When it comes to road safety, small changes can have big impacts: this is the conclusion of a research project led by Pedestrians Québec and the team of Marie-Soleil Cloutier, professor and director of the Pedestrians and Urban Space Laboratory at the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS).
The project “On foot safely: developing the crossing of arteries” made it possible to analyze the effect of interventions aimed at making the crossing of arteries safer for pedestrians. Professor Cloutier, who is also director of the INRS Centre Urbanisation Culture Société, has studied the interactions between people walking and vehicles.
The professor was able to grasp perceptions of various safety issues, such as vehicle speed or motorists’ respect for the right of way. The data examined comes from collections in the form of observations and questionnaires on site, before and after interventions such as the removal of a traffic lane or the addition of a pedestrian shelter in the centre of a wide artery.
“Sometimes, relatively simple interventions can have concrete effects,” said Marie-Soleil Cloutier. “Over the course of the study, we documented an improved sense of security and a reduction in vehicle interactions. The verdict: it is not always necessary to plan major development works to improve cohabitation between the different populations using the road.”
Helping municipalities rethink their intersections
With the collaboration of the administrations of Montreal, Longueuil, Laval and Gatineau, seven intersections were observed, including four of them where interventions were made to modify the pedestrian crossing. Reading this data, Pedestrians Quebec’s message is clear: cities have the power to act to make their arterial roads more user-friendly and safer.
“Year after year, we see that arteries have the highest number of pedestrian deaths in Quebec.”
– Sandrine Cabana-Degani, Pedestrians Quebec
The project team has also created a series of fact sheets and video clips to present the results of the study and encourage municipalities to review problem areas.
“Year after year, we see that arteries have the highest number of pedestrian deaths in Quebec,” said Sandrine Cabana-Degani, executive director of Pedestrians Quebec. “Faced with this problem, our project aimed to study the existing solutions to make it safer to cross arteries. The results of this research will help equip municipalities that wish to take action. Because our arterial streets also need safety.”
Highlights
According to the analysis of road safety reports in Quebec, between 2015 and 2019, one in three pedestrian deaths occurred on a main artery
Before the interventions made during this project, less than 50 per cent of the pedestrians surveyed felt safe at major artery intersections
After the interventions:
There was a marked improvement in the feeling of not being pressed for time during the crossing
The number of pedestrians who found that motorists were driving too fast decreased
Pedestrian traffic light compliance increased at intersections with an arterial street
There were 50 per cent fewer interactions at intersections, i.e., occurrences where there was two metres or less between vehicle and pedestrian on the roadway
The federal government’s housing strategy is a long-awaited step forward to build more homes, but significantly more investment is needed to address critical infrastructure needs and the housing crisis, says Canada’s construction industry.
The federal government’s plan announced in this budget, as well as actions taken through the 2023 Fall Economic Statement, promises at least 1.2 million more homes for Canadians, on top of what the industry was planning to build. Yet, with estimates by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities showing that each new housing unit requires $107,000 in public infrastructure investment, an additional $128 billion is needed to build, support and connect these homes to essential housing-enabling infrastructure. This is a major shortfall in the investment needed. Moreover, the focus on measures to ease lending for homebuying and rezoning may only serve to exacerbate demand in the long-term with no real long-term vision on how to increase supply.
“Budget 2024 sets a bold objective to help Canadians buy homes but misses the mark on delivering sufficient investment and a plan to ensure a steady flow of funds to address our nation’s infrastructure challenges,” said Mary Van Buren, president of the Canadian Construction Association (CCA).
“While we acknowledge some initiatives, such as funding for creating affordable apartments, training and recruiting more workers, and upgrading water and wastewater systems, the conditions attached and lack of strategic vision are concerning.”
With growing demands to not only build more homes but also the inevitable requirement for the necessary housing-enabling infrastructure to connect these homes to the services they need, CCA says the urgency to collaborate with provinces, municipalities and the industry is more pressing than ever.
“We need investments in infrastructure that are made based on the real needs of Canadians – projects that are shovel-worthy rather than just shovel-ready,” said Van Buren. “This visionary and consultative approach is what Canadians deserve.”
