Hard Hat - Spring 2010

Uniting ARCCAW members across Alberta and the Northwest Territories

Spring 2010

Outlook 2010

Will economic recovery = new projects and more jobs?

Take the LEED

Why green certiďŹ cation matters

Shop Talk

Industrial shops across the province

Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement #40063788 Return undeliverable mail to 200-15210 123 Ave Edmonton,AB T5V 0A3

Executive Secretary Treasurer’s

REPORT

Prepare for Challenges Ahead Martyn A. Piper

F

or most members, the comfort of

having a job or being reasonably confident there is a next job weighs heavily on the mind, particularly when working in the construction industry. For many who have joined the union in the last seven or eight years, “unemployment” is almost a foreign word.

Well, this year could be different. I hope I am wrong, but the economic indicators and timing of projects would suggest that we can expect some degree of unemployment through the back part of this year. All the major owners have work on the books either by way of new projects like Imperial Oil’s Kearl Lake or Suncor’s Firebag Phase 3 or they have large-scale capital work planned.

Others continue to mull over their plans to move forward with major projects, although announcements of late would suggest the good times will again begin to roll in the oil sands in the next few years.

However, things could be a little dicey in the short term. In Calgary and southern Alberta, industrial projects are also being planned, the most current being the Enmax Shepard Energy Centre. Many of the projects being contemplated today are either fixedprice lump sum contracts or in the very least have tight cost control processes to limit cost overruns and excessive billing on time and material.

The ground is shifting continually under our feet and we must be nimble to adjust on short notice and embrace new ways of doing business with our contractors if we are to stay in the game. Safety, productivity and competiveness are the key drivers to ensuring more work for our members. The same holds true for our industrial shops.

In fact, most, if not all, have adopted “Lean Management” processes, which essentially

2

HARDHAT SPRING 2010

cut the fat and look for more efficient methods of production. As a labour provider, we must be mindful of the winds of change and continually strive to provide our contractors and the owners with a safe, competent, reliable and “clean” workforce. We are still troubled by excessive absenteeism, as are most of the Building Trades, and in order to secure more work we have to find the solution to this chronic problem.

Unemployment in Eastern Canada, specifically the Atlantic provinces, will continue to provide a steady stream of people to oil sands-related work, both union and nonunion. Fly in and fly out arrangements and shift schedules that provide quality of life breaks at home have now become the norm.

Like it or not, driving to and from Wood Buffalo is becoming non-existent for those living within close proximity to an airport either in Alberta or Canada-wide. Double time is quickly evaporating as work schedules provide for blended wage rates or premium factors that are less than collective agreement, but guarantee extended time off and flights home. A visit to Kearl Lake this past week showed me all I need to see with respect to workers coming to Alberta from coast to coast because most are in need of a paying job. Spending time in a camp that houses workers from a number of projects including Kearl was a good indication of the number of non-union workers from all trades making a living in the Wood Buffalo area.

While we can all remain reasonably confident of good times ahead, particularly as it relates to oil sands work, we need to be mindful that the winds of change have brought on a very different day, and if we want to retain market share, union wage rates and benefit contributions, we will be forced to do business differently.

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING UPDATE Even though the current collective agreements for Construction Carpenters, Millwrights, ISM Lathers and Roofers do not expire until April 30, 2011, preparations are underway for collective bargaining. We will be soliciting member input soon. All the various trade groups represented by the Council have adopted the new Building Trades of Alberta bargaining framework, which we hope will lead to positive outcomes.

Bargaining Committees as follows: Carpenters Martyn Piper Derrick Schulte George Wilson Bruce Payne Greg Budd Tony Contenti Shane Whitmore Millwrights Bob Hugh Gord Evers Ted Remenda Tom Debeljak Dave Knight ISM/Lathers TBA Roofers TBA

Undeliverable mail should be directed to ARCCAW 200-15210 123 Ave Edmonton, AB T5V 0A3 Email: lhelmeczi@albertacarpenters.com Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement # 40063788

Contents Spring 10

FEATURES

PUBLISHED FOR:

Alberta Regional Council of Carpenters & Allied Workers 15210 – 123 Avenue Edmonton, Alberta T5V 0A3 Tel: (780) 474-8599 / Fax: (780) 474-8910 www.albertacarpenters.com PUBLISHED BY:

Venture Publishing Inc. 10259 – 105 Street Edmonton, Alberta T5J 1E3 Toll-free: 1-866-227-4276 Phone: (780) 990-0839 Fax: (780) 425-4921 www.venturepublishing.ca

10 Project Profile The Bow Calgary’s newest skyscraper is demanding innovative solutions to unique construction challenges

By Tricia Radison

14 Q&A: LEEDing the Way What’s so important about this green certification program and why should you care?

By Tricia Radison

14

18 Economic Outlook 2010

PUBLISHER

Ruth Kelly

Oil and gas leads the way into a gradual recovery, but you may still feel the pinch

By Jim Veenbaas

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Joyce Byrne

ARCCAW EDITOR

Martyn A. Piper

22 Masters of Their Craft

EDITOR

18

The final part of a series featuring industrial shops across the region

By Lisa Ricciotti

Kim Tannas ART DIRECTOR

Charles Burke

ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR

Rodrigo López Orozco

PRODUCTION COORDINATOR

Betty-Lou Smith

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Lindsey Norris, Tricia Radison, Lisa Ricciotti, Jim Veenbaas CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS AND ILLUSTRATORS

Ewan Nicholson, Heff O’Reilly, Chris Tait

DEPARTMENTS 2 Note From the Executive Secretary Treasurer

By Martyn Piper

22

4 Site Lines News and views from around the region

VICE-PRESIDENT, SALES

Anita McGillis

ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE

Tara Kochan

9 Training + Events 26 Training and Apprenticeship Report

SALES ASSISTANT

Stefanie Jackson

By Len J. Bryden Contents © 2010 by ARCCAW Inc. No part of this publication should be reproduced without written permission.

Important Phone Numbers Edmonton Fort McMurray Calgary Carpenters Training Centre Carpenters Health and Welfare Carpenters Pension Industrial Workers Millwright Local 1460 Local Union 1325 and 2103 Dispatch

780-471-3200 780-743-1442 403-283-0747 780-455-6532 780-477-9131 780-477-9131 403-283-0747 780-430-1460 1-888-944-0818

27 KidZone Fun facts about “green” buildings, plus a crossword puzzle

28 Local 1460 Millwrights Report

By Bob Hugh

28 In Memoriam 30 Parting Shot ON THE COVER The Bow Photographed by Ewan Nicholson

10 HARDHAT SPRING 2010 3

Site Lines

News in Brief

A roundup of news and events from around the region

Built for Politics Carpenter Searle Turton builds a political future, one door at a time Most 10-year-old kids have lofty career ambitions: astronaut, doctor, race car driver. “City councillor” rarely makes the list – it lacks the same excitement as flying through space or taking hairpin turns.

But Searle Turton has been dreaming about getting into politics for as long as he can remember.

This fall, the 32-year-old carpenter will finally have the chance to act on his ambitions when he runs for Spruce Grove City Council.

Turton joined Local 1325 a decade ago, not long after recognizing the wage disparity between his non-union

house framing jobs and the jobs of his unionized family members (his father is a member of the electricians’ union and his brother-in-law a member with the pipefitters). If he is elected, Turton believes it will give him the chance to raise labour issues with individuals at the provincial and federal levels of government.

“Just by being a member of city council you gain more of an ear in higher levels of government,” he says.

He would also like to see Spruce Grove expand its recreational facilities.

Turton may seem young for politics, but he has chalked up enough experience to make sure he’s taken seriously.

He has volunteered for other political campaigns, is a member of the executive for his local and sits on the board of directors of the Spruce Grove Library.

With two incumbent councillors stepping down from city council, Turton

believes this is his chance. “Incumbent councillors have an 85 per cent chance of re-election, so with a couple of people stepping down I have a really good opportunity,” he says.

The election takes place in October, so for the next few months, “It’ll be pretty well work, door-knocking and family life,” says Turton, who is married and has a three-year-old son. “Luckily, I have a very patient wife who knows that politics is a dream of mine.”

Of course with no party system in municipal politics, candidates’ chances of winning depend largely on their personal efforts. “So as soon as the snow melts, I’ll be door-knocking,” he says.

“My goal is to knock on most doors by the time of the election.” So if you see Turton with bandages on his knuckles, don’t worry – it’s not because he’s suddenly developed any clumsiness with his hammer.

