🌴Talent Thursdays: Let's get tropical

Together with

Good morning! 💻 Canada has named its first ever minister of artificial intelligence (yes, they are a human). Former journalist Evan Solomon will oversee Canada’s plans to rapidly build data centres, incentivize AI adoption by small and medium-sized businesses, and push to expand programs at Canada’s AI institutes to drive AI commercialization.

What’s in the newsletter:

• 👷‍♂️ Nominations are open for 40 Under 40

• 🏠 Canada’s new housing minister

• 🌴 We are giving away a Caribbean vacation

📈 LABOUR BY THE NUMBERS

Is it time to talk about obesity on the jobsite? Obesity is a growing health issue that significantly impacts both individual well-being and organizational finances, with obesity-related prescriptions in Canada rising from 250,000 in 2019 to 2.7 million in 2023 and weight-loss drugs growing 24.8% annually in private drug plan costs. Disability claims linked to obesity-related conditions now represent 3–4.5% of claims, growing steadily each year.

EVENTS

SiteSummit: A door prize to end all door prizes

This might be the best door prize in construction. Ever. We’re giving away a week-long, all-inclusive trip for two to the incredible Windjammer Landing in Saint LuciaThis exclusive prize is brought to you by EllisDon, presenting sponsor of SiteSummit—and builder and owner of the Windjammer Saint Lucia. To win, you must be a registered attendee of SiteSummit and check in to the event BEFORE 8:15 AM on May 26th. We’ll announce the winner at the beginning of the event. If you have visions of yourself with the sun at your back and your toes in the sand, register for SiteSummit below.

👷‍♀️ PEOPLE MOVES

Katherine Coutinho has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Corporate and Public Affairs, Ledcor. She has been with the company for 7 years. 

Bob Fairbank has joined Priestly Demolition’s Executive Team, taking on the role of Vice President of Western Canada. With more than 30 years of construction and concrete experience in both Alberta and B.C., Bob brings a wealth of knowledge to the team, having held senior positions including President, CEO, and General Manager.

M.K El Sayed is starting a new position as Senior Director, Transportation & Expansion at Infrastructure United. He is a Professional Engineer in the transportation industry who has worked on major projects, including the Ontario Subway, Eglinton Crowstown LRT, Yonge North Subway Extension and more.  

Laura Jones has advanced to Managing Partner at Pacific Land Group. She is a registered Professional Planner who has been with Pacific Land Group for many years. Her wealth of knowledge and expertise, gained over 20 years of public and private sector experience, has played a key role in shaping the success of Pacific Land Group.

Shawn Evans announced he is starting a new position as Vice President, Pursuits & Pre-Construction at EllisDon. He has been with the company for more than 15 years, starting as an estimator in 2012.

Yan Guimond is joining the Dinamo Construction team as Director of Construction.

Candace MacDonald is now Director, Special Projects, B.C., at EllisDon.

TOGETHER WITH CONCRETE REFLECTIONS

SiteSummit: Win a brand new putter

Are you clutch at sinking putts? Bring those skills to SiteSummit this month and you could win big. The concrete surface experts at Concrete Reflections are asking attendees to conquer one of the most challenging surfaces out there: the putting green. Sink your putt and you are entered to win a brand new LAB or Greenwood putter. You’ll also be able to check out the latest concrete surfacing technlogy up close. Start practicing your swing and get your tickets to SiteSummit in the link below.

🗞 HEADLINES

👷‍♀️ 40 Under 40 nominations: Now in its 6th year, Top 40 Under 40 in Canadian Construction is back and ready to once again recognize up-and-coming leaders in the construction sector. Nominations are officially open and can be submitted right now. The cutoff to submit is June 16.

💼 Cabinet shuffle: Prime Minister Mark Carney’s newly unveiled cabinet features two dozen new faces-including former Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson as housing minister-alongside key veterans like François-Philippe Champagne and Chrystia Freeland.

🏗️ Olds is new: Alberta’s government is investing $25 million as part of a larger $63 million initiative to expand the W.J. Elliott building at Olds College, enhancing apprenticeship and dual-credit trades training. The expansion will add over 440 seats for trades programming and 100 for dual-credit programs.

🌍 General admission: Experts are warning that that housing costs will not come down unless the federal government revamps immigration to bring in more general labourers for jobs that don’t require an apprenticeship or certificate. They argue the current system heavily favours highly skilled workers.

🧠 LEADERSHIP

Resources for professional development

• Why it’s so hard to fire c-suite employees

• How the world’s largest 3D printed community was built

• Warren Buffet’s biggest advice for small business owners

• The best leaders ask the right questions

• Simon Sinek: The secret to great customer service

💬 QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Form follows function-that has been misunderstood. Form and function should be one, joined in a spiritual union.” - Frank Lloyd Wright, Architect

🔥HOT JOBS

Project Manager Civil - Kelowna, B.C. - Allnorth Consultants Limited

Senior Planner/Scheduler - Vancouver, B.C. - Graham

Plant Superintendent - Kingston, Ont. - Lafarge

Construction Project Manager -Vancouver, B.C. - Prodigy

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.

ADVERTISE WITH SITENEWS

Get your message and brand in front of Canada’s construction leaders and decision-makers by advertising in our newsletter. Learn how to partner with us here.

Here’s to a great rest of the week!

Adjust preferences and which newsletters you see here.