Presented by Northbridge Insurance, the Canadian Construction Association’s (CCA) National Awards ceremony was held on March 14, 2025, during the Annual Conference in Québec City. This year’s recipients represent the industry’s best and brightest.
Congratulations to this year’s recipients for their exceptional contributions to the Canadian construction industry.
Geza Banfai, CCA 2024 Pinnacle Leader Award – sponsored by PCL Construction
An advocate for the Canadian construction industry for over 40 years, Geza’s commitment to legal reform, mentorship and the advancement of industry best practices promotes collaboration and efficiency in project execution, and helps the industry navigate challenges in an evolving legal landscape.
SUBHEAD: PCL Construction, CCA 2024 Environmental Achievement Award – sponsored by CHUBB Insurance Company of Canada
Recognizing PCL Construction for their Fairmont Royal York Decarbonization Project, which is a landmark achievement in sustainable construction, proving that even heritage buildings can evolve to meet modern environmental goals.
Construction Association of Nova Scotia, CCA 2024 Workforce Excellence Award – sponsored by RAISE Underwriting
Through a deep commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility, the Construction Association of Nova Scotia is shaping a workforce that truly represents the communities it serves.
Calgary Construction Association, CCA 2024 Partner Association Award – sponsored by Bockstael Construction
The Calgary Construction Association is more than an industry leader – it’s a driving force for change. Affectionately known as “Little CCA,” the association is reshaping the industry by prioritizing services and focus areas that members need, such as dedicated public and media relations, advocacy and workforce strategies, and membership engagement events and activities.
Westcor Construction Ltd., CCA 2024 Gold Seal Award – sponsored by Travelers Canada
Westcor is a general contracting and construction management services company that aims to build a better world for clients, community and employees. Reflected by its people-first culture, Westcor empowers its people to reach their full potential and promotes Gold Seal certification as a recognized standard of excellence.
Anthony DeVito, CCA 2024 Young Leader Award – sponsored by McMillan LLP
Anthony DeVito, GSC, is a passionate advocate for the construction industry and has spearheaded multiple initiatives to address skilled labour shortages. His community spirit is equally inspiring, and in his just-over-a-decade long career, he has earned the respect of colleagues and industry peers alike.
Groupe AGF, CCA 2024 Community Leader Award – sponsored by Marsh Canada Limited
For AGF and the Gendron family, community involvement and a culture of philanthropy are an integral part of corporate life. With over $4.5 million donated to causes across Canada and more than 750 employee-led fundraising events since its foundation’s inception, AGF unites its workforce, strengthens communities and demonstrates that collective action can create lasting impact.
Enviro-Ex Contracting Ltd., CCA 2024 Excellence in Innovation Award – sponsored by Intact Surety
Enviro-Ex Contracting’s Highway 97 Cottonwood Hill Phase Two Slide project overcame extraordinary geotechnical challenges, setting new standards for efficiency, safety and environmental responsibility, and stands as a testament to the potential of advanced technological integration in heavy civil construction.
PCL Construction, CCA 2024 National Safety Award – sponsored by Vipond Inc.
At PCL Construction, safety isn’t just a priority – it’s a core value of every worker, every shift and every site. This unwavering commitment has led to zero fatalities in the past three years and an extraordinary 16.7 million hours worked without a lost-time incident.
“This year’s award recipients demonstrate the best of the best of our industry. Congratulations to everyone for the recognition of their great achievements,” said Rodrigue Gilbert, president of CCA.
The call for nominations for next year’s awards opens this fall.
Spring is finally here, according to the calendar. Meanwhile, most of us are waiting for the weather to catch up. Spring is the season that brings us renewal. When the snow finally melts, we see what has been hidden from us for the past four to five months and start to plan our outdoor work for the summer.
For our industry, it is no different. We look for signs of renewed growth every spring when our provincial government releases its budget. On March 19, the Saskatchewan government delivered the 2025-26 budget. From our perspective, there were some encouraging signs. The 2025-26 highways budget was set at $777 million, with $421 million dedicated to capital projects.