Guess the Tool Which trade used this antique brace?

(Hint: It was used in the making of an oldfashioned method of transportation.)

Answer on page 6

Tee Time On July 16, swap your steel toes for your golf shoes to support juvenile diabetes research at the 10th annual Barrie Regan Golf Tournament. Last year, the tournament raised over $5,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Association (JDRA). The event is also one of ARCCAW’s largest fundraisers of the year and is named after union member Barrie Regan, who sat on the board of directors for the JDRA. “Eighty-two cents on every dollar that we raise goes directly to research, and what’s really neat is so many of the 4

HARDHAT

SPRING 2010

families that work in the carpenters’ union have a direct connection to the organization, so they’re raising money for their own community,” says Barbara Armstrong, the regional manager for JDRF. The $125 registration fee includes green fees at the Legends Golf & Country Club in Sherwood Park, a cart, prizes and a steak dinner at the end of the day. Corporate donors are also encouraged to sponsor a hole or provide a donation. To register, fax the form on page 21 by July 9.

update: Trade Winds to Success

ure

Hair Massacre c The Keephills work site west of Edmonton is usually humming with the sounds of power tools. On Feb. 12, a new, unfamiliar buzz was added to the mix – that of electric shavers.

A team of seven, which included six members from Local 1325 and one pipefitter from Local 488, agreed to donate their hair to a good cause (no small sacrifice in an Edmonton winter, as participant Leah Redmond discovered. “I had to wear a toque to bed the first night,” she says.)

Team members who were working that day staged the event at Keephills, while the others joined the main Hair Massacure event at West Edmonton

Mall. Since 2003, over $3.6 million has been raised in Edmonton and Northern Alberta, with proceeds split between the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation and the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Northern Alberta. The event was originally inspired by (now) 11-year-old Kali MacDonald. She was in her third year of chemotherapy treatment in 2003 when her father, Gordon MacDonald, launched the fundraiser.

The Hair Massacure event has a personal connection to the team – the wife of member Tony Payne has cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy.

Stay tuned next year. The team is considering an encore performance.

When the first participants began the Trade Winds to Success program in February 2006, they had six training streams to choose from: boilermaker, carpenter, ironworker, plumber, steam/pipefitter and welder. In September 2009, two new training programs – millwright and electrician – were added to the course lineup, offering Métis, Inuit and First Nations people in Alberta more choices for their pre-apprenticeship training.

“Five clients will be going over to the Millwright Training Centre in Edmonton starting March 8,” says Deborah Munroe, the executive director of the Trade Winds program, who adds that building a relationship with the millwright union has been a tremendous partnership.

Between February 2006 and the December 2009, 198 of the program’s participants secured employment in their trade of choice; of that number, 146 chose to join a union.

From left to right: Terry Hall, Kelly Harding, Fern Barriault, Tony Payne Sr. Other team members include Leah Redmond, Jason Hall, Jordan Dufty and Rod Burnstick

Good Works The Alberta Carpenters Training Centre has been awarded the 2009 Corporate Volunteer Award from Habitat for Humanity for its members’ outstanding contributions to the charitable organization. Angela Robichaud, who is the volunteer manager for Habitat for Humanity Edmonton, says no other organization Habitat is always looking for skilled workers to contribute to their projects opened their arms to Habitat to the same degree as the on Tuesdays through Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. This year, upcoming training centre. “We had classes that came out and put up projects include 12 homes in Stony Plain and six in Spruce Grove. There is no scaffolding, they sent emails to members, and overall minimum commitment, though the organization does prefer if people can come they contributed over 500 hours last year with about out a few times a month. If the social opportunities and the thought of doing good 50 different people coming out to our job sites,” work isn’t enough, Habitat offers an additional perk: lunch is provided.

Robichaud says.

Sign up at www.hfh.org or contact a volunteer co-ordinator at 780-479-3566.

Want to get involved?

HARDHAT SPRING 2010

5

Site Lines Class in Session Reppsco Services Ltd., an industrial maintenance company, offered free training sessions earlier this year to prep workers for upcoming shutdowns. For a three-day stint in early February and again in early March, more than 30 members from Local 1460 were trained in controlled bolting, hydro-testing plugs and flange facing at the Millwrights Provincial Training Centre in Edmonton.

This is the second year in a row that Reppsco has offered training to millwrights, pipefitters and boilermakers to make sure it has qualified trades available. “We try to get the guys trained prior to being shipped out to the sites for shutdown to perform maintenance,” says Chris Buck, the general foreman of 6601 (Reppsco’s division for machining and bolting). “Whatever shutdown I have coming up, I’ll put a slip into the hall and ask for training and then A new door and hardware course will it’s first come, first serve.” soon be available at the Calgary Training In addition to job skills, trainees receive hirCentre and will start sometime in 2010. Len ing preference for upcoming jobs. Plus, it’s Bryden says an instructor is training now, which free for participants, since the trade halls means participants can soon enrol to learn how and Reppsco split the cost. to install panic hardware for exit doors on specific manufacturers’ products.

Raising the Bar

Don’t Panic

Len Bryden, director of training and apprenticeship, Alberta Carpenters Training Centre, with the 2009 Corporate Volunteer Award from Habitat for Humanity. To his left is scaffold instructor George Pekarchik and on his right, from Habitat for Humanity, are Mark Craig, director of construction, and Angela Robichaud, volunteer manager

The world-renowned carpenters scaffolding apprenticeship program, available to members from locals 2103 and 1325, just became a little more difficult to complete.

“We are continually working to modify our program and improve our tests, and we have raised the pass mark to make it a little bit more challenging for our members because we have a lot of people who want to participate,” says Len Bryden, the provincial training co-ordinator at the Alberta Carpenters Training Centre.

“We want to make sure our standards of quality are of utmost excellence – the best in the industry.”

Answer to “Guess the Tool” ((from from page 4) 4 A coachmaker would have used this brace in building a coach, or horse-drawn carriage.

6

HARDHAT

SPRING 2010

Safety in Numbers A half day was devoted to paired observations training and a site walkdown at Syncrude’s Spring 2010 Turnaround Preparation Meeting earlier this year.

ARCCAW leadership paired up with the Aluma Systems Fort McMurray team for this peer review process that emphasizes the importance of working safe. Team members used a checklist to observe and identify safety issues related to the working environment, protective gear, tools and machinery, and worker behaviours.

ALBERTA AND NORTHWEST TERRITORIES (DISTRICT OF MACKENZIE) REGIONAL COUNCIL OF CARPENTERS AND ALLIED WORKERS REPRESENTATIVE – FORT MCMURRAY/ WOOD BUFFALO REGION The Regional Council is currently accepting applications for a full time Representative/Organizer, based in Fort McMurray responsible for servicing in Fort McMurray and the Wood Buffalo area and who reports directly to the Executive Secretary Treasurer. This position requires a proactive, high-energy self-reliant individual who is results driven and who is capable of working with minimal supervision and is committed to the expansion of our Union. The successful candidate will possess strong interpersonal skills and be able to work effectively with diverse groups of people both union, non-union and management. Effective written and verbal communication skills are essential.

Knowledge of Alberta workplace legislation would be an asset.

The position will require work in off-hours, evenings and weekends without overtime, and possession of a valid Alberta driver’s license is essential. Training during a probationary period will be provided prior to the successful candidate assuming full time responsibilities.

Acceptance of a contract outlining remuneration and working terms and conditions is a condition of employment. Local residents will be given preference of employment if qualifications and suitability are equal.

Please forward resume by mail to:

Martyn A. Piper Executive Secretary Treasurer Regional Council of Carpenters & Allied Workers 200-15210 123 Ave Edmonton, AB T5V 0A3

From left to right: Bob Cook, Local 1325, Dave Windsor, Aluma site safety lead, Martyn Piper, executive secretary treasurer, ARCCAW, Mick Herke, Aluma general manager for northern Alberta

Closing date: May 28, 2010

Alberta Construction Safety Association ”Making Safety A Way Of Life”

National Construction Safety Officer Program Qualifying Program for Gold Seal Construction Safety Coordinator www.acsa-safety.org Edmonton 1-800-661-2272 • Calgary 1-800-661-0390 Ft. McMurray 780-715-2157

000.ABConstSafety_1-3H-nBL.indd 1

O S C

N

HARDHAT SPRING 2010

6/16/09 9:04:43 AM

7

Site Lines The Great Reno Rebate

2009

Ottawa’s home renovation program, which allowed taxpayers to receive up to $1,350 in tax rebates for projects between $1,000 and $10,000, was introduced as a limited time measure in the 2009 federal budget to boost the economy and add jobs. While the official tally won’t be revealed till after tax season, certain signs suggest it has already been a success.

