Industry consultation with SHCA members helped Southeast College develop a program that will benefit all heavy construction stakeholders in the province
Click here to read more.
Industry consultation with SHCA members helped Southeast College develop a program that will benefit all heavy construction stakeholders in the province
Click here to read more.
This summer, motorists will see significant amounts of road sealing taking place across the province. Road sealing is a cost-effective method that extends the life of roads and highways by sealing cracks formed by temperature changes throughout the year.
“Seal-coating is an effective and useful tool in all areas of the province,” Minister of Highways Fred Bradshaw said. “This method takes just a few days and lasts 10 years – a worthwhile investment in our provincial highway network.”
In 2021, the Ministry plans to improve 510 kilometres of provincial roads and highways with pavement sealing, valued at over $20 million. Ministry crews will also be completing spot sealing throughout the province. This preventative maintenance treatment is completed on various spots to keep the moisture out of the roadbed. Without this treatment, the highways will deteriorate at a faster rate and will require more costly treatments in the future.
Pavement sealing works by covering the roadway with an oil-based substance. A layer of gravel is then placed on top. The mixture sits and cures for 24 hours and is then swept away by equipment, with the gravel collected for further use.
All pavement sealing sites are full construction zones with slower speed limits, additional signage and tripled speed fines. These are in place even when workers are not present to protect drivers and their vehicles. Speeding on the mixture can cause gravel sprays and damage to windshields, body panels and tires.
The Ministry of Highways publishes a weekly construction update to provide Saskatchewan residents with the latest details on projects that are underway. This update can be found at https://www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/transportation/highway-construction-projects/weekly-highway-construction-update.
The Government of Saskatchewan is improving more than 1,350 km of provincial highways as part of its 10-year Growth Plan goal to build and upgrade 10,000 km of highways. With this year’s projects, the province is ahead of the pace needed to meet this target.
The Government of Saskatchewan has invested more than $10.6 billion in highways infrastructure since 2008, improving more than 17,100 km of Saskatchewan highways.
In July, the Government of Saskatchewan announced approximately $13 million in new funding for Saskatchewan Polytechnic and the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission (SATCC) to deliver education and skills training programs to help grow a skilled workforce in Saskatchewan.
This funding allows both institutions to deliver a variety of education and skills training programs in support of the government’s commitment to engage with under-represented groups, create jobs in long-term care and increase the number of apprentices in the province.
“Saskatchewan’s greatest resource has always been its people and this funding supports the provincial Growth Plan priority to develop a skilled workforce in our province through education and training,” said Jeremy Harrison, Immigration and Career Training Minister. “As we emerge from the global pandemic and work to build a strong Saskatchewan, this funding will target training for economic opportunities, promote recruitment and retention of young people, support participation of those currently under-represented in the workforce, and continue growing an engaged and inclusive workforce for the future.”
A total of $11.3 million will be provided to Saskatchewan Polytechnic for the purpose of developing and delivering three training initiatives in 2021-22. A total of $1.68 million will be provided to the SATCC.
“We’re excited about this investment and what it means for our programming,” SATCC chief executive officer Jeff Ritter said. “We already engage Saskatchewan youth and Indigenous communities through our well-established Indigenous Apprenticeship Initiative (IAI) and Saskatchewan Youth Apprenticeship (SYA) programs. This funding will enable us to reach out in new, innovative ways. Ultimately, it will help facilitate a diverse, inclusive apprenticeship and trade certification system, one that is representative of our province’s population.”
In the month of August, the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) will be reaching out to customers across the province to gather feedback to help improve WCB services.
The information provided by customers will be vital in improving the WCB’s services over the short and long term. As customers experience these services from a different perspective, we will be seeking input from injured workers and employers at all touchpoints of their experience with us.
This information will be used in the development of a customer feedback system that will help us in the future to gather feedback at the most critical points of the customer journey. We will be asking customers about their preferred feedback methods. This information will be used to inform changes to how the WCB gathers feedback from our customers. Customer feedback is essential in our ability to be able to improve our services for our customers.
A survey was sent out to customers via email on Aug. 3, 2021. This email will come from the askwcb@wcbsask.com email account.
Please be aware that the WCB will never ask for personal information such as a claim number, bank information, payment status, SIN or any other personal identification or financial information when conducting customer research.