While this budget is going in the right direction by increasing slightly over last year’s budget, we still have a ways to go to get where we need to be. Our industry will continue to advocate for long-term planning for budget commitments that provides stability and growth for our members’ businesses.
The current political climate surrounding the trade issue, while challenging for our industry, is also an opportunity for us to rethink how we build our industry to meet the challenge posed to our province. Due to the tariff issues created by the United States and China that are impacting our economy, Saskatchewan is busy exploring other trade partners. The status quo on getting our goods to market is no longer a viable option and we must be creative with how we get our products to our new trade partners.
While we need to maintain our existing infrastructure, we should also look at resurrecting dormant routes along with the possibility of planning and building new ones. Diversifying our trade portfolio must include the best logistics to successfully deliver our products to our new trading partners. Our infrastructure is the backbone of our provincial trade.
The SHCA is also encouraged by the announcement from the provincial government to hold construction roundtable discussions with partner groups. This will be an opportunity for our industry to advocate with other industries on the importance of government committing to issues such as long-term planning, removing interprovincial barriers and building a resilient workforce.
Every year, we look forward to the renewal and growth that spring brings us. This year will be no exception for the heavy construction industry. Even though the province faces uncertainty with the looming tariffs, our industry remains optimistic facing the challenges ahead.
Regina, SK – [March 28, 2025] – The Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association (SHCA) welcomes Premier Scott Moe’s announcement to pause the industrial carbon tax under the Output-Based Performance Standards (OBPS) program, effective April 1. This decisive action will provide much-needed relief to Saskatchewan’s heavy civil construction industry, which has long been burdened by rising costs due to the carbon tax.
“The heavy construction sector is a backbone of Saskatchewan’s infrastructure and economic growth,” said Shantel Lipp, president of SHCA. “Premier Moe’s decision acknowledges the negative impact that this tax has had on our industry. By pausing the industrial carbon tax, our members will see reduced financial pressures on key materials and inputs, allowing for more competitive project costs and greater investment in the province’s infrastructure.”
The OBPS program imposed a carbon tax on large industrial emitters, increasing the cost of critical construction materials such as asphalt, concrete, and steel. These added costs have contributed to higher project expenses, limiting industry growth and impacting the ability to deliver necessary infrastructure efficiently.
SHCA has consistently advocated for policies that support economic growth while balancing environmental responsibility. The association will continue working with the provincial government and industry stakeholders to develop practical solutions that support sustainability without stifling investment and job creation.
“We thank Premier Moe for recognizing the real challenges faced by the heavy construction industry and taking action to alleviate them,” added Lipp. “This decision helps ensure that Saskatchewan remains competitive and continues to build the roads, bridges, and infrastructure that drive our economy.”
The Ministry of Highways 2025-26 Budget of $777.0 million is a road map to enhance driver safety and invest in strategic infrastructure to sustain Saskatchewan’s export-based economy.
“Our government will continue to deliver on improving our transportation network to build an even better Saskatchewan for all who call it home,” Highways Minister David Marit said. “Our ongoing work will help families, businesses and industries better reach their destinations.”
A $421.0 million investment for capital projects will improve transportation corridors with multi-year initiatives such as:
Passing lanes for Highway 10 between Fort Qu’Appelle and Melville, and Highway 17 north of Lloydminster;
Highway 39 twinning at Weyburn; and
Ongoing corridor improvements on Highway 5 east of Saskatoon.
More than 1,000 kilometres (km) of provincial highways will be improved for a total of more than 7,000 km over six years. Improvements include:
200 km of repaving;
245 km of medium treatments, like micro surfacing;
480 km of pavement sealing;
95 km of Thin Membrane Surface and rural highway upgrades; and
30 km of gravel rehabilitation.
The Safety Improvement Program will invest $25.4 million toward intersections, guardrails, lighting and other assets. Northern Saskatchewan will see $122.3 million to build, operate and maintain highways and airports. Across the province, an $81.6 million investment will repair or rebuild 18 bridges and more than 100 culverts.
