🚃 Talent Thursdays: Opening day

Together with

Good morning!🛠️ If you were worried about AI taking your job, you can breathe a sigh of relief. A new study by the Institut de la statistique du Québec found that while 59% of the workforce is in jobs with high exposure to AI, office and cognitive roles are expected to see the greatest impact, while manual labour jobs like construction will be much less affected.

📈 BY THE NUMBERS

The construction sector posted strong momentum last quarter, with GDP reaching $170 billion—up 1.3% quarter-over-quarter and 2.6% year-over-year—marking its largest quarterly gain in more than three years, driven mainly by engineering and other construction activity, according to the Canadian Construction Association’s winter 2026 economic insights report. However, the industry continues to face significant headwinds from rising costs and trade-related disruptions.

TOGETHER WITH WOOD WORKS

Get the scoop on mass timber’s major moment

Changing codes, competitive costs, and increased capacity are making mass timber a major key to faster, better building in Canada.

Bringing this integral information to the broader industry, WoodWorks BC has partnered with BUILDEX Vancouver 2026, taking over Vancouver Convention Centre West on Feb 11 and 12. The event’s conversations will spotlight practical solutions — and lessons learned — from changemaking industry leaders.

To learn more about how wood can make your projects work, be sure to secure your seat at the event (because spots are moving fast.) 

👷‍♀️ PEOPLE MOVES

Markus Kritzler has been appointed Chief Executive Officer at Carbon Upcycling Technologies, a next generation Supplementary Cementitious Materials provider, to lead the company's expansion across North America and Europe

Christopher Macey has been appointed President and CEO of USG Corporation, effective April 1, 2026, succeeding Christopher Griffin who will retire on June 30, 2026, after 30 years with the company. 

Mita Saha has joined Pomerleau Construction as an HR Business Partner.

Mindy Youngs has stepped into her new role as Senior Director, Event Marketing Operations at Procore.

Jon Davies has joined Suffolk Construction as Chief Marketing Officer.

Pamela Schroeder, CHRP, has started a new position as District Human Resources & Professional Development Manager at PCL Construction.

Mujahed Harhara, BSc, MBA, has joined EllisDon as Project Manager - Infrastructure.

Quitlys Garcia has been promoted to Senior Estimator at Bird Construction.

Allen Hamilton is now Construction Operations Manager at Komplete Modular Solutions Ltd.

Johnny Ketchum is now the Director of Innovation & Technology at Hall.

John Ball is now Modular and Prefabrication Design Manager at Kalesnikoff.

🗞 HEADLINES

🚃 Opening day: After years of delays, the Eglinton Crosstown LRT is set to open this week with a phased launch that will gradually ramp up to full service. Originally slated to open in 2020, the project’s cost has climbed to more than $13 billion, and its rollout will include reduced overnight hours, incremental improvements to speed, software and transit signal priority through the spring, and ongoing performance monitoring.

🚢 Consent withdrawn: The Metlakatla First Nation has withdrawn its support for the $1.35-billion Ridley Island Energy Export Facility (REEF) propane terminal at the Port of Prince Rupert, arguing its original consent was invalid because it was not informed of an exclusivity agreement that blocks competing LPG projects, including one in which Metlakatla has an equity interest through Trigon Pacific Terminals. 

🏗️ Modern methods: Build Canada Homes has launched a Request for Information to engage Canadian firms using modern methods of construction to accelerate the delivery of affordable housing nationwide. The RFI will gather industry input on capabilities and delivery models, inform an upcoming prequalification process, and create a public directory of MMC firms, while allowing participants to help shape future procurement without guaranteeing work. 

⚡Jumpstart: The City of Ottawa is proposing a new "Affordable Housing Debenture Framework" to jumpstart three stalled Ottawa Community Housing Corporation (OCHC) projects currently facing 30% to 40% funding gaps. By leveraging its high credit rating to secure short-term loans and promissory notes, the city aims to provide a "direct injection" of capital for 550 shovel-ready units, bypassing the hurdles of rising construction costs and high interest rates.

🧠 INSIGHTS AND LEADERSHIP

Resources for professional development

• Shh! Stop over-explaining your price

• Peak interview questions for architecture and design hiring

• What having grit really teaches us about happiness

• Mess up? Here’s the science of failing well

💬 QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Housing should not be taxed like alcohol or tobacco as it is a basic economic necessity. If we want a prosperous, competitive Ontario, we must restore the conditions that allow builders to build and consumers to buy or rent homes at attainable prices. The present situation is unsustainable and, if further action is not taken, will only lead to more pain for Ontarians.” - Richard Lyall, RESCON President, on Ontario’s upcoming budget.

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Here’s to a great rest of the week!

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