Canada’s construction industry underscores the urgent need for the federal government to implement policies and incentives that support not only housing construction and related essential infrastructure, including trade-enabling infrastructure, but also investment and help bypass construction’s boom and bust cycle. This includes programs to build the workforce needed and construction projects that share risk so that innovation and investment is encouraged, not hampered.
CCA calls for a shift in federal strategy when it comes to infrastructure investment and housing affordability – one that aligns all orders of government and equips the construction industry with a supportive policy environment. Canada’s construction industry stands ready to collaborate with all levels of government and stakeholders to address these critical challenges and build a better future for all Canadians.
Heavy civil construction is filled with dedicated, hard-working and passionate individuals who take great pride in a job well done. While some outside of our industry might think heavy construction is only about paving, we know there is so much more happening when we look at the work done by our membership. That is why we use the tagline, “If the Earth moved, it was us.”
The scale of the infrastructure developed and maintained by our members is tremendous. These projects often have long timelines, complex engineering requirements and significant environmental considerations. Highways, roads and parking lots are just a few examples of public infrastructure improvements that SHCA members complete.
Other heavy civil construction projects include excavating and preparing sites for commercial and industrial sites or subdividing land into individual lots for homes. There are those who do underground utility work and some who tackle water infrastructure, such as water diversion tunnels, water and sewer lines, water drainage and irrigation ditches and bridges.
We welcome contractors, suppliers, engineers and other professionals as members. They are designing and planning, supplying materials and equipment, and constructing structures that are cost effective while maintaining the flow of public operations and delivering results that will benefit people for decades to come. There are also those whose financial expertise and legal proficiency are necessary for contracts to be developed and proceed. Other professionals are responding to tenders, doing payroll, processing payments and conducting other administrative work necessary to keep our members’ businesses running.
The work of our members supports other major sectors of Saskatchewan’s economy, including the transportation, agriculture and energy sectors. Many recent projects that have proceeded in Saskatchewan began with the work of SHCA members.
SHCA members can be found at sites where canola crush plants are developed, where mines need access roads and haul roads, at airports where runways are being improved and much more. These are just a few examples of how our industry supports the evolving infrastructure needs and economic growth of Saskatchewan in ways that go beyond building, widening and improving highways.
What’s the big deal? All of this work and all of these people are an immensely big deal – not just to our association, but to our province and its prosperity. I am mentioning all of this because I know there are others out there doing this vitally necessary work who would benefit from being an SHCA member.
We want to welcome more of them into the association. We are developing even more ways to provide additional resources and deliver greater value to our existing membership, which I feel confident will appeal to new members as well.
Growing our membership and reviewing our members’ return on investment were two of the priorities set by the SHCA board at its April meeting. Another priority is to work with other industries to deliver messages to the voters, candidates and parties about the importance of adequate investment in the critical infrastructure needed by our province to create more opportunities in Saskatchewan.
We will work to deliver this message as we head towards a fall provincial election. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Saskatchewan has a big job ahead of it. Getting on top of it will take someone speaking up to say we need to do better. That someone will be us – SHCA, representing members who continue to better Saskatchewan. We encourage SHCA members to like SHCA on Facebook or LinkedIn to follow this advocacy as it unfolds.
Everything to know about the CRA’s new requirements
By Jim Olson, CPA, CMA, MBA, KPMG Enterprise Tax
With busy schedules, the last thing most people want to think about is whether they will have an additional filing obligation to the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA), caused by an express trust arrangement that they may not be aware of.
Trusts (including bare trusts), with limited exceptions, will have to report certain beneficial ownership information on an annual basis for taxation years ending after December 30, 2023, under the new trust reporting requirements.
Due to these requirements, enacted on Dec. 15, 2022, more trusts will have to begin filing a T3 (a trust return) annually. The additional information that must be reported includes the name, date of birth, tax identification number, country of residence and address of the trustee(s), settlor(s), beneficiary(ies) and controlling person(s) (e.g., protector(s)) of the trust.
