👷Talent Thursdays: Squeezed

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Good morning! 👷🏻 Construction is getting the action hero treatment. Jason Statham’s latest movie “A Working Man” profiles a decorated military veteran who left the battlefield for a life working construction. However, when human traffickers kidnap his boss's daughter, he forgoes some critical jobsite safety rules to fight back.

📈 LABOUR BY THE NUMBERS

Hundreds of Canadian workers, particularly in the steel and aluminum sectors, have been laid off following U.S. tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, with economists warning of broader economic impacts. Companies such as Canada Metal Processing Group and Algoma Steel have already reduced their workforces, citing the tariffs as a key factor.

👷‍♀️ PEOPLE MOVES

Diego Mandelbaum has joined Corix as Chief Development Officer (CDO). In this role, Mandelbaum will spearhead Corix’s growth initiatives, focusing on enhancing sustainable energy infrastructure and fostering strategic partnerships to drive expansion across the continent.

Kyle Bryan is now Vice President of Operations, Ontario Buildings at Bird Construction. He has been with the company for more than 17 years.

Susanna Zammataro will assume the role of CEO at the International Federation of Consulting Engineers starting this May. Zammataro has spent the past 18 years working at the International Road Federation

Robbin R.R. Sinclaire has been named Chair of the Ntityix Development Corporation by the Westbank First Nation. Sinclaire has more than 25 years of experience in financial management, governance and accountability.

Chelsea Montgomery is now Founder and CEO of Pixel BIM. Previously she worked as Orion Construction’s BIM manager and has also held similar roles at Ventana Construction and Lark Group

Rodrigue Gilbert, President of the Canadian Construction Association, has been named one of the top 100 Lobbyists for 2025 by the Hill Times

The entire December edition of People Moves is out now! Click on the link below to check it out. 

📅 EVENTS

SiteSummit: We’re ditching the boring venues

SiteSummit won’t be at a stuffy conference centre or hotel. For our two-day event this May, we will gather with the industry’s top leaders at the architecturally iconic Polygon Gallery in North Vancouver. Designed by renowned local architects Patkau Architects, the 25,000 square foot, seaside building features a modern, open-concept design with a focus on sustainability and natural light. Network, learn and explore with us this summer by clicking the link below.

🗞 HEADLINES

Breaking barriers: 🚧 Construction labour issues are a national electoral issue. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has pledged to offer apprenticeship grants of up to $4,000 and work with provinces to harmonize health and safety regulations to allow tradespeople to work anywhere. Liberal Leader Mark Carney has committed to tabling legislation that would eliminate all federal barriers to labour mobility.

Mortgage squeeze: 🏠 BMO has tightened mortgage lending rules for self-employed Canadians in several industries, including construction, in response to U.S. tariffs. As of March 19, self-employed individuals in construction will face stricter qualification criteria, including a reduced total debt service (TDS) ratio from 44% to 42%, which may lower the mortgage amounts they can access. Construction accounts for about 17% of Canada's self-employed workforce.

Ambassadors: ⚒️ Aecon has launched the Aecon Ambassador Program to recruit and inspire the next generation of skilled tradespeople. Volunteers from Aecon’s diverse sectors will collaborate with secondary schools and organizations like JA Central Ontario to showcase the rewarding career opportunities in construction. 

Staying afloat: 🚢 Bridgemans Services Group repurposes cruise ships into eco-friendly floating hotels ("floatels") to house remote workforces, primarily in LNG, mining, and government projects. Their most complex project, the MV Isabelle X, provides net-zero accommodations for workers constructing the Woodfibre LNG plant near Squamish, B.C., using hydroelectric power, industrial heat pumps, and advanced water filtration.

🧠 LEADERSHIP

Resources for professional development

• 5 tips when starting a construction business

• Five signs of a toxic workplace

• Why B.C. construction workers prefer nasal naloxone

• How construction leaders can stay calm during tough times

• Building a resilient mindset from a master carpenter

💬 QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"The city of the future is not a place, it's a process." - Rem Koolhaas, Dutch architect.

🔥HOT JOBS

Senior Project Manager - Cambridge, Ont. - Aecon

Digital Construction Coordinator - Kelowna, B.C. - Bird Construction

Senior Project Manager - Vancouver, B.C. - Scott Construction

Plant Superintendent - Hamilton, Ont. - Lafarge

Senior Project Manager - Edmonton, Alta. - Graham

🔥 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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