This work includes:
Starting construction of overpass replacements on Highway 2 over Highway 1 at Moose Jaw; and
Replacing the bridge on Highway 2 over Montreal River near La Ronge.
Key municipal road, short line railway infrastructure and related investments include:
$18.4 million to support economic growth and safety on rural municipal roads ($1.0 million increase);
$8.6 million for construction and maintenance partnerships with urban municipalities;
$2.2 million for the Strategic Partnership Program to enhance safe movement of large trucks;
$850,000 toward community airport improvements; and
$1.0 million for the Short Line Railway Improvement Program ($470,000 increase).
With this year’s budget, the Government of Saskatchewan has invested more than $13.8 billion in transportation infrastructure since 2008, improving more than 21,800 km of highways across the province.
The Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association (SHCA) was once again proud to host the Infrastructure Summit and Trade Show in Regina, Sask., on Dec. 4 and 5. This was the second year for the show that brings together contractors, suppliers, engineers and other professionals to discuss the latest innovations in infrastructure and transportation.
Presentations over the two days brought together leaders inside and outside of the industry to speak to the challenges and the solutions for our industry. I am pleased to say the Summit exceeded our expectations in terms of the content that was delivered and the quality of presenters. Add to that we had attendance that was much higher in 2024 than 2023.
The content we presented to the delegates had a lot of thought and care put into the subject matter for each technical session. It was interactive and additional professional development credits were provided, a benefit that was not available to delegates in 2023. We chose to make the Summit more of an educational experience rather than a networking and social event.
We had an array of amazing presenters who spoke on the emerging technologies that will have a large impact on how our industry does business in the future.
The 2024 Summit set the tone and we will use it as a template going forward. The importance of the subject matter presented cannot be overstated. However, the presentations were only one piece of the Summit. We were fortunate as well to host a trade show alongside the presentations that brought the delegates firsthand knowledge of many of the new technologies being used by our industry. After a very busy two days, delegates had the opportunity to join us for the 2024 industry awards and banquet, where the best of the best were honoured for their contributions to the heavy construction industry.
I am pleased to say there will be a third Summit. This year’s Summit will be our new standard. We see the potential of the Summit being a civil construction industry version of what Agribition brings to the ag sector. We also want to expand our reach beyond local contractors and local equipment people, and have delegates from around the globe attend.
I want to thank all our sponsors, exhibitors and delegates who were key to making this year’s Summit a great success. I look forward to seeing everyone in 2025 as we build on this year’s success for a bigger third Summit.
As president of the Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association for nearly 17 years, Shantel Lipp has developed a reputation as a fierce advocator for the industry.
Barilla commends Lipp for the efforts she’s made to develop her network for the benefit of the association. “She has made amazing in-roads with government officials,” he said. “It’s nice to be able to text any MLA, including the premier’s staff, and get an immediate response. If the industry has issues, she has access to the right people to try to help with the situation.”
And, of course, the industry has had issues. With those issues, SHCA can point to advocacy wins that benefit not only SHCA members, but everyone working in heavy construction in Saskatchewan.
“Just after COVID hit and inflation started to go crazy, the diesel fuel prices started to climb,” said Lipp. “A lot of the suppliers – especially those producing the material to lay on the ground – use a lot of fuel in their operations. They were hemorrhaging cash. And the government said, ‘Well, that was your bid price. They were reluctant to provide any supplement to help offset the increased costs.’ But our members needed help, so we kept pushing and kept meeting with officials.
“I do my job like everybody else does theirs. You never do it thinking you’re going to get any kind of an award nomination out of it.”
Shantel Lipp
Finally, it got to the point where we were left no choice and took our plea to the radio, calling on the government to work with the industry, and to remind the public of how important safe, reliable transportation infrastructure is to the economy and to public safety. We asked the public to make their voices heard and to call their local MLA. We also shared this message with our members, and phones did ring.
“We were backed into a corner and had to poke them. That got their attention.”
But those efforts paid off. Officials came back to the table. “Together, we worked out what was reasonable,” said Lipp. “We said we understood that inflation was hitting everybody hard – not just us – and we weren’t asking for the moon. We asked to meet in the middle so that people could continue to work. Initially, they weren’t willing to do that, but sometimes you have to ruffle a few feathers to get the odd egg.”