30%

Amount residential investment (which includes home construction and home renovations) increased in the fourth quarter of 2009, the biggest jump in

24 years

$130,000

Cost of the average project completed by renovators in Alberta

$75,000 Cost of the average project completed by renovators in the rest of Canada

$6 billion

The cost of the proposed Homestar program in the United States It would offer homeowners up to

$ 3,000

in rebates

and could lead to the renovation of

3 million homes

4 $ .3 billion 8

HARDHAT

SPRING 2010

The amount of money the tax program bolstered in renovation activity, as estimated by TD Bank Sources: Statistics Canada, Canadian Home Builders’ Association Alberta, TD Economics

UPCOMING

Training + Events

General Events 18th Annual Provincial Skills Canada Competition The Alberta Carpenters Training Centre was host to the regional Skills Canada Competition on April 20. High school and post-secondary students who qualified from this and other regional competitions across Alberta now have the chance to compete in the Provincial Skills Canada competition in May. Date: May 12-13, 2010 Location: Edmonton Expo Centre More information: www.skillsalberta.com/provincials/Provincials CompetitionInformation.aspx Provincial Carpentry Apprenticeship/Scaffolder Games Competition To compete, you must have completed all four periods of carpentry apprenticeship for the carpentry competition and all three levels of scaffolding courses for the Scaffolder Games, preferably in the last 12 months for both.

Six carpenters and nine scaffolder volunteers are also needed for this yearly event. The carpenter apprentice who wins the Alberta Training Trust Fund Carpenter Competition will be going on to compete at the UBC National Apprenticeship Contest being held in Ottawa Sept. 9-11.

Date: June 25-26, 2010 More information: If you are interested in participating in either event, contact Len Bryden at 780-454-6699, or email lbryden@abcarptc.ab.ca.

Meetings First Wednesday of each month: Local 1325 meeting Third Thursday of each month: Local 2103 meeting Fourth Tuesday of each month: Local 1460 meeting

Training Many courses taking place in the next few months have already filled up.

Here are a few that still have space. The new class schedule for 2010-2011 will be available at the end of April. Visit www.abcarptc.ab.ca or phone the Edmonton office for more information: 780 455-6532 or toll-free 1-877-455-6532.

Alberta Carpenters Training Centre Edmonton Period 2 Carpentry: May 10 to July 2, 2010 Calgary Hoisting and Rigging: May 14 to 16, 2010 Pre-employment Carpentry Program: Aug. 16 to Oct. 7, 2010 Fort McMurray To register for classes running after May of 2010, you must be a Fort McMurray resident.

Scaffolding Level 1: May 17 to June 4, 2010 June 28 to July 16, 2010 Sept. 7 to Sept. 24, 2010 Nov. 15 to Dec. 3, 2010

Scaffolding Level 2: July 19 to Aug. 6, 2010 Sept. 27 to Oct. 15, 2010 Scaffolding Level 3: Aug. 16, 2010 to Sept. 3, 2010 Oct. 18 to Nov. 5, 2010

Note: Period 1 and 2 Carpentry: All classes require government-registered apprentices.

To register with us at the ACTC you must have your blue book and be in good standing.

V I S I O NSAVINGS CORRECTION MEMBER

LASER

ARCCAW MEMBER SAVINGS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ARE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE

PREMIUM PACKAGE

Over 55,000 procedures performed & more than 10 years in AB.

AT CLEARLY LASIK IN EDMONTON

FREE

LASIK 10060 Jasper Ave, Ste. 303 . Scotia Place Tower II . Edmonton clearlylasik.com EXAMS 780.421.7007

000.ClearlyLasik_1-2H_nBL.indd 1

3/19/10 8:45:43 AM

HARDHAT SPRING 2010

9

Project PROFILE

Soon to become Western Canada’s tallest skyscraper, the Bow’s unique design is creating daily construction challenges that demand innovative solutions

By TRICIA RADISON Photography by Ewan Nicholson

10

HARDHAT SPRING 2010

n the heart of Calgary, the Bow is rising. Not the

Bow River, but Western Canada’s tallest office building, scheduled for completion in 2011. Architecturally stunning and widely lauded, the project has set numerous records and proven to be an exciting challenge for those involved in its construction.

Designed by Foster + Partners out of London, England, the Bow’s unique crescent shape and exposed diagonal grid are expected to add an element of sophistication to the city skyline.

Rising 774 feet (236 metres) from the ground, the 58-storey tower contains 1.9 million square feet of leasable space and will be home to EnCana Corporation, bringing together employees from five separate locations in the city.

Reportedly the largest steel project in Canadian history, the Bow will eventually contain about 43,000 metric tonnes of steel. By the end of 2009, about 22,000 metric tonnes had been used to build 30 floors.

The Bow’s steel diagrid plays two roles. “Other towers have a concrete core and all the steel is tied into the core. In the case of the Bow, we don’t have a concrete core. The actual strength of the building comes from the diagrid structure,” explains Michael Brown, associate vice-president HARDHAT SPRING 2010 11

Project PROFILE for Southwest Development from his Calgary office. “There’s the architectural aspect, which is how it looks, but there is also a significant amount of engineering built into the structure to give it the strength it needs as a tower.”

Concrete is another major ingredient in the building, with 97,600 cubic metres of high-strength concrete being used over the duration of the project.

The foundation alone used 13,778 cubic metres. Poured over 36 hours in May 2008, the foundation is the result of the largest continuous concrete pour ever done in Canada, and the third largest in the history of the world.

About 1,300 truckloads of concrete and more than 500 people were required to complete the pour. The building is being erected on a 4,600square-metre slab that is about three metres thick.

Glass is another important component of the building. The finished structure will incorporate enough glass

to cover 10 football fields, about 80,000 square metres of glass. The curtain wall panels weigh about 300 kilograms each, with some of the large panels weighing up to 450 kilograms. An atrium with a southwest exposure plays an important role in managing the energy needs and costs of the building, reflecting or exhausting excess heat in the summer and absorbing heat that is then sent through the building during cooler months.

“We don’t actually sit back and track where we are in terms of the materials or where we are in terms of some of the

CURVE APPEAL: Constructing a massive building in an urban core has its headaches, but the complex project is on schedule and on budget. Steel, concrete and glass come together to make the offi ce building not only architecturally stunning but also functional for EnCana staff

12

HARDHAT SPRING 2010

details and say, ‘OK, does this break a record?’ ” says Brown. “Everything in the Bow, from the diagrid structure to the shape of the building, is actually being put in place to meet either a building objective or a tenant objective.”

The crescent shape is one example.

“It wasn’t that somebody sat down and said, ‘You know, let’s build a building that’s a bow shape.’ [We figured out] what EnCana’s needs are from a staff point of view, and how their working units work together, and the bow shape came out as a result,” Brown says.

That shape has led to challenges as the building is erected. Logistics is one.

Getting materials where they need to go on time when working on a curved structure simply isn’t as easy as it is when working on a square building.

Managing the amount of material that gets wasted also takes much more work and planning because of the shape.

“Imagine laying tile in [a circular] area.

You’re going to have significant waste if you don’t really manage what you’re doing,” says Brown.

But while there have been challenges,

there have also been innovations. For example, when sourcing a debris netting system proved impossible because those on the market wouldn’t work with the design of the Bow, Steeplejack Industrial Group – which is providing scaffolders and scaffolding for the construction – developed a retractable debris netting system using tube and clamp scaffold. It had never been done before but worked perfectly for the project.

Innovation is all in a day’s work for those working on the Bow. “For us, every day you get challenges as you go along. You take on

each challenge, you overcome it and you move on,” says Brown. But he acknowledges that the Bow spawns new ideas all the time. “You have a parking structure that has over 1,300 stalls, you have a 58-storey building on top of that, you have the shape of the Bow, you have the amount of staff – you’re really going to have to have some level of innovation.”

Although the tenant fit-out work won’t always be innovative, it will incorporate different approaches and materials from what is usually seen in Calgary. Drawing on the best the world offers, plans are in place to give interior elements a bit of an unusual edge. Everything from the ceilings to the drywall to the stone and woodwork will be slightly different than the western Canadian norm, creating an interior that’s as impressive as the exterior.

With between 750 and 800 people on the site on any given day, a number that will peak at 1,500 in fall 2010, the Bow’s downtown location is an incredibly busy place.

