👷Talent Thursdays: Unpaid

Brought to you by

Good morning! Employment and Social Development Canada is reminding us who makes our bridges, buildings and roads in a new campaign. Billboards next to structures in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal point to them, noting that they were “Made by Skilled Trades”.

📈 LABOUR BY THE NUMBERS

A report from The National Centre for Construction Education and Research has shed light on female advancement in construction. The report found that 42% of women in construction say their company’s leadership programs fail to address the challenges they face or help them advance their careers. 63% of companies say they offer mentorship programs, but only 37% of women report having access to one.

👷‍♀️ PEOPLE MOVES

Trevor Muir is now Director Global Business Development at Surepoint Group. He has been with the company for more than 22 years and is a longtime veteran of the oil and gas industry. 

Zoë Knowles is now Vice President of Government Relations at EllisDon. Before this role she worked as Director of Communications and Forward Planning for Ontario’s Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.    

Keerit Jutla has joined ICBA as its new Provincial Director, based on Vancouver Island. Jutla brings a wealth of experience from his time as President of the Association for Mineral Exploration (AME), where he elevated the profile of B.C.’s mining sector and built strong connections across industries and government.

Anthony Minniti, President of CGI, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Canadian Construction Association - Association canadienne de la construction (CCA). In this role, Minniti will bring his leadership and industry expertise to help guide CCA’s efforts in advancing and strengthening the construction sector across Canada.

Nicola Casciato has been elected to the College of Fellows of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada. Casciato, a Design Principal at WZMH Architects, is known for his ability to shape Canada’s architectural environment with projects such as the Edward Drake Building, Parliament Street Data Centre and Abbotsford Courthouse.

Marie Bednash is now Vice President at Naikoon. brings over 14 years of invaluable experience in British Columbia's AEC community to Naikoon. Naikoon says Bednash will be instrumental in driving its strategic growth, building relationships, and advancing its work.

Teresa Shada has been promoted at Kiewit to Senior Manager, Media & Public Relations. She has been with the company for more than 14 years, working the previous five as Manager, Corporate Communication.

John Leonardo has joined REMCAN as a Senior Advisor to the President, with a focus on business development for ETC delivery and the Greater Toronto area. Jacob Alexander has joined REMCAN's US Operations team as the Director of US Track Operations. In this role, Jacob will oversee both REMCAN LLC and TIMINY Rail track operations

Brittany Robertson is now Director of Development at Crozier. An expert in transportation, structural, and land development engineering, she joined the team in 2013 as a Civil and Transportation EIT.

Pegah Jazaeri has joined Clark Builders as Manager of Project Development. Prior to this role, Jazaeri spent more than three years at Cairo Development.

🗞 HEADLINES

Unpaid: 🚨 The Canadian government has struggled to enforce fines on employers violating the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), with nearly 40% of penalties — about $4.5 million — remaining unpaid since 2017. The top violation was inadequate pay/working conditions with more than 3,300 violations. 

Temporary threat: 🚧 Ironworkers Local 97 is urging the Canadian government to suspend its Temporary Foreign Worker program, arguing that U.S. trade uncertainty and potential tariffs threaten Canadian jobs, making it crucial to invest in local skilled workers. The union claims companies misuse the program as a cost-cutting measure, undercutting wages and compromising worker safety.

Great Wall: 🏗️ Vancouver developer Peter Wall passed away at 87 this month, leaving a lasting legacy on the city’s skyline. Best known for One Wall Centre, his projects often sparked controversy, like his battle over the tower's dark glass. Wall built his real estate empire from humble beginnings, creating Wall Financial Corp., now valued at nearly a billion dollars. Beyond development, he championed the arts, politics, and social causes, donating millions.

📅 EVENTS

Industry Icebreaker: Only one month away

Hardhats & hockey in Edmonton? Join us for a VIP live hockey experience in Edmonton as we watch the Oilers take on the Kings from the private Sky Lounge loft. Enjoy premium networking with fellow construction professionals while taking in the game, as well as a fireside chat in the Edmonton Oilers Hall of Fame. Tickets are limited and will go fast!

🧠 LEADERSHIP

Resources for professional development

• Gen Z can save the $235B kitchen/bath Industry

• Caliber Projects founder: How to build through market cycles

• Who to hire to break your contractor grind

• Tariff advice: Managing risk in construction contracts

• Did the pandemic prove remote leadership works?

💬 QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"Good buildings come from good people, and all problems are solved by good design." - Ralph Erskine, architect and planner

🔥HOT JOBS

Senior MEP Coordinator - Vancouver, B.C. - Acciona

Electrical Project Manager - Fort Saskatchewan, Alta. - Strike Group

Superintendent - Calgary, Alta. - Delnor Construction

Senior Project Manager - Fort St. John, B.C. - FLINT Corp.

Project Manager - Amherst, N.S. - EllisDon

🔥 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.

ADVERTISE WITH SITENEWS

Get your message and brand in front of Canada’s construction leaders and decision-makers by advertising in our newsletter. Learn how to partner with us here.

Here’s to a great rest of the week!

Adjust preferences and which newsletters you see here.