Despite a trust arrangement not having had to file a T3 in the past, due to the new CRA requirements, you are now obligated to file a return that has a Schedule 15 (which is where the information on trustee, setter and beneficiary will go).
Penalties for non-compliance are $25 per day, with a minimum penalty of $100 and a maximum penalty of $2,500. If the failure to file was made knowingly, there is an additional penalty of five per cent of the highest fair market value of property held by the trust, with a minimum penalty of $2,500.
That’s the formal messaging, but what does this mean for most of us? What are some situations that would create a trust or bare trust arrangement?
A bare trust arrangement is formed when a trustee holds and manages assets on behalf of a beneficiary. Unlike other types of trusts, a bare trust has very limited powers for the trustee, and the beneficiary is considered the absolute owner of the trust property. These situations are very common and often don’t include formal trust documents.
Some examples of bare trusts are:
Individuals who are added as a co-owner of a bank or investment account, or on title to real property for administrative ease during an owner’s lifetime or for estate purposes
Corporations that hold title to real property on behalf of a beneficial owner (which is a common arrangement in the real estate sector)
Real property managers who have deposit revenues from which they pay expenses on behalf of the beneficial owner
If you find yourself thinking you would rather not bother with the filing, think again. Penalties for non-compliance are $25 per day, with a minimum penalty of $100 and a maximum penalty of $2,500. If the failure to file was made knowingly, there is an additional penalty of five per cent of the highest fair market value of property held by the trust, with a minimum penalty of $2,500. So, if you are on title to a house or farmland for estate purposes, five per cent of the fair market value could be significant.
However, the news is not all bad. The CRA has created a number of exemptions that will not have to comply with this new requirement. Some exemptions include:
Trusts in existence for less than three months at the end of the tax year
Trusts that hold assets with a total fair market value that does not exceed $50,000 throughout the tax year (some restrictions on the assets)
Certain regulated trust accounts, such as a lawyer’s general trust account
Trusts that are registered charities or a paragraph 149(1)(I) non-profit organization
How childcare can bolster construction workforce retention
By Lisa Laronde, Canadian Association of Women in Construction
When the Royal Commission on the Status of Women put forward its report and recommendations in 1967 on what steps might be taken to ensure women have equal opportunities, the issue of childcare was included. Yet, nearly 60 years later, women still face the monumental issue and challenge of childcare in Canada.
Today, nearly 62 per cent of women participate in the labour force, according to Statistics Canada, and that number continues to grow. In the industry, 12 per cent of the construction workforce are women, but only approximately five per cent of women represent workers on site. For our industry to grow and for women to play a larger role in construction, we must address some of the critical challenges they face and the barriers to their successful careers.
While childcare is not an issue that affects women alone, we know that women (52 per cent) are “significantly more likely than men (42 per cent) to provide care,” according to a Statistics Canada report. As the industry looks to support women in our sector, we must look at the issues impacting us, and daycare is one of the significant issues.
When Canada’s Building Trades Unions, which represents over half a million skilled trades workers across the country, undertook focus groups in 2021, participants identified barriers to accessing childcare that they had experienced during their careers, including:
Limited daycare provider hours that don’t correspond with the shifts they work
Long waitlists to access childcare
Long-term commitments to one childcare facility that don’t correspond with the cyclical nature of construction
Lack of qualified childcare professionals and drop-in childcare options
Flexible and available childcare options needed
To be part of the workforce, workers need to have access to childcare options, and that is an increasing challenge across Canada.
According to a Policy Alternatives paper, “half of younger Canadian children live in a postal code that has more than three children for every licensed childcare space.” There is a need for childcare in Canada, and we know that if the availability of childcare isn’t addressed, it will impact women and their careers.
A job in construction can provide a flexible environment that allows individuals to balance the demands of life and work in a positive and fulfilling way. As industry leaders, we need to recognize the challenges and take action to solve them.
As our country needs more and more skilled workers, we need to ensure that workers have access to childcare and that childcare is not a barrier to having a successful and sustainable career in construction.
