💰 Talent Thursdays: $260M

Good morning! 🤝 A former biker clubhouse in Langford once linked to organized crime is being transformed into The Forge, a first-of-its-kind support hub for construction workers struggling with mental health and addiction. Purchased by the Construction Foundation of BC, the site will offer peer support, counselling, and recovery programming tailored to B.C.'s trades workforce.

What’s in the newsletter:

🛠️ $260 million for training

📚 Conestoga’s new campus

🏗️ Contractor systems to master

📈 LABOUR BY THE NUMBERS

A recent report reveals that about two-thirds of business leaders say AI adoption is causing rifts between IT teams and other departments, as well as between executives and workers, often due to poor rollout strategies and lack of support. Some employees have even tried to sabotage AI efforts by rejecting training or refusing to use new tools.

👷‍♀️ PEOPLE MOVES

Kris Barnard will join Buttcon as its Senior Vice President of Operations for Buttcon Central. Barnard brings over 20 years of experience in construction leadership, most recently with Metro-Can Construction in Vancouver.

Arya Beheshti has started a new position as Vice President, Construction and Environment at CreateTO.

Shawn Arndt has been promoted to Vice President, Land Development, at Mattamy Homes. 

Carlos Bandeira has joined CDC Construction as Project Director.

John Burke P.Eng, M.Sc. has been named Principal of Mechanical Engineering at Edge Consultants, bringing over 20 years of experience in designing complex HVAC, plumbing, and energy systems across Western Canada.

MCM Architects has promoted nine team Members: Aaron Petruic and Djam Shakirin to Associate Principals; Don Chow and Sabina Gleeson to Senior Associates; and Wen Sun, Mark Grimsrud, Henry Eksteen, Isaac Neufeld, and Ryan Swirsky to Associates.

Tannis Liviniuk has stepped into the role of CEO at Liviniuk Group, returning to the family business where her career began.

Ryan Stan is now Senior Vice President at Canderel Group

Stephen Bang has joined Tricon Residential as its new Director of Development.

But wait, there’s more. Check out the entire month of People Moves below.

🗞 HEADLINES

👷🏼‍♀️ Skills funding: The Ontario government has launched the sixth round of its Skills Development Fund (SDF) Training Stream, committing $260 million to support innovative training and upskilling initiatives in sectors like construction, manufacturing, health care, and the skilled trades. Part of a broader $2.5 billion investment, the funding aims to equip workers for good-paying jobs and keep Ontario competitive amid global economic uncertainty.

⚒️ New school: Conestoga College is expanding its Skilled Trades Campus in Cambridge, Ont., with a $155-million second phase set to open in 2026, making it one of Canada’s largest skilled-trades training facilities. Designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects, the new 221,000-square-foot building will consolidate apprenticeship programs from across southern Ontario into one central location and act as a “living lab,”

⛏️ Mine rescue: Three workers trapped for more than 60 hours nearly 300 metres underground at the Red Chris Mine in northern B.C. were rescued last week after a complex, high-risk operation. The collapse of the mine’s only access tunnel had cut off communication and escape routes, forcing the men—contractors with Hy-Tech Drilling—to shelter in a steel refuge chamber stocked with emergency supplies.

🧠 LEADERSHIP

Resources for professional development

• 4 Signs Your Network Isn’t Mutual

• 3 Skills to grow a $1-million+ construction business

• Every contractor needs to master these systems

• Supplier diversity strengthens supply chain resilience

💬 QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“The skies may be grey—but that’s when seeds are planted. In a slower market, it’s tempting to wait it out. But real builders and visionaries know: Vancouver doesn’t stop growing. Our city’s future depends on bold ideas, smart development, and partnerships that care about long-term impact—not short-term gain.” - Reisa Schwartzman, CEO, The Cape Group

🔥HOT JOBS

Senior Estimator - Calgary, Alta. - Graham 

Senior Project Manager - Vancouver, B.C. - Chandos

Senior Construction Manager - Toronto, Ont. - WSP

Senior Project Manager - Mississauga, Ont. - Bird Construction

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.

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!

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