See the importance of the heavy construction industry within and beyond Saskatchewan
By Martin Charlton Communications
SHCA is excited to spearhead the first-ever industry summit for Saskatchewan, which will bring together contractors, suppliers, engineers, government officials and other professionals to focus on infrastructure and transportation.
The summit will be made up of industry education sessions, an innovative trade show and networking opportunities spread over the course of two days on Nov. 29 and Nov. 30, 2023, at the Delta Hotel & Convention Centre in Regina. Speakers will deliver insights and knowledge on a variety of topics. The event will wrap up with industry awards and a banquet.
It is an opportunity to broadly see the importance and impact of the heavy construction industry within and beyond Saskatchewan, while deepening knowledge and insight about infrastructure, equipment, labour needs, projects, investment and much more.
“The Infrastructure Summit is important to members of SHCA because it will provide education sessions that will make us better builders,” said Shantel Lipp, SHCA president.
“Projects are becoming more complex, technology is changing and communication – or more importantly how we communicate – has become more important than ever before.”
Technological advancements within the industry will be highlighted through technical sessions across a broad sector of industry applications. There will be opportunities to learn more about the production and processing of materials, as well as troubleshooting asphalt plants and greener ways of paving. Attendees can expect to see virtual reality being used to attract young people to the heavy construction sector as well as to conduct safety training.
The Brandt Group of Companies, Gerry Huber, Wirtgen Group, Water Security Agency, Asphalt Institute, SMS Equipment, SaskPower, Cenovus Energy and Women of Asphalt will all be sharing valuable information on many different topics. They will cover cold in place recycling, intelligent compaction, asphalt volumetrics, balanced mix design, artificial intelligence advancements in road building equipment, new technology in tack coats, flood mitigation, the future of carbon capture and mining, and the inclusion and retention of women in the industry.
The summit will also offer personal as well as professional development opportunities. Speakers include Pamela Barnum, who will describe how to unlock the code of non-verbal communication. There will be a presentation by Mark Nesbitt, who will discuss creating the next generation of construction leaders. Also speaking is Bob Vaughan, who will cover projects becoming more complex and how to create a culture of success.
A panel discussion on harnessing trade to grow Canada’s economy will bring together Gary Mar, president of Canada West Foundation (CWF), Mary Van Buren, president of the Canadian Construction Association, and Chris Lorenc, president of the Western Canada Roadbuilders & Heavy Construction Association (WCR&HCA).
They have all been involved in a coalition of national organizations that also includes the Business Council of Canada and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
This coalition came together through the development of a report by the CWF titled, “From Shovel Ready to Shovel Worthy: The Path to a National Trade Infrastructure Plan for the Next Generation of Economic Growth.” The WCR&HCA helped initiate the report, but it has been endorsed by numerous associations and organizations concerned with the current level of investment, the lack of co-ordination and planning on a long-term strategy, and the state of the federal trade corridors fund. This coalition is approaching the three orders of government to advocate for a national building strategy that would invest in Canada’s trade corridors, enabling and harnessing trade-based economic growth.
Topics such as the role of infrastructure in trade relationships and the need for long-term investment in infrastructure to seize opportunities and grow trade to benefit the economy are why this event will be of value to more than SHCA members. It is another opportunity to deliver the message to all who are invited that funding to develop and maintain infrastructure can deliver a return when there is a strategy for investment.
“This summit is important for the government because for decades the private sector has been asking for a long-term, permanent plan,” said Lipp. “Business investment grows when our industry is allowed to build, and the prairie provinces are Canada’s export leaders.”
A memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed in April by Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta is aimed at strengthening the economic corridors between the three provinces, but that too is a chance to do more.
“The importance of the prairie provinces signing an MOU to open up trade corridors is an opportunity for growth because we know that supply chains don’t stop at the provincial borders,” said Lipp. “While this memorandum is a step in the right direction, SHCA continues to encourage the government of Saskatchewan to look at long-term funding commitments similar to Manitoba and Alberta.
“Long-term commitments will help the industry plan for future growth, which will contribute to meeting the goals set out in the memorandum,” said Lipp.
Those goals include improving the efficiency of inter-provincial highway and rail networks, encouraging the federal government for infrastructure funding and national supply chain solutions, keeping these provinces’ economies competitive, growing capital investment and harmonizing regulations to support businesses, industries and shippers.
It is an opportunity to broadly see the importance and impact of the heavy construction industry within and beyond Saskatchewan while deepening knowledge and insight about infrastructure, equipment, labour needs, projects, investment and much more.
An agenda for the summit and more details will be released as the date of the event gets closer. As with all SHCA events, please visit saskheavy.ca and check under the Events section of the website to find details about this event, including how to register.
