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Good morning! 🔨 Curious what an architecture technologist, electrical engineer, glazier, mason or site supervisor does? The Ottawa Construction Association has been building a database of interviews where professionals demystify their roles by diving into their daily routines, how they got into their careers and what the compensation ranges are. 

📈 LABOUR BY THE NUMBERS

Statistics Canada’s latest Business Survey Report shows the construction industry is facing a double-edged sword. While construction businesses are optimistic about future sales (25.5% expecting an increase), they are also struggling to find and retain skilled workers. A significant portion (37.7%) anticipate difficulty recruiting and nearly a third (28.2%) expect challenges keeping qualified staff on board.

👷‍♀️ PEOPLE MOVES

Dave Cassidy, the former president of Unifor Local 444, has been appointed as skilled trades special advisor to Ontario’s minister of labour. He will assess the workforce needs in Ontario’s skilled trades, focusing on the manufacturing and automotive industries, including electric vehicles (EV).

Dave Filipchuk, PCL president and CEO, has been elected a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering. The honour celebrates Filipchuk’s distinguished achievements and career-long service in engineering.

Jesse Percy is starting a new role as vice president, special projects, at Flatiron Construction.

Brian Shelton, a current independent board member of Graham Income Trust (GIT), has been appointed GIT chair of the board. In addition to 21 years of construction and engineering experience, he brings extensive knowledge in capital transactions in mergers and acquisitions in the global marketplace.

Sean Ennis will join Allnorth Consultants as the new operations leader in Vancouver and vice president of metals & minerals. Ennis has more than 30 years of mining experience spanning North and South America, Eastern Europe and Austral-Asia. 

Nathan Carter has joined Hillcore Group as senior VP portfolio operations.

Lisa Grago has joined Cooper Equipment Rentals as its chief people officer. brings over 25 years of experience in human resources and Cooper says she is dedicated to fostering a culture of growth and inclusivity.

🗞 HEADLINES

🚧 Metro Vancouver is facing another concrete strike two years after a work stoppage caused major delays. Concrete workers at Heidelberg Materials, a major supplier in the region, voted to authorize a strike if necessary. The construction industry is urging the provincial government to intervene. Both the union and the company say they are currently in negotiations to avoid a strike.

💰 Alberta is investing $43 million to plan a cutting-edge Advanced Skills Centre at NAIT, aiming to train an extra 4,200 apprentices annually in high-demand fields like construction and energy. This state-of-the-art facility will consolidate and expand NAIT's skilled trades programs, providing modern learning spaces and ensuring Alberta can grow its workforce. 

⚒️ The Canadian government will spend over $42 million to support skilled trades apprentices in Quebec. This includes funding for modernizing training equipment, attracting women and under-represented groups to the trades, and offering programs to help women succeed in apprenticeships.

👷🏻‍♀️ The Carpenters' Regional Council is expanding its Office to Advance Women Apprentices (OAWA) program to the Prairies to increase opportunities and support for women in skilled construction trades. This investment aims to address the labor shortage and create a more inclusive industry. OAWA offers services like resume building, networking events, and partnership building to help women succeed.

TOGETHER WITH ETRO CONSTRUCTION

ETRO scores landmark BC Place contract

Burnaby-based ETRO Construction has achieved a significant milestone by securing the renovation contract for BC Place Stadium, a key project in preparation for FIFA World Cup 26. This win marks a major milestone for ETRO, validating their innovative and sophisticated approach to construction.

🧠 LEADERSHIP

Resources for professional development

• Building a multi-million dollar construction business

• Forming a bond: using emotion to drive industrial B2B sales

• Construction disputes and how to avoid them

• Stay sharp with this year’s top productivity apps

• A beginner’s guide to networking

• Neuroscientist: 6 tips to learn things faster

🔥 HOT JOBS

Project Manager, Construction - Vancouver, B.C. - Kanin Construction

Business Development Manager - Mississauga, Ont. - Keller North America

Senior Project Coordinator - Ottawa, Ont. - Buttcon

Senior Environmental Manager - Richmond, B.C. - Flatiron Construction

Project Manager, Construction - Ottawa, Ont. - Taggart Group

🔥 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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