GREETINGS ECA MEMBERS

As I enter my second year as president, I would like to assure you that I am fully committed to upholding our core belief that our purpose is to provide value not only to our members, but to the construction industry as a whole. As you are aware, the Edmonton Construction Association (ECA) offers a wide range of services, including BuildWorks, networking events, educational opportunities, and advocacy, just to name a few. We are dedicated to continuously improving our offerings while exploring innovative ways to address the needs and desires of the industry.

2023 has kicked off with great momentum, and the level of engagement within the ECA membership never ceases to amaze me. We began with our highly successful annual Builders Connect Luncheon, which saw over 600 attendees. The event featured an address and update from the Minister of Infrastructure Nathan Neudorf, and concluded with the presentation of our well-deserved ECA Volunteer Impact Awards. Our Career Pathways Committee has also been hard at work. Established in 2022, the committee aims to tackle future labour shortages through strategic partnerships and initiatives such as Tools for Schools and member scholarships. This year, we expanded the Tools for Schools program and provided essential tools and supplies to 23 schools in the Edmonton region. We have also increased collaboration with other organizations, including Skills Canada Alberta and Junior Achievement.

What’s new for the ECA this year? After much consideration, we successfully hosted our inaugural Hub of Construction Expo, a two-day conference and tradeshow in May. The event featured inspiring keynote speakers, engaging breakout sessions, and valuable networking opportunities. We have also established a formal government relations committee, leading to the development of a provincial advocacy strategy. This strategy has involved numerous interactions with government officials and opposition parties, enabling us to highlight the state of the construction industry in Alberta and provide recommendations to lawmakers. Collaboration between the Edmonton Construction Association, the Alberta Construction Association, and the Calgary Construction Association remains strong as we ensure our key messages align and represent the industry’s needs. Lastly, I am thrilled to announce that the ECA is expanding its member services through the strategic acquisition of a startup company. We are diligently working to enhance our already impressive lineup of member services, and more information will be shared as we finalize the program details.

Once again, our seven golf tournaments have sold out (in under 25 minutes), and we eagerly await the opportunity to hit the links with our members. In addition, we have a multitude of networking and educational events planned for the second half of 2023, including BBQs, Meet the GCs, Owners Forums, the Canadian Leadership Institute, and more. Furthermore, our sub-groups, namely the Young Builders Group (YBG), Professional Estimators Group (PEG), and WomenBuild, will host numerous in-person meetings, panels, and networking events.

I am truly grateful to be part of the construction community and to work alongside our incredible board and committee members. I would also like to express my deep appreciation for our hardworking staff, who dedicate themselves to supporting the success of our members every day. I wish you all a prosperous year in business and thank you for choosing the Edmonton Construction Association as your partner. Sincerely,

David Johnson President, Edmonton Construction Association