7 minute read
UPFRONT
Reader Service
Print and digital subscription inquires or changes, please contact Urszula Grzyb, Audience Development Manager Tel: (416) 510-5180 Fax: (416) 510-6875 Email: ugrzyb@annexbusinessmedia.com Mail: 111 Gordon Baker Rd., Suite 400, Toronto, ON M2H 3R1
EDITOR
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
MEDIA DESIGNER
ACCOUNT COORDINATOR
PUBLISHER
COO Doug Picklyk (416) 510-5218 DPicklyk@hpacmag.com
David Skene (416) 510-6884 DSkene@hpacmag.com
Emily Sun
esun@annexbusinessmedia.com
Kim Rossiter (416) 510-6794 krossiter@hpacmag.com
Peter Leonard (416) 510-6847 PLeonard@hpacmag.com
Scott Jamieson
sjamieson@annexbusinessmedia.com
PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40065710
Heating Plumbing Air Conditioning (established 1925) is published 7 times per year by Annex Publishing & Printing Inc. HPAC Magazine is the leading Canadian business publication for the owner/manager of mechanical contracting businesses and their supply partners.
ISSN: 0017-9418 (Print) ISSN 2371-8536 (Online)
Contents Copyright © 2021 by Annex Publishing & Printing Inc. may not be reprinted without permission.
SUBSCRIBER SERVICES:
To subscribe, renew your subscription or to change your address or information please visit us at www.hpacmag.com. Subscription Price per year: $44.00 (plus tax) CDN; Outside Canada per year: $112.00 US; Elsewhere: 1 year $123.00 (CDN); Single copy Canada: $5.00 CDN. Heating Plumbing Air Conditioning is published 7 times per year except for occasional combined, expanded or premium issues, which count as two subscription issues.
MAIL PREFERENCES: From time to time we make our subscription list available to select companies and organizations whose product or service may interest you. If you do not wish your contact information to be made available, please contact us via one of the following methods: Tel: 416-442-5600 ext. 3552, Fax: 416-510-6875 or 416442-2191; E-mail: blao@annexbusinessmedia.com; or by mail: 111 Gordon Baker Rd., Suite 400, Toronto ON M2H 3R1
Annex Privacy Officer Privacy@annexbusinessmedia.com Tel: 800-668-2374
HPAC Magazine receives unsolicited materials (including letters to the editor, press releases, promotional items and images) from time to time. HPAC Magazine, its affiliates and assignees may use, reproduce, publish, re-publish, distribute, store and archive such unsolicited submissions in whole or in part in any form or medium whatsoever, without compensation of any sort.
NOTICE: HPAC Magazine, Annex Publishing & Printing Inc., their staff, officers, directors and shareholders (hence known as the “Publisher”) assume no liability, obligations, or responsibility for claims arising from advertised products. The Publisher also reserves the right to limit liability for editorial errors, omissions and oversights to a printed correction in a subsequent issue. HPAC Magazine’s editorial is written for management level mechanical industry personnel who have documented training in the mechanical fields in which they work. Manufacturers’ printed instructions, datasheets and notices always take precedence to published editorial statements.
Proud member of:
LOOKING FORWARD
AS I WAS COMPLETING THIS ISSUE OF HPAC I SAW THE NEWS THAT WALTER GRETZKY HAD PASSED AWAY. Condolences were pouring in, and he was being called the Father of Hockey. He was beloved by many. I never met Mr. Gretzky, but his legacy is strong. There is a phrase attributed to his son that is often quoted to encourage forward thinking in life and in business, and I'm sure Walter had some influence in the saying: “Skate to where the puck is going, not where it has been.”
I was reminded of this quote recently after viewing a new report issued by the Environmental Careers Organization (ECO) Canada that addresses the skills gaps that exist today in the construction industry as the country pushes towards more energy efficient buildings (see more next page).
It states that the technology and materials required to build and operate high-performing buildings exist today, but our workforce is lacking in the experience or skills necessary to provide the solutions.
For all trades, the report reveals concerns when it comes to training programs not covering emerging technologies and of course there are still too few recruits filling the pipeline to replace retiring workers. Specifically for the HVAC/R industry, it says that a lack of standards and visibility of career path are leading to current and future labour shortages. Maybe the industry needs to be building better teams with long-term vision.
