Building Fort McMurray 2023

BUILDING FORT McMURRAY 2023

CONSTRUCTION

CURRENTLY UNDERWAY

ON THE PUBLIC WORKS

NORTH FACILITY

MENTAL

WELLNESS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

NORTHLIFE BAPTIST

CHURCH UNDERGOES

FLOOD MITIGATION EFFORTS

Your ACSA helps you create a safer workplace.

We equip health and safety leaders with quality training, Certificate of Recognition programs, and professional designations.

Learn in the way that works for you:

• In-person classes

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• On-demand, online courses

Build the best management system for your team:

• Certificate of Recognition (COR)

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• Temporary Letter of Certification

Earn your safety designation:

• National Health and Safety Administrator (NHSA)

• National Construction Safety Officer (NCSO)

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• Electrician Apprenticeship

• Heavy Equipment Technician Apprenticeship

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Apprenticeship

• Pre-Employment Programs

• Power Engineering

• Power Lab

• Steamfitter/Pipefitter Apprenticeship

• Welder Apprenticeship

• Welder Recertification/

B-Pressure Testing

Message from the President of the Fort McMurray Construction Association

KEITH PLOWMAN

For over 35 years, the Fort McMurray Construction Association (FMCA) has represented the interests of the industrial and commercial construction industry in the Fort McMurray/Wood Buffalo region. We play a vital role in the construction and maintenance of the infrastructure that is so critically important to maintaining the well-being of our community.

I am honoured to act as the president of the association and build upon the foundation laid by our past presidents and board members. I am very fortunate to have the continued support of past president, Charles Iggulden, our committed board of directors, and executive director, Lana Maloney.

This year is an important one as we will continue to roll out new programs and initiatives to support our members so that they, in turn, will be successful.

We anticipate holding many networking events over the 2023 calendar year, including our annual Construction Industry Golf Classic in May and our annual nine-hole networking golf tournament “Whack F**K” in September. Watch our website for more information on these and other great events our staff are working on.

We continue to build on the educational programming being offered both virtually and in person. To date we offer on a regular basis over 1,200 courses and webinars ranging from safety to soft skills. A complete list of our courses can be found on our website.

Improving the recruitment and retention of workers in the construction industry remains a priority for us. Working with the Alberta & Canadian Construction Associations to make the necessary changes at a government level to improve the apprenticeship programs is critical. We also need to create a unified message to encourage the youth to consider the trades once graduating from high school.

We recognize and value our relationships with our stakeholders. We will continue to work closely with our partners – municipal governments, private sector owners, the Alberta and Canadian Construction Associations, the Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce, the Northeastern Alberta Aboriginal Business Association, Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo Economic Development and Tourism, and the many other local stakeholders to see this region grow and diversify.

We will continue to work closely with the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo through regular liaison meetings and providing feedback on procurement, as well as planning and development practices, to name just a few.

I look forward to my term as president and to providing our members with information and resources so that they, in turn, can be successful.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to me or our office staff at any time. n

Supporting

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Message from the Member of Parliament for Fort McMurray-Cold Lake

LAILA GOODRIDGE

Building is in our veins. Here in Fort McMurray, there are several exciting important projects that are under construction, in the planning and development stage, or have been recently completed.

Many of these projects address local priorities, create good paying jobs, support our local businesses, and attract further investment into our community.

Every direct job in these and future construction and maintenance projects has the potential to create demand for further indirect jobs. Local manufacturers, suppliers, and trucking companies experience a jump in business. Local restaurants and grocery stores gain new customers. That is great for families, local businesses, our communities, and all of Alberta. This has provided muchneeded support to our local economy. Supporting strategic infrastructure projects not only provides local jobs, but also provide our community with lasting benefits.

The past few years have been like none other, and the construction industry has been forced to navigate numerous challenges, including labour shortages amid a global pandemic, as well as record inflation. Through innovation and a focus on reducing red tape from all levels of government, members of the Fort McMurray

Construction Association have been able to adapt to the new reality. As a result, the construction industry continues to play a key role in the development of our community.

I am proud to be your Member of Parliament, friend, and neighbour. I will always be a strong advocate for this community, our people, and our resources. The Conservative Party of Canada under the leadership of Pierre Poilievre is working hard to give Fort McMurray the help it deserves. Fighting for the oil and gas industry, fighting to scrap the carbon tax, and fighting against the gatekeepers that are blocking construction.

Fort McMurray has long been a proud symbol of hope for Canadians. This is a place where ambitious Canadians from every province have come to find meaningful employment, a better life for their families, and to chase the Alberta dream. With positive forecasts for Canada’s energy future and continued infrastructure investments, we can be confident that Fort McMurray’s best days are still to come.

When Fort McMurray’s works, Alberta works, and when Alberta works, Canada works. n

Owned & Operated. ©Paul Davis Restoration, Inc. Each franchise office independently owned and operated.

Message from the Mayor of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo

SANDY BOWMAN

On behalf of council and everyone with the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, I would like to thank the Fort McMurray Construction Association (FMCA) and its members for all they continue to do to make our region such a great place to call home.

In many ways, 2022 represented a year of resurgence for the region’s economy. After years of successive challenges, 2022 was a step in the right direction for industry, business, and job creators with strong momentum experienced across a number of sectors.

At the same time, there is much more work to be done – now, and in the years ahead. While we face many of the same issues as in other parts of Alberta and in communities across Canada, what is clear is the abundance of opportunities and advantages we have in our region. There is no better place to be than in Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo, and it’s in large part because of the work we’re doing together.

Council continues to be a leader among municipalities in investing in a robust, community-focused capital budget with a number of important projects and initiatives that

support the local economy and businesses. With major commitments to flood mitigation and rural water sewer servicing continuing, 2023 will also see progress on a number of construction and community development projects at the municipality and alongside our partners.

Of course, it matters just as much how we do business as a municipality. We are committed to maintaining among the lowest – if not the lowest – municipal tax rates in Alberta, while striving to maximize investment in local businesses and social procurement while taking steps to make it as easy as possible to do business with the municipality.

As I mentioned, there is always work to be done in these and many other areas of importance. Through effective collaboration and by working together, and I am optimistic and confident we are well-positioned to drive positive results in 2023 and in the years ahead.

Congratulations to the FMCA on another edition of Building Fort McMurray magazine. To the FMCA leadership and all members, I again thank you for your service and commitment and wish you the best during the upcoming construction season. n

CCA securing a strong future for the industry through collective advocacy

By Mary Van Buren, president, Canadian Construction Association

Representing 20,000+ member firms, the Canadian Construction Association (CCA) is proud of our mission to inspire a progressive, innovative, and sustainable construction industry.

The key to our success is working with valued partner associations like the Fort McMurray Construction Association. We are powered by your engagement. Together, we are driving change on key issues that make a real impact, not only for the industry, but for all Canadians.

A SMART INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN BACKED BY INVESTMENT

As the industry’s national advocate, the CCA has been working to help shape a long-term plan for sustainable infrastructure investment. In our meetings with government leaders and reinforced by our advocacy strategies, the CCA has always maintained that one size does not fit all. Every region and municipality, including our Indigenous communities, have different needs and priorities.

We need to move from quick fixes to a strategy that focuses on long-term solutions and value for Canadians

in the regions they live. It is why we engage with our local construction association partners and members – to learn first-hand what is important to you and your community.

Over the past two years, the CCA has been actively engaged to drive more investment in key trade gateways and corridors across the country. This included partnering with the Western Canada Roadbuilders & Heavy Construction Association and bringing in national partners, like Export Development Canada, the Business Council of Canada, and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, to build the support we need among politicians and Canadians. The CCA helped fund the report, From shovel ready to shovel worthy, to strengthen our case. We are also supporting a media and government relations outreach campaign to create more momentum and support for this initiative. We are gaining traction and our goal is to have this important issue reflected in the 2024 Federal Budget.

WORKFORCE AN URGENT PRIORITY

More than 70 members from across Canada and representing all sectors of the construction industry met with

parliamentarians from all parties to discuss the labour crisis and urgent need to Rebuild Canada’s workforce NOW during CCA’s annual Hill Day on November 15. Our collective efforts to bring this message locally, provincially, and federally has generated government support for investing in promotion of the trades and changes to immigration, including increasing immigration to help ease the shortfall.