It isn’t just about the available space, it’s about the hours when workers can access childcare for their families. While the average weekly working hours for Canadians is 35.7, the average working hours for those in construction is 40.2. Just like our colleagues working on the frontlines, our workers have shifts outside of the standard 35-hour work week between the hours of nine to five, and we need daycares that offer non-traditional hours of care that are affordable and flexible.
It’s about more than children
While childcare is one part of the equation, it is also about family care. When I speak to women in the industry, I often hear of their challenges in supporting their aging parents and juggling the demands of family care.
“More than five million Canadians provide care to family members or friends with chronic health conditions, disabilities or aging-related functional limitations while also working, most in full time jobs,” the University of Alberta wrote in a press release about a Statistics Canada report. Whether it is taking their elderly parent to the doctor, responding to emergencies or worrying whether they are safe and healthy in the home, there are enormous demands when it comes to overall family care.
Whether it is child or family care, the construction industry needs to support women and help create an environment that allows them to balance the demands of home and work in a meaningful and positive way.
These demands can be the catalyst for women leaving their careers. According to the University of Alberta, “Women accounted for almost 60 per cent of the 214,000 workers who left the paid labour force in 2018 due to caregiving duties.” Whether it is child or family care, the construction industry needs to support women and help create an environment that allows them to balance the demands of home and work in a meaningful and positive way.
At the Canadian Association of Women in Construction, we are dedicated to helping address the issues that impact women in construction. This year, in co-operation with our global association counterparts, we are going to do a deeper dive into the issue of child and family care for women in construction. As we focus on attracting women to the construction industry, we must recognize the issues that may impact them remaining in the industry. It is about understanding the issue and building solutions that will support women.
A job in construction can provide a flexible environment that allows individuals to balance the demands of life and work in a positive and fulfilling way. As industry leaders, we need to recognize the challenges and take action to solve them.
With several longstanding climate records shattered in 2023, Saskatchewan’s weather was right at home in a year full of impactful events. This year, the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC)’s Climate Reference Station (CRS), located in Saskatoon, logged record amounts of bright sunshine and daily high temperatures, and below average precipitation, making 2023 the fifth driest year on record.
The information used in this article is from SRC’s monthly weather summaries, which are developed with data recorded at our CRSs located in northeast Saskatoon and at the Conservation Learning Centre (CLC) near Prince Albert, Sask. They are managed by SRC’s climatologist, Virginia Wittrock.
January
In a welcome start to 2023, SRC’s CRS in Saskatoon and at the CLC both recorded warmer-than-average temperatures for January.
Much like January 2022, no new weather records were set. However, both CRSs did experience unusual weather. Both locations recorded snowfall that was below average for January. In total, each location recorded half the normal amount of precipitation for the month.
February
Winter was still hanging on for the month of hearts and flowers, but temperatures were rising – at least, on average.
The average daily high, daily low and daily mean were at least 1.9 Celsius (C) warmer than normal in the northern part of Saskatchewan’s agricultural zone, according to the CRS at the CLC.
Further south, the CRS in Saskatoon also recorded temperatures that were warmer than usual but less extreme.
Saskatoon reached 0.2 C on February 6, which came with freezing rain, creating slick conditions in the Bridge City.
March
March roared in like a lion, but certainly didn’t go out like a lamb.
Both of SRC’s CRSs recorded temperatures much colder than average throughout March.
The CRS near Prince Albert recorded temperatures above 0 C on only four days throughout the month. Meanwhile, the CRS located in Saskatoon recorded five days above freezing. Normally, Prince Albert records about 14 days with highs above 0 C, while Saskatoon usually records about 15 days.
Both locations experienced below-average snowfalls during March but closed out the month with a lot of snow still on the ground. The CRS at the CLC finished March with more snow on the ground than the month started with.
April
It was a chilly start to April.
Temperatures dipped into the negative double digits for the first week before rising back to average by the end of the month.
SRC’s CRS at the CLC recorded temperatures well below average, with the lowest temperatures dropping to -22.8 C on April 5.
