editor’s message

joshua Mutize, Pqs Construction Economist editor

hope this edition of our magazine finds each of you having enjoyed the holiday season with your loved ones.

Everyone is eagerly waiting for positive economic indicators for 2012 that can be used to predict how much volume of construction work is going to be in 2012, how many new jobs created and how much money the banks will be willing to lend for construction. I, like many of you, have been clicking away at fiscal economic reports on the internet almost daily. In this issue, you will find an article on Price Index compiled by Statistics Canada. I am excited that the report seems to suggest that construction industry is still healthy and is projected to keep growing in 2012 and beyond. As you know, our profession had undergone tremendous challenges in 2010/11. Many construction workers lost their jobs, homes and retirement accounts. During 2011, we have seen some positive recovery and in 2012 we will begin to see many companies ramping up their project backlog once again.

“i would like to share with you my experience with the ciqs council members.”

In this issue’s column, I would like to share with you my experience with the CIQS Council members. Having been on Council for over four years, I want you to know what it means to be ‘dedicated, positive and professional.’ This Council and previous Council members are an excellent example of the most dedicated, positive and professional people I have ever had the pleasure of associating with. They have a genuine interest in better education, member professional growth and taking a decisive leadership role in the construction industry.

While at this past Council meeting in Toronto, I was sitting with David Lai and Lois Metcalfe, and David shared a story about a young man that he was mentoring for many years and he saw him through college. Upon the completion of his degree, the young man landed a high paying quantity surveying job straight from college! This is one story of many that shows how CIQS Council members continue their dedication to education and strong mentoring programs. I invite you to read the article in this issue titled Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors recognizes Ontario accredited programs. The article is about the Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors Council and Ontario Institute of Quantity Surveyors celebrating the recognition of six Ontario educational institutes. The event was held at the Radisson Hotel in Toronto on December 2, 2011.

CIQS Council continues its endeavour in International partnerships with other professional boards in different countries. In this issue, there is an article on the upcoming Pacific Association of Quantity Surveyors (PAQS) congress. Please do not miss this great opportunity to attend the 16th PAQS Congress in Brunei, Darussalam in July 2012. CIQS is subsidizing up to five members for their registration fees. See more details about this in the article.

Wishing you happy holidays and much success in 2012!

QUANTITY SURVEYORS

A leading Cost Consulting and Project Management firm requires the following candidates for its Montreal and Ottawa offices:

Junior, intermediate and senior level Q.S.’s capable of providing cost planning and cost control services for commercial and institutional projects.

We offer competitive salaries, benefits, training and potential for growth.

Fax: 514-846-8913 | Phone: 514-846-8914 | E-Mail: MONTREAl@lCOgROUP.COM

Please send resume in strictest confidence to: LCO - Construction and Management Consultants Inc.

Congress of Quantity Surveyors16 Pacific th Association

July 7-10, 2012 BrunEI, dAruSSAlAm HoStEd By SurvEyIng dIvISIon oF PuJA (B)

The theme of the congress is Innovation and Sustaining: Challenges and Opportunities. • Innovating - continuously developing and improving, adapting and always versatile and dynamic • Sustaining - vital to adapt and remain relevant to changing market requirements • Challenges - changing aspirations of stakeholders, emergence of new technologies, ever changing environment • Opportunities - the silver lining behind every cloud PAQS, through its member organizations and individual memberships, strives to provide better services to their customers who run across various industries and countries by setting standards for best practices and maintaining superior performances.

Therefore, PAQS promotes product and service innovations that focus on the use of technologies, methodologies and systems efficiently, effectively and economically.

The theme Innovating and Sustaining: Challenges and Opportunities has been selected in this conference to provide an excellent platform for the PAQS practitioners and other stakeholders to present, to discuss, to share and get up to date with the best practices and the latest trends in the profession. It will also be an opportune time to look at the QS profession as a whole in a critical manner and look into ways of overcoming challenges and increasing demands including awareness on the need to expand our capacities to take up the opportunities that will come with all these challenges.

Call for papers

Abstracts and papers are to be submitted electronically as a file attachment to the Secretariat at sec.sd@puja-brunei.org.

DeaDlines for submissions

Abstracts must be received on or before March 1, 2012. Papers must be received on or before May 1, 2012.

registration anD notifiCations of status of submissions

All paper presenters must register for the congress upon acceptance of their abstract(s) with the PAQS secretariat. Presenters will be notified of the status of their submissions by March 31, 2012.

For complete details regarding program, registration, accommodation and visa requirements please visit www.paqs2012.com.

CIQS have agreed to subsidize up to five members for their registration fees for members in good standing for this Congress. To apply for the subsidy, members are required to submit a copy of their paid registration to execdir@ciqs.org no later than May 15, 2012.

PAQS-IwAtA FoundAtIon ESSAy ComPEtItIon

The Pacific Association of Quantity Surveyors (PAQS) established the PAQS - Iwata Foundation for the purpose of promoting the QS profession and the professional development of young quantity surveyors in the PAQS region. This competition is a written paper on a topic to be selected by the PAQS Board and the winner is sponsored to attend the PAQS congress by PAQS. All young quantity surveyors in Canada are eligible (young is defined as under 40 years of age). As soon as the details are known CIQS will announce the competition electronically to all members.