If you have any questions about whether or not an email or call was legitimate, please do not hesitate to contact the WCB at askwcb@wcbsask.com or 800-667-7590.
The inaugural meeting of the Women in Construction – TEC Group was held in May to great success. The second meeting for the group is scheduled for late-August; contact the SHCA office for details on how to participate!
Respecting the safety of workers building and maintaining Saskatchewan roads means following the posted speed limits in construction zones.
Shantel Lipp, president of the Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association, partnered with SGI’s Tyler McMurchy and Staff Sgt. Patrick Barbar of the Saskatoon Police Service to remind drivers of that in a recent video.
They explain what happens in a construction zone, why that requires slower driving as well as how their organizations collaborate to encourage and enforce safe driving on roads built by members of the Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association.
SHCA members, please share the video across your social networks to get the word out!
Road building depends on heavy equipment being run by competent operators, so making sure more people are choosing to become qualified operators is essential if the industry is to stay strong. As experienced operators get to a retirement age, it is important to ensure younger people looking at their future consider operating heavy equipment and have an opportunity to gain the skills and insight to choose that as their career.
“Experienced operators [comprise] the biggest position we need to fill right now,” said Shantel Lipp, president of the Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association (SHCA).
In past decades, employers hired young people, particularly those who may have operated farm machinery, and gave them an opportunity to learn on their equipment, developing the experience necessary to become qualified operators. Now, employers need to hire someone already qualified to work on their projects. That’s where training programs, such as one newly offered at Southeast College, become important – for job seekers as well as employers in heavy construction.
In years past, Southeast College offered a program developed by Saskatchewan Polytechnic, which was its partner brokering institution. However, Saskatchewan Polytechnic discontinued that program. “But there was a huge demand for it,” said Lipp, who explained that a program such as this is expensive to offer because of the cost to rent the equipment for students to gain hands-on experience, which was important for them to be employment ready.
Those at Southeast College recognized the demand in the industry for those with these skills as well as from people wanting to gain them. Southeast College worked with the Assiniboine Community College in Brandon, Man. to offer its program, but adapting that one for students at Southeast College took a significant amount of work. That’s when SHCA was approached about developing an industry-accredited program.
“We sat at the table with [SHCA] members to build a new, better and greater program by learning from them about what is needed,” said Jody Holzmiller, the vice president of education and training at Southeast College. Not all at the table thought that simply training students to be a competent operator was enough, however. “There were also some other pieces of the training that were missing, such as life skills and job readiness,” said Holzmiller.
That includes making sure students recognize that the projects they work on could be far from where they live, requiring them to relocate temporarily. The season to work on these projects is short, so the days can be long. Given the short season, anyone becoming an equipment operator has to be prepared for not having available work in heavy construction during the winter months. “It’s important that students understand what the job is,” said Lipp.
To accommodate everything necessary to prepare students sufficiently for employment, Southeast College extended the program to 12 weeks and included a week of safety training. During their 12 weeks, students spend six weeks in a classroom at the Southeast College Estevan Campus, learning theory and using simulators, which include a grader, excavator, front end loader, rubber tire hoe, articulated truck and dozer. “We’ve had rave reviews about the simulators,” said Holzmiller. “The supplier sent a simulator for demo purposes, at which time we invited industry in to give it a try. One word keeps being used to describe them: ‘wow!’”
Another six weeks is done in the field, gaining experience by working on the equipment. The first cohort of students – a group of five – started their field work in early June on a project in the Estevan area. As they moved out of the classroom, another cohort started their theory learning.
“We sat at the table with [SHCA] members to build a new, better and greater program by learning from them about what is needed.”
– Jody Holzmiller, Southeast College
Being in the field gaining in-the-seat experience is a crucial part of the training process. That time is being spent productively as students have the opportunity to work on small projects that municipalities need completed.
Lee Finishen is chair of the South Central Transportation Planning Committee (SCTPC) and a councillor on Fort Qu’Appelle’s town council. He had been thinking about how to complete a project in his area. Fort Qu’Appelle and the surrounding area needed to develop a new cell at the regional landfill authority that Finishen formerly chaired. The project was to dig a pit with an engineered slope. That gave Finishen an idea. “There is an opportunity there for students. It’s not overly complicated for in-the-seat training jobs,” he said.