The urgent need for skilled trade workers is also receiving nationwide attention as we work to build the number of apprentices, through our partnership with the Canadian Apprenticeship Service, and turn construction into a first-choice career through our industry-wide Talent Fits Here campaign.

FAIR PROCUREMENT

The CCA’s semi-annual Meech Lake meeting with government leaders resulted in a commitment to establish a working group on procurement and project delivery methods. We also embarked on a fact-finding mission last summer to learn first-hand from members about their challenges with current procurement practices. Dubbed the Standard Practices

Tour, the CCA visited Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, St. John’s, and Montreal in June.

We are creating resources to educate owners on the challenges identified by our members, as outlined in the report (which can be found at www.cca-acc. com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/ Standard-Practices-Tour-Report-Final. pdf). Procurement needs to adapt to encourage innovation, account for long-term value and sustainability, promote the use of alternative delivery models, and support shared risk. Too often contractors take on the risk of project costs and delays due to the shortage of workers, materials, and supply chain disruptions.

ACTION-BACKED POLICIES TO SUPPORT GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE

The federal government knows that construction has a major role to play in its greening strategy and achieving Canada’s net zero targets. We submitted detailed recommendations on developing a buy clean policy, mandating change, enabling investment decisions, growing Canada’s advantage in building practices, technology and building materials, and training and incentivizing the future workforce. Following the submissions, the CCA has been invited to participate in a working group on Canada’s Green Buildings Strategy. The CCA and our partners are also aligning on our message that governments must update building codes, provide incentives for businesses, share climate data, and create a list of approved “green” materials.

STAY IN TOUCH!

You can count on the CCA to be a collaborative partner to the Fort McMurray Construction Association, providing helpful tools, sharing best practices across the country, and being your voice with the federal government.

Stay in the loop by subscribing to CCA’s newsletter at bit.ly/ccasubscribe, by following @ConstructionCAN on Twitter, or by looking up Canadian Construction Association on LinkedIn. n

WE BUILD TRUST!

Trust is the FOUNDATION for everything we do.

An update from the

ALBERTA CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION

By Ken Gibson, executive director of the ACA

ACA advocacy with new premier and cabinet paying dividends for membership

The Alberta Construction Association (ACA) advocacy is reflected in ministerial mandate letters across government that address key issues for Alberta’s contractors. Mandate letters can be found at open.alberta.ca/publications/ mandate-letters-to-ministers-2022. Highlights include:

• Sustained infrastructure investment including trade corridors to support Albertan’s quality of life and economic prosperity

• Best value procurement and standardized contracts to reduce risk

• Extending prompt payment provisions to Government of Alberta contracts

• Promoting trades education, working training, recognition of out-of-province credentials, fostering opportunities for people from under-represented communities, and expanded Provincial Nominee Program

• Continued red tape reduction with an emphasis on streamlined permitting and Land Titles processes

• Complete Occupational Health & Safety Code review and more focus on mental health supports to keep workers safe

• Review Building Code changes to ensure safety and affordability

New Infrastructure Minister Nathan Neudorf comes from our industry having owned his own firm as a carpentry subcontracting, having worked for a general contractor, and having served as a consultant for several public owners. Neudorf is a former chair of the Lethbridge

INFRASTRUCTURE

Some of the issues that the ACA looks forward to working with the Infrastructure Minister and the government include:

• Extending prompt pay to projects under the Public Works Act.

• Lack of transparency and variability regarding future projects, funding, timing, delivery, project budget, impacting industry’s ability to plan. It takes years of steady work to produce skilled design consultants, tradespeople, and project managers. Swings in infrastructure spending inevitably lead to periods in which industry capacity can’t meet demand without price increases at the expense of taxpayers.

• Relations that are contractual and transactional rather than collaborative.

• Inappropriate allocation of risk.

• The revision of GoA agreements removing all forms of alternative dispute resolution, leaving the courts as the only option.

• Contractor selection primarily based on low price, treating construction as a commodity, rather than selection on best value and innovation treating construction as a specialized service.

The ACA will carry these themes forward in our advocacy

Construction Association and a former board member of the ACA.

for the upcoming provincial election, slated for May 29, 2023.

BUILDERS’ LIENS AND PROMPT PAY

Prompt pay came into effect for contracts signed after August 29, 2022.

The ACA successfully advocated for Land Title provisions to speed up resolution of liens in the Government’s Pending Registration Queue system, and to overturn stop payments on progress draws by Alberta Infrastructure where a court order signaled pending removal of the lien on school projects.

ACA Forms A and B contracts and the Builders’ Lien Plain Language Guide have been updated to reflect the new Act. Two new ACA Plain Language Guides (Prompt Pay Provisions; Prompt Pay Adjudication process) are also now available through the ACA website at albertaconstruction. net/documents/.

The industry consortium of the ACA, Alberta Trade Contractors Coalition, Municipalities Alberta Association, and Consulting Engineers of Alberta will not submit at this time a proposal to government to act as a nominating authority to accredit prompt pay adjudicators and manage the adjudication process. The ACA is concerned that the proposed administrative responsibilities contemplated in the regulations run counter to the goal of affordable costs borne by parties to an adjudication. The ACA will advocate for choice amongst nominating authorities to best serve industry.

APPRENTICESHIP, SKILLS, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

The ACA continues to advocate for a stronger industry role in vocational education and apprenticeship, offering to assist the new Skilled Trades Apprenticeship Board with industry engagement.

The ACA met with the Minister of Skilled Trades to reinforce the need for the apprenticeship system to maintain quality and address skill shortages, and followed up advocating for new incremental funding to train the increase in apprentices registered with Alberta colleges and polytechnics.

I have been appointed to the Premier’s Council on Skills. The council is to provide advice on issues and emerging trends with respect to the skills needed in Alberta’s

workforce, particularly as they relate to educational programming in Alberta’s adult learning system.

ACA DEVELOPS RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE FEDERAL IMMIGRATION

Skilled foreign trained tradespeople can become productive permanent residents that mentor Canadian apprentices to help address chronic labour shortages. The ACA shared industry recommendations on recommended improvements to federal immigration programs.

THE ACA CONTINUES TO OPPOSE WAGE SCALES ON FEDERAL CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS

The ACA applauded the 2014 repeal of the Federal Fair Wages Act in 2014. Upon learning that wage scales are under consideration to achieve a more favourable investment tax credit, the ACA has reiterated its concerns with the current federal government about bureaucrats replacing the marketplace to determine fair wages. Construction remains the third-highest wage industry in Alberta after oil and gas and utilities. n

Gold Seal Certification –Become a recognized employer

The Canadian Construction Association’s (CCA) Gold Seal Certification Program can help your company attract, grow, and retain top talent

By Chanel Roberts, Manager, Education and Gold Seal Certification Program, Canadian

Association

With over 11,000 Gold Seal Certified (GSC) professionals across Canada, the Canadian Construction Association’s (CCA) Gold Seal Certification Program is the industry’s nationally recognized certification. Gold Seal construction management professionals have attained the highest standard of excellence in the industry, have proven industry experience, and are held in high regard. Through professional development and continued mentorship, this professional certification program is focused on helping individuals achieve excellence through education, training, and skills development.

BECOME A GOLD SEAL EMPLOYER

Employers who support their employees’ professional development are seen as industry leaders. Becoming a Gold Seal Employer capitalizes on the integrity and prestige of the Gold Seal Certification and profiles your commitment to excellence in the management of construction.

“We recruit, retain, and develop the best construction professionals in the industry,” says Allan MacIntosh, president of Marco. “Gold Seal Certification and our status as a Gold Seal Employer demonstrate our commitment to excellence. We are proud to tell our clients that by placing

Construction

their trust in Marco – ‘Builders of Atlantic Canada’, their projects will be managed by Gold Seal Certified personnel. We strongly believe that having a certified team inspires confidence from owners, designers, and our subtrade partners.”

