💧 Talent Thursdays: Deep water

Together with

Good morning! ⚽ Practicing your kicks? We are officially less than 100 days away from the World Cup, and builders are hard at work to hit the deadline. Work includes a $146-million renovation of Toronto’s BMO Field and a $196-million upgrade at BC Place in Vancouver. The total cost of construction and capital work for the 2026 games in Canada is estimated to be approximately $317 million to $345 million.

📈 BY THE NUMBERS

Construction costs continue to rise above the national average of 4.39%, with Toronto at 5.29% and Calgary at 4.79% year-over-year, according to RLB’s Q4 2025 Construction Cost Report. Alberta remains a standout performer, with GDP growth projected to outpace the national average at 1.9% in 2025 and 2.1% in 2026, record housing starts forecast at 55,000 in 2025 (up 22% year-to-date), and non-residential permit values surging 31% — driven largely by a 142% jump in institutional and government projects like schools.

TOGETHER WITH WOODWORKS

Building momentum behind mass timber in BC

For the second year running, WoodWorks @ BuildEX delivered a wide-ranging educational program focused on the future of sustainable construction.

Across 12 sessions and 40+ speakers, industry leaders explored how wood is enabling faster delivery, standardized systems, and scalable affordability — from tall mass timber housing to prefab-ready design and advanced manufacturing.

With strong attendance and engaged audiences, the program reinforced BC’s position as a global leader in mass timber and sustainable forestry — and signalled where construction is headed next.

👷‍♀️ PEOPLE MOVES

Sezaneh Taherian has been appointed Chief Financial Officer at Carbon Upcycling Technologies. She brings more than 25 years of executive leadership and capital markets experience from organizations including Chevron, LanzaTech, and Xpansiv.

Jennifer Noble has taken on a new role with CIMA+, Ont E&E Regional Lead - Associate Partner.

Andy Gibb is now Director, Marketing at Vestacon Limited.

Ross Millican has stepped into the role of Director of Finance at Scott Construction Group.

Frano Cavar is leaving the Calgary Construction Association on March 13, 2026, after four years leading Public Affairs & External Relations. He will join the City of Calgary as a Senior Consultant, External Relations in the Project Development business unit at Infrastructure Services Calgary.

Jordan Ruppert has been promoted to Vice President, Construction at Starlight Investments.

Lorne Sobczyk is now Program Manager, Tailgate Toolkit at Calgary Construction Association.

Hady Youssef is now Manager of Estimating and Project Coordination at Borger Group of Companies.

🗞 HEADLINES

🛢️ Fees covered: With potential costs reaching $1 billion, the Canadian federal government has committed to covering United Nations treaty fees for Equinor's Bay du Nord project — set to be Canada's first deepwater oil installation and the world's first offshore development located outside a country's exclusive economic zone. Newfoundland and Labrador has also signed an agreement with Equinor and BP to open the path for construction and production on the project.

🔌 Plugging in: The federal government announced over $100-million in funding for three electricity transmission projects in Western Canada — two in B.C. (supporting copper, gold, and rare earth mining) and one in Saskatchewan (connecting northern and southern power grids near uranium-rich areas) — drawn from its First and Last Mile Fund for critical minerals infrastructure. 

🚢 Port deal: The Port of Churchill has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Belgium's Port of Antwerp-Bruges International — one of the world's largest cargo hubs. The deal establishes a framework for collaboration on port development, intermodal transportation, and expanded cargo flows, with priority sectors including critical minerals, energy products, fertilizer, and agricultural commodities.

🏗️ Raising crane standards: B.C. is expanding its crane licensing and permitting requirements to cover everyone who works with cranes, not just operators. Under the new WorkSafeBC program, anyone who owns, maintains, repairs, moves, or dismantles cranes will now require certification. The province also plans to advance skilled-trades training and certification as part of the initiative.

EVENTS

CALIBRATED wants to smash glass ceilings

Get ready for some real-world tools that can help you reach your career goals. 

CALIBRATED in Vancouver (May 13) equips women in industrial and technical sectors with hands-on tools to master presence, resilience, and influence, so they can lead powerfully without burning out.

Through expert-led workshops, panels, and personalized activations, you’ll walk away with a 90-day action plan and strategies to lead effectively under pressure — not in spite of being a woman, but because you are one.

​Don't miss this exclusive, limited-time offer on early bird tickets for CALIBRATED, available for one week only.

🧠 INSIGHTS AND LEADERSHIP

Resources for professional development

• How to escape ‘bottom feeding’ jobs in construction

• Leadership isn’t about rank. It’s responsibility

• Sustainability and competitiveness can coexist in construction

• Master construction scheduling (in 20 min)

• Why cost cutting isn’t a strategy

💬 QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"The Bay du Nord project is a generational one. It is a $14 billion investment with the potential to shape Newfoundland and Labrador's economy for decades. This project means real, lasting prosperity for families and communities across the province and across Canada." - Federal Fisheries Minister and St. John's East MP Joanne Thompson

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Here’s to a great rest of the week!

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