Local company expanding into new shop

Ecoplast takes closedcell, high-density structural foam made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic, laminates it, adds skins and engineers it into panels.

“As we grow our portfolio of builds and houses, then people start to see for themselves examples of what we’re building,” said Rogers.

“They become more confident in the product and also come and see them and get educated on how it works and what it looks like in real life. The more we build, the more it helps to sell more in the future.”

Ecoplast is currently building two duplexes on the Saskatchewan side of the city with lots on the go in other parts of Alberta and more in the works in different parts of Western Canada and Saskatchewan.

The company has also acquired a full builder’s licence in British Columbia where they have a few projects in the planning stage.

“It should be a pretty busy spring and summer,” said Rogers who notes they will be hiring more staff for manufacturing and assembly

Alta. GDL drivers no longer tested for Class 5/6 licence

dors Devin Dreeshen.

as they ramp up panel production.

The company will also be celebrating its third year of operations in Lloydminster in August.

“We started up right in the middle of COVID in 2020. Considering it was a pretty quiet first couple of years to get going, we are starting to make this happen now,” said Rogers. “All the fruits of our labour are starting to produce.”

Ecoplast is on the shortlist for an Emerald Award from the Alberta Emerald Foundation in the infrastructure category for their environ- mental building solutions that fight climate change.

The recipients will be named in June and receive a $2,000 grant to support their work or to donate to an environmental charity of their choice among other recognition.

As of April 1, eligible drivers currently in the GDL program will save $154 by not having to take an advanced road test to get their full Class 5 or Class 6 Alberta driver’s licence.

“There are close to half a million drivers who will benefit from this,” said Minister of Transportation and Economic Corri -

“These changes will help GDL drivers exit the program and apply for other classes of driver’s licences whether it’s for a semi-truck, gravel truck or bus.”

Over the past five years, about 65 per cent of drivers did not take their advanced road test and 99 per cent of motorcycle riders did not take the test. Moving for - ward, all restrictions of a GDL licence will remain in place until a driver has received a letter from the government indicating that they have exited the GDL program.

“This is a good common-sense approach that cuts red tape,” said Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Dale Nally.

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