The value of strong team building was one of the many lessons delivered by former Olympian Cheryl Pounder during an inspirational webinar hosted on January 21 by the Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating (CIPH).
Pounder played defense on two Canadian Olympic gold-medal winning women’s hockey teams (2002 and 2006) and is now an analyst for TSN and CBC. Sharing her journey from an aspirational eight-year-old to an enlightened veteran of women’s hockey, Pounder selected key points in her career to demonstrate common traits in leadership and positive outcomes.
Achieving success on a personal level requires finding your passions and having a “greater” vision, seeing beyond the now, noted Pounder. And she learned that team success requires honesty, authenticity and collaboration. Recognizing and appreciating the role of leadership was realized when players of great character helped her along, mentoring and leading by example.
In today’s challenging business climate, it can be difficult recognizing opportunity within adversity. She encourages everyone to think differently. She learned, “Excellence is abnormal. We must behave abnormally to be excellent.” As individuals and teams, we need to get outside our comfort zones and keep on a path of continuous growth and learning.
No doubt the push towards greater energy efficiency in buildings will continue for years to come, and positioning yourself as a leader in this space could be key to keeping you on a successful journey. Do the work, keep your eyes on the future, and be prepared to get there before the puck does. <>
– Doug Picklyk, Editor
SEE THE LATEST NEWS @ HPACMAG.COM
PUSH FOR ENERGY-EFFICIENT BUILDINGS REQUIRES UPDATED SKILL SETS
Environmental Careers Organization (ECO) Canada, a federally-funded environmental workforce development agency, has released a report on the opportunities and gaps in the building construction sector as the country works towards more energy efficiency and net-zero emissions by 2050.
The study, entitled Assessment of Occupational and Skills Needs and Gaps for the Energy Efficient Buildings Workforce, outlines the capacity of the current workforce and what will be required as Canada’s buildings transition to more energy efficient solutions.
Canada’s built environment, including new and existing commercial, institutional, and multi-unit residential buildings, has been acknowledged as the country’s “lowest-hanging fruit” in the reduction of carbon emissions.
The ECO Canada report found that energy efficient buildings require a “building-as-a-system” mindset as energy efficiency is optimized through integrated processes.
The process requires a collaborative approach among multiple disciplines, from design and engineering professionals, energy managers, construction and trade workers to building operators. Traditionally, these disciplines worked on a sequential approach from design to construction, commissioning, management, and retrofitting.
The report suggests that in order to optimize a building’s performance over time requires a workforce culture shift, and these issues are also compounded by labour shortages due to challenges in attracting new talent to the building construction sector and an aging workforce, especially as knowledge and experience are lost with retiring workers.
While many of the pieces are in place for the transition to energy efficient buildings (the technology, equipment, materials, and processes), Canada’s building sector workforce does not have the widespread experience or skills required to perform their roles in a manner that achieves energy efficiency goals. Until the essential occupations and skills become widespread, this workforce will not be fully prepared to support the development of energy efficient buildings.
“For Canada’s buildings to become more energy efficient, there has to be a workforce that is able to meet the demands of that effort,” said Kevin Nilsen, CEO of ECO Canada. “This research shows the gaps in labour and skills that need to be addressed in order to meet the Government of Canada’s Build Smart strategy, and the timeline of energy efficiency being the norm by 2030.”
The 73-page document also outlines recommendations for industry, government, and post-secondary institutions to develop solutions to address the workforce issues facing the building sector.
Key recommendations include working together to improve the sector’s attractiveness, develop a hiring forecast,
and align education and training to address skills gaps.
In its final section the report says, “The industry will need to focus on employee retention, support diversity and inclusion, and develop lifelong learning practices in order for workers to stay relevant and effective.”
Among the challenges identified for trades include: employer capacity constraints—small businesses and contractors have a difficult time positioning the low-carbon value proposition as they are typically competing on “best price” rather than differentiating their services towards energy efficient specializations, and with lower staff numbers and fewer people in key roles it’s difficult to have people away for training.
The Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada’s (HRAI) Martin Luymes was among the individuals acknowledged for contributing time and expertise to the research.
The study was produced with funding from Natural Resources Canada’s Office of Energy Efficiency Buildings and Industry Division and the Government of Canada’s Sectoral Initiatives Program.
To download the full report: eco.ca/ research/report/energy-efficiencyin-buildings/