Some prefabrication is being done off site to keep the amount of people and materials to a minimum. Interestingly, this includes the construction of the washrooms.

“The use of washroom pods, as they’re called, is not uncommon for this type of building. It is uncommon for this part of the world,” says Brown. The pods have been used successfully in Eastern Canada, the United States, Asia and Europe.

When the time comes, the pods will be lifted with cranes and placed throughout the building wherever they’re going to be installed. At that point, the utilities will be connected and they’ll be fully functional.

Brown predicts washroom pods will become more popular in Western Canada as people learn about the advantages of using them.

In a testament to project management, the complex project is on schedule and on budget. It’s also exciting to watch, even for those dealing with the day-to-day headaches of constructing such a massive building in an urban core. Says Brown: “Every few days I forget and then I go [on site] and I’m reminded of just how amazing this project is. One of the most interesting things is that you hear Calgarians [talking about it]. They’ll remember when the Bow was built.”

HARDHAT SPRING 2010 13

By TRICIA RADISON

Tradespeople have an important role in helping buildings achieve green certification

E

Hard Hat: Why is LEED important?

Glenn Chanut: For many years, there were two separate pots of money.

You build the building with this pot of money and then you operate it with another pot of money. They weren’t integrated.

If I’m only responsible for the capital cost, I’m going to spend as little as possible; I’m not thinking into the future for the next group that I’m going to turn the building over to. With LEED, the intent is to make a case to spend additional dollars on the capital side to produce future cost savings on the operating side.

How does the job of a scaffolder or a welder or a carpenter differ on a LEED project than on a regular project?

GC: It shouldn’t differ at all. You always want to utilize the materials you’re using to the best of your ability with as little waste as possible.

If there is waste, it can be put into a designated bin and it can go to be recycled. It’s not just the wood or the product they’re working with; it goes further than that. It goes to recycling containers, drink containers, anything that they’re using on the site.

It’s about reusing as much as possible. Recycle, reuse, and reduce.

Those three things are primary and just part of the way we should all work, the way we should all live.

Is it extra work for a subcontractor or a tradesperson to build a LEED project?

GC: I would have to say yes, there is a little bit, but it’s really very minor.

There is documentation required, but the general contractor, for the most part, will do that. For the trades, the general contractor sets up bins for recycling, and when they’re doing their cleanup, which is part of their job anyway, rather than just put it into one bin, they have to put it into different bins. They don’t have to do any more than that.

14

HARDHAT SPRING 2010

photo by chris tait

ight or nine years ago, few people had even heard of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), one of the international green certification systems for buildings.

Today, constructing to LEED standards is becoming the norm. The City of Calgary, for example, has mandated that all of its large projects will be built with the goal of achieving LEED gold. Glenn Chanut is a LEED accredited professional and co-ordinator of project management for building infrastructure, corporate properties and buildings, at the City of Calgary. He is also a former member of UBC 1779/2103 and currently an employer trustee for the pension, health and wellness, and training trust funds. He talks about the importance of LEED and what ARCCAW members can do to help projects get certified.

Glenn Chanut Are there things a tradesperson might do on site that could take away from LEED points?

GC: I’ll use an example I use with apprentices.

You cut all of your longest materials first. If you put all of your longest pieces in first, then if you happen to make a mistake and cut it too short, you’ve got all the shorter pieces you can use, so there’s less waste. That’s just a small example, but you can take it across the work of any trade.

Basically, if a carpenter is really doing what he was trained to do, he’s going to meet most of the requirements right off the top.

What else can the trades do to contribute?

GC: Be less wasteful. Order just enough product. Order local product. If you get beyond 500 miles from the site, you begin to lose some credibility for the project. Years ago, they used to build buildings with materials that were readily available in the area. With transportation the way it is today, you can transport material from anywhere in the world. But not without expense. Not without expending energy to get it from point A to point B.

What is the impact of increased recycling of construction waste material on our landfills?

GC: I did Cardel Place* in 2001. That had, I believe, a 75 per cent waste reduction from a normal project. We diverted 75 per cent of the waste from the landfill to recycling. It’s going to be between 75 and 90 per cent today.

How many points do you get for recycling?

GC: The waste component is worth up to two points, with one point to divert 50 per cent and a second point to divert up to 75 per cent.

If there are only 52 points, one point may seem minor, but every point helps a project. And those are easy points to make.

When LEED projects were first built in Alberta, it was pretty challenging for contractors and maybe a little scary. Has building to LEED standards gotten easier?

GC: Very much so. When I did Cardel Place in 2001, there was one individual that had LEED accreditation on our project team and no

one really knew what to do, how to do things.

Even our specifications – we had to do a lot of research to put the specifications together to accommodate LEED. Will LEED continue to push the industry to higher and higher levels of sustainability?

GC: Most definitely. Our sustainable building policy started out at silver. Cardel Place is gold and we just keep raising the bar higher all the time. It will drive itself. The number of people who are involved with LEED and accredited has risen unbelievably since it started here.

Everyone starts to ask, “How can we do it better?” It’s like a snowball; it just starts to roll and it’s getting bigger and people are coming up with all kinds of ideas wherever you go. It’s exciting. There are unlimited opportunities out there. You look at everything from a different perspective. It’s not about using everything you can find out there. It’s about trying to save and use everything as best as you can. *LEED version 2.1 was used for Cardel Place.

LEED® Get the Point?

There are 110 possible points in the latest version of the LEED rating system. Projects must get a certain number to be certified.

• Certified: 40-49 • Silver: 50-59 • Gold: 60-79 • Platinum: 80-110 Points are awarded in seven key areas: • Sustainable Sites • Water Efficiency • Energy and Atmosphere • Materials and Resources • Indoor Environmental Quality • Innovation and Design Process • Regional Priority

GOING FOR GOLD: Calgary’s Water Centre and Cardel Place (inset) are examples of LEED gold certified buildings. The city has mandated that all of its large projects be built with the goal of achieving this standard

HARDHAT SPRING 2010

15

Cautious optimism continues as the resource sector leads the province into a gradual recovery

By Jim Veenbaas Illustration by HEFF O’REILLY

I

mproved oil prices will push Alberta out of the recession this year and give the construction industry the spark it needs to regain the momentum it lost in 2009, say industry experts.

The province’s construction sector was absolutely booming in 2008, with virtually full employment and unprecedented investment, which helped it stay strong even though the Alberta economy shrank by a shocking 3.4 per cent last year, according to estimates from RBC Economics.

“There’s nothing good about a recession, but when you have an industry that was overheating like construction was, the demand for work came down to a more manageable level,” says George Gritziotis, executive director of the Construction Sector Council. “All we did was go from overheating to just being busy.

18

HARDHAT SPRING 2010

There was a period where you couldn’t find workers or even contractors to bid on a job. Now you have a few less workers and a few more bidders, but that’s not typically how you define a recession.”

The economy is already showing signs of growth. Higher oil prices, renewed private-sector investment and billions in infrastructure projects are creating optimism in most sectors of the economy. The Conference Board of Canada is forecasting that Alberta’s GDP will grow by a modest 2.5 per cent in 2010 and a much more robust 4.1 per cent in 2011.

“The economy will pick up, but it will be much more gradual compared to the past, and from a construction perspective, maybe that’s a better way to manage our workforce. Ultimately, it will be the resource sector that drives Alberta. That has always been the case and will continue to be,” says Gritziotis.” As the industrial sector gets busy, that has spillover effects in a number of employment areas. We will see residential construction pick up; we will see consumer spending start to improve.”

Any discussion of growth in Alberta starts with the oil sands. Crude prices have remained steady in the $70 range, which has sparked

renewed interest from investors. Some projects put on hold in 2009 will now go ahead, including Stage 3 of Suncor’s Firebag project, Imperial Oil’s Kearl Lake development and Phase 2 of Canadian Natural Resources’ Horizon project. Syncrude Canada has also announced plans to continue with the expansion of its Mildred Lake upgrading facility and more projects will likely be announced in the future.

“There’s quite a bit of cautious optimism in the oil sands industry right now. We are seeing a heavy oil margin that is very favourable for bitumen producers. That’s why you are seeing a lot of lower capital expenditure projects coming back. They are less capital intensive upfront so they are the first ones to come off the shelf,” says Travis Davies, spokesperson for the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP).

The optimistic outlook for the oil sands is being tempered by the seeming inability of some industries to snap out of the recession. Residential house construction is still weak and natural gas in Alberta could face a long-term slump as more supply enters the marketplace from technology that makes it profitable to tap

into new gas supplies across North America.