April was also drier than usual, with the CRS in Saskatoon recording only six days with measurable rain or snowfall – making April the fourth consecutive month with precipitation well below the monthly average.
May
May was a hot one, with record-breaking temperatures seen across Saskatchewan. SRC’s CRS in Saskatoon recorded seven new records, including a new maximum daily temperature of 31.7 C on May 16.
Both of the stations recorded 21 days (from April 26 to May 16) of no measurable precipitation. Despite the dry spell, May’s precipitation was near average thanks to a thunderstorm on May 24 that brought 24.9 mm to the Saskatoon area.
June
Not to be outdone by May, June was also another warm and dry month in Saskatchewan. The CRS in Saskatoon and at the CLC recorded 20 days of temperatures above 25 C – making it the hottest June since 1988.
Both CRSs saw less precipitation than average, with the Saskatoon location seeing the fewest number of days with precipitation on record.
July
July marked the seventh consecutive month where the CRS in Saskatoon recorded drought-like conditions. Saskatoon saw less than half of the normal precipitation for July.
The Prince Albert region was not immune to the dry conditions either; however, more rainfall was recorded there than in Saskatoon. The CRS at the CLC recorded slightly more than half of the average monthly precipitation for the month.
Despite the lack of rain, temperatures were average – both CRS’s recorded temperatures close to the mean.
July marked the seventh consecutive month where the CRS in Saskatoon recorded drought-like conditions. Saskatoon saw less than half of the normal precipitation for July.
August
Contrary to the preceding months, August was wetter than usual, with both CRSs recording above-average precipitation. However, wildfire smoke blanketed the air in both locations for much of the month.
Despite the rain and wildfire smoke, summer 2023 was the thirteenth sunniest one since 1963 (according to data from the CRS in Saskatoon).
September
September was a warm, dry and sunny month in Saskatchewan.
Both stations logged over 250 hours of bright sunshine.
However, precipitation was well below average, with only 3.5 mm of rain recorded by the CRS at the CLC. The Saskatoon CRS saw wetter conditions, logging 17.5 mm.
October
October started warm and wet, with rainfall recorded at both stations. The CRS in Saskatoon recorded warm temperatures (up to 22.2 C) in early October. However, temperatures plummeted later in the month, followed by the season’s first snowfall. By Halloween, Saskatoon recorded 2 cm of snow on the ground.
November
Autumn 2023 (September, October and November) is now the warmest on record, reaching an average of 6.9 C in Saskatoon.
November was unusually dry and warm, with record-breaking daily temperatures observed at the CRS in Saskatoon. Temperatures hit 12.2 C and 11.6 C on November 18 and 19, respectively.
The average maximum temperature for November was around 0 C in Saskatoon and around -2 C at the CLC.
December
To cap off an already exceptionally dry year, December 2023 was the tenth driest on record, according to the CRS in Saskatoon.
However, the month was anything but gloomy. The CRS in Saskatoon broke several records for the most hours of bright sunshine in December.
Both CRS’s recorded temperatures much warmer than expeced in Saskatchewan, with each location stretching well above the average monthly temperature.
SRC’s CRS in Saskatoon is a principal climate reference station and is the only station of its kind in the city and one of only three like it in Saskatchewan. The station provides data to governments, universities, insurance agencies, agriculture sector clients and a wide variety of other industries. It is also a valuable research tool for evaluating long-term climate trends. SRC’s Saskatoon CRS celebrated its 60th anniversary of collecting weather data in 2023.
SRC’s CRS located at the Conservation Learning Centre celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2022 and now provides historical weather data!
CCA advancing need for foundational infrastructure and workforce capacity
By Mary Van Buren, Canadian Construction Association
Representing more than 18,000 member firms, the Canadian Construction Association (CCA) is proud of our mission to inspire a progressive, innovative and sustainable construction industry.
The key to our collective success is working with valued partner associations like the Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association (SHCA). Together, we are driving impactful change on key issues, benefitting not just our industry, but all Canadians.
2023 marked a pivotal moment for CCA and the Canadian construction industry – a year where we demonstrated our unwavering commitment to building a stronger Canada though partnership, planning and consultation.