He approached Lipp about the idea of having students work on such projects, knowing from his experience as a member of the board of directors for the Municipalities of Saskatchewan (formerly the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association) that, for example, many municipalities have short stretches of road building to be done to handle heavier traffic going in and out of new developments. “It’s a win-win-win. Students get the training they need, Saskatchewan heavy construction gets to see more operators gain experience and municipalities get more projects completed,” said Finishen.
The students who work on the project are hired temporarily as employees of the municipality that needs their work. Finishen explains this provides the students coverage under the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) as well as ensures liabilities are covered. The students gain a reference and connections to find work once they receive their certificate of completion. “We are so fortunate to be so closely tied to SHCA,” said Holzmiller.
Finishen is looking for projects to be nominated in the SCTPC area, which covers an area from Lumsden thru the Qu’Appelle Valley as far east as Wolseley, south to the U.S. border near Torquay and west to Rockglen. The types of projects the students can work on are short-term ones that Finishen says might not qualify for grants. There is not time to put the project to tender and larger organizations may not be interested in mobilizing as quickly as needed to take on a project that small in size. The projects are to be engineered so students learn how to work within the parameters.
Finishen is promoting the program’s students for municipal projects as often as he can. He will be talking to other chairs of the 11 transportation planning committees in Saskatchewan as well as representatives of the Municipalities of Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) so that all municipalities – urban and rural – are aware of the opportunity.
Seeing this program offered at other institutions so it is available across the province is something Finishen would like to see happen. The program is currently open to anyone living in the province who meets the admission requirements. Applicants need their Grade 10 or equivalent, must meet an English language requirement, possess a valid Class 5 license and be 18 years old at time they apply or within six months of the program’s end. Tuition costs $11,500. A total of three cohorts will go through the program this year, with the third cohort beginning intake on July 19. Each cohort can have up to eight people.
More information about the heavy equipment operator program can be found at www.southeastcollege.org/courses/heavy-equipment-operator or by calling 866-999-7372.
The Brandt Group of Companies recently announced plans to make a major investment in staffing and will hire more than 1,000 new employees by the end of 2021. The new positions will span the Regina-based company’s 100+ location international network, focusing on roles in Canada and the USA.
“There’s no question that our people are the foundation of our success. In spite of some challenging times for the global economy, an incredible team effort has enabled us to sustain our business and weather the storm successfully,” said Shaun Semple, Brandt Group of Companies CEO. “Looking ahead, the growth trend for Brandt is strong, so the timing is ideal to make a major investment in our team.”
In the past 10 years, Brandt has expanded their employee base by 140 per cent to more than 3,400, with the pace of growth continuing to accelerate steadily. The newly announced hiring initiative will see the company’s workforce grow by 30 per cent overall with the largest individual gains occurring in the company’s Regina, Saskatoon and Hudson, Ill. locations. Half of these hires will occur in the company›s Saskatchewan locations with 40 per cent more spread out across Canada and the balance in the USA.
The new hires will bolster Brandt’s existing operations in industries from construction, forestry and agriculture to rail, mining and steel. The positions will include skilled trades, sales, finance, marketing, customer support, IT and more as the company expands its support team to meet the needs of a rapidly growing customer base.
“As life begins to return to normal and we look ahead to economic recovery, this is very exciting news for workers and their families,” said Scott Moe, Saskatchewan Premier. “Saskatchewan has what the world needs, and Brandt’s success is a testament to the resiliency of our province’s industries in some of the most challenging global economic times.”
Interested applicants can view a current listing of the company’s career opportunities and apply online at www.brandtjobs.com.
“Saskatchewan has what the world needs, and Brandt’s success is a testament to the resiliency of our province’s industries in some of the most challenging global economic times.”
Scott Moe, Saskatchewan Premier
Work is progressing on a number of new passing lane projects as part of the Government of Saskatchewan’s plan to construct 30 sets of passing lanes over the next two years. This builds on the 27 sets constructed in the last four years.
Construction is currently underway on two sets of passing lanes on Highway 2 north of Prince Albert and the last of 13 sets of passing lanes on Highway 39 between Milestone and the U.S. border. All are expected to be complete by late fall of 2021.
“Safety is the primary concern of the Ministry of Highways,” said Highways Minister Fred Bradshaw. “Passing lanes have proven a reliable way to improve safety on a number of highways, with plenty more to come.”
