👷Talent Thursdays: Crowd control

Together with

Good morning! 🚦Walk smarter, not harder. Candiac, Quebec is the first North American city to implement smart crosswalk technology. Sensors set off in-ground lights when pedestrians approach, signaling them to stop. When implemented in parts of Europe, the technology has seen safety increase 30%.

📈LABOUR BY THE NUMBERS

In August, construction employment declined by 9,200 workers (-0.6%) nationally, largely driven by a significant contraction in Ontario, which saw a loss of 43,000 workers (-6.9%) due to reduced low-rise housing construction. Other provinces like Manitoba and Alberta also faced drops, while B.C. saw the largest annual employment increase. The national unemployment rate for construction rose to 4.7%, influenced mainly by Ontario's downturn. Employment gains were seen among younger males, particularly in Quebec, Alberta, and B.C., though core-aged male and female employment decreased slightly.

👷‍♀️ PEOPLE MOVES

Chris McColl has been appointed as the new president of CRH Canada Construction and Materials. Throughout his 31-year career at CRH Canada, McColl has succeeded several roles within the construction, cement, and ready-mix sectors, most recently serving as vice president of Dufferin Construction Company. 

Mira Saba, RJC engineer in training, has earned a rare fenestration credential held by less than 50 people in Canada. Awarded by the National Fenestration Rating Council, Mira's new credential is a testament of her high competence in thermal modeling of fenestration using industry software.

Pia Abercromby has joined the COWI team in Vancouver as its new leading specialist in Sustainability. With a background in structural engineering, Abercromby thrives in a multidisciplinary environment. She will be instrumental in implementing sustainable solutions to projects in North America. Gabriela M. has also joined the COWI team in Vancouver as associate technical director, port and marine. 

Gary Leslie is celebrating 50 years with the water services team at Metro Vancouver. Leslie’s journey began on June 20, 1974, as an inspector. Inspectors perform vital quality assurance work on construction projects for water and liquid waste infrastructure.

Alex Chay has been promoted to associate at S2 Architecture. Chay has been an integral part of the S2 team since 2018, serving as the BIM & technical services manager.

Want more? Check out our entire September edition of People Moves in the link below

🗞 HEADLINES

⬆️ Leveling up: The Ontario government is expanding its Level Up! skilled trades career fairs to more cities this fall, aiming to introduce over 35,000 students to in-demand trades such as automotive service, carpentry, and boilermaking. These interactive fairs, now in their third year, will take place in seven new cities, including Barrie, Kitchener, and Niagara Falls, offering hands-on learning opportunities for students in grades 7 to 12.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑Population increase: Alberta is facing challenges as its population growth surges, expected to rise 4.6% in 2024, the highest in over a century. Premier Danielle Smith supports rapid population growth, aiming for 10 million residents by 2050, but this has sparked concerns over the province's ability to manage services. Despite a projected $2.9 billion surplus, experts warn that urgent investments in infrastructure, especially schools, are necessary to avoid further public service shortages.

⚒️ Non-profit: The Skilled Trades Advisory Council (STAC), founded in August 2023, has achieved 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, advancing its mission to address the skilled labor shortage in the U.S. and Canada. STAC unites industry leaders to promote skilled trades—such as electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and construction—as high-paying and essential careers. 

TOGETHER WITH AON

Who’s going: Construction Leaders Forum

The Construction Leaders Forum, a gathering of past and present winners of Top 40 Under 40 in Canadian Construction, is almost at capacity and the guest list is impressive. It includes CEOs and senior executives from companies like PCL, Bird, Aecon, Acciona, EllisDon, OPG, Flatiron, Graham, Ledcor, Pomerleau, Kiewit, Maple Reinders, Turner, Rice Group, Dream, Multiplex, Arcadis, Govan Brown, Timescapes, Hammertech, Buildots, Harrington, Atwill-Morin, Creo, Faber, Gowling, Amico, Magil, Smith & Long, Strike Group, Synergy, Vertex, Vestacon, RBC, Desjardins, NorLand, JCB Construction, Axiom Builders, Stock Modular, Alltrade, Priestly Demolition, Carbon Upcycling, Infrastructure Ontario, RJC Engineers, RSG International, Fero, 

🧠 LEADERSHIP

Resources for professional development

• Signs that a construction project partner is in distress

• Why do we celebrate incompetent leaders?

• Better decisions with data: Asking the right question

• Is a construction management degree worth it?

• Colin Powell on the essence of leadership

🔥HOT JOBS

Senior Manager, Commercial/Legal - Ottawa, Ont. - EllisDon

Site Superintendent, Civil - Duncan, B.C. - Stone Pacific Contracting

Project Control Manager - Kitimat, B.C. - Altrad Services

Senior Technologist - Kamloops, B.C. - WSP

Senior Interior Designer - Calgary, Alta. - IBI Group

Senior Estimator - Toronto, Ont. - KAPP Infrastructure

🔥 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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