A strong foundation for a stronger Canada
With many Canadians distressed about the housing crisis, high cost of living and economic uncertainty impacting their daily lives, CCA launched an industry call to action urging the federal government to partner with the construction industry on building “a strong foundation for a stronger Canada.” Hundreds of letters were sent to local MPs reminding them of the urgency to partner with the Canadian construction industry on a comprehensive infrastructure plan, workforce development and procurement modernization.
This campaign was bolstered by our annual Hill Day event on Nov. 7, 2023, where close to 100 industry experts met with parliamentarians to discuss the construction sector’s essential role in creating and maintaining the infrastructure Canadians use daily. This includes the foundational infrastructure at the heart of new homes and communities. Over 70 meetings were held throughout the day, followed by a reception that evening where CCA, our members and partner association leaders were joined by several parliamentarians, including the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, Randy Boissonnault, to discuss the industry’s critical needs.
Throughout 2024, CCA will be increasing our advocacy efforts to ensure that infrastructure is not an afterthought, but rather the foundation of a stronger Canada. Collaborating with our partner associations from across Canada will continue to be a cornerstone of how we operate, maximizing our collective expertise, reach and connections to benefit the industry.
Throughout 2024, CCA will be increasing our advocacy efforts to ensure that infrastructure is not an afterthought, but rather the foundation of a stronger Canada.
Advancing a Canadian Trade Infrastructure Plan
A core focus of our 2023 advocacy efforts involved the launch of the Canada Trade Infrastructure Plan (CTIP). Working with several industry partners, we are gaining traction in our pursuit of more investment in trade-enabling infrastructure across the country.
Canada’s declining reputation as a global trade partner was a top concern at a meeting of premiers and territorial leaders last July, where the Council of the Federation unanimously endorsed CTIP’s proposals and requested a first minister’s meeting with the federal government to discuss the need for a strategic trade corridor infrastructure program. Saskatchewan is a leading exporter and stands to benefit from this strategy.
Workforce remains an urgent priority
We have laid a strong foundation with the federal government to rebuild Canada’s construction workforce through immigration programs and investing in the promotion of skilled trades. The Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship initiated a new process under the Express Entry program to welcome skilled newcomers with work experience in occupations considered a priority in Canada. Ten occupations in construction, including carpenters, plumbers, welders and electricians, are now included in the list of nearly 83 jobs.
The urgent need for skilled trade workers received nationwide attention through our partnership on the Canadian Apprenticeship Service (CAS). Within the first six months of the CAS program, millions in funds have been dispersed to eligible employers and 47 per cent of the apprentices self-identified as being from an equity- deserving group.
Fair procurement
We’ve moved the needle on improvements to procurement and project delivery by expanding our outreach to public owners and promoting the use of CCDC documents. CCA obtained a commitment from government leaders at its semi-annual Meech Lake meeting to establish a working group on procurement and project delivery methods.
CCA’s Best Practices Services is delivering new resources, some of which are being developed through our National Advisory Councils’ work. We recently produced a two-part webinar series to guide our members on the implementation of the Federal Prompt Payment for Construction Work Act. You can also watch one of our past “Read Your Construction Contact” webinars or enroll in a CCDC Seminar to help guide you on the use and application of some of the new or soon-to-be released CCDC documents. We are also making contract management simpler and more transparent with our soon-to-be-launched contract management platform, SignaSur, to guide our members on the implementation of the Federal Prompt Payment for Construction Work Act.
Stay in touch!
You can count on CCA to be a collaborative partner to SHCA, providing helpful tools, sharing best practices across the country and being your voice with the federal government.
Stay in the loop by subscribing to CCA’s newsletter, following @ConstructionCAN on Twitter or by looking up the Canadian Construction Association on LinkedIn.
In 25 years, nearly 3,000 women have opened their lives to new careers and new possibilities
By Lisa Kopochinski
Women Building Futures (WBF) has been helping women for more than 25 years. Formed in Edmonton in 1998 by a small group of social workers, WBF is a nonprofit organization that has helped many women and children rise out of poverty.