In the end, SHCA worked with officials to revise industry consumption rates to reflect more realistic, mutually beneficial figures. The payment schedule was also changed to monthly instead of at the completion of each phase of a project. In another recent example of an advocacy win by SHCA, the Regina city council proposed a fair wage policy in 2022.
Lipp explained to city officials that a fair wage policy would hurt the heavy construction industry and was unnecessary given that competition for labour in the province was tight and, as such, employers already recognized the need to pay people well. Secondly, contracts awarded by the City of Regina are typically with a general contractor, who then enlists subcontractors. A general contractor would have difficulty providing wage information for the employees of its sub-trades. Third, mandatory apprenticeship requirements could not be applied to the industry, because heavy civil construction does not have apprenticeships or journeyman designations for occupations outside of heavy equipment mechanic positions.
Lastly, Lipp explained how employees in the industry are compensated, which is based on skill, training, experience and the type of work they undertake, and that those factors are also weighed against the market. Lipp’s submission to council ultimately led to the defeat of the motion.
Building relationships
Lipp says that her government relations strategy boils down to a common-sense approach. “It’s respectful conversation,” she said. “When we first go into a meeting, we never go into it confrontationally – it’s business. Sometimes we’ll disagree in a meeting, but you always need to maintain a level of respect, and if a conversation ever slides off the rails, it’s time to stop. Regroup and come back with a fresh perspective. I’ve tried hard to never be disrespectful, but I will make it known that I disagree, or I will give my opinion.”
Keith Hershmiller Photography
If she feels like her message isn’t being heard, she’s willing to escalate. “When [we feel] the government stops listening, that’s when you start to have a problem, and then you have to decide how you need to get your message out. Sometimes, you have to poke them – it’s very rare, and we don’t like to do that, but sometimes you just have to.”
Driven by passion
Lipp points to one thing that fuels her when it comes to fighting for the industry.
“The members,” she said. “If you stop and talk to anybody who belongs to the association – whether they’re a supplier or a road builder – they’re inspiring people. They’re all so down to earth and relatable, and very humble. They just want to do a good job. They make a good living doing what they do, and I rarely come across anyone involved in the industry who doesn’t feel the capacity to give back to the communities they work in or that they come from. They’re humble, hardworking people – and it’s really easy to advocate for folks like that.”
A seat at the table
When Lipp first started working at SHCA in 2008, she says there was an “acceptance period.”
“When I first started, SHCA was going through a change,” she said. “They had an executive director, who managed the office, but SHCA revised the role and created a president role, which would be a CEO. This still included running operations, but it also included advocacy to the government and being the ‘face’ of the association. I became the person the government went to when they need to consult, or the person members went to when they needed to deal with the government. That was a transition.”
“Shantel Lipp is one of those people whose work is all around us, yet is seldom appreciated. The roads and infrastructure we all use and that keep our Saskatchewan economy strong are due, in part, to her nearly two decades leading SHCA.”
Michael Kram, MP for Regina–Wascana
Despite the occasional head-butting during board meetings, Lipp says she’s never felt like she wasn’t listened to or that her opinion wasn’t valued.
“When I look across the board, or across Canada at the other heavy construction or road building organizations, they’re all led by men. I’m the only woman at the table,” she said. “And I’ve never once been made to feel like I can’t share my opinion. As a matter of fact, I’ve been encouraged to be more vocal and that my input is valuable. It’s been great to have these working relationships with my peers.”
Recognized for advocacy
In January 2025, Lipp was surprised to learn she was nominated for the King Charles III Coronation Medal and that she would be a recipient of the award. The medal recognizes people who have made a significant contribution to their community. “I was totally unaware,” she said. “It was a bit of a surprise!” More important to Lipp is the person who nominated her – Member of Parliament for Regina–Wascana, Michael Kram.
