👷Talent Thursdays: Trading spaces

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Good morning! 😇 After 35 years of quiet advocacy, the Roman Catholic Church has officially recognized Antoni Gaudí—the visionary architect behind Barcelona’s iconic, still-unfinished Sagrada Família—as a candidate for sainthood. Not a bad accolade to add to the ol’ LinkedIn profile.

📈 LABOUR BY THE NUMBERS

As construction enters its busy season, the industry appears to be returning to more typical labour market conditions. According to the March 2025 Labour Force Survey, the labour force grew by 43,300 workers (2.6%) over the past year, while employment rose by only 24,300 (1.6%), pushing the unemployment rate up from 7.3% in March 2024 to 8.2% in 2025. This rise in unemployment suggests a shift away from the unusually tight labour markets of recent years toward more normal levels of activity.

TOGETHER WITH HAMMERTECH

4 tech trends in construction safety to watch

Canadian construction sites are rapidly evolving as advanced technologies transform jobsite safety and efficiency. From AI-powered cameras that detect hazards in real time to smart machinery designed to avoid human contact, the industry is embracing innovation to prevent incidents before they happen. We partnered with HammerTech  construct tech experts see on the horizon with our latest list.

👷‍♀️ PEOPLE MOVES

Scott Fletcher is now Operations Director at Graham. 

Bob Fairbank is now Vice President, PDI West, at Priestly Demolition. 

Connie Ellis is EllisDon’s first Director of Mental Health. With a background in Industrial and Organizational Psychology studying leadership and its impact on mental health in the workplace, she will lead the strategy to enhance psychological health and safety. 

Sean Boyer is now Vice President, Pre-construction, Buildings, for Pomerleau. 

Chad Ekdahl is now President and Chief Operating Officer at A&H Steel. 

Ron Egan, Senior Workforce Manager at Clark Builders, has been awarded the prestigious Community Inclusion Award by Inclusion Alberta. The award recognizes individuals and organizations that demonstrate exceptional commitment to building inclusive communities for people with intellectual disabilities.

Gary Lewis has started a new position as Senior Advisor at Ledcor. 

Matt Travers has been promoted to Executive Vice-President of Water for Stantec’s North American operations. He succeeds Ryan Roberts, who is taking on a global position as Chief Practice Officer.

Lisa Gibson has begun a new role as Principal at Colliers. 

Greg Epp has joined Crimson Group of Companies as Director of Operations. 

PCL has promoted three leaders to vice president and district manager roles to help guide its strategic U.S. expansion. Tyler Kautz will oversee Seattle operations. Trent Johnson will continue to support growth in Minneapolis and across the Midwest. In Denver, Mauricio Ramos will drive strategy and performance across the Rocky Mountains.

Cory Kohut is now Manager, Climate Solutions, at Battlefield Equipment Rentals. 

Warren Bradley has been promoted to Director of Construction at MAKE Projects. 

📆 EVENTS

SiteSummit: Hop aboard the North Shore Ale Trail

Extend your SiteSummit experience! The day before the conference kicks off, on May 25th, join us for an exclusive beer crawl on the scenic North Shore Ale Trail in North Van. Secure your tickets now and prepare for a delightful outdoor adventure nestled between Vancouver Harbour and the North Shore Mountains, raising a glass to the local brews. Cheers!

🗞 HEADLINES

Big expansion: 💰 The Province of Nova Scotia is investing $10 million to boost skilled trades training through the creation of the Cape Breton Trades Exhibition Centre, expansion of direct-entry apprenticeship programs, and support for career transitions for underemployed individuals, veterans, and newcomers. The initiatives are guided by an industry-led committee and designed to provide faster entry into the trades, hands-on learning opportunities, and enhanced access to construction careers.

Free trade: 🤝 Ontario’s proposed Protect Ontario through Free Trade within Canada Act aims to boost economic growth by reducing interprovincial trade barriers, with significant implications for skilled trades workers. The legislation would allow Ontario to recognize the credentials and standards of workers—such as those in skilled trades—from other provinces that adopt similar reciprocal measures.  

Up to code: 👷‍♀️ The BC Construction Association and its affiliated associations have announced the winners for this year’s Builders Code Champion Awards. The awards are designed to recognize those organizations leading the way in B.C.’s construction culture, working to ensure that all employees can reach their full potential without fear of hazing, harassment, bullying , or discrimination. 

Major acquisitions: 🥂 Big moves are reshaping Canada’s construction and real estate sectors. ADSS Building Supplies is joining forces with Crown Building Supplies. Meanwhile, the BM Group of Companies has welcomed Merritt Ready Mix into its fold, boosting its material supply strength. And in a major real estate shakeup, Colliers is acquiring Triovest Inc., solidifying its spot as Canada’s largest commercial real estate services firm.

🧠 LEADERSHIP

Resources for professional development

• How builders are using AI to cut waste and fraud

• Grow your business without being on site 24/7

• Are construction careers ‘tariff-proof’? 

• How the world’s biggest companies streamline onboarding

• The 6 stances of emergent decision-making

💬 QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"Vocational training and apprenticeships are the backbone of our economic success. We must value the skilled trades as highly as academic professions." — Angela Merkel, Former Chancellor of Germany

🔥HOT JOBS

 Construction Supervisor - Surrey, B.C. - FortisBC

Project Manager, Public Works - Toronto, Ont. - Infrastructure Ontario

Senior Civil Project Engineer - Campbell River, B.C. - McElhanney

Project Manager, Transportation - Edmonton, Alta. - ISL

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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