🛡️ Talent Thursdays: Playing defence

Together with

Good morning! 👋 Today we start with a farewell. B.C. residents took one last stroll on the 89-year-old Pattullo Bridge in Surrey before it closed forever. 

What a journey it has been. When it opened in 1937, it cost just $4 million to build and had a 25 cent toll until 1952. At its peak, it carried 75,700 cars and nearly 4,000 trucks every day, roughly one-fifth of all Fraser River vehicle crossings.

📈 BY THE NUMBERS

According to a new report by the Canadian Climate Institute, governments could save between $5 and $10 billion each year to 2100 by preparing public infrastructure for select climate risks. Investing about $3 billion per year in proactive adaptation would prevent most of the infrastructure damage caused by rising heat and heavier rainfall—freeing up public dollars for other priorities.

EVENTS

Don’t miss the event for B.C.’s mechanical contracting industry

The Mechanical Contractors Association of B.C. (MCABC) will host its annual Leadership Conference & Tradeshow June 10 - 11 at the Westin Bayshore in Vancouver, bringing the mechanical contracting industry together for what is shaping up to be the industry event of the year. 

Under the theme Build for What’s Next, the conference is designed to equip attendees with the knowledge and confidence not just to adapt to a changing industry, but to lead it. 

Early announcements include Opening Keynote Speaker, Fintech trailblazer Anna Sainsbury, who will demystify AI and its impact on efficiency and profitability, and political commentator Keith Baldrey. Full agenda to be announced. 

Early-bird rates end February 28, and a limited conference room rate remains available.

👷‍♀️ PEOPLE MOVES

Jan van Bruggen is starting an additional position as Vice President, Traffic Products at The Universal Group.

George J. McClean has been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Wajax Corporation, effective March 3, 2026, and will also join the Corporation's Board of Directors.

Rory Martin, P.Eng., has joined J.L. Richards & Associates (JLR) as its new Director of Project Delivery. Martin brings extensive experience in transportation project management, alternative delivery methods, and financial expertise.

Joey Thompson is now Vice President, National Construction and Surety Practice at Marsh Canada.

Ross Templeton is starting a new position as Partner, QS Services at MAKE Projects following the company's acquisition of RTA Quantity Surveying.

Katia Millaire, CRHA has been promoted to Senior Vice President for Talent and Culture at CIMA+.

Gavin Trewern has been appointed Regional Director, Atlantic Canada, at Bird Infrastructure. With 35 years of experience leading multi-trade operations across Canada and international markets, Trewern will support Bird's growth across Nova Scotia.

Matthew Visconti is now Director of Operations at Barton Malow.

Stacey Hamilton has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Growth Leader at WSP in Canada, supporting both its Earth & Environment and Property & Buildings businesses coast to coast.

Jaime Freyre de Andrade Calonge is now Chief Operating Officer, Civil, Infrastructure and Major Projects at Pomerleau.

Sylvain Gazaille has been appointed Senior Director, Defence Market at CIMA+.

🗞 HEADLINES

🛡️ Defence strategy: Ottawa has launched a transformative Defence Industrial Strategy that earmarks over $500 billion to bolster national sovereignty and economic prosperity. The plan identifies $180 billion in procurement and $290 billion in capital investment opportunities over the next decade, with the "North Star" policy of prioritizing Canadian firms to generate an estimated $125 billion economic benefit by 2035. Here’s everything builders need to know. 

🚧 Starting line: Ontario has broken ground on a three-kilometre elevated guideway and four new stations for the 15.6-kilometre Ontario Line, a cornerstone of the province’s $70 billion transit expansion plan. This milestone targets the Don Valley, Flemingdon Park, and Thorncliffe Park areas, aiming to bring 230,000 people within walking distance of the subway while providing over 40 transit connections to reduce regional gridlock.

👷 Age gap: Dave Cassidy, the Skilled Trades Special Advisor to Ontario’s Minister of Labour, is finalizing a report based on consultations with over 200 stakeholders to address the province's trades worker shortage. His recommendations focus on lowering the average apprentice age from 28 by engaging students earlier within the school system and providing stronger incentives for employers to hire and train young workers. 

🏁 New pace: B.C.’s latest budget outlines a $52.9 billion three-year capital plan despite a shift toward "re-pacing" projects to manage cost pressures. The province also plans to raise the $50-million reporting threshold for major projects, as the current list has ballooned to over 200 developments totaling $80 billion.

🧠 INSIGHTS AND LEADERSHIP

Resources for professional development

• How Alberta oil drillers are shifting to geothermal

• Is your AI writing getting the wrong attention? 

• Mastering the art of discipline

• Are you ready for the ‘mega shingle’?  

💬 QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“I don’t think investors or the infrastructure companies should be taking on the risk of development in jurisdictions that have historically created a challenge … It’s not so much about the signals and the speeches. It’s more about the actions and the results.” - Enbridge CEO Greg Ebel on building a new pipeline between Alberta and B.C.

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Here’s to a great rest of the week!

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