“I’ve been honoured to have a close working relationship with Shantel since I was elected,” said Kram. “She’s an inspiring figure in Saskatchewan industry. I’m pleased to see her recognized for her dedication with the King Charles III Coronation Medal.” Lipp is grateful that Kram put the spotlight on the industry.
“I’m more impressed about the nomination than the award!” she said. “The fact that it came from one of our federal MPs. Somebody was paying attention and listening to what we have to say. For SHCA, that there’s recognition this industry is important – it’s important to the province, it’s important to the cities, it’s important to the country. To be recognized for the work we do, it’s really, really important.”
Kram gives credit to Lipp for the work she’s done for Saskatchewan. “Shantel Lipp is one of those people whose work is all around us, yet is seldom appreciated,” said Kram. “The roads and infrastructure we all use and that keep our Saskatchewan economy strong are due, in part, to her nearly two decades leading SHCA.” Barilla agrees.
“This recognition is well deserved for the work she has done in our province,” he said. “Our members sometimes don’t grasp how instrumental Shantel and the association are in making big changes in our province – changes that benefit our industry and the people in Saskatchewan.”
Lipp received the medal in a ceremony at the Atlas Hotel in Regina.
“I do my job like everybody else does theirs,” said Lipp. “You never do it thinking you’re going to get any kind of an award nomination out of it. But it was really nice to be recognized – and more so from an industry standpoint, to have someone at the federal level acknowledge the efforts that I put forth on behalf of the association. It’s also recognition of the association and the industry overall, which is a bigger feather.”
Artificial intelligence (AI) isn’t a buzzword anymore. It’s here to stay and construction professionals should embrace it as an important tool to improve their work and project management. This is according to Daniel Anvari, Ph.D., a presenter at the Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association (SHCA)’s recent Infrastructure Summit and Trade Show held in Regina.
An expert in system dynamic modelling, predictive data analytics, business intelligence and machine learning, Anvari is primarily focused on AI startups and driving innovation in AI applications.
He has contributed to Toronto’s York University, the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Kwantlen Polytechnic University and the British Columbia Institute of Technology. Speaking at the summit, Anvari stressed how AI is making construction more efficient and “smarter.”
“Don’t be afraid that AI will eliminate your job – it won’t. It will make your job easier and you will be more efficient,” said Anvari. He said three of the biggest areas to use AI in construction are:
Climate-resilient infrastructure
Advanced sensor networks for proactive maintenance
AI algorithms for sustainable urban planning
Anvari offers examples of how industry can use AI.
Predictive maintenance sensors: Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, devices that collect real-time data and are a key component of the IoT, are used on bridges, roads and utilities to predict failures and schedule timely maintenance.
Smart water and energy meters: AI-powered sensors that enable efficient resource management, leak detection and power load management.
Public safety and emergency response:
AI-enabled surveillance systems and sensors: For detecting accidents, fires and other emergencies, thereby allowing faster response times. AI sensors for safety and efficiency:
Wearable AI sensors: For monitoring worker safety, such as detecting fatigue and ensuring compliance with safety protocols.
On-site monitoring sensors: IoT sensors for monitoring equipment performance, construction progress and environmental conditions, such as dust, noise and vibrations.
AI tools for automation:
Autonomous construction equipment: AI-powered cranes, excavators and bulldozers that enhance precision, reduce human error and speed up processes.
Construction robotics: AI-driven robots for tasks like bricklaying, concrete pouring and welding.
AI planning software: Tools like PlanGrid and Procore use AI to manage project schedules, budgets and material supply chains.
“You will find AI particularly useful to manage schedules, budgets and supply chains,” said Anvari. “The technology is there now and it will help you.”
He used the example of government inspections as an area where AI will make projects more efficient. Calling government officials for inspections during construction can often cause delays, creating problems in meeting tight timelines. Using AI, someone can walk around a project with augmented glasses (that have the approved designs and plans pre-loaded), look at the project’s construction and progress, and AI will compare what you are looking at to the pre-loaded designs, letting officials know whether the work is compliant.
“Don’t be afraid that AI will eliminate your job – it won’t. It will make your job easier and you will be more efficient.”
Daniel Anvari, Ph.D.
