⌚️ Own the moment

Together with

Good morning! 🚘 B.C. officials in Surrey are honouring construction legend Larry Fisher, founder of Lark Group, by naming a street after him. Larry Fisher Way, just north of Surrey Memorial Hospital, is a reminder of his contributions to the Lower Mainland’s built environment.

⏰ Today’s read: 5 minutes

MARKETS

Economy:  Global markets experienced sharp volatility Friday as investors reacted to escalating U.S.-China trade tensions, a weakening U.S. dollar, and growing concerns over the stability of U.S. assets. Canada’s TSX rose over 2%, buoyed by strong U.S. bank earnings, while U.S. stocks swung wildly despite ending higher. China’s latest tariff hike in response to U.S. actions fueled fears of a prolonged trade war, with potential global economic fallout.

TOGETHER WITH CONCRETE REFLECTIONS

Spring giveaway: Win a YETI cooler

Get a headstart on summer by winning a FREE YETI cooler. Here’s how to do it:

Check out our LinkedIn post and follow the contest instructions.

Not only could you have ice cold drinks to beat the heat, you will connect with one of Canada’s most sophisticated providers of concrete surface solutions. You’ve already seen Concrete Reflections’ work at Oakridge Park Redevelopment, Millenium Tower, Nexen Tower, University of Calgary Mathison Hall, Walmart stores across Canada and Amazon sites across Canada. If you want some more summer fun, check out the company’s booth at SiteSummit for a chance to win a LAB or Greenwood golf putter.

NEED TO KNOW

The week's headlines

Payment processing: 💵 The B.C. government has taken a significant step toward introducing Prompt Payment legislation, with Attorney General Niki Sharma directing her Ministry to draft the law following advocacy from the BC Construction Association (BCCA). The legislation aims to address widespread issues of delayed or missed payments in the construction sector—affecting 91% of B.C. construction employers.

Traffic plan: 🚧 Toronto has identified construction as the primary driver of its worsening traffic, with 24% of roads closed at peak times in summer 2024 and a 26% rise in vehicle registrations since 2014. The city’s updated congestion management plan proposes five measures: expanding transit signal priority, increasing traffic agents, raising fees for construction-related lane closures, improving intersection management and event planning, and better coordinating construction projects.

Career swap: 👷‍♀️ AtkinsRéalis Group Inc. is seeking to recruit skilled auto-sector workers—particularly engineers, tradespeople, and assembly-line staff—who may be affected by layoffs due to the ongoing Canada-U.S. trade war. With tariffs threatening the auto industry, the company sees an opportunity to address its own labor shortages and support the broader nuclear supply chain, which is already stretched by reactor refurbishments and potential new builds. 

Road priorities: 🚘 Ottawa has unveiled a long-overdue transportation master plan that will guide $15.9 billion in infrastructure spending through 2046, prioritizing bus transitways over light rail due to changing commuting patterns and funding uncertainties. Top transit projects include a new bus corridor on Baseline Road and the Cumberland Transitway in Orléans, while major road upgrades are planned in fast-growing suburban areas like Barrhaven and Stittsville.

THE BIG STORY

Our theme for SiteSummit: Own the moment

Can you feel it? Construction is having a bit of a moment right now. Here’s why. 

Our economy is shifting: The ongoing trade dispute with the U.S. has forced leaders to rethink the structure of our economy and how our nation’s infrastructure impacts trade is one of the top issues. Public opinion of major projects is shifting too. 

The housing crisis remains: How to build homes fast and affordably is also one of the top issues Canadians face. Municipalities and project owners have been embracing new technologies faster than ever before to meet the challenge. 

Tech revolution: Despite these challenges, construction is in the midst of a technological revolution. AI has shaken up the world in a profound way, including construction. Robotics, automation, prefabrication and more are becoming less rare than in the past.

Our direction is unclear: Despite these massive challenges, we are still in limbo. In less than two weeks, Canada will pick a new leader. What we are going to build and how we are going to build it is one of the biggest decisions to be made and will impact Canada and our industry for years to come. 

Own it: As the nation looks to builders to help create the trade enabling infrastructure it needs and help solve the housing crisis, it’s an opportunity to shine. That’s why, for our first ever SiteSummit we are embracing the theme of “Own the Moment”. Get your tickets today and we will see you in May!

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

Kit of parts

The new Poplar Road K-8 Public School in Scarborough, set to break ground this year, is an example of modular, mass-timber construction in education. Designed by Moriyama Teshima Architects, the two-storey school replaces the existing K-6 building. By embracing a prefabricated “kit-of-parts” approach, the project aims to demonstrate a repeatable, customizable, and eco-friendly model for future schools. To learn more, check out our Project Spotlight video.

PROJECT UPDATES

BC Transit completes construction of new Provincial Distribution Center

Squamish Nation nears milestone on Sen̓áḵw construction

Northland secures financing for Alberta battery project

$7M will establish new healing lodge

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

PHOTOS: 📷 Olympic Plaza transformation details revealed

READ: 😞 Urban development to combat loneliness

VIDEO: ⚒️ How to build a cathedral without science or math

READ: 💵 Chinese billionaire ponders Hudson’s Bay properties purchase

READ: 🏗️ Inuvik buys derelict lots to spur new construction

TOP CONSTRUCTION JOBS

🔥 Check out all roles up for grabs right now 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.

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Here’s to a great rest of the week!

Disclaimer: SiteNews is an independently-operated news website. Views expressed are that of the editorial team and are based on publicly available information unless otherwise noted through sponsored content.