WBF’s work in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario connects women with an empowered future. In 25 years, nearly 3,000 women have graduated from its programs to open their lives to new careers and new possibilities.
“While our core objective remains rooted in this mission, we have grown to offer additional employment training programs in the construction trades, driving and related industries, as well as support services to remove barriers for unemployed and underemployed women,” said Carol Moen, WBF president and CEO.
“In Saskatchewan, we have 17 Employers of Choice, and we look forward to seeing these numbers grow as we expand in the region.”
– Carol Moen, Women Building Futures
“We work with employers to lead positive change through our Employers of Choice program and Work Proud Inclusivity Training. Our Employers of Choice undergo a certification process and are committed to the change needed to see under-represented individuals in their workplaces. We also offer Work Proud Inclusivity Training workshops to provide organizations with the insight and tools to create more engaged, safe and inclusive workplaces.”
Expanding into Saskatchewan
In 2023, WBF expanded into Saskatchewan through its partnership with global resource company BHP and is offering its BHP Trades Readiness program and providing new opportunities for women in the province.
With eight team members in Saskatchewan, WBF is actively nurturing relationships with key stakeholders, connecting with industry partners, Indigenous communities, government and private sector partners.
To date, three classes of BHP Trades Readiness were offered in 2023. A total of 27 women graduated from the program last year.
The next two BHP Trades Readiness classes started in March and April. This nine-week introductory program prepares women with hands-on skills training and safety certificates to start a successful career in the mining industry.
In partnership with the Government of Saskatchewan and its industry partners Pembina, Enbridge Inc. and TC Energy, WBF ran its first Journey to Trades program in Regina in spring. Journey to Trades is an introductory trades program where students become equipped with basic hands-on skills, safety certification and experience to begin a construction trades career.
Chantelle Shebib, a journeyperson carpenter
“As we grow in the region, we encourage women to sign up for the Saskatchewan construction trades mailing list to learn more about our upcoming programs in the province,” said Moen. “We aim to connect with students wherever they are and establish a network of employers that our students can trust,” she said. “We ensure our students understand the community resources available to support their journey all throughout.”
Additionally, WBF is continuing its expansion work in Saskatchewan and Ontario through the support and funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy. The grant will allow the organization to raise awareness of opportunities for women in resilient skilled trades careers, deliver readiness programs to help women thrive in their chosen careers, connect women apprentices to WBF graduates and build more inclusive work environments for women by supporting employers in their workforce inclusion initiatives.
“Our work allows us to foster connections that support women on their path to economic security.”
– Carol Moen, Women Building Futures
What’s next?
As WBF grows in Saskatchewan, the aim is to focus on building partnerships with governments, industry, post-secondary institutions, community organizations and Indigenous communities and organizations.
“We are always on the lookout to build more sustainable and strategic partnerships,” said Moen. “More than that, we provide readiness programs to help women thrive in our training programs and chosen careers and through their careers in the trades. Employers want this and we are seeing more that want to close the gender gap through our workforce inclusion initiatives. In Saskatchewan, we have 17 Employers of Choice, and we look forward to seeing these numbers grow as we expand in the region.”
Moen adds that the long-term strategic vision is to create one million connections that elevate women’s potential by 2035.
“We are working hard to make those connections to improve the lives of the women we serve. Our work allows us to foster connections that support women on their path to economic security.”
Citizen of the Year award holds special place in community-minded construction veteran’s heart
By Jon Waldman
When most people answer the phone in the year’s waning days, it’s to finalize New Year’s Eve plans or donate to their favourite charity. For Jack Brodsky, one of the last conversations he had in 2023 was much different – it was CTV Saskatoon informing the Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association (SHCA) board member that he was named Citizen of the Year.
Brodsky is the 57th individual recognized by CTV Saskatoon.
“It’s a huge honour, obviously,” Brodsky said. “I’m thrilled about it. I’ve received so many cards and phone calls, some from people I haven’t heard from in 30 to 40 years. It’s just been great.”
The award is even more meaningful because of Brodsky’s connection with the prize.