Regarding future applications for AI, especially in construction, Anvari said applications are coming faster than ever. “When email was introduced, it took 10 years for wide adoption. When ChatGPT was released, 1 billion people were using it after three months. “Applications coming now, especially with the introduction of super computing, will come faster and faster,” he said.
Anvari’s recommendation is to start now. “You have data in your company. Make sure you are recording all your data. Then you will feed this data into your AI, and it will continue to gather more and more data as you use it,” he said. “The more data it gathers, it will get better and better in helping you with your work, and helping you make good decisions.”
Anvari compared AI to the maturation process a human goes through. “It takes a person 20 years to mature. AI matures quickly. The more data you incorporate into your AI technology, the better it gets, and it makes better decisions. So, record your data and get ready so you can make the best use of this tool in the future,” said Anvari. Rather than being afraid of AI, Anvari recommends embracing it. “You need to get trained and get on top of the technology. If you have the tools, there are many opportunities,” he said.
Shantel Lipp, president of SHCA, says her organization is working with Anvari and other experts in the AI field to offer AI training to heavy construction professionals.
“We are working to have short, accessible courses available, hopefully sooner than later, in 2025,” said Lipp. “We envision webinar courses that you take at your convenience and that will be broken up into small, easy-to-handle segments. We will also make sure the content is relevant to our members and what they face in the Saskatchewan economy.
“Stay tuned – we will have an announcement as soon as things are ready.”
The origin of tools began over 2.6 million years ago to help civilizations hunt and survive. In today’s world, the concept has not changed because we continue to use and develop tools to ensure we as a civilization continue to advance and survive.
At the 2024 Infrastructure Summit and Trade Show, attendees heard from John Law on a new tool that could revolutionize the planning and future forecasting of where to build infrastructure next. Law is the president of Lawmark International, which he founded in 2012 to provide integrated business development, logistics and regulatory support services to his clients in Western Canada.
In his presentation, Law showed the concept of a mapping system called the Prairie Regional Information Systems Map (PRISM) that takes data from multiple sources and layers it to produce a tool that tracks the movement of commodities across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. In co-ordination with the three Prairie province transportation agencies and ministries, Law was able to build PRISM in three months.
In co-ordination with the three Prairie province transportation agencies and ministries, Law was able to build PRISM in three months.
“The development, in partnership with them, used a lot of their data sources and this was purposeful,” said Law. “The intention was to help the three of them work closer together. So instead of having your own provincial transportation system, you’ve got the whole regional transportation system. Instead of having commodities for one province, using forestry as an example, you now have a shared interest in forestry improvements and movements.”
To develop PRISM, Law took the data provided to him from the various ministries and agencies, and began layering integrated gross domestic product and commodity flow information with geographic information system-layered transportation corridors. PRISM is a tool that will allow industry and government to determine where trade infrastructure is best served to deliver commodities to the customer. It is also a tool that will help them find prospective partners and stakeholders who will see the value to investing in the region.
grazvydas/123rf
Law indicated that PRISM for the three Prairie provinces can be expanded to other regions with the goal of applying it to a national plan. “The response is that this can serve as a bit of a demonstration; that this can serve as a demonstration of what we have been arguing for a long time, which is for a national strategy, a national plan,” said Law. “We did all of this in about three months. Three jurisdictions in three months. We could do the whole Maritimes in three months. The idea that we can start to move towards a national plan is one of the opportunities that the tool supports.”
Law used the Pembina-Emerson port in Manitoba as an example of how PRISM can be used to bring the federal government to the table to help with funding infrastructure projects that will improve our trade ability.
“The tool will show you that there is about $13 billion worth of products going through the Port of Emerson that originate in Manitoba, but about $9 billion are coming from Saskatchewan and Alberta,” said Law. “If I want to make an argument to Ottawa about the importance of the improvements to Emerson, I got all three provinces now with economic activity that I can point to with specific commodities and I can show which markets in the U.S. we are moving to.”
Although PRISM is still a concept and not a final product, it is yet another tool that has been developed which will help civilization survive and thrive.