Key advantages of being a Gold Seal Employer include:

1. Demonstrating your preference for construction professionals who have earned a nationally respected certification.

2. Industry recognition for supporting continuous professional development.

3. Maintaining a competitive advantage and ensuring that clients understand that your company’s construction projects consistently set the gold standard with Gold Seal Certified professionals.

4. Opportunities for Gold Seal Project recognition, providing increased promotion and exposure for featured projects.

5. Advocating for the Gold Seal Certification Program.

GET THE BEST PEOPLE FOR THE JOB

Including information on Gold Seal Certification on your website’s careers section and in job postings can benefit your company in many ways. Having a clearly defined and articulated way of growing talent and investing in

professional development is an incentive for applicants and can help differentiate your company from the competition. By asking for the certification in job postings or by listing it as an asset, you can showcase your appreciation and support of professionalism.

GOLD SEAL PROJECTS

Having your project recognized as a certified Gold Seal Project is also a great way to encourage eligible jobsite staff to become certified and gain visibility for your commitment to professional development.

Gold Seal Projects promote the value of Gold Seal Certified professionals on a project site and educate those who are non-certified about the value of certification. A Gold Seal Project demonstrates a company’s ability to manage and undertake challenging construction projects and showcases their professionalism and expertise in the construction industry.

To learn more about Gold Seal Certification, visit cca-acc. com/workforce-excellence/gold-seal.

To learn more about Gold Seal Projects, visit cca-acc.com/ workforce-excellence/gold-seal/gold-seal-projects/.

To inquire about becoming a Gold Seal Employer, contact the Gold Seal team at goldseal@cca-acc.com. n

Education Online Training Courses

need ONLINE TRAINING?

The FMCA has plenty of online courses to choose from!

Our online training courses are designed to help you stay current with the latest training standards and government regulations and to upgrade your professional skillset. We’ve been working diligently to continue expanding the variety of topics available so that we have a course that’s perfect for your needs. A majority of the new courses we’ve added or partnered with are accredited by the Canadian Construction Associations Gold Seal Standard

Browse our online course selections today!

fmca.net/education

LEADERSHIP FOUNDATIONS FOR WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION

A 4-week introduction to transformational leadership, brought to you by Ambition Theory. This interactive online course is an introduction to transformational leadership specifically for women construction professionals It focuses on the behavioural side of leadership, social and emotional intelligence, influence, and relationship building Participants will receive 2 Gold Seal Credits upon the successful completion of the course

CONSTRUCTING MINDS VIRTUAL COURSES

The knowledge, skills, and experience that form Constructing Minds foundation to provide this relevant training has been earned over a span of more than 40 years. 40 years, that is, of direct “boots on the ground” experience – building on the job sites of numerous Canadian projects delivered under many contract delivery types. A few of the many courses that we offer are:

Project Planning for Success

Responding Successfully to a Request for Proposal

Contractor’s Practical Guide to Change Order Pricing & Management

ICBA VIRTUAL COURSES

Never stop learning! For nearly 50 years, the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association (ICBA) has been the top construction training and professional development team in B C and Alberta A few of the many courses that we offer are:

CCDC 14 + 15: Managing the Uniqueness of Design-Build

Bitesize Bluebeam – Levels 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5

Construction Business Management

Bluebeam Revu Estimating – Levels 1 & 2

Site Leadership for Lead Hands, Foremen, or Superintendents

The FMCA is working to save you money by leveraging the negotiating power of over 150 member companies! We offer our members exceptional savings and benefits on key business services from trusted providers Our Member Discount Program Partners provide discounts across a wide range of services for our members

Bazylo & Dunn Chartered Professional Accountants

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NEED TO BE MORE SOCIAL ONLINE BUT DON’T KNOW WHERE TO START?

SOCIAL MEDIA

PROGRAM

Social media is becoming increasingly necessary for businesses to reach and interact with new and current customers, and in consideration of this FMCA has created this program to relieve some of the strain of creating or maintaining your social media presence specifically for our valued members

WHY BOTHER WITH SOCIAL MEDIA FOR YOUR BUSINESS?

The average adult spends 2 25 hours on social media every day

Over 70% of people who have a positive experience with a business on social media will recommend that business to their networks.

81% of people use Instagram to research products and services

4 out of 5 people on LinkedIn drive business decisions

Our goal is to aid Member businesses create or grow their social media presence by offering our Social Media Program that includes the following services:

Branding & Strategy - An initial 1-hour in-person or virtual meeting to discuss

and determine your brand standards and vision, in addition to content strategy. A monthly follow-up meeting to discuss any ideas, content strategy, as well as curate content as necessary, for 3 postings per month.

Content Creation - We create high-quality graphics, photography, videography, and blog writing

Custom Ad Creation - We will create engaging and professionally designed social media ads to further your reach to new customers Limited to one (1) ad per month

Relevant Hashtag Search

Custom Profile Image & Cover Image Design

You will retain complete access and control of your social media pages as we will not have any administrative access to your social media accounts.

We have two subscription plans available, you can dip your toes in with our monthly subscription and cancel at any time, or you can select our yearly plan which offers you a 15% savings over the monthly subscription plan.

For more information or to sign up, please visit fmca.net/social-media-program/

Mental wellness in the construction industry

By Daniela Cohen

The only constant in the construction industry is change.

“Changing companies, changing tasks, changing locations. The everchanging nature of construction is a unique element,” according to Mike Martens, president of the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association Alberta (ICBA).

Although people working in the industry are used to working in this physically demanding and unpredictable context, Martens said they may not realize its impact on their mental health.

As a national provider of benefits to more than 150,000 Canadians connected to the construction industry, ICBA’s data showed a significant rise in the prescription of drugs for anxiety, depression, and ADHD over the past two years.

“Rates have been going through the roof, so we actually have hard data to

show that this is a growing issue,” said Martens. “It was an issue before, but COVID really exacerbated that.”

According to research by the Construction Industry Rehabilitation Plan, 83 per cent of construction industry workers have experienced a mental health issue that is moderate to severe.

And the impact of compromised mental health on a construction site can be dire. For example, “if you don’t pay attention and you’re a crane operator, people can die,” said Martens. “The consequences in construction for mental wellness – the ability to concentrate, the ability to be aware – are so much higher. Your life is in danger if you don’t do your job right.”

For these reasons, ICBA spent two years designing a wellness program specifically for the construction industry. This is an addition to the services people already have access to under their ICBA benefits, such as

counselors and psychologists, as well as the Employee Assistance Program.

“We’ve developed it from scratch with experts and contractors working in the construction industry,” said Martens. “ICBA in Alberta is a partner to an organization that’s been around for nearly 50 years and has more than 4,000 members and clients. With that, you can talk to people and ask, what do you need?”

Now running for over 18 months, the program has 10,000 construction professionals across Canada enrolled. Every month features a different theme, and after completing the entry level dealing with stigma against speaking up about emotional health, participants can focus on whatever theme is most applicable to them, including pain avoidance, addictions, and suicide prevention.

All course materials are customized to people in the construction industry. Martens says you won’t find photos of people having conversations on a park bench, for instance, but rather at a construction site. And topics around psychological safety, emotional intelligence, and financial fitness are presented in a way that will resonate with the audience.

A crucial element of the program is being able to promote it effectively.

“You can design the best system in the world, but if nobody uses it, who cares?” said Martens. “So, another big difference with our program is it’s incredibly customized and accessible

marketing. Most other wellness programs are purely online, whereas we have a department who’s calling the employers and saying, ‘Here’s how we recommend you promote these programs. And here’s the material that you can print out and invite others to. Here’s an email you can send out.’”

In addition, ICBA organizes promotional campaigns to encourage people to talk about mental health. According to Martens, resistance to being vulnerable is a significant barrier in accessing mental health support in construction, so the ICBA wellness program focuses on dispelling stigma around asking for help.

“A problem for many in the construction industry is that they tend

to keep things bottled up,” said Martens. “That’s why we have focused our efforts in helping people speak up, [to] know that it is not weak or shameful for men and women to share with others.”

This includes an awareness raising campaign in partnership with former Canadian Olympic team player and NHL goalie Corey Hirsch, who has had more than 60 speaking engagements with the ICBA since 2021.