“When I was in high school in the late 1960s, the very first Citizen of the Year was my French teacher,” Brodsky said. “I remember that the whole school was in the gym when the award was presented to him. I never thought I’d be that guy.”
The model for Brodsky’s contributions came from his family. The Brodskys first lived in Winnipeg and founded Brodsky Construction Inc. in the Manitoba capital, but they moved to Saskatoon when Brodsky was a teenager. Eventually, Brodsky’s father purchased the CHL’s Saskatoon Blades as his outlet for improving the community around him. While Brodsky started his community involvement in those early days working in construction, it was with the hockey club that Brodsky really found a calling in volunteerism.
“When I was in high school in the late 1960s, the very first Citizen of the Year was my French teacher. I remember that the whole school was in the gym when the award was presented to him. I never thought I’d be that guy.”
– Jack Brodsky
“When I was in the construction business before, I did a little bit of community stuff, but once I took over the Blades, that’s when it really started to blossom… the opportunities came forward [to] have players get out in the community and be role models,” Brodsky said.
Those opportunities were numerous, but tied with a primary point of interest – spending time with kids directly involved in hockey or the greater Saskatoon community.
“The thing with the Saskatoon Blades is you have a bunch of young men who aspire to be great players,” he said. “We’re big on staying in school and getting their education, but there’s also a big opportunity to not only promote the hockey club but to get players out into the community – to hospitals, visiting kids, going to schools and minor hockey schools… we were getting the name of our hockey club out there and also able to do some good… ”
The most significant impact, perhaps, was not in the individual effort Brodsky made in his position with the Blades, but in how he inspired countless players through the group efforts that his team took on over the years.
“There were dozens. I was always very impressed,” Brodsky said. “These were kids between 16 and 20 years old that were playing on our team. Many of them, once they saw the opportunity, felt like they were doing some good in the world. Many took to it and continued after they were done with our club.”
A road of commitment
Hockey is just one of Brodsky’s outlets for his volunteerism. Before selling the original Brodsky Construction Inc. in 1996, he was involved with SHCA. When Brodsky Construction Inc. was re-established in 2013, Brodsky reinvigorated his ties to the organization.
“I’ve always felt that being at that level, you have an opportunity to talk to people in government… people who have say in things and influence, and [you can] make a difference. That’s always been my goal,” he said. “I just think it’s important that, if you’re going to try to be part of industry, you try to help make that industry be as good as it can be.”
That commitment is even more remarkable when considering the near 20-year departure from heavy construction meant Brodsky’s return came with changes that he had to adjust to. While others may have shied away from additional duties within their field, Brodsky felt that keeping close ties at the association level was integral despite the need to learn the new lay of the land quickly.
“In our industry, you get so busy doing the business itself that it’s hard to get involved in some of these things, [but] we get really good representation,” he said. “We get a lot of young people on our board and [people] who want to contribute. It’s just really fun to be working with them.”
Brodsky’s current work with Brodsky Construction Inc. is largely in business development and ties in smoothly with his involvement in community organizations and work on various special projects. Along with his position with SHCA, Brodsky joined the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board’s board of directors in 2022 and previously served with the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce.
One of Brodsky’s proudest accomplishments is his work with the Restorative Action Program (RAP), including being a past chair. As described by the program’s organizers, Saskatoon Rotary, on their website, RAP “deals with bullying, physical violence, crime, mental health, substance abuse, and suicide and self-harm – with programming delivered to over 8,000 youth in Saskatoon schools.”
“For me, that’s been the biggest [accomplishment],” Brodsky said. “When I was a young fella in high school, life was a little bit complicated, but I think life is extremely complicated for kids now, so we’re helping them make a difference. It’s something I’m really proud of.”
Brodsky’s commitment to his community and province doesn’t end with the Citizen of the Year award.
“I’m 71 now, and I don’t have the same energy I once had. But if [there are] things I can do to help out, I’m always willing,” he said. “I’ve always had a great feeling about helping youth out and giving them a leg up, so I’ll see where that takes me.”
