☢️ Talent Thursdays: Kings of nuclear

Good morning! 🚧 Ontario builders want officials to back off banning tiebacks. A new report warns that a proposed ban on tiebacks—a widely used method for supporting deep excavations—would significantly increase construction costs, extend project timelines, create worker safety risks, and worsen site congestion across Ontario.

📈 BY THE NUMBERS

Looking for a bright spot in the condo sector? Luxury condominiums emerged as one of the few resilient segments in the Greater Toronto Area in 2025, even as overall new condo sales collapsed to their lowest level in more than 35 years, according to Zonda Urban. Of just nine condo launches during the year, five were luxury projects averaging $2,213 per square foot, reflecting demand from affluent buyers less sensitive to economic conditions and increasingly focused on boutique, owner-occupied buildings rather than large “executive luxury” towers.

🥂 EVENTS

Celebrate the people who power construction

The Site Service Awards are coming to Vancouver on February 26, 2026, honouring those who keep Canada’s construction industry moving — the problem-solvers, innovators, and leaders who make the build happen.

Sponsorship opportunities are officially open, but limited spots remain. 

Position your brand alongside the top talent in the built environment, gain exposure to industry leaders, and be part of an exclusive evening of networking, celebration, and recognition.

👷‍♀️ PEOPLE MOVES

Jason Kraatz is now CEO at Hopewell Residential.

Kinetic Construction announces major leadership changes: Tom Plumb retires as CEO after 27 years; Mike Walz is appointed CEO; Nick Rowbotham becomes Board Chair; Bruce Vasarhely is promoted to Director of Operations; Brian Bailey is promoted to Victoria Branch Manager; and Craig Hewitt joins as Vancouver Branch Manager.

Manan Kapoor has been promoted to partner at MCW Group's Edmonton office. 

Blair McArthur has been appointed Vice President at Colliers.

Thomas Fyfe is now Development Manager at QuadReal Property Group.

Arnaud Van de Voorde has joined Modern Niagara as Chief Information Officer. With more than 25 years of experience as a digital, product, and technology executive, he brings expertise in digital transformation, ERP modernization, cybersecurity, and advanced analytics platforms.

Dexter Kirby is now Development Manager at Paragon Living.

Brian Carlson is now Strategic Account Manager at Bluebeam.

Brett Latham is now Vice President, Commercial (ICI) & Heavy Civil at Clark Construction Management.

Ioana Babus, P.Eng., has been promoted to Senior Associate at Stantec. The Toronto-based electrical engineer, a 2024 Top 10 Under 40 Award winner, joined Stantec in 2022 and became an associate in 2024.

Sean Usher is starting a new position as Chief Technology Officer at Republic Architecture Inc.

🗞 HEADLINES

⚛️ Going nuclear: Canada’s nuclear sector has emerged as a dominant force in major infrastructure development, with this year’s Top 100 Projects list showing $73.5 billion in nuclear work underway and four nuclear projects ranking among the top six, including two alone worth nearly $50 billion. We broke down the top companies that are powering this work here.

🏗️ Growth zone: Ottawa city council has unanimously approved a new comprehensive zoning bylaw after a multi-year review, marking a major shift in how the city will grow to accommodate a projected population of nearly 1.8 million by 2051. The bylaw aligns with the city’s new Official Plan by enabling greater densification, allowing up to three storeys in most neighbourhoods with some four-storey options, taller buildings on main streets, and high-rise limits tied to transit access in suburban areas.

🛠️ Tools down: The Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology (MITT) will begin winding down operations due to a more than 55% drop in international student enrolment, which made its financial model unsustainable. Programs will be transferred to Red River College (RRC) Polytech, allowing current students to complete their studies, while some programs and functions may extend under RRC Polytech’s leadership. The school said it will work with students, partners, and stakeholders to manage the transition responsibly.

⚡ New line: Ontario is accelerating construction of the 230-kilometre Greenstone Transmission Line to connect the Ring of Fire region to the provincial power grid, aiming for completion by 2032. The project, led by Hydro One, is intended to support mining development, provide reliable energy to northern and Indigenous communities, reduce diesel dependence, and enable economic opportunities tied to minerals critical for green technologies.

🧠 INSIGHTS AND LEADERSHIP

Resources for professional development

• 6 recruitment trends developers should watch

• Recruit for values, not just skills

• Systematize your construction business

• The importance of communication in construction safety

• Avoid buying crap lumber by doing this

• Why most speakers lose attention in the first 10 seconds

💬 QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“This is the largest infrastructure build-out in human history. That's going to create a lot of jobs. It's wonderful that the jobs are related to tradecraft – we're going to have plumbers and electricians and construction and steelworkers and network technicians and people who install and fit out the equipment. We're seeing quite a significant boom in this area. Salaries have gone up nearly double, and so we're talking about six-figure salaries for people who are building chip factories or computer factories or AI factories." Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang on data centre work.

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Here’s to a great rest of the week!

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