“He’s recently written a book about the challenges on his mental health journey,” said Martens. “We have encouraged him to go and talk to construction workers – many of whom look up to professional athletes – to say, ‘I’ve got problems too. And the

only way I’m working through these problems is talking about them.’”

Understanding the importance of making mental wellness accessible, ICBA offers the wellness program free to ICBA members or companies receiving their benefits through the Fort McMurray Construction Association, and for non-members at a fee of roughly $10/person/month.

To find out more about the ICBA wellness program, visit www.icbaalberta.ca. n

Locally serving Fort McMurray since 1977, H. Wilson Industries (2010) Ltd continues to support our region with the following services:

• Water and Sewer Construction

• Asphalt Paving

• Road Construction

• Site Grading and Excavation

• Concrete Work

• Residential Site Development

• Industrial Site Paving and Road

• Construction

• Asphalt Maintenance

• Snow Clearing

Mike Martens, president of the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association Alberta (ICBA).

Breaking the concrete ceiling

The rise of women in construction

From the time she went on outdoor navigation adventures with her father as a child, Valerie Skinner knew her future work would be in the field. Participating in an inaugural program for girls in science and technology in Grade 9 in Nova Scotia and seeing women marine biologists, helicopter pilots, and mechanical engineers being openly accepted in their careers was “eye opening”. As a result, it further inspired her to pursue an unconventional career path.

Statistics Canada reports that women only make up five per cent of the skilled trades in the country. As the survey manager at H. Wilson Industries, Skinner is in the minority.

“We all get the comments. For me, it’s ‘do you even know what you’re doing here?’, or a lot of people think that I’m safety because I’m in the field and driving around,” said Skinner. “I jump out and observe and do my asbuilts or layouts, and sometimes inspections and they just assume that because

I’m female, I must be safety, not necessarily a more technical foreman management kind of position, because that’s not the norm.”

Katie Dojack is currently the general manager at Creative Industries, which offers services ranging from commercial maintenance and snow removal and ice management to civil construction and earthworks, welding, and heavy duty mechanical. Although Dojack said she hasn’t personally experienced discrimination as a woman during her time in the construction industry, she acknowledges that women who work in field positions, such as drivers, may be subject to stereotyping.

“If a man and a woman were to have an accident, how many times do you hear, ‘Well, she shouldn’t have been driving anyway,’ whereas it could have been exactly the same accident that the man would have had,” said Dojack.

By Daniela Cohen

In her previous role, Dojack said she witnessed women drivers she supervised being treated differently by male bosses and peers.

“Part of the way that we treat anyone is past experience. And so, as a readymix driver, as a woman, maybe here where they have a smaller staff, if they’d had someone before that was problematic or higher maintenance…,” she said. “Don’t get me wrong –some of the guys were just as high maintenance as some of the women. But because it was a male-dominated industry, if a woman was to have the same challenges, it would be frowned upon a little bit more than a man…. I hate to say this, but I do feel that especially women in the trades have to put a little bit more in to get respected.”

According to Katera Ryan, area manager for Canada Pump and Power, women in construction tend to be underestimated until they prove otherwise. Ryan took on the manager

position in early 2022, but said that in reality, she did most of the work behind the scenes anyway. She just wasn’t getting the credit.

After moving from Newfoundland to Fort McMurray in 2005 with no previous experience in the construction industry, Ryan began with an administrative position, followed by working as the project controls and safety rep for a management group contracted to oversee projects on one of the oil sands. In Canada Pump and Power, she worked her way up from a project administrator to administrative manager, and finally, area manager. During her years in the industry, Ryan said “people underestimated my knowledge, my skill, and my eagerness.”

Throughout her experiences, men sometimes saw her as a threat.

“Someone could have 30 to 40 years’ experience, whereas I only have 18 years, but our knowledge and skillset can be very different and not necessarily make them more qualified for a specific position,” said Ryan, adding that because of this, it was challenging for her to witness the level of trust executive leadership

teams can place in a person who is relatively new to a company.

Over her career, Dojack has put in substantial effort to earn her colleagues’ trust.

“As a woman, you can’t just walk into an organization and expect your credentials – because who knows about them – to carry you through,” Dojack said. “I think that maybe one of the reasons why I haven’t experienced the same as other people is because initially, I will put more out there. Just

because I want everyone to know that if you guys are freezing your tails off or you’re in a ditch doing this, I will be there with you. I can’t very well lead if I don’t understand their problems.”

Nowadays, Skinner is no longer trying to prove herself as a woman in the industry.

“If I need help, I’ll ask for help. Sometimes the guys will just automatically assume that I need it. And years ago, I might have brushed it off as, ‘No, I’m good’. Like, I don’t need

Valerie Skinner on one of the company’s jobs in September 2022.

Katie Dojak, general manager at Creative Industries.

Katera Ryan at CPP Keyano Yard in Fort McMurray for an inspection in March 2023.

Katera Ryan at the Oil Sands Conference and Tradeshow with one of the company’s dredge pumps.

your help. I don’t need you to carry my stuff,” said Skinner. “In this day and age, there should be no question. [When] we get a new woman onto the site, she [should] get treated the exact same as everybody else.”

For Skinner, it is essential that women present themselves with confidence. “You have to have a backbone. You can’t let men walk all over you. You can’t allow them to belittle you and your knowledge,” she said. “Because if you continue with that, then how is that growing you as a person and a woman in whatever field of study that you’re in?”

Skinner said she often hears other women in the trades putting themselves down. “’I’m just a flag person.’ I’m sorry – I’d never be able to stand in traffic and risk my life for a crew of guys! I can’t do that. I can’t drive a gravel truck or a rock truck or a heavy hauler. So, when they say, ‘I’m just a truck driver,’ that really hurts me.”

Despite the challenges, Skinner believes a shift away from long-held stigma against women in the construction industry is happening, although there is still progress to be made.

She said the fact that many of her male counterparts in the new generation are growing up with single moms, which influences their views. “Seeing how hard these women work, not necessarily in construction, but if you’ve seen what your mom can do, then why can’t a woman go and use a hammer and nails and build the house? Or do your piping?” said Skinner.

As a single mom herself, one of Skinner’s challenges is finding childcare. However, she said that it’s never put her in a position where she can’t show up every day to do her job and she’s still a great mom.

Skinner was fortunate to be mentored by a highly skilled female surveyor. Ryan, however, hasn’t had the benefit of female mentorship in her career, consistent with the gaps noted by Statistics Canada in women’s access to role models in the industry. For her, collaboration is a fundamental aspect of leadership, in contrast to the “my way or no way” approach she has witnessed from some men in leadership positions.

“When they offered me the [manager] position, I’m like, I don’t have all the answers,” Ryan said. “But I have a team that is willing to 100 per cent support me to move forward in this position.”

Skinner echoes the importance of being able to trust your colleagues.

“They have to become your family essentially. We do a lot of very highrisk stuff. I need to be watching their backs just as much as they’re watching out for myself and everybody else,” she said. “If there’s not that level of trust, then things could go sideways very fast. I have a little boy to go home to at the end of the day, just like everybody else has families to go home to at the end of the day.”

Dojack is optimistic that the ratio of women to men in the trades will start to equalize.

“Because of our labour shortage here, I think that you’ll see that more and more women are going to enter into construction and the trades. And that’s going to be nothing but positive all the way around.” n

The future of green buildings: Pros and cons

By Lisa Kopochinski

Green building in Canada has been gaining traction for the past two decades with no signs of slowing down.

A resource-efficient construction method that produces healthier buildings with less impact on the environment, green building is a sustainable approach for a building’s entire life cycle, including siting, design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and demolition.

“For a period, different architects,

designers, engineers, and builders were exploring sustainable building, but the Canada Green Building Council (CAGBC) brought all disciplines together,” explains Mark Hutchinson, vice-president of Green Building Programs and Innovation. “Early on, CAGBC adopted the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED rating system, to help give shape to Canada’s green building efforts. As a result, today, over 60 million square metres of space is now LEED certified, and Canada is one of the leading

markets in the world for LEEDcertified buildings.”

WHY GO GREEN?

Green buildings are desirable because they deliver significant value over their lifetime. Not only are they more energy efficient, they are healthier for people, with more emphasis on air quality and well-being metrics, resulting in greater productivity and less sick days.

