🚗 Talent Thursdays: Crossing over

Good morning! 🏅The results are in! Sports Illustrated ranked Vancouver as the best FIFA World Cup 2026 host city. It’s not just because of those gorgeous mountain views. One of the top reasons was its robust and versatile transportation system which includes buses, various SkyTrain lines and ferries to get you where you want to go.

📈 BY THE NUMBERS

The Bank of Canada has held its target for the overnight rate at 2.25%, citing weak domestic economic activity and global volatility driven by the ongoing Middle East conflict and U.S. trade policy uncertainty. While Canada's GDP edged down 0.1% in the first quarter and employment remains largely flat, a projected second-quarter rebound is expected to leave the economy in excess supply.

EVENTS

How to win talent and retain people

Canada is facing a demographic cliff. As aging skilled workers retire and not enough new ones are coming to take their place, the industry is being forced to do far more with a lot less. Our all-start panel at SiteSummit will teach you about data driven approaches that are winning the war for talent and what the next generation of construction professionals wants out of employment. 

But time is running out and space is limited. To make sure you secure your seat, click on the link below to get tickets.

👷‍♀️ PEOPLE MOVES

Jared Donnelly is returning to Chandos Construction as its Director of Capital where he will lead a new strategic initiative at the intersection of project finance and construction delivery.

Beau Jarvis, President & CEO of Wesgroup Properties, has been appointed Co-Vice Chair of the Business Council of British Columbia.

Caleb Palam has been promoted to National Director, Projects at Maple Reinders. In his new role, he will provide leadership and oversight to some of the company's largest and most complex projects across Canada.

Gemma Gillis has joined the Canada Infrastructure Bank as Director, Investment Operations and Resources. She brings experience from the pension world and recent municipal-level work.

Brandon Bird, Chief Executive Officer at Bird Infrastructure, has been named a finalist for the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2026 Ontario award.

Sarah Haque has been promoted to Director, Human Resources at FLINT Corp.

Josh Florence has been promoted to Vice President, Investments, at Beedie. Over the past year, he has played a key role in advancing the company's acquisition strategy and leading asset management initiatives across Eastern Canada.

Peter Steunenberg, Partner at Solid Rock Steel, has been honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the British Columbia Region of the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction (CISC).

Dan Forter has been promoted to Technical Director, New Nuclear Development at Aecon, where he continues to support Small Modular Reactor (SMR) development.

Tory Negus has joined Thompson Construction Group as Senior Indigenous Relations Advisor, bringing extensive experience in Indigenous relations, major project development, and strategic stakeholder engagement across British Columbia and Canada.

Mohammed Obied is starting a new role as General Manager at Aecon (Pacific Electrical Installations).

Alexander Rocha has joined Matheson Constructors as Project Manager.

Kailey Vokes has joined WSP Canada as Vice President, Government Relations.

Shawn Gregg has been appointed Chief Operating Officer at SureWerx.

Jared Donnelly is returning to Chandos Construction to lead a new strategic initiative at the intersection of project finance and construction delivery after a decade away.

Ryan Beedie, President of Beedie, has been conferred a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, by Simon Fraser University in recognition of his leadership, philanthropy, and lasting contributions to community.

🗞 HEADLINES

✈️ Preparing for takeoff: The federal government has launched public consultations to seek feedback on the future of Toronto’s Billy Bishop island airport after the Ontario government legally replaced the City of Toronto in the tripartite agreement governing the site. Premier Doug Ford’s provincial government intends to expand the airport to accommodate jets.

🚙 Crossing over: PM Mark Carney announced that the new Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit could be delayed but will open to traffic later this month, following an upcoming ribbon-cutting ceremony. 

💰 Prompted: B.C. has initiated public consultations to help bring the Construction Prompt Payment Act into force. The long-awaited legislation is designed to resolve chronic payment delays, ensuring that contractors and subcontractors across the province's construction industry get paid in a timely manner.

👷🏻 Off the wall: CGC Inc. has officially opened a new, $210 million state-of-the-art wallboard manufacturing plant in Wheatland County, Alberta, serving as the western anchor of a larger $325 million network modernization strategy to secure supply chain reliability across Western Canada. 

🧠 INSIGHTS AND LEADERSHIP

Resources for professional development

• Builders get real on how they are implementing AI 

• Great leaders create teams that keep improving

• An industrial brand campaign from start to finish

• The final countdown: Improve your closeout strategy

• Here’s how concrete is made

💬 QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“It’s the type of project you see once in a lifetime, if you’re lucky. No matter where you go in the city of Windsor, you see the vista of the Gordie Howe Bridge somewhere. Many, many families have been part of the construction here.” - Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens

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Here’s to a great rest of the week!

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