“It’s not all rosy. There are sectors that are not bouncing back.

The petrochemical industry is suffering, the forestry industry is suffering, natural gas is suffering. It was a pretty sobering year in 2009, but if we can squeeze through 2010, we think 2011 should be better,” says Brad Anderson, executive director of the Construction Owners Association of Alberta.

The provincial government could play a pivotal role in the economy as well. The province approved a $4.7-billion deficit in this year’s budget, which helped it maintain $7.2 billion in infrastructure spending for 2010-2011 and allowed it to freeze taxes. That spending will create some short-term spinoffs for the construction industry, but even more important over the long term is the future of royalty rates and regulations in the energy sector.

Jack Mintz, director of the School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary, released a study in February comparing royalty rates and corporate taxes in Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Texas.

HARDHAT SPRING 2010 19

Recession? What Recession?

In most cases, Alberta was last in terms of competitiveness for oil and gas.

“Contrary to some public perception, the oil and gas sectors, including the oil sands, are much more highly taxed than other sectors in the Alberta economy,” says Mintz. “The current royalty regime creates a burden on investment that is twice as high on oil and gas compared to other sectors in the economy. The oil sands is treated better than the conventional side, but it still bears a higher burden than other industries.”

To address the issue, the Alberta government is reviewing its current policy framework and is expected to release the results of that review in March. Industry leaders are crossing their fingers, hoping the province implements major reforms to make it more profitable to do business here.

“Alberta is the energy basket of the world. Probably nowhere on earth is there such a concentration of energy and resources – when you combine oil sands, uranium, coal, and oil and gas. We have it all here.

We should be the world leader in energy resource production and we’re not. Why is that?” asks Anderson.

“Fundamentally, the provincial and federal governments have to signal they want to be in the business of natural resource production again. They need to restore the confidence level for investors, and I’m not sure if that has really been done. The provincial government is taking steps to make us competitive again, vis-a-vis royalty rates and tax rates, and that should probably be enough to drive the economy forward. There are indications of construction expansion in the future, but we’re not over the hump yet.”

Unless an unexpected collapse in the world economy drives down demand and prices for commodities, Alberta’s construction industry should be well positioned for the future. In fact, the real challenge for industry in the near future could be the return of labour shortages.

“We are losing anywhere between 1.5 per cent and two per cent of our workforce to retirement. With just retirement alone, and not including new construction, over our nine-year outlook we could lose anywhere between 150,000 and 160,000 workers across Canada to retirement. Add in new construction activity and maintenance activity, and we will have a requirement of close to 300,000 workers,” says Gritziotis.

“The good news is I think we will be less reactive going forward than we have been in the past. Essentially, we have to ensure we have the training capacity out there to bring in apprentices who are trained.

The industry is better prepared to respond to that challenge than it has been in the past.”

20

HARDHAT SPRING 2010

The global recession of 2009 may go down in history books as one of the most severe since the Great Depression, but Alberta’s construction industry seemed almost immune to the crisis.

Residential house construction in the province did suffer an immediate and severe downturn, but the commercial and industrial sector was relatively strong considering the collapse in global demand and prices.

“When compared to other recessions, the downturn in 2009 was downright mild. In Alberta, much of that strength can be attributed to the continued development of the oil sands and government stimulus projects. We were really busy in 2008, so some of that carried through to last year,” says George Gritziotis, executive director of the Construction Sector Council.

“If you look back to 1976 up until now, a good unemployment rate in the construction industry was anywhere between 10 per cent and 12 per cent. Unemployment in 2009 was 11 per cent. During the recessions of 1981 and 1990, our unemployment rates were around 20 per cent. It hit a peak of about 30 per cent in 1981. If you put it in context, even though things slowed down, they didn’t slow down to historic levels.”

Unfortunately, 2010 may end up being more challenging for the industry. Many members of the Alberta Regional Council of Carpenters and Allied Workers (ARCCAW) were busy in 2009, but they may have to tighten their belts in 2010. Some big projects like the Shell Scotford expansion, with 1,100 ARCCAW workers, will be nearing completion this year.

“We didn’t really feel the brunt of the recession in 2009, which is a bit of an anomaly, but it could get a little rocky here in the second half of 2010. We have some big jobs finishing in mid- year so it might be tough sledding for a bit. I think the back part of 2011 and going forward, things will start to really pick up. We will have to sharpen our pencils and work with our contractors to become the labour provider of choice,” says ARCCAW executive secretary treasurer Martyn Piper.

“I don’t think it’s desperate by any stretch, but I don’t think we will do the volume we have over the last few years. There have been some announcements in the oil sands, but some of the large projects that were shelved are not back on the drawing board at this point. People are working, so they should just hang on to what what they have. Don’t go looking for big hours or big money. We have to be steady as we go.”

ALBERTA REGIONAL COUNCIL OF CARPENTERS AND ALLIED WORKERS

Legends Golf & Country Club 53541 Range Road 232, Sherwood Park, AB

• Registration: 6:45-7:45 a.m. • Shotgun Start, Texas Scramble: 8 a.m.

ReG i sT RAT i O n FO Rm

Fax by July 9, 2010

ReGisTRATiOn Fee: $125/player (includes green fees, power cart, prizes and BBQ steak dinner) Name: Phone: (

)

Fax: (

)

Enter team(s) of golfers at $500/team (4 players at $125 each). Team would include: (All foursomes will be chosen from pairs or singles) 1)

Phone: (

)

2)

Phone: (

)

3)

Phone: (

)

4)

Phone: (

)

FOR CORPORATe DOnORs: Our organization would like to offer our support in finding the cure for Juvenile Diabetes by contributing the following cash and/or prizes to the 10th Annual Barrie Regan Golf Tournament: Sponsor a hole: $150 with the right signage at the hole Provide a corporate donation of: $100

$150

$200

$250

$

(other)

Provide prizes: 1)

2)

3)

4)

5)

6)

PLeAse ResPOnD bY FRiDAY, JULY 9, 2010 Fax form to: (780) 474-8910 Phone: (780) 474-8599 Make cheque payable to: Alberta Regional Council of Carpenters and Allied Workers Mail to: Linda Helmeczi, Alberta Regional Council, 15210 123 Avenue, Edmonton, AB T5V 0A3 All proceeds go to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation HARDHAT SPRING 2010 21

The second part of a two-part series profiling ARCCAW industrial shops across Alberta

Masters

By Lisa Ricciotti

of Their Craft L

ast issue, we began our spotlight on

ARCCAW’s industrial and manufacturing plants across the province with profiles on ATCO Structures & Logistics, Graymont Western Canada, PTI Travco Modular Structures, Sunac Woodwork and Metal Work, and Lafarge Precast Concrete. This issue concludes our series as we feature more unique shops. From builders of massive bridges, to innovative next-generation modular homes, to flying form trusses that revolutionized the concrete shoring market, each company employs workers who represent the diversity of the Alberta Regional Council of Carpenters and Allied Workers.

22

HARDHAT

SPRING 2010

Westman Steel When: 1976 What: Steel building design and manufacturing, including steel roofing and siding Where: Airdrie Who: 15 employees including mill and heavy equipment operators, labourers and admin staff A company doesn’t make Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies list without doing something right – and Westman Steel’s found itself at the top of that elite ranking twice. In both 1997 and 2002, Westman Steel Industries was voted the Best Managed Private Company in Canada by the prestigious awards program. Today, Westman proudly calls itself a repeat member of the program’s Platinum Club, an exclusive category reserved for past winners that have achieved “Best Managed” status for at least six consecutive years.

What does all that mean to employees like Bob Sawatzky, the lead hand in shipping and receiving at Westman’s Airdrie plant? Simply put, after 35 years with Westman, Sawatzky still enjoys going to work every day. “Westman’s a very good company to work for,” Sawatzky says. “It’s well-managed, clean and they treat all employees with the utmost respect.”

Sawatzky has seen many changes over three-and-a-half decades at Westman. “Technology’s improved, and the new equipment is more efficient, for improved operations,” he notes. “Operating our machinery takes special skills, and we have very good staff.” The company’s also grown, and now has six locations across Western Canada, ranging from Langley, B.C., to company headquarters in Brandon, Man. “Since our Airdrie location is central, we act as a distribution point for all sites,” says Sawatzky.