“They also make good business sense, as they cost marginally more than a ‘traditional’ building, but deliver

The Banff Transit Storage Facility is one of three zero-carbon buildings in Alberta. IMAGE COURTESY ROAM TRANSIT OPERATIONS & TRAINING CENTRE, TOWN OF BANFF, ALTA.

While costs be more up front initially, green buildings on a life-cycle basis are often cost-neutral

greater value over time – commanding better rents and helping to attract and retain tenants, for example,” says Hutchinson. “They also reduce impacts on the environment and are increasingly focused on resilience and adaptability in the face of a changing climate.”

In Alberta, there are more than 630 LEED-certified buildings, including many schools and public buildings, in part due to LEED Silver being the provincial standard for all major public buildings since 2006. Alberta also has three Zero-Carbon Building

certifications, including the Banff Transit Storage Facility and the University of Calgary’s MacKimmie Complex Redevelopment.

GREENING GOVERNMENT STRATEGY

Alexandre Baillairge-Charbonneau is in media relations for Public Services and Procurement (PSPC). He says green building started to gain traction in 2017 when the Treasury Board of Canada launched the Greening Government Strategy (GGS), which was updated in 2020.

“The GGS is being implemented across Canada and has committed to net-zero government operations by 2050,” says Baillairge-Charbonneau. “PSPC’s green building design was first incorporated in the early 2000s, with the construction of 710-740 Bel-Air building in Montreal. This was the agency’s first sustainability certified new construction in Canada, which achieved LEED Gold certification.”

He adds that while greening operations can cost more up-front, in the long run, true costs for greening buildings

The University of Calgary’s MacKimmie Tower Complex is one of the most energy-efficient buildings on a Canadian post-secondary campus.

IMAGE COURTESY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY.

are low, and on a life-cycle basis, are often cost-neutral.

“In most cases, initial investments in higher-performing equipment and building systems are recouped due to energy-efficiency improvements over the long term.”

THE FUTURE

As for where green building is heading in the next five to 10 years, Hutchinson says reducing carbon emissions – both operational and embodied – will continue to be of critical importance for Canada’s built environment as we try to meet the 2030 and 2050 targets through building innovation and investment.

“In addition, ensuring resiliency in our buildings and communities, especially in the face of more severe weather events, will also become a

priority and something that green building practices are already helping to address,” says Hutchinson. “Finally, green building can also play a role in

addressing the need for affordable housing, providing healthier homes with significantly lower operating costs.” n

INTERESTING Alberta Green Fact

From 2005 to 2019, LEED® buildings in Alberta have saved 3.4 million megawatt-hours equivalent (eMWh) of energy – enough to power 114,092 homes for a year. These buildings also averted the release of more than 637,686 Mt CO2e, the equivalent impact associated with taking 135,678 cars off the roads for a year.

Source: Canada Green Building Council

Rising above the water

NorthLife Baptist Church undergoes flood mitigation efforts

By Shayna Wiwierski

A local church recently finished flood mitigation efforts after a catastrophic flood in 2020 created millions in damages.

On April 26, 2020, the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) declared a State of Local Emergency due to the high-water levels causing flooding along the Athabasca, Snye, and Clearwater Rivers. As a result, more than 13,000 people were evacuated from the area, and it was reported by the Insurance Bureau of Canada that the flood caused more than $520 million in insured damage.

The NorthLife Fellowship Baptist

Church in Fort McMurray was one of the businesses that was affected by the flood when the sewer backup caused the basement of the church to flood. Floodwaters left the church and surrounding areas severely damaged, leaving many families and businesses struggling to cope with the aftermath.

In response, the church quickly began a restoration project to repair the damage and restore the building to its original state.

“The water coming up internally through the plumbing destroyed the basement and the contents therein. I would say the level of the water was

three feet, and in some places, fourfeet-high,” says Mark Usher, pastor at the NorthLife Fellowship Baptist Church. “We had to basically remove all the walls and everything down there.”

The basement features a commercial kitchen and dining room where the church runs a soup kitchen five days a week. They serve lunch and work with a network of other likeminded organizations to help people in need. The basement also features a children’s ministry.

The NorthLife Fellowship Baptist Church in Fort McMurray was one of the businesses that was affected by the 2020 flood when the sewer backup caused the basement of the church to flood.

Right: The basement of the church features a commercial kitchen and dining room where the church runs a soup kitchen five days a week.

The flood mitigation efforts started in August 2021 and was completed in 2022. Genron, who were the successful bidders for the mitigation efforts, initially got involved with the project shortly after the flood. They helped the church with the sewer backup and then found the architect, Paul Anderson, to help the church redesign the basement.

Gene Dobie, manager of Genron, says that the church had some difficulty with insurance, so they also helped them find an insurance specialist to help with the complex nature of this situation. Between the architect and insurance specialist, the new basement was designed and Genron ended up being the winning bidder on this project.

Since the building was built in the ‘60s the team did have to mitigate for mould and asbestos. The church was added onto and remodelled a number of times throughout the years and as a result, the construction team did find some mould and asbestos in the drywall. Dobie says that it took a matter of four or five months from the commencement of testing to the time it was cleaned up for them to proceed with the rest of the reconstruction efforts. In that time, the architect did the design for the building and it was approved by both the insurance company and the owners.

The basement was shut down for the entire construction period, however, the upper two floors of the 21,000-square-foot church were still operational. The crew had to first mitigate the mould and asbestos, which meant enclosing the entire

basement and separating it from the rest of the building. Afterwards, a specialist team was brought in to remove all the contaminated materials and get it cleaned up and safe for construction. During this time, the church had temporary heat to make sure the rest of the building didn’t freeze, and from there, they

mobilized and started construction.

“With an older building like that we found there were areas that needed to be brought up to code and structural requirements and support. The church quite often had volunteers to do the renovations previously, so there were some concealed items that we found that needed to be brought

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up to code,” says Dobie. “We started with framing and new wiring and mechanical, which was a big component to it, especially with the kitchen and the exhaust and fresh air intake, as well as the fire suppression system. The electrical, heating, and fire alarm system had to be integrated with the old system, so there were some challenges throughout.”

The church also had to replace the flooring, trims, doors, and hardware. The basement is around 7,000 to 8,000 square feet, so Dobie says that there were around 30 doors in the area leading to different openings throughout the church. They also got new boiler and cooling systems. Some of the rooms were also moved around for efficiency and design. Once complete, the space had a more modern look to it and is on par with today’s standards in design. They also put in backflow preventers so that sewer can’t backflow into the building going forward.

Now that the basement is open again, they are able to continue feeding less fortunate Fort McMurray residents.

“We just really appreciate the opportunity and blessing we get from having a facility that we can share with the community and bring everyone together at whatever level they are at,” says Usher. “Whether they are volunteering to help or they need help, it brings everyone together. That’s an experience you don’t often get to be a part of so I’m thankful for that.” n

The church was added onto and remodelled a number of times throughout the years and as a result, the construction team did find some mould and asbestos in the drywall.

Once complete, the space had a more modern look to it and is on par with today’s standards in design.

WHERE THE WORK IS.

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Shortage of skilled labour in Canada

The Government of Alberta is investing in community agencies that promote apprenticeship and careers in the skilled trades

By Lisa Kopochinski

It is no surprise to those in the industry that there is a shortage of skilled labour.

With the unemployment to vacancy rate in the country at an historical low—amid a record tight labour market—there are a number of reasons for these shortages.

“Workforce retirements, stigma against skilled trades careers, and a lack of investments in apprenticeship training are some of the causes of the skills shortage in the trades,” says Emily Arrowsmith, director of research and program at the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (CAF-FCA).

According to the CAF-FCA, over the five-year period from 2022 to 2026, an estimated 122,380 new journeypersons will be required to sustain workforce certification levels across the 50-plus Red Seal trades—the nationally recognized standard for skilled trades in Canada.

“The recruitment of 256,000 apprentices will be required to keep pace with certification demand,” she says. “Nationally, trades in high demand are cook, industrial electrician, painter and decorator, and welder. Workforce retirements are driving this demand.”

