👷Talent Thursdays: Emergency summit

Together with

Good morning! 🪓 A Nunavut elder in Cambridge Bay has recreated a traditional Inuit sod house out of wood and stones using just a shovel, knife and axe. Thousands of years ago, sod houses were built out of whale bones and other materials. Researchers are still working to uncover this part of Inuit history that they say goes back thousands of years. 

📈 LABOUR BY THE NUMBERS

While Trump has yet to follow through with threats to place massive tariffs on Canadian products, experts say the impact on labour could be massive. Some believe Canada could face approximately 600,000 fewer jobs, potentially driving the unemployment rate close to 1%. Losses would take several months to a year to fully materialize.

👷‍♀️ PEOPLE MOVES

Dan Malinsky is now Chief Operating Officer at Colony Construction.

Jacqueline Lotzkar has been named President and CEO of the Canadian Association of Recycling Industries. 

Becca Nagorsky has joined HDR as its Transit Planning Leader.  

Ian Baird has been promoted to Vice President of Construction, and Zack Staples is now Vice President of Development and CFO at Caliber. 

Rob Gregg has been named Partner at MCW Group of Companies.

Jay Harding has been promoted to Vice President, Preconstruction at Clark Builders. 

Meeghan Paterson has been promoted to the position of Manager, Corporate Planning at Western Archrib.

TOGETHER WITH CARBON UPCYCLING

From waste to worth: Upcycled cement

Concrete is the backbone of modern infrastructure, but soaring demand and its significant carbon footprint pose major challenges. Cement production alone contributes to 8% of global CO₂ emissions, and supply chain disruptions further exacerbate issues. Carbon Upcycling transforms industrial waste into low-carbon cement products through a patented process that binds waste particles to CO₂, enhancing strength while reducing emissions. Learn more about their upcycled cement below.

🗞 HEADLINES

Emergency summit: ⛰️ Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has convened a Canada-U.S. Economic Summit this week to address the growing threat of American tariffs and protectionism, with a focus on diversifying trade and reducing internal trade barriers. The summit will bring together business, civil society, and labour leaders to discuss job creation, wage growth, and strategies to make Canada more attractive for investment and manufacturing.

Endorsed: 🛠️ One of Ontario’s largest construction unions, LiUNA, has officially endorsed Premier Doug Ford for re-election, citing his government's strong support for skilled trades and infrastructure investment. The announcement comes just days after an endorsement from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

New heights: 🦅 Canadian researchers are advancing drone technology with aerial robotic manipulators—drones equipped with flexible arms. The CANARI-ARM project involves key research areas such as AI, control systems, and human-robot interaction. These advancements align with Canada's expanding drone regulations, which aim to facilitate beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations for industries like construction. 

Another summit: ⛰️ Support Ontario Youth (SOY) is hosting its first-ever Trades and Talent Summit on Feb. 11 in Mississauga, aimed at connecting individuals aged 18+ with career opportunities in the skilled trades. The event will feature networking with employers, resume workshops, mentorship sessions, and industry panel discussions to support jobseekers and employers alike.

🗓️ EVENTS

Sold out: 25 Innovators is at capacity

That’s all, folks. Sales have officially closed for our 25 Innovators in Construction event! We can’t wait to see everyone at SiteHQ tonight for an epic evening of tech demos, expert panels, networking and more. If you couldn’t join us, don’t worry. We have more events scheduled for this year. Keep reading SiteNews to stay up to date on how to participate.

🧠LEADERSHIP

Resources for professional development

• What makes a good PR event or activation? 

• Scale your construction business (with a small team)

• Employer branding helps snag top talent

• How to spread ideas: The law of diffusion of innovation

• Feeling behind? The myth of productivity

💬 QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten." – Benjamin Franklin

🔥HOT JOBS

Senior Project Manager - Vancouver, B.C. - Urban One Builders

Director, Development Planning - Surrey, B.C. - City of Surrey

Senior Project Coordinator - Vancouver, B.C. - Graham

Senior Construction Estimator - Windsor, Ont. - Fortis 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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