Although Westman Steel has always been strong in the agricultural and commercial markets, with its extra-strong roofing and siding used everywhere from barns and sheds to arenas and grocery stores, it’s currently enjoying new attention from residential builders. Ecominded homeowners are discovering steel’s sustainability benefits as a 100 per cent recyclable material that lasts two to three times longer than conventional roofing products, while reducing energy requirements. With 25 colours to choose from in a variety of finishes, steel roofing is also an attractive option. Add in better resistance to mildew, decay and discoloration, as well as increased fire protection, and it’s not surprising that steel’s turning up on top of more new homes than ever.

That’s all good news for longtime employees like Sawatzky.

“Westman’s well-known for its quality,” Sawatzky says. “But where we really excel is our turnaround. Delivery time from ordering to receiving is exceptional. We really stand above our competitors there.”

Ply Gem When: 1959 What: Manufacturer of residential windows and doors Where: Calgary Who: 300+ employees including production workers, shipping and receiving and admin staff Listen in on employee conversations at any of Ply Gem’s three shops in Calgary, and you’ll hear an amazing range of languages.

“We have at least 15 different cultures here,” says Philip Banh, a Ply Gem door-builder who himself is fluent in English, Vietnamese and Chinese. “We all speak English on the floor, but during breaks or lunch you’ll hear everything.”

“What’s really interesting about Ply Gem is the diversity of its employees,” says Martyn Piper, ARCCAW’s executive secretary treasurer. “It’s a real melting pot, with workers from all over – Ethiopians, Sudanese, Somalis, East and West Indians, Chinese, Vietnamese, Brits and native Canadians.” Leonia Vieira, a 23-yearemployee in window production, can add a few more countries to Piper’s list. “I’m from Portugal and we also have workers from Greece, Spain and Chile,” Vieira says.

Regardless of their birthplace, Ply Gem staff members are united by one common goal – producing premium windows and doors.

“We’re not the cheapest, but we’re one of the best,” says Vieira.

“That’s what’s kept us in business so long.” Banh adds that during his 11 years with the company, he’s seen its name change three times, most recently in January from CWD Windows & Doors to Ply Gem: “It’s not a big deal, though, because management and our priority to be No. 1 in quality stay the same.” In fact, Banh says he’s proud to have Ply Gem windows in his own home.

He credits his employer for hiring him without a formal Canadian education, then giving him a chance to grow. “They’ve always given me more challenges,” Banh notes. “I’ve learned so much; I’m developing real talent. I can’t believe what I can do now.”

Vieira’s also worked in different areas over the years, learning new skills. She currently has three different roles, including welding operation. “I work in PVC,” says Vieira. “But we make doors and windows using wood, aluminum, steel – we do it all, including custom work. You’ll see our products at Totem and Home Depot and we also deal directly with contractors.”

Quality has remained a constant at Ply Gem, but both Banh and Vieira mention one notable change in recent years: a happier work environment since the shop unionized in 2005. “The union’s made a difference,” says Banh. “We get higher wages, but just as important, there’s more respect. It’s better here now.”

HARDHAT SPRING 2010

23

Aluma Systems When: 1972 What: Industrial scaffolding and concrete forming and shoring Where: Edmonton, Calgary and Fort McMurray Who: For scaffolding production: 1,400 field employees and 60 full-time staff, including carpenters, scaffolders, insulators, cladders, painters and blasters.

For concrete formwork: 30 employees including carpenters and yard workers.

Aluma Systems splits into two divisions. Aluma’s industrial services division provides industrial scaffolding built to occupational health and safety standards. Aluma’s concrete construction division, on the infrastructure services side, provides high-efficiency concrete forming and shoring for projects ranging from hotels and stadiums to airports and power plants.

Rick Moran looks after the scaffolding side of operations in Alberta, and as director and general manager, he notes the company’s reputation is built on forward-thinking and safety. “Innovation is the cornerstone of our success,” says Moran. “Aluma’s created many unique scaffolding components which have won awards for productivity and safety. Our big challenge is constantly raising the bar on safety, staying on top of new government and client regulations.”

Aluma supplies three types of industrial scaffolding, depending on site requirements: frame and brace, tube and clamp, and its famed Sure Lock system. As for how high up scaffolding goes, the sky’s the limit. “Heights range from small step-up units to the 160-foot landing platform we recently designed to repair one of Syncrude’s boilers,” Moran explains. “And it’s all cold-weather tested for our northern climate.” Many of Aluma’s Alberta clients are in the energy sector, and upcoming projects include scaffolding for Shell and Total bitumen upgraders near Fort Saskatchewan and for North West near Redwater.

Gary Hill is plant manager of Aluma concrete division’s five-acre yard in Edmonton, which supplies “whatever contractors need for on-site concrete forming and shoring.” Building a structure from wet concrete is “like baking a layer cake,” he explains. “We provide the supporting equipment for floor and walls, the concrete’s poured and hardens, then we move up to the next level.”

Traditional formwork is done using timber and plywood, but Aluma specializes in prefabricated formwork systems with metal frames. These are engineered for a site’s specific needs and have several significant advantages over wood: they allow for faster construction, are more durable and have a lower life-cycle cost.

An impressive unit that’s remained Aluma’s leading truss system for more than 30 years is an aluminum beam called the flying form truss. Pioneered in 1972, Aluma’s first year of operation, the flying truss “changed the face of the industry,” says Hill. Its lighter weight allows builders to move panels four times larger than previously possible.

Recent examples of projects constructed with Aluma concrete formwork are Calgary’s Olympic skating oval, Anthony Henday Drive’s bridges and overpasses, and many University of Alberta buildings. To see some of those flying trusses in action, head to the Edmonton Clinic North or Edmonton Clinic South at the U of A, where the “layer-cake” process is still underway.

Lafarge Northern Alberta Region – Edmonton Plant Drainage Systems When: 1947 What: Concrete pipe Where: Edmonton Who: 40 to 80 employees, including welders, crane and machine operators, concrete finishers, forklift operators, millwrights, carpenters and labourers Lafarge has two plants in Edmonton. One produces precast concrete for northern Alberta markets, which was featured in our winter issue. The second location is responsible for concrete pipe used in underground water management, including sanitary systems, storm drainage and catch basins. “We make pipe ranging from 10 inches to 10 feet,” explains general manager Prez Skiba. Some of that 10-foot pipe is used by oil sands clients including Suncor and Syncrude, to move surface water from mining production areas to tailings ponds. Or, concrete pipe of various sizes is buried under streets and residential areas for run-off storage or municipal sewers. In 2007, an all-new 100,000-square-foot plant with a 25-acre storage yard was built just off Yellowhead Highway, featuring the 24

HARDHAT

SPRING 2010

latest technology in vibration method production. “A flying bucket on rails drops dry cast concrete, a mixture of cement and aggregate, into moulds. Then it’s vibrated about five minutes until solid,” says Skiba. “We also upgraded our equipment in 2007 to add automatic steel reinforcing welding machines, so we can produce reinforced concrete pipe. The result is a very durable product with a lifespan of 75 to 100 years.”

He says things have slowed down a bit, with not as many residential subdivision projects underway, but adds: “We’ve just completed groundwork for a large residential highrise building in downtown Edmonton and are busy with the Highway 21 expansion and the southeast section of Edmonton’s Anthony Henday ring road.”

Armtech

Triple M Housing Ltd.

When: 1949 What: Precast and pre-stressed concrete structural components Where: Edmonton and Calgary Who: 200 employees, including carpenters, crane and mixer drivers, rebar benders, cage assemblers, welders and labourers

When: 1981 What: Manufactured and modular housing Where: Lethbridge Who: 200 employees including carpenters, plumbers, electricians, roofers, drywallers and production workers

When it comes to precast concrete, Armtec is used to thinking big.

Formerly Con-Force Structures, the company’s name changed in early 2010 with its acquisition by Armtec, but its focus remains the same: manufacturing and installing precast, pre-stressed concrete components for large infrastructure and architectural projects. When Syncrude needed a massive tunnel built under a heavy-haul oil sands road near Fort McMurray, Armtec responded with 22 prefabricated concrete arches – each weighing 79,000 kilograms and standing 5.1 metres high, 14.3 metres long and 2.4 metres wide. For Calgary’s Bow River bridge, Armtec used the longest expanse of NU girders in any project to date, with 65-metre centre spans tipping the scales at 130 tonnes each. Armtec made and installed 3,500-plus concrete panels for the 52-storey Bankers Hall towers in downtown Calgary, and Calgary International Airport’s large parkade was all engineered, manufactured and erected by Armtec.