And, even though thousands of skilled journeypersons are leaving the workforce every year, she says apprenticeship registrations and completions have declined at a moment when industry should be investing more, not less, in apprenticeship.

In 2020, new registrations in Red Seal trade programs fell by 27 per cent to approximately 44,100, the fewest annual registrations since 2000. The number of program completions saw an even steeper decline, falling by 31 per cent to approximately 20,700 completions — the lowest levels in a decade.

“These declines are occurring at a time when demand requirements are expected to continue to rise over the next five years,” says Arrowsmith.

DECLINE IN APPRENTICES

The pandemic has exacerbated the decline in apprenticeship registrations and completions, and has had a negative impact on apprentice employment and training.

In spring 2021, CAF-FCA conducted a survey of 619 apprentices and journeypersons. Although journeyperson employment has rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, apprentice employment has not.

“Only 29 per cent of apprentices identified that they were employed, compared to 43 per cent prior to the pandemic,” says Arrowsmith. “Level 1 apprentices reported the highest unemployment levels. During COVID-19, more than half of apprentices reported losing income (65 per cent) and falling behind in their technical training (56 per cent). Many were unable to earn hours towards their apprenticeship (45 per cent) and could not write their certification examinations (28 per cent).”

“Employers in the construction industry with fluctuating labour needs have been taking advantage of the Fort McMurray/Alberta Construction Associations Construction Worker Exchange.” –ACA Executive Director Ken Gibson

CONSTRUCTION NEW TALENT PROGRAM

Alberta’s construction workforce is more than just skilled trades. The Construction New Talent Program offered by the Fort McMurray and Alberta Construction Associations provides wage subsidies for Alberta employers to support temporary student placements in the construction industry in non-apprenticeship positions.

Employers can find skilled workers in any post-secondary studies to help their construction business, including engineering, accounting, human resources, marketing, technology programs, IT, architecture and design, data analysis, software development, and many more.

“This program started in April 2021,” says Ken Gibson, executive director at the Alberta Construction Association. “We have supported over 120 placements with over 50 employers so far, and the Government of Alberta has expanded our funding in our third year of funding. One of the program’s greatest strengths is a very streamlined application process.”

Those who are interested can fill out a quick form for your company at www.constructionnewtalent.ca.

Nicky Gocuan is the press secretary for the Office of the Deputy Premier and Minister of Skilled Trades and Professions for the Government of Alberta. He says one of the reasons we may be seeing a shortage of skilled labour is the increase in retirements.

For example, in January 2023, 29,000 Albertans left the labour force due to retirement, and in the last two years, an increasing number of people have identified retirement as their reason for leaving the labour force.

“At the same time, Alberta is seeing economic growth, which is creating additional demands for skilled labour,” says Gocuan. “Alberta’s real GDP rebounded from $307.8 billion in 2020 to $322.9 billion in 2021, a 4.8 per cent increase.”

ATTRACTING APPRENTICES

As for what needs to be done to attract more people to skilled trades, the Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Education Act, which came into force in July 2022, was designed to add flexibility so that Alberta’s skilled trades and apprenticeship education system can be more responsive to the changing needs of students, industry, employers, and educators.

The Government of Alberta is also investing in community

agencies that promote apprenticeship and careers in the skilled trades.

“These partners expose youth, women, and Indigenous Albertans to skilled trade occupations and build connections to employers and paid on-the-job experience,” says Gocuan.

“By increasing awareness of the value of a career in the skilled trades and aligning apprenticeship learning opportunities with Alberta’s priority industry sectors, we are helping industry develop the talent they need, connecting Albertans to good-paying jobs, and building key partnerships between post-secondary institutions, industry, and employers.”

OVERCOMING MISCONCEPTIONS

There are still a number of misconceptions about careers in skilled trades that need to be overcome. These include viewpoints that trade jobs can be volatile depending on the market, or the belief that blue-collar career jobs are “less than” a white-collar job.

Gocuan says it must be stressed more than ever that apprenticeship education holds as much merit and value as other forms of post-secondary education, and skilled trades professionals are vital contributors to Alberta’s economy.

“Our targeted support for apprenticeship education and

The top three factors were:

Respondents were also asked what motivated them to stay with employers. Apprentices valued the quality of their workplace relationships. Sixty-six per cent of respondents said that being around their co-workers encouraged them to stay because “they feel like family.” Sixty per cent of respondents identified it was the way their employers made them feel on a day-today basis.

• Co-workers because “they feel like family”;

• The way their employers make them feel on a day-to-day basis;

• High-quality training and learning on-the-job.

Additional factors that were important to apprentices were high quality training and learning on-the-job (54 per cent) and mentorship, professional development and continuous learning (53 per cent). A flexible work schedule (41 per cent), extra holidays and time off (28 per cent) and extracurricular activities (11 per cent) further motivated apprentices to stay with employers. A commitment to workplace inclusion was also considered important (22 per cent).

Figure 12:

My co-workers (they feel like family)

The way the employer makes me feel on a day-to-day basis

High-quality technical training and learning on-the-job

Mentorship, professional development and continuous learning

Flexible work schedule

Extra holidays and time off

Commitment to workplace equity, diversity and inclusion

Staff extracurricular activities such as golf tournaments and baseball teams

Engagement with the local community

Job security/stability/availability/variety

Benefits (pension, insurance, bonuses)

Safety/Safe work environment

Other

Don’t know/Prefer not to answer

Apprentices in Canada ePanel

Note: Percentages sum to >100 since multiple responses were accepted.

“Other than wages, what motivates you to continue working with an employer?”

According to a recent CAF-FCA Appentices in Canada ePanel survey, apprentice and journeyperson respondents were asked what motivated them to stay with employers.

building awareness about the importance of skilled trades professionals supports the urgent needs of industry,” says Gocuan. “It is also helping educate Albertans for careers that will enable them to enjoy a good quality of life and support their families while keeping the momentum of our economic prosperity.”

He adds that since being elected, the Alberta government has worked to elevate the skilled trades.

“In Budget 2023, we are investing over $68 million to support apprenticeship education in our province,” says Gocuan.

RETAINING EMPLOYEES

With the unemployment-to-vacancy ratio in Canada at an historical low, amid a record tight labour market, employers are finding ways to retain employees.

“Employers in the construction industry with fluctuating labour needs have been taking advantage of the Fort McMurray/Alberta Construction Associations’ Construction Worker Exchange,” says Ken Gibson, executive director of the Alberta Construction Association (ACA). “There is no cost to access the Worker Lending service, which is funded as a pilot by the Alberta Government.”

Essentially, worker lending is building on existing informal relationships. That is, contractors lend workers based on project volume. These worker sharing arrangements keep workers employed and prevent loss of skilled workers to larger centres or to other industries.

“The Construction Worker Exchange is a voluntary exchange among contractors you trust and are facilitated by the project team. A worker sharing agreement between contractors can take a range of different forms—from an informal verbal agreement to a contractual joint venture,” explains Gibson.

Benefits of lending workers include:

• Keeping your skilled labour employed and tied to your company if you don’t have enough work for them.

• Helping your apprentices accumulate the hours they need if you don’t have the work for them. Keep them in the industry and help ensure future supply.

• Making sure construction is a viable career for your employees—even if project volumes fluctuate.

Borrowing workers:

• Temporarily brings on additional labour to help meet deadlines or project peaks.

• Keeps skilled workers in the industry and in your community, when they may have otherwise been forced to move to larger centres looking for work.

TRADE PATHWAYS

Trade Pathways is an Alberta workforce program funded by the Alberta Government that aims to connect unemployed and underemployed young Albertans with Alberta construction companies through paid work experience placements.

“Multiple placements will allow a program participant to develop the varied practical skills and experience required to begin a successful path towards trade apprenticeship,” explains Gibson.

Program participants will receive training and support prior to and during their placements to help them to overcome common barriers that exist when beginning a career in construction.

“While Trade Pathways is currently being piloted in Edmonton, ACA has applied to expand the program to other parts of the province,” he adds. n

“Multiple placements will allow a program participant to develop the varied practical skills and experience required to begin a successful path towards trade apprenticeship.”