SHCA 2023 Infrastructure Summit Speakers
Like many of the events hosted by SHCA, the first-ever industry summit for Saskatchewan will offer opportunities to learn and grow by featuring speakers who deliver valuable perspectives.
Events are held by SHCA to help develop and strengthen the voice of the association. Gathering to share experiences, ideas and suggestions helps members recognize and realize improvements and opportunities. It is also how members can find and form the connections that make their businesses and this industry better.
On an individual level, these events are also an opportunity for members to access personal as well as professional development opportunities that will benefit them in their own businesses and careers. This summit will feature numerous speakers who offer knowledge and insights they have developed through decades of professional experience and relationship building. They are sharing these insights to strengthen attendees’ abilities to navigate relationships and challenges to achieve greater success.
Pamela Barnum
The first speaker is Pamela Barnum, who will describe how to unlock the code of non-verbal communication. She is a trust strategist and body language expert who developed her skills and insights during her years as an undercover police officer and federal prosecuting lawyer.
While in graduate school, Barnum studied corporate negotiations and applied those skills to the non-verbal communication techniques she learned over two decades while working in the criminal justice system. In her presentations, she teaches others how to detect deception and interpret non-verbals cues in their personal and professional lives. Those eager to know what she has to share can get a sneak peek by watching her TEDx Talk, “What Drug Dealers Taught Me About Trust.”
Mark Nesbitt
Another presenter will be Mark Nesbitt, who will discuss creating the next generation of construction leaders. Nesbitt is the founder of Nesbitt Training and is an active member of the aggregate community with 30 years as a veteran in the aggregate, mining, trucking and construction industry. He has fostered a passion for helping people develop a multitude of personal and professional assets as they strive to grow and improve upon themselves. He dedicated himself to not only his own development as a leader, but also to assisting his fellow peers in the industry.
By attending leadership seminars and additional alternate training sessions, not only did Nesbitt develop a well-rounded perspective of leadership practices, but he also identified a key component frequently missed by most training and leadership programs – valuable background knowledge and subject matter directly pulled from industry experience.
Nesbitt knows the mining and construction industry is composed of individuals from a variety of backgrounds, and he is able to accommodate all of those involved given his unique collection of experiences and topical relatability.
Nesbitt knows that most industries today desperately need employees who can better their company and ensure its success into the future. Through Nesbitt Training, he is able to help companies establish better legacy knowledge practices and operational processes, as well as improve team leadership and communication skills. He wants to help everyone learn to be a valued member of a top professional team.
Bob Vaughan
Also speaking is Bob Vaughan, who will cover projects becoming more complex and how to create a culture of success. Vaughan has more than 25 years of experience in organizational effectiveness, change management and performance improvement in the private and public sectors in North America, South America, and Europe.
Vaughan will share the lessons he has learned from conducting over 100 workshops on alliance, partnering and culture for success that can be applied to project management. Today’s projects are more complex, with multiple owners, multi-discipline consultants and several sub-contracts. Everyone has good intentions to finish the projects on time and on budget, but there are many misaligned goals and miscommunications.
Those who have heard Vaughan speak appreciate his quick wit, intelligence and the street smarts that come from having both entrepreneurial and business experience. He is comfortable working in both the executive boardroom and the shop floor, and his speaking style demonstrates that.
He is with Bob Vaughan and Associates (BVA), an international consulting firm providing leadership training, business coaching, partnering sessions and strategic planning to mining, heavy equipment, construction, health care and other industries. Prior to forming BVA, Vaughan was the manager of quality improvement for Finning Canada. He was responsible for employee engagement, customer experience and process improvement. He led leadership training and partnering sessions with Finning’s employees and customers in North America, Chile, and England.
Vaughan has worked with the boards of directors for the BC Road Builders & Heavy Construction Association and the Alberta Roadbuilders & Heavy Construction Association, plus many member companies over the last 20 years. He has conducted partnering sessions on many of B.C.’s and Alberta’s most significant road-building projects, including Northwest Anthony Henday in Edmonton, Alta., Kicking Horse Canyon Project in Golden, B.C., and South Fraser Perimeter Road in Vancouver, B.C.
Barnum, Nesbitt and Vaughan are among many speakers at the summit who represent several different types of organizations including equipment dealers, government agencies, trade associations and more. They will be delivering information on a variety of topics, including cold in place recycling, how to use intelligent compaction, asphalt volumetrics, balanced mix design, AI advancements in roadbuilding equipment, new technology in tack coats, flood mitigation, the future of carbon capture and mining, and the inclusion and retention of women in the industry.
This summit will feature numerous speakers who offer knowledge and insights they have developed through decades of professional experience and relationship building. They are sharing these insights to strengthen attendees’ abilities to navigate relationships and challenges to achieve greater success.
More details on these speakers, their sessions and how to register for the first-ever industry summit will be available on the SHCA website under the Events section.