“We have two structural factories in Alberta, a 22-acre plant in Calgary and a 20-acre plant in Edmonton,” says John Moody, the prairie region vice-president. “We mix our own concrete at the plants using local cement and aggregate. Then we build horizontally, pouring concrete into forms laid flat, some of which are custom-built by carpenters for unique design specifications.” After curing, cranes lift the final product into the yard, then oversized trucks transport beams, double tees, columns, spandrels, arch panels and other units to sites for installation.

Precast concrete components are reinforced with either conventional rebar, strands with high-tensile strength or a combination of both.

Strands are pre-tensioned in formwork before concrete is poured, then cut, or “de-tensioned,” after curing. This causes strands to bond to the concrete, applying a compressive force which increases strength and decreases cracking – and allows for the creation of slabs and beams with a much longer span than those made of concrete alone.

Moody notes that due to the economic downturn, “Bridge projects have tailed off.” That’s significant, since Armtec pioneered the use of precast, pre-stressed concrete in bridgework in Western Canada, and bridges accounted for almost half of its western activities in 2006. But Alberta employees are still busy. Projects underway include the Anthony Henday Drive expansion, a new recreational building and stadium in Okotoks, another parkade for the Calgary airport, the first Lowe’s big box store in Calgary and a new Canada Olympic Park skating arena.

Even with fewer bridges at the moment, Armtec is still thinking big.

The Trailer Park Boys are not the kind of clientele who buy a Triple M modular home. As Bruce Payne, ARCCAW’s shop rep for the privately owned, independent company puts it, “You could put a Triple M home in a high-end neighbourhood and it would look right at home.”

Triple M Housing does produce mobile homes, but as finance manager Carl Miller notes, “We’ve gone well beyond the traditional single-wide trailers.” Miller says many of the modular housing units are 20 feet by 76 feet, or equivalent to a 1,520-square-foot home. Triple M produced its first manufactured home just three years after the company began, and this next-generation version of mobile homes is what the award-winning company is best known for today.

Miller says there’s really only one difference between its factoryengineered homes and a traditional house: instead of being built on site, a Triple M home is constructed in the company’s state-of-the-art facility in Lethbridge. That’s a selling point for many rural customers, who find it costly or impossible to entice contractors beyond city limits. A Triple M home overcomes that obstacle, often at a lower cost. “Today we can offer more options too,” says Miller. “We’re building larger homes with more choices in overall design and floor plans.

Owners can also customize the interior, choosing their own cabinetry, flooring and other finishes.” Homeowners can also choose to have their units configured from several modules for more complicated designs, and can even select a two-storey Cape-Cod-style model with a high pitched roof.

With so many advantages, it’s not surprising Triple M constructs about 800 manufactured homes annually. Aside from one-family dwellings, Triple M also builds duplexes, multiplexes and community row housing. It has even built apartment buildings in Grande Prairie and a 90room hotel in Fort McMurray. “We can do amazing things,” says Miller. “We have a skilled, steady workforce that includes a couple of our original employees.”

Himself a 16-year company man, Miller has no plans to leave any time soon. Obviously he and Triple M Housing have lots of room for growth yet.

HARDHAT SPRING 2010

25

Training and Apprenticeship

REPORT

Choosing the Right Course for You Len J. Bryden Director of Training and Apprenticeship Alberta Carpenters Training Centre

I

am pleased to report we are as busy as ever, and working on the new class schedule for 2010-2011. We will have all of the new class listings available online by the end of April, and will be accepting registrations for scaffold training classes after the new schedule gets released. You can also call or come into our office to get a copy of the class listings when they become available at the end of April as we plan for the next 12-month training season from June 2010 to June 2011.

The Fort McMurray training centre is up and running full time, and with our new instructor Stan Cisna, we are offering Scaffolding Levels 1, 2, and 3 and have classes scheduled to December 2010. Please visit www.abcarptc.ab.ca and check out the Fort McMurray schedule for more information, or call our Edmonton office and talk to our registration staff person, Lisa, to get more detailed information.

Many of our contractors are insisting our members have certain training as a prerequisite for employment, and we are now offering OSSA (Oil Sands Safety Association) Fall Arrest to members in all three of our training centres. But, remember, this is not an “approved for reimbursement” course. The costs would be astronomical if the training fund were to pay for each course or new training standard for every member when there is no guarantee that one standard will be the same the next week or the next year. We continue to do our best to help every member through the training fund, but responsible management of the fund and planning for the

26

HARDHAT

SPRING 2010

future do not allow for all costs to members to be covered.

Many required courses are approved for reimbursement, and Confined Space currently sits with a $150 cap, as the amounts charged for various training courses from different providers change, and it is not regulated in any way. Be sure you are taking the right course for the job you are on, or are planning to go to, as it can be confusing, particularly right now with Confined Space training. Does your employer want the OSSA accredited course, or will something else suffice? Be sure and be informed before you register for any course that it is the right one for you and your employer. Please contact our office and speak with one of our staff or your dispatcher if there are any questions or confusion as to what course you should be taking.

We will be offering an OSSA confined space course in our training centre in Edmonton beginning in March on the weekends, and we will get as many members trained as possible. Did you know we trained just under 1,000 members with the OSSA Fall Arrest program in 2009 for no more than a $10 registration fee?

We will be adding Scaffold JM Upgrade and Level 1 classes to our schedule in Edmonton through the spring and summer, as well as our Period 1 and Period 2 Carpentry classes that we need indentured apprentices to take part in. I am also working on more Hoisting and Rigging, Blueprint Reading and Door and Hardware classes for all of our centres.

This year’s Provincial Carpentry/Scaffolder Games competition is slated for mid-June, so if you are interested in participating in either event, please contact me directly at 780-454-6699, or email me at lbryden@abcarptc.ab.ca. We need six carpenters and nine scaffolder volunteers for this yearly event.

You must have completed all four periods of carpentry apprenticeship for the carpentry competition (winner to go to the nationals in Ottawa), and for the Scaffolder Games you must have completed all three levels of our program, preferably in the last 12 months for both.

Did you know Alberta won the UBC National Carpentry Competition last year, and the trophy hangs in the reception area of our Edmonton office until another province wins and takes it from us? I don’t want that to happen! Stop by and have a look; our members have a lot to be proud of!

KidZone

The Green Scene

Natural sunlight means less need to switch on the lights, which saves energy

What makes a building green?

Well, it has nothing to do with the paint colour (although emerald and teal can look quite nice against a blue sky). A green building is one that saves water, saves energy and helps protect the environment and your health. Take a tour and find out how.

Living plants and soil on the top of a building absorb, collect and reuse rainwater

Solar panels capture energy from the sun and turn it into heat and electricity

Non-toxic paints and sealers keep the indoor air healthy Bike racks encourage people to use greener ways to get around

High-quality windows and good insulation save energy

Waterless urinals and lowflush toilets save water Landscaping that uses plants that are native to the area equals less watering

Fun Facts

Test your smarts with this

crossword puzzle across

1

2 3

4

5

down

6

7

8

9

10

What does your lunchbox have in common with one of the world’s tallest buildings?

Well, the Shanghai Tower will have an inside and outside wall that acts like a thermos to insulate it and save energy.

At 632 metres, it will be the tallest building in China and second tallest in the world.

Steel is one of the most recycled materials in the world.

Why? Mostly because it’s cheaper and easier to recycle than make it from scratch.

The steel recycled in Canada each year saves enough energy to power 2.7 million households.

HARDHAT SPRING 2010

27

Local 1460 Millwrights

REPORT

Training Evolves to Meet New Demands

T

raining in 2010 was off to a busy start. In January and February, three 1-Day Rigging Courses, two Gas Turbine Familiarization courses, two 16-Hour Millwright Safety courses, one Compressor Intake 1 and one Compressor Intake 2 courses were held at the Alberta Millwright Training Centre. Two courses were also put on by Reppsco Services, covering Flange Facing, Controlled Bolting and Hydro-Testing Plugs. As well, there were two 3-Day Rigging courses put on by NAIT and held off site. This brought the total number of members participating in training to 154 or 1,243 man hours for these two months.

Seven members also went to the International Training Center in Las Vegas for Turbine Training.

Starting March 8, we have five participants in the Apprentice Pre-Employment Program held in conjunction with Tradewinds to Success Training Society.

Bob Hugh, Senior Business We welcome Stephan Buffalo, Desiree Church, Peter Representative - Millwrights Gopher, Craig Wolfe and Jensen Sinclair to our facility. They will be participating in an eight-week program instructed by Dave Knight. Once their training is complete, they will be dispatched to job sites and begin the rest of their probationary period with our local.