–ACA Executive Director Ken Gibson

Building for the future

Construction currently underway on the Public Works North Facility

By Shayna Wiwierski

A much-anticipated project that will make operations easier in the north side of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) is currently underway.

Construction started for the Public Works North Facility in the RMWB in August 2022 and is planned for completion in April 2025. The project will house the municipality’s roads department and is strategically located north of town since about 80 per cent of the maintenance they do is in that area.

The RMWB currently has a south operations centre which houses their parks department, fleet department, as well as their transit department. They also have a temporary satellite location in the north, which has been in place since 2011.

“What we are doing is building such buildings there as administrative, maintenance, and a heated equipment storage facility to better suit the needs of our roads department,” says Keith Smith, director of public works for the RMWB. “There will also be some areas there for Parks and areas for our fleet, the people who fix our roads and the equipment. It’s better centered for people on site.”

The project includes a new two-storey 27,000-square-foot administration and maintenance facility, as well as a one-storey 36,000-square-foot heated equipment storage facility. Smith says they have around 80 to 90 pieces of equipment, including attachments

which will be stored there. It will also have a maintenance garage, so if any of their equipment needs to be fixed, it can be done on site, as opposed to transporting it back to the south operations centre or sending a mobile mechanic.

The project is budgeted at $48.5 million and the funding is completely municipal sourced. The prime consultant is IBI Group and the prime contractor is Marshall Lee Construction Corp.

The location of the facility is on a site which never had water or sewer, so they had to first bring in site servicing to the location in order to move forward. They also had to change the zoning of the property to initially direct control and convert it to public service. The site was originally home to some temporary buildings and a Quonset, which was used for salt storage and soil. The RMWB ended up moving the Quonset to proceed with this project, and as of March 2023, installation of deep utilities like water, storm, and sanitary for the development is mostly complete and they are moving forward with the building’s foundation work.

The relocation of the Quonset was a challenge for the team as it was a large structure they had to relocate in order to maintain the current civil service for this past winter season. Smith also mentions that site zoning was a challenge as they needed to go to council and get direct control over

to public service, which allowed them to do what they needed to get done in a timely fashion.

The facility, once built, will save the municipality an enormous amount of money as keeping the equipment stored inside will prolong the life and maintenance of it. At the same time, it will make the RMWB much more dependable as they won’t be spending the money they typically spend in idling the equipment through the winters to make sure it’s still running properly.

“This facility increases reliability of services, especially to our winter maintenance snow removal, as it will reduce emissions by idling, which doesn’t need to happen. We will also have fewer equipment breakdowns,” says Smith. “There are significant savings in the operation and maintenance of the equipment, and by storing this equipment inside, it will make our equipment last longer… It’s a good news story all the way around.” n

The Public Works North Facility will house the municipality’s roads department and is strategically located north of town since about 80 per cent of the maintenance they do is in that area.

FORT McMURRAY CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP

3D Building Group

PO Box 5212

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 3G3

T: 780-714-7211

www.3dbuildinggroup.ca

Acden Fleet LP

220 TaigaNova Crescent

Fort McMurray, AB T9K 0T4

T: 780-714-5440

www.acden.com/acdenfleet

Ainscow & McCormick Roofing Ltd.

16073 132 Avenue

Edmonton, AB T5V 1H8

T: 780-447-0975

www.amroofingltd.ca

Akron Engineering Consultant’s Group Ltd.

8123 Fraser Avenue

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 1W5

T: 780-750-9950

www.akronengineering.com

Alcor Facilities Management Inc.

150A Macdonald Crescent

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 4B7

T: 780-743-1343

www.alcorfacilities.com

AlumaSafway Inc.

185 TaigaNova Crescent

Fort McMurray, AB T9K 0T4

T: 780-743-5011

www.alumasafway.com

Associated Engineering Alberta Ltd.

Unit 320, 420 TaigaNova Crescent

Fort McMurray, AB T9K 0T4

T: 780-715-3850

www.ae.ca

Bartle & Gibson

8220 Manning Avenue

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 1V9

T: 780-743-4476

www.bartlegibson.com

Birch Mountain Enterprises LP

PO Box 5445

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 3G4

T: 780-824-1128

www.bmel.ca

Brandt Tractor Ltd.

5, 360 MacKenzie Blvd.

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 4C4

T: 780-791-6635

www.brandt.ca

Burnco Rock Products Ltd.

825 Memorial Drive

Fort McMurray, AB T9K 0K4

T: 780-215-1289

www.burnco.com

C&B Maintenance Corp.

10103 Centennial Drive

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 4Z2

T: 780-799-6776

www.cbmaintenancecorp.com

CBS Construction Ltd.

150 Mackay Crescent

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 4W8

T: 780-743-1810

www.cbsconstruction.ca

Centurion Canada Infrastructure

PO Box 210

Cold Lake, AB T9M 1P1

T: 780-826-8048

www.centurioncinf.com

Chinook Fuels

160 Mackay Crescent

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 4W8

T: 780-743-2381

www.chinookfuels.ca

CLH Contracting Ltd.

161 Royer Way

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 0E1

T: 780-750-1086

www.clhcontracting.ca

Collective Waste Solutions Inc.

171 Poplar Drive

Conklin, AB T0P 1H1

T: 780-559-0277

www.collectivewaste.ca

Command Equipment Ltd.

12720 149th Street

Edmonton, AB T5V 1B3

T: 780-482-6003

www.commandequipment.com

Command North Construction Group Ltd.

12720 149th Street

Edmonton, AB T5V 1B3

T: 780-452-8413

www.commandnorth.ca

Consun Contracting Ltd.

195 Macdonald Crescent

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 4B3

T: 780-743-3163

www.consun.ca

Corgan Industrial Ltd.

Bay 7, 266 Mackay Crescent

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 5C6

T: 780-790-6603

www.corgan.ca

Cormode & Dickson Construction (Fort McMurray) Ltd.

Unit 5, 400 Taiganova Crescent

Fort McMurray, AB T9K 0T4

T: 780-749-0067

www.cormode.com

Coverall Uniform Linen & Mat Ltd.

345 TaigaNova Crescent

Fort McMurray, AB T9K 0T4

T: 780-792-5217

www.getcoverall.com

Creative Industries Ltd.

150c Macdonald Crescent

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 4B2

T: 877-835-4253

www.ciltd.ca

FORT McMURRAY CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP

Dechant Construction Ltd.

11004 97th Street

High Level, AB T0H 1Z0

T: 780-926-4411

www.dechantconstruction.ab.ca

Delta Contracting Ltd. Box 55

Fort Chipewyan, AB T0P 1B0

T: 780-838-5831

www.deltacontracting.com

Duke’s Building Supplies Inc.

100 Royer Way

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 0E1

T: 587-624-0010

www.wbbs.ca

E Construction, A Division of N.P.A. Ltd.

745 Memorial Drive

Fort McMurray, AB T9K 0K4

T: 780-743-3822

www.ecltd.ca

Edwards Land Surveys Ltd.

30 Gregoire Lake Estates

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 5S1

T: 780-334-9622

www.edwardslandsurveys.ca

EMCO Corporation

130 Boreal Avenue

Fort McMurray, AB T9K 0T4

T: 780-791-3626

www.emcowaterworksab.ca

EMCO Waterworks

200 Macdonald Crescent

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 4B2

T: 780-713-2433

www.emcowaterworksab.ca

Gateway Mechanical Services

PO Box 134 Riverstone PO

Fort McMurray, AB T9K 2Y4

T: 780-818-2853

www.gatewaymechanical.ca

Genroc Drywall 2015 Ltd.

PO Box 5235, Stn. Main

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 3G3

T: 780-750-0111

www.genroc.ca

Genron Enterprises 2007 Ltd.

295 Macdonald Crescent

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 4B7

T: 780-743-3445

www.genron.ca

H. Wilson Industries (2010) Ltd.

1045 Memorial Drive

Fort McMurray, AB T9K 0K4

T: 780-743-1881

www.hwilson.net

Hammerstone Infrastructure Materials Ltd.

500, 4838 Richard Road SW

Calgary, AB T2R 0H8

T: 403-297-1680

www.hammerstone.ca

Hatfield Consultants Partnership

Suite A, 300 MacKenzie Blvd.

