👷Talent Thursdays: Reboot

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Good morning! 🖥️ According to a recent statement by Bill Gates, in ten years, humans won’t be needed for most things thanks to AI. Our writers, however, take solace in the apparent plateauing of AI Large Language Models. This newsletter may be written by humans for a little while longer!

📈 LABOUR BY THE NUMBERS

A recent Leger poll reveals that Canadians are feeling less anxious about job loss despite U.S. President Donald Trump's ongoing trade war. The poll, conducted from March 21 to March 24, found that 38% of employed Canadians are worried about losing their jobs in the next year, the lowest level of anxiety since January. While younger Canadians (ages 18-34) are most concerned, regional variations show higher anxiety in Ontario (44%) compared to British Columbia (31%).

👷‍♀️ PEOPLE MOVES

Peggie Clermont has been appointed executive vice-president (EVP) at Équipe Laurence, a consulting engineering firm in Quebec.

Audrina Lim is now Director, Sustainable Construction at Chandos. Previously at the company she worked as Director, Carbon Transition. 

Duane Strayer, of Associated Engineering, was recently promoted VP of urban infrastructure

Catherine Tayler has accepted a new role as Senior Investor Relations Advisor with Graham.

Normand Landry has been promoted to VP of business development for Canada’s federal sector at EXP.

Joel Luyt is now Sales Director at Securiforce Services. He previously spent more than a decade at Radius Security.  

Our very own Russell Hixson has been named one of The Peak’s Emerging Leaders of 2025. Way to go Russ!

📅 EVENTS

SiteSummit: only 2 days left for early bird prices.

Secure your place among 250+ industry leaders. Early bird pricing vanishes in just 2 more days. Don't miss the definitive construction event of the year, a curated experience presented by EllisDon and SiteNews. Join us at the Polygon in North Vancouver, May 26-27, for two days of unparalleled industry insights and incredible networking.

🗞 HEADLINES

🌍 Reboot: Saskatchewan is rebooting its Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) with stricter criteria after a five-week pause, triggered by a significant reduction in the federal government’s allocation of nominee spots for the province. The reboot prioritizes candidates from health care, agriculture, and skilled trades, while placing a 25% cap on nominations in sectors like hospitality, food services, retail trade, and trucking. 

🏗️ Building builders: Three teams have advanced to the next stage of procurement for the new Skilled Trades and Technology building at Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Joseph A. Remai Saskatoon Campus, which will be awarded under a Design-Build agreement. The shortlisted teams include Bird Design Build Construction Inc., Graham Construction and Engineering LP, and Ledcor Construction Investments Limited, each partnering with experienced architectural firms.

👷‍♀️ Death of DEI: Experts say President Donald Trump’s executive orders dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies will create uncertainty for women and minorities in the workforce, particularly in skilled trades like construction, welding, and carpentry, where women make up only 4.3% of workers.

⚒️ End of season: Support Ontario Youth (SOY) successfully concluded another season of its Tools in the Trades Boot Camp, engaging 1,089 participants in hands-on training to explore skilled trades careers. The program connected attendees with industry professionals, helped 71 participants secure employment, and exceeded target attendance for key trades like residential air conditioning and electrician training.

🧠 LEADERSHIP

Resources for professional development

• 9 lessons every construction biz owner needs to know

• Digital minimalism: increasing focus by cutting back screen time

• Is multitasking a trap?

• Work trends to watch in 2025

• Our upcoming Edmonton event themed around construction, hockey, and peak performance

💬 QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"If a building looks better under construction than it does when finished, then it's a failure." - Douglas Coupland, Canadian novelist

🔥HOT JOBS

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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