Many thanks to our trainers, Dave Knight, Jim Archer and Cliff Buller, for their dedication to our training program. These instructors are in the process of developing a Steam Turbine Course, a Laser Alignment Course and a Flow Serve Pump Course that we hope to offer this fall.

We plan to continue partnering with industry to provide value-added training that meets the demands placed on us by our contractors and clients.

LEARNING CURVE: Reppsco training at the Millwrights Provincial Training Centre

In Memoriam LOCAL 1325 John Balmer January 2010, Age 86 Robert Beaudoin September 2009, Age 51 Nick Bobryk February 2009, Age 85 John Boyko May 2009, Age 93 Billy Dohey April 2009, Age 38 Thomas Eaton July 2009, Age 55 Harold Eckert February 2009, Age 83 Brendan Gaulton June 2009, Age 70 James Goodwin August 2009, Age 29 Anton Graup June 2009, Age 75 Barrie Hardie March 2009, Age 89 Shane Howarth July 2009, Age 42 Darrell Hunter June 2009, Age 63 Victor Johnson May 2009, Age 83 Stephen Krewusik August 2009, Age 54 Vernon Ladouceur June 2009, Age 77 Malcolm Mitchell May 2009, Age 58 Ryan Pearson December 2009, Age 24 Dylan Read October 2009, Age 20 Christian Rodrigue November 2009, Age 54 Devon Rock June 2009, Age 20 Robert Roy February 2009, Age 53 Jose Santos September 2009, Age 51 Stanley Walchuk July 2009, Age 85

28

HARDHAT

SPRING 2010

ARCCAW notes with sorrow the passing of the following members in 2009 and 2010.

John Wilson February 2009, Age 95 LOCAL 2103 Cornelius DeJong June 2009, Age 77 Porter Genge July 2009, Age 62

Preferred Group Rates Exclusively for ARCCAW Members Visit us online for a no-obligation home and auto insurance quote at:

www.marsh.ca/arccaw Call Marsh’s Private Client Services at:

1 877 476 6727

Mike Guilfoyle October 2009, Age 59

or watch your mail for more information to follow.

John Kerekes January 2010, Age 86

000.Marsh_1-6H_nBL.indd 1

12/15/09 2:49:11 PM

Larry Krentz May 2009, Age 47 Louie Mattern June 2009, Age 80 Melville Neelands February 2010, Age 95 Kenneth Palmer December 2009, Age 69 Clayton Raudebaugh May 2009, Age 32 D. L. Richards May 2009, Age 92 Harry Sytsema October 2009, Age 81 Local 1460

www.nait.ca/cit

Frank Buckreus August 2009, Age 65 Don Burrell July 2009, Age 58 Stanley Dares February 2009, Age 68 Murray Donaldson January 2009, Age 65 Frances Liew August 2009, Age 44 Thomas McLaughlin December 2009, Age 70 Dave Quigley February 2010, Age 68 Philip Smegal August 2009, Age 21 Farron Sutton September 2009, Age 31 Gerard Vandal February 2010, Age 85 Sam Watson July 2009, Age 65

invest in your experts corporate training for the real world As innovation continues to change how people interact with technology, analyze data and move business forward, there’s never been a better time to invest in training for your employees. NAIT Corporate and International Training can help — delivering relevant, timely training designed to meet your needs.

Our expertise includes certificate programs and customizable courses in Supervisory Development, Leadership, Project Management, AutoCAD, Estimating, Trade-specific training, Information Technology and more.

Develop your future leaders. Call us today. ph (780) 378.1230 email cittraining@nait.ca

corporate and international training

000.NAIT_1-2M_nBL.indd 1

3/23/10 10:13:33 AM

Parting Shot

Landmark Crossing

Calgary’s Centre Street Bridge, shown here under construction in 1915, was built to replace the steel-trussed MacArthur Bridge, which was destroyed by flooding. Completed in December 1916, the new $375,000 concrete structure spanning the Bow River featured an upper and lower deck and four large cast concrete lions, two guarding each end of the bridge. In 1992, the bridge was designated a municipal historic resource and in 1999-2000, it underwent an extensive $6.7-million rehabilitation. The lions were replaced with new concrete replicas, but one of the originals was fully restored and has a new home at the Municipal Plaza at Calgary’s City Hall.

30

HARDHAT

SPRING 2010

Alberta Carpenters Training Centre We’ve trained North America’s best scaffolders for 15 years.

The Alberta Carpenters Training Centre has delivered its 3-year Scaffolder Apprenticeship and Carpenter JM Upgrade Scaffold Programs, as well as dozens of other safety and skill training programs, to thousands of students in three training centres – Edmonton, Ft. McMurray & Calgary – since 1994.

Our new $23 million centre includes two state-ofthe-art scaffold shops, including one purpose-built to accommodate suspended scaffolding.

ACTC-trained scaffolders work on some of the world’s largest mega-projects. Many of the scaffolds they design and build are unique, highly-complicated, and critical to both human safety and worker productivity.

www.abcarptc.ab.ca

000.ABCarpTraining_1-2H_nBL.indd 1

1/13/10 3:43:38 PM

73,000 Albertans serving 3,000,000 more.

With more than 73,000 members AUPE is Alberta’s largest — and strongest — union. We work to get our members what they deserve — fair wages, safety and job security. In turn they give Albertans what they deserve — quality service.

The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees Your Working People. www.aupe.org

000.AUPE_1-2H_nBL.indd 1

1/14/10 11:23:34 AM

an important message

From the Alberta Carpenters and Allied Workers Trust Fund Regarding Pension Contributions to Be Paid as Wages If you are sixty years of age or older and receiving a pension from the ACAW Pension Plan and are working, effective May 2nd 2010 you will be able to receive the pension contribution as part of your wages. In order to take advantage of this option you must be in possession of your original retirement certificate which has either been mailed to you or you can obtain one from the ACAW pension office.

Please read carefully the amendment to the collective agreement because this dictates the process both you and the employer must follow to invoke this option.

Should you have any questions, regarding the above, please contact either myself or the ACAW pension office.

Thank you,

Martyn A. Piper

executive secretary treasurer alberta carpenters and allied workers

Excerpted From the Alberta Provincial Carpenters Agreement: 19.07 Notwithstanding any provision of this Collective Agreement, if a Union Member is engaged in employment for which the Employer’s contributions are to be made to the Plan, and the Employee is both sixty (60) years of age or older and is receiving a pension from the Alberta Carpenters and Allied Workers Pension Plan of Alberta, the Union Member may make an application to the Administrator of the Alberta Carpenters and Allied Workers Pension Plan of Alberta (ACAW Pension Plan), for the future pension contributions that would otherwise be payable by the Employer to the ACAW Pension Plan, to be paid as wages (including Holiday and Vacation Pay) directly to the Employee by the Employer.

If approved, the employee may be issued a Retirement Certificate for Pension Contributions to be paid as Wages from the ACAW Pension Plan. An Employer may only pay contributions to wages as provided for in this Article if the Employee provides the Employer with the original Retirement Certificate signed by two (2) representatives of the ACAW Pension Plan. Once approved by the ACAW Pension Plan, this payment alteration cannot be revoked.

In no event will this create a greater hourly rate of compensation for the Employee paid by the Employer nor will it increase the Employer’s total payroll burden due to changes in the wages which would result in greater Employer statutory contributions (C.P.P., E.I., W.C.B). Accordingly increases in statutory contributions will be offset by reducing the amounts paid in wages.

The Employer will enact the provisions of this article within three (3) weeks of receiving the original of the Retirement Certificate. Should the Employee be dispatched to another Employer the dispatch slip shall indicate the circumstances

regarding the worker’s situation under this provision and in addition the worker is to confirm this with the Employer at the time of hire prior to commencing work by providing the Employer with the original of the Retirement Certificate.

Upon the approval of the ACAW Pension Plan of the Employee’s application for payment of the pension contribution as wages to the Employee, and upon receipt by the Employer of the original Retirement Certificate, the Employer shall be relieved of any obligation under the Collective Agreement and Plan to remit future pension contributions to the ACAW Pension Plan for that approved Employee. There shall be no responsibility or liability on the Union to the ACAW Pension Plan in respect of an Employer’s decision not to remit future contributions to the ACAW Pension Plan in respect of any Employee.

info@acawtrustfunds.ca | www.acawtrustfunds.ca | phone: (780) 477-9131 | toll free: 1-800-588-1037