🔥 Hot topics

Together with

Good morning! Texas may not get as hot as Mars, but it’s still dangerous. The same technology planned for NASA astronauts is being used to help keep construction workers safe in the southern heat. If the wearable sensors detect dangerous temperatures, safety officials on site are notified.

⏰ Today's reading time is 5 minutes.

MARKETS

*Stock data as of last market close; currency, oil and crypto data as of 8:00 PM ET July 17th, 2023.

Economy: Doing good matters more in business than ever before. According to a recent report, 67% of companies in the S&P/TSX 60 Index of large corporations have introduced ESG objectives as part of their top executives’ incentive plans. Companies in energy and mining – including Suncor Inc. and Teck Resources Ltd. – are even creating special stock awards that only pay out if climate and sustainability goals are met.

THE BIG STORY

How construction can help beat the heat

The world is on fire. This month the earth saw its hottest week ever. The global mean temperature between July 3 and July 9 was 17.18 C, with temperatures above the previous record set in 2016. The heat is especially pronounced in cities, also known as “urban heat islands”.

Why it matters: It’s not just about being uncomfortable. It is life or death. Two years ago, at least 619 people died across B.C. when record high temperatures hit the region. Those hit hardest were the poor and the elderly.

What’s being done:

• Pavement - Phoenix, Arizona, which holds a brutal high temperature record of 50 C, ran the Cool Pavement pilot project. They found that reflective pavement materials can significantly cool urban areas. It’s now a permanent part of the city’s maintenance program.

• Trees -In a new study, researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison conclude that 40 percent is the magic number when considering a canopy's ability to provide relief from the heat. This can reduce temperatures as much as 10 F.

• Roofs - Cities like Los Angeles are mandating the use of light-colored roof materials such as shingles, tiles, spray-on coatings and membranes with a “cool roof rating”, for which the city provides rebates.

The big picture: Last month, Ottawa rolled out its national strategy for adapting cities to climate change. Part of that plan includes the next edition of the National Building Code (set for release in 2025). Officials say it will include energy efficiency and climate resilience measures. They added that there also needs to be far more investment retrofitting.

NEED TO KNOW

The week's headlines

⚒️ Ontario has seen some significant recovery from declining apprenticeship numbers recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic. The province’s labour minister explained to SiteNews that in order to get their recent 24% apprenticeship registration increase, he had to implement a three-pillar plan which raised the prestige of careers in the trades and streamlined the apprenticeship process.

🪖 A charity that uses tiny home construction to house Canadian veterans is calling on municipalities to relax zoning laws. The Homes for Heroes Foundation said they have proven their housing model is successful and could be applied to other needy groups. The group said it faces strong opposition from some residents that believe affordable housing will drag property values down.

💰 Langley Township could soon have some of the highest development fees in the Lower Mainland. Officials are proposing to raise its rate by as much as 83%, depending on the type of development. The city says that the increases are necessary due to rising costs for land and other goods that make new infrastructure more pricey.

⚗️ Canadian scientists want to make cement using electrochemistry. Experts say this could massively decrease its environmental impact. Leah Ellis, chemist and Sublime Systems CEO, said the shift is as significant as switching from a gasoline-powered vehicle to an electric one. The project has already attracted $50 million in investment.

🏠 While the cost to rent a place in Canada is setting records in many major metro areas, Kelowna, B.C. has seen its rental costs take a dive. The city went from 3rd to 14th on a list of most expensive places to rent. How? Experts say the secret is an influx of housing construction that is creating a more competitive rental market.

TOGETHER WITH PROCORE

‘25 Innovators’ deadline extended

We have some good news for Canada’s construction innovators. Due to overwhelming demand, we are extending the deadline to apply for the first-ever 25 Innovators in Construction awards by one week.

The awards aim to celebrate and shine a spotlight on Canadian companies driving progress in our industry. Not only do winners get to attend our celebration dinner in Vancouver to network with other innovators, they will be featured by SiteNews for all to see.

Applications for the awards will now close July 21st. Winners will be announced Sept. 7th.

The inaugural awards are possible thanks to our presenting sponsor, Procore Technologies.

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

Corner Brook digs deep

Staying grounded: Crews are using sustainable technology to heat a 600,000-square-foot hospital in Newfoundland and Labrador. Just 600 feet below the new Corner Brook hospital’s parking lot lies a geothermal field that will make 100% ground source geothermal heating for the hospital possible – the first such solution of its kind for a healthcare facility in North America. The seven-story hospital is targeting LEED v4 Silver certification. It is being led by PCL-Marco Group Joint Venture.

PROJECT UPDATES

Work has wrapped on the $335M Lanfine Wind project in Alberta

Calgary’s new Stoney Trail Bow River bridge partially opens to traffic

Two towers proposed near Surrey’s Gateway Station

Bird Construction has been awarded $180M in energy and mining sector work

Ledcor has secured a $1B contract for the Bowmanville Extension transit project

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

PHOTOS: 🏢 3D model shows the future of Toronto’s skyline

READ: 👷‍♀️The UK is relaxing visa rules to attract foreign construction workers

LIST: 🏗️ Canada’s 10 biggest project starts from May 2023

READ: 🎓 Windsor teen convinces parents to let her study construction

REPORT: ⛏️ It could cost $25M to rescue this Toronto tunnel boring machine

HOT JOBS

🔥 Check out the best roles up for grabs in construction right now:

• Business Development Manager - Toronto, Ont. - Scott Construction

• Senior Project Manager - Halifax, NS - Marco Group of Companies

• Director, Pre-Construction and Contracts - Calgary, Alta. - NRB Modular Solutions

• Senior Project Manager - Nova Scotia (remote) - Avondale Construction

• Senior Estimator, Building - Ottawa, Ont. - EBC

• Senior Estimator - Toronto, Ont. - Scott Construction

• Senior Pre-Construction & Estimating Manager - Windsor, Ont. - Fortis Group

• Senior Project Manager - Toronto, Ont. - Scott Construction

• Director of Development, Finance - Ottawa, Ont. - Taggart

• Senior Estimator - Surrey, B.C. - Peak Construction Group

Check out all roles at SiteNews Jobs or put your job post in front of tens of thousands of construction professionals here. . Hurry up before our free trial ends!

Struggling to fill a role? send us an email at [email protected] to connect with one of our specialized recruitment experts.

ADVERTISE WITH SITENEWS

Get your message and brand in front of Canada’s construction leaders and decision makers by advertising in our newsletter. Contact [email protected] for details.

Here’s to a great rest of the week!