The 2020 Fall Tender Plan and the 2021 Spring Tender Plan include passing lane projects on:
Passing lanes are typically a minimum two kilometres in length and are strategically designed to allow vehicles to safely pass slow moving vehicles and heavy trucks such as semi-trailer units. Studies have shown passing lanes can reduce collisions by as much as 25 per cent. Highway 10, the province’s first major passing lanes pilot project, has seen 75 per cent fewer fatal accidents from before the project to five years after its completion.
“The passing lanes have ensured there are far fewer vehicle accidents, fatal crashes and injuries, allowing for safer travel and reduced emotional impacts on first responders who arrive at crash scenes,” said Balgonie Volunteer Fire Department chief Dave Campbell. “Combined with the reduced travel time, the passing lanes have been a significant benefit to local residents and visitors alike.”
The Government of Saskatchewan will be improving more than 1,350 km of provincial highways this year, the second of its 10-year Growth Plan goal to build and upgrade 10,000 km of highways. With this year’s projects, the province is ahead of the pace needed to meet this target. There will be $300 million in additional highways stimulus funds that will be invested over several years in thin-membrane surface upgrades, passing lanes and improvements to municipal roads and airports.
The Government of Saskatchewan has invested more than $10.6 billion in highways infrastructure since 2008, improving more than 17,100 km of Saskatchewan highways.
Rapid antigen tests may now be used by Saskatchewan businesses and individuals to help screen people who do not show COVID-19 symptoms. The province has amended The Medical Laboratory Licensing Regulations, 1995 so that a formal agreement is no longer required between those who use rapid antigen tests and the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA).
“Our government is committed to improving access to health care services for people across the province, and providing the necessary tools to address the pandemic,” said Health Minister Paul Merriman. “This step means that businesses and individuals can easily procure and use these tests, helping asymptomatic people who have COVID-19 receive testing and treatment more quickly. Ultimately, the best way to protect yourself and those around you is to get vaccinated.”
Rapid antigen tests are not a diagnostic test, but are used to screen asymptomatic people for COVID-19. Health officials strongly recommend that people who receive a positive test result immediately self-isolate and call 811 for further instructions, such as scheduling a confirmatory test through a SHA testing centre.
“The SHA’s Test to Protect program is an important element of a multi-layered approach that we have added to our pandemic response along with vaccination,” said SHA testing chief Carrie Dornstauder. “The Test to Protect community rapid antigen testing program provides workplaces with early detection of COVID-19, ensuring a strong and healthy workplace and workforce through outbreak prevention.”
Large national businesses that operate in Saskatchewan and wish to use the tests can request them through the federal government’s online business portal at .
Small and medium-sized enterprises within Saskatchewan can apply for rapid tests from the SHA by submitting an Intake Form available at www.saskatchewan.ca/covid19 (search for Rapid Testing). Tests will be provided for workplace screening as supplies allow, however Saskatchewan’s federal allocation of rapid antigen tests will be prioritized for health care professionals and priority settings such as long-term care facilities, personal care homes, schools, group homes and shelters.
The general public will be able to purchase the tests from retailers who wish to offer them. Check first to ensure the tests are Health Canada-approved by viewing the list at www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/covid19-industry/medical-devices/authorized/list.html.
General information on rapid antigen testing is available at www.saskatchewan.ca/government/health-care-administration-and-provider-resources/treatment-procedures-and-guidelines/emerging-public-health-issues/2019-novel-coronavirus/testing-information/rapid-testing.
The Government of Saskatchewan recently passed The Construction Codes Act (Bill 4) in the Legislative Assembly. The new Act will allow better alignment between construction codes and accessibility standards, including how they are applied to buildings, ensuring people with disabilities can better access and use buildings in Saskatchewan.
The new Construction Codes Act (CCA) repeals and replaces The Uniform Building and Accessibility Standards Act and will come into effect on Jan. 1, 2022, and will continue to oversee how construction standards are developed, adopted and implemented in the province. The CCA also modernizes the powers and responsibilities for building owners, local authorities, building officials and the construction industry.
“I thank those municipalities and industry stakeholders who provided input into this process resulting in this new legislation,” said Don McMorris, Government Relations Minister. “By improving the roles and responsibilities of each group, the new act will allow the Government of Saskatchewan and these groups to protect citizens from unsafe renovations and construction practices, promote building accessibility and ensure consistent application of construction codes across our province.”
