study once found that every year more construction workers die from suicide than every other workplace-related fatality, combined. That needs to change, now. We cannot continue to allow real estate development to be subsidized on the backs of the labourers that makes it all possible. As a predominantly male industry, construction is even more vulnerable to the antiquated ideas, thoughts and opinions on mental health care.
It is every real estate development professional’s responsibility to help fight the stigma and increase the availability and accessibility of mental health resources for their teams. Our communities are counting on it.
So no, I can’t imagine we’ll be seeing “The Crying Room” as a featured amenity in a pre-sale marketing brochure anytime soon. But what I can imagine is a world where, little by little, brick by brick, the real estate development industry can tear down the walls of stigma and make it ok to not be okay. Mental health awareness can’t increase the cost per sq.ft. that much, can it?
