School districts lead the way Win industry award for fair and equitable practices By Melanie Franner
Three school districts within the province of British Columbia have distinguished themselves this year by winning a prestigious award for their fair and transparent, equitable tender practices. This is the seventh year that the Southern Inte-
rior Construction Association (SICA) has given out the Owner/Consultant Award, and the first time in its history that a school district has won it. “This is not only the first time we gave the award to a school district, it’s also
Left to right: Terry Brown, chairman of the SICA Board (2009-2011); Dan Horochuk, capital projects coordinator for School District 83; and Steve Jackson, director of operations for School District 6.
Burnaby (Head Of ce)
Coquitlam
Victoria
3958 Myrtle Street Burnaby, BC V5C 4G2
2394 Canoe Ave Coquitlam, BC V3K 6C2
524E Culduthel Road Victoria, BC V8Z 1G1
Phone: (604) 435-1313
Phone: (604) 944-0441
Phone: (250) 475-6055
Fax: (604) 435-7677 Email: bursales@rsl.ca
Fax: (604) 944-0450 Email: coqsales@rsl.ca
Fax: (250) 475-1985 Email: vicsales@rsl.ca
Vancouver
Langley
Kelowna
132 West 2nd Avenue Vancouver, BC V5Y 1C2
#102 – 6375 202nd Street Langley, BC V2Y 1N1
1885 Baron Road Kelowna, BC V1X 6W2
Phone: (604) 872-7521
Phone: (604) 539-2290
Phone: (250) 763-3114
Fax: (604) 872-7460 Email: vansales@rsl.ca
Fax: (604) 539-2295 Email: lansales@rsl.ca
Fax: (250) 861-1546 Email: kelsales@rsl.ca
Distributing Refrigeration, Air-Conditioning, and Heating Parts and Equipment to the HVAC and Refrigeration Trade.
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Ops Talk • Fall 2011
the first time we ever gave the award to three recipients,” explains Debbie Hicks, president, SICA. “And all three of the recipients are very deserving.” The awards were handed out during the SICA General Annual Meeting, held on September 16th 2011. SICA developed the award as a way to recognize “fairness and equity in the construction industry”. School districts, on average, can have a $1-million+ in their annual upgrades and renovations budgets – not including the potential of extra projects that can warrant extra millions of dollars. Ending on a High Note Dan Horochuk, capital projects coordinator for School District 83, is one of this year’s award recipients. He is set to officially retire in April of 2012. “The award caught me by surprise,” he explains. “I feel pretty privileged to have won it. It tells me that we must be doing something right.” Horochuk has tried to be fair and equitable in his business practices throughout his life. His previous experience within the construction industry (prior to the 26 years he has spent with the school district) has provided him with the awareness of how important this is. “The more you get involved in a project, the more you understand how it all works,” he says. “I understand that everyone needs to make a profit. We just want to make sure that we’re getting fair value for the money.” Carrying on a Tradition The second recipient of this year’s SICA award is John Hickling, director