Key changes in the CCA that will impact stakeholders include:
“The CCA allows Saskatchewan’s Construction Standards Appeal Board to make binding pre-rulings to individual buildings when the code is being interpreted differently between the building owner, local authority, designer and contractor,” said McMorris. “This will help designers and builders obtain design decisions in a timely manner and ensure they are in compliance with Saskatchewan’s legislative requirements.”
For information about Saskatchewan’s construction standards and codes, visit www.saskatchewan.ca/btstandards.
Saskatchewan Polytechnic continues to demonstrate leadership in providing culturally inclusive learning environments and opportunities. The Indigenous Leadership Skills Applied Certificate will share valuable Indigenous leadership approaches towards maintaining resiliency and building leadership capacity.
Situated on Treaty 4 and Treaty 6 territories, and homeland of the Métis people, Saskatchewan Polytechnic is acting on its strategic plan for 2020–2025, Leading the Rise, by holistically integrating Indigenous ways of knowing, being, teaching and learning throughout all institutional practices, procedures and services. The launch of the Indigenous Leadership Skills applied certificate is part of this work.
“Customized programs, like the Indigenous Leadership Skills program, allow for increased participation through workplaces as professional development opportunities.”
– Paul Carter, dean for the School of Continuing Education
“To prepare learners for success in the communities and economies of today and in the future, the new Indigenous Leadership Skills program builds business leadership skills based on Indigenous ways of knowing. This specialized, unique program examines historical and contemporary models of Indigenous business, entrepreneurship and economic development,” said Dr. Larry Rosia, Saskatchewan Polytechnic president and CEO.
“At the Aboriginal Apprenticeship Board of Ontario, we see the Indigenous Leadership Skills program as a vital piece in the efforts to engage Indigenous people into careers in the skilled trades. A sense of understanding of our own Indigenous history, culture, stories and resilience is crucial to empowering the individual in their career journey,” said Danny Deleary, Aboriginal Apprenticeship Board of Ontario, community engagement coordinator.
Indigenous Leadership Skills is an applied certificate designed to be leveraged by industry to broaden specialized, culturally relevant leadership skills within their workforce or by individuals preparing for their next career move or entrepreneurial venture.
Using real life case studies focused on exceptional Indigenous leaders, in an interactive format with fellow learners and instructors, the applied certificate is entirely online to maximize accessibility and flexibility for industry and learners. The program includes eight courses that will take about 240 hours to complete. Six of the courses explore standard leadership skills, while two delve deeper into traditional Indigenous leadership and approaches to business-building. Course materials and teaching methods align with Indigenous values, providing a safe, culturally relevant environment for learning.
“Customized programs, like the Indigenous Leadership Skills program, allow for increased participation through workplaces as professional development opportunities. They also provide opportunity for lifelong learning through relevant curriculum which can be successfully completed in a shorter period of time,” said Paul Carter, dean for the School of Continuing Education.
With construction season in full swing, the Government of Saskatchewan is reminding motorists to keep an eye out for construction zones on provincial highways.
“We view everything through the lens of safety at the Ministry of Highways, making sure that our work crews and contractors have a plan in place to keep every job site as safe as possible,” said Highways Minister Fred Bradshaw. “We need drivers to remember they have a role to play as well: plan your route ahead of time, pay close attention and slow down for everyone’s safety.”
Drivers must obey all signs and flag persons in work zones and slow to 60 km/hr. In some cases, work zones have temporary speed reductions left in place when workers are not present. This is often due to potential hazards present, such as lane closures, loose gravel, fresh oil and sharp pavement drop-offs.
“When the pandemic hit, our members continued to work safely building the province’s vital transportation corridors and also stimulating the local economy of many small towns that lost their tourism revenues,” said Shantel Lipp, president of the Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association. “Now that the province is reopening, we ask drivers to respect those mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, sisters and brothers while they resume their summer.
Our members work to keep you safe while you travel to your next destination, so please obey the signs, don’t speed and pay attention to your surroundings while inside our workplace.”
Speed fines are tripled in Saskatchewan when workers are present. Fines start at $210 and increase by $3 for every km/hr over the speed limit, up to a speed of 90 km/hr, and $6 for every km/hr over 90. A driver who speeds through a work zone at 100 km/hr will be issued a fine of $450, plus a victim surcharge of $80, for a total of $530.