👷Talent Thursdays: Big safe

Good morning! 🍎 Carhartt is looking to ensure a steady customer base for years to come with a new awards program. The Steel Apple Awards will highlight educators who are helping shape the next generation of skilled trades workers. Each winner receives $10,000 to invest in their classroom.

📈 LABOUR BY THE NUMBERS

The latest data from Statistics Canada shows that job vacancies in trades, transport, and equipment operator roles have dropped significantly year-over-year by 25.1% (-34,100). Positions requiring a high school diploma or less saw the biggest decline in vacancies (-26.7%), suggesting fewer openings in entry-level construction roles.

👷‍♀️ PEOPLE MOVES

Peter Weiss has been promoted to Vice President and District Manager of Ottawa at Chandos. Weiss joined the company in 2020 and has played a vital role in several key projects, significantly enhancing Chandos’ operations and client relationships in the region. 

Tomas Minka has been promoted to Vice President of Construction at Naikoon. Minka has over 20 years of construction project management experience both in Canada and internationally. 

Jeff Hagerty has rejoined Westridge Construction as Construction Manager after pursuing other ventures for 8 years. He will be based out of the company’s Saskatoon office. 

Dexter Kirby is now Construction Lead at Paragon Living. His previous role at the company was Pre-Development Manager. 

Terry Jensen is now President of Kinsmen Consulting. Previously he spent more than 9 years at Surface Rock Technologies as its President. 

Trevor Haddow is now Construction Manager at PME Inc. He previously held a similar position at North Star Contracting. 

🗞 HEADLINES

Safety council: 🦺 Canada’s leading general contractors have united to form the Canadian Construction Safety Council (CCSC), with a mission to elevate safety performance and establish innovative new industry benchmarks to protect construction workers nationwide.

New hat: 🪖 Helmets to Hardhats (H2H) has launched the Skilled Pathway Program to help veterans, reservists, and their families transition into Alberta’s unionized construction industry. Inspired by a successful Ontario initiative, the program offers safety and leadership training, aiming to place veterans into apprenticeships while addressing the skilled labour demand.

Tariff layoffs: 📉 Recent U.S. tariffs on Canadian exports and Canada’s retaliatory measures have triggered layoffs across industries, notably in steel and furniture manufacturing, as companies brace for economic uncertainty. Algoma Steel and Canada Metal Processing Group cut jobs, citing reduced orders, while furniture maker Prepac Manufacturing shut down a factory, shifting production to North Carolina. 

Pinnacle leader: 🏅 Geza Banfai has received the Canadian Construction Association’s Pinnacle Leader Award. The CCA stated that Banfai has been an advocate for the Canadian construction industry for over 40 years and that his commitment to legal reform, mentorship, and the advancement of industry best practices, promotes collaboration and efficiency in project execution, and helps the industry navigate challenges in an evolving legal landscape.

📅 EVENTS

Industry Icebreaker: Only one month away

Hardhats & hockey in Edmonton? Join us for a VIP live hockey experience in Edmonton as we watch the Oilers take on the Kings from the private Sky Lounge loft. Enjoy premium networking with fellow construction professionals while taking in the game, as well as a fireside chat in the Edmonton Oilers Hall of Fame. Tickets are limited and will go fast!

🧠 LEADERSHIP

Resources for professional development

• How AI is disrupting tech hiring

• Can a ‘grind and expand’ strategy fuel your marketing? 

• How to avoid ‘nightmare clients’ in construction 

• Does this 50-year-old essay on management hold up?

💬 QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"The city of the future is not a place, it's a process." - Rem Koolhaas, Dutch architect.

🔥HOT JOBS

Project Manager - Ottawa, Ont. - Aecon Group

Senior Manager, Construction - Vancouver, B.C. - Lululemon

Vice President, Development - New Westminster, B.C. - Century Group

Construction Lead - Lloydminster, Alta. - Cenovus Energy

Construction Superintendent - Coquitlam, B.C. - Lafarge

🔥 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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