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 4C4

T: 780-743-4290

www.hatfieldgroup.com

Hedco Group Inc.

395 Loutit Road

Fort McMurray, AB T9K 0L5

T: 780-750-2680

Heidelberg Materials

580 Memorial Drive

Fort McMurray, AB T9K 0N9

T: 780-743-8020

www.heidelbergmaterials.us

Herc Rentals

105 Mackay Crescent

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 4C9

T: 780-706-0207

www.hercrentals.com

Hines Health Services

Suite 101A, 805 Memorial Drive

Fort McMurray, AB T9K 0K4

T: 844-893-6909

www.hineshealth.ca

HVAC Solutions Ltd.

307 Athabasca Avenue

Fort McMurray, AB T9J 1G9

T: 780-792-0800

www.hvac-solutions.ca

Icon Surveys Inc.

328 Lindstrom Crescent

Fort McMurray, AB T9K 2S2

T: 780-838-0962

www.iconsurveys.ca

Inspek Crushing Limited

Box 1412

Athabasca, AB T9S 2B3

T: 780-743-8862

www.inspek.ca

Janes Brother’s Contracting Ltd.

124 Westwood Drive

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 5C3

T: 780-799-1865

K Plowman Contracting Ltd.

Box 534

Athabasca, AB T9S 2A5

T: 780-370-8450

www.kplowman.ca

Kichton Construction LP

135 Boreal Avenue

Fort McMurray, AB T9K 0T4

T: 780-447-1882

www.kichton.com

Knelsen Sand & Gravel Ltd.

4500 Saprae Creek Trl

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 0H6

T: 780-928-3935

www.knelsen.com

Lafarge Canada Inc.

PO Box 5207

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 3G3

T: 587-536-2014

www.lafarge.ca/en

LetCar Mechanical Group Ltd.

8115 Fraser Avenue

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 1W5

T: 780-790-0757

www.letcar.ca

Lexon Projects Inc.

2371 91 Avenue

Edmonton, AB T6P 1L1

T: 780-435-7476

www.lexonprojects.com

LIAM Construction Fort McMurray

Ltd.

17, 10217 Centennial Drive

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 3K7

T: 780-791-1500

www.liamfirst.com

Marvel Contracting Inc.

390 Macalpine Crescent

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 4B1

T: 780-791-7100

www.marvelcontracting.ca

Midlite Construction Ltd.

560 Memorial Drive

Fort McMurray, AB T9K 0N9

T: 780-714-6559

www.midlitepowerline.com

Morgan Construction and Environmental Ltd.

17303 102 Avenue

Edmonton, AB T5S 1J8

T: 780-960-6966

www.mcel.ca

National Concrete Accessories

190 Macalpine Crescent

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 4A6

T: 780-790-1804

www.nca.ca

FORT McMURRAY CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP

Normrock Industries Inc.

119 Falcon Green

Fort McMurray, AB T9K 0P1

T: 780-799-2586

www.amphibex.com

North Sage Design Co.

149 MacLaren Crescent

Fort McMurray, AB T9K 1N7

T: 780-804-7243

www.northsagedesign.com/home

Parsons Creek Aggregates

PO Box 25085, RPO Signal

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 5N8

T: 780-598-2279

www.parsonscreekaggregates.com

Pidherney’s Inc.

PO Box 130

Blackfalds, AB T0M 0J0

T: 403-885-9101

www.pidherneys.com

Powermax Ltd.

407 Snow Eagle Drive

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 0H7

T: 780-714-9690

www.powermaxltd.com

Prairie North Const. Ltd.

9725 266 Street

Acheson, AB T7X 6H6

T: 780-463-3363

www.dirtmoving.com

Proserve Cleaning & Restoration Services Inc., DKI

Unit 5, 300 Maclennan Crescent

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 4G1

T: 780-791-3663

www.proservedki.com

Radisson Hotel & Suites Fort McMurray

435 Gregoire Drive

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 4K7

T: 780-743-2400

www.fortmcmurrayhotels.ca

Ram Mechanical Inc.

191 Mackay Crescent

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 5E8

T: 780-799-7201

www.rammech.com

Regional Municipality of Wood

Buffalo

9909 Franklin Avenue

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 2K4

T: 780-743-7000

www.rmwb.ca

RJ Rice Enterprises Ltd. o/a Fort McMurray Home Hardware Building

Centre

7925 Franklin Avenue

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 2H5

T: 780-743-2271

Sego Industries Inc.

18916 111 Avenue

Edmonton, AB T5S 0B6

T: 780-496-9753

www.sego.ca

SeNa Constructors Inc.

30 Freestone Way

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 5B4

T: 780-799-0230

www.senaco.ca

ServcoCanada Inc.

9919 Biggs Avenue

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 1S2

T: 877-973-7826

www.servcocanada.com

SiteOne Landscape Supply Ltd.

825 Memorial Drive

Fort McMurray, AB T9K 0K4

T: 780-799-3757

www.siteone.com

Soogadin Services LP

209, 400 MacKenzie Blvd.

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 4G7

T: 780-838-1471

www.soogadin.com

FORT McMURRAY CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP

Speedpro Signs Fort McMurray

10214 Centennial Drive

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 1Y5

T: 587-536-6464

www.speedprosignsfortmcmurray. com

Stantec Consulting Ltd.

300 MacKenzie Blvd.

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 4C4

T: 780-791-7117

www.stantec.com

Stony Valley Contracting Ltd.

245 TaigaNova Crescent

Fort McMurray, AB T9K 0T4

T: 780-598-2244

www.stonyvalley.ca

Stratford Contracting Ltd.

168 Wood Buffalo Way

Fort McMurray, AB T9K 1W5

T: 780-792-1864

www.stratfordcontractingltd.com

Summit Valve and Controls Inc.

5304 68 Avenue

Edmonton, AB T6B 3M4

T: 780-468-6900

www.summitvalve.com

Superior Propane

295 Macalpine Crescent

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 4A8

T: 780-743-8348

www.superiorpropane.com

Sureway Construction Group of Companies

180 TaigaNova Crescent

Fort McMurray, AB T9K 0T4

T: 780-918-6280

www.sureway.ca

TBG Contracting – Division of Lafarge Canada Inc.

680 Memorial Drive

Fort McMurray, AB T9K 0N9

T: 780-743-8474

www.tbgcontracting.com

The Casman Group of Companies

330 MacKenzie Blvd.

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 4C4

T: 780-791-9283

www.casman.ca

Thompson Bros. (Constr.) LP

685 Memorial Drive Highway 63 North PO Box 6439

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 5N4

T: 780-715-3422

www.thompsonbros.com

Top Knotch Doors Ltd.

11, 266 Mackay Crescent

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 5C6

T: 780-881-4160

www.topknotchdoors.com

TS Signs Printing & Promo

195 Mackay Crescent

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 5E8

T: 780-790-1945

www.tssigns.com

Vallen

3, 431 MacKenzie Blvd.

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 4C5

T: 780-743-4336

www.vallen.ca

Wilco Contractors NW Inc.

2D, 380 MacKenzie Blvd.

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 4C4

T: 780-598-0080

www.wilco.ca

Wood Buffalo Paving Ltd.

PO Box 5221, Stn. Main

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 3G3

T: 780-799-9130

www.woodbuffalopaving.com

Worley

320 Parent Way

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 5E6

T: 780-790-2622

www.worley.com

WSP Canada Inc.

189 MacKenzie Blvd.

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 0C8

T: 780-410-2580

www.wsp.com

One of Canada’s top industrial wholesale distributors

5,000 – 6,500 sq. ft. per branch housing over 7,400 standardized SKUs

1 Distribution Centre of 225,000 sq. ft. housing over 15,000 SKUs

Over 40 branches across Canada

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Manufacturer and distributor of concrete construction products

2 distribution centres

100,000 sq. ft manufacturing facility of premium Canadian-made concrete accessories

Over 15 branches across Canada

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Professional grade building & construction materials

We supply construction solutions from ground to roof

2 Insulation fabrication facilities

Over 10 branches across Western Canada