It was a highlight of my summer to see crews out on worksites doing what it takes to repair or build a road, replace pipes and other infrastructure underground or prepare a site for a future building.
As you have been busy completing those projects, I have been hard at work – along with the board – on some of my own that I am excited to tell you about. You can read more about them in this issue of Think BIG. While those too are important highlights of this year, I say that seeing those crews at work is a highlight because that work is undeniable evidence of all that our industry does to support our communities and the provincial economy.
As I drive around – on roads SHCA members built – I look around to see so much other infrastructure that requires heavy construction to exist. The sidewalk where pedestrians can safely walk to get to a business. Those lots being developed so more houses can be built in a subdivision that will welcome many more families to live in our city in a new neighbourhood that will flourish.
Those kids playing basketball on a court using materials donated by one of our members. Families packed in a half ton truck that is pulling an RV headed out on the highway to a provincial park to make memories on a family vacation.
That rail line being used by that train carrying cars of agricultural commodities or manufactured equipment to other parts of the country where they will be used or to reach ports to export to other countries. I hear the planes coming into my city knowing they are going to land on the airport runway. I trust there will be a parking lot where I will park my vehicle when I arrive at my destination.
We built that. All of that, which is needed by others in our society. The members of our association are the ones who made sure high quality, durable infrastructure is constructed so other people living in our communities can enjoy a high quality of life.
This infrastructure makes travel easier and safer. Getting to school and work every day is possible in large part because of the infrastructure that our members build and maintain. It prepares for future stages of development so people have places to work and live. These are just a few examples of what our industry contributes.
While it is common to just get the job done and focus on all that is needed to ensure it gets done well, I think there is value in stopping to consider just how impactful that infrastructure is in our daily lives and how significant it is to our society’s functioning. There is so much for a person to notice and take pride in once we start looking for it. While we know it, let’s remind others of it, too.
Over the winter, remind people we built that. In Saskatchewan, we don’t like to brag, but it is valuable to share information about the work you are doing with others. You can tell family, friends, neighbours and associates about what our industry builds. Help them understand the direct benefit of this new infrastructure, but also the indirect benefit, such as the money spent in communities when a crew moves in for the duration of a project. That indirect benefit helps to support their jobs and income.
Telling people which projects we are working on helps others who are not in our industry see that it is real people – not simply dollars and documents – who make infrastructure happen. Reminding other people of exactly what our industry builds and maintains and how that betters the lives of our family, friends and neighbours is an important message to deliver so the value of our industry’s work is recognized and appreciated.
Governments pay attention to the public who vote them into office. Having the public value our contribution to our communities helps reinforce what we as an association say to politicians and bureaucrats we meet with to discuss our industry’s interests.
That is our intention when explaining to the public the three vital industry issues we want governments – provincial and municipal – to address as we communicate to all the importance of our industry to the new government. You can read more about those efforts.
You can also read about an exciting announcement by the SHCA. We have been working to develop an education portfolio for fall 2024 to add another way for the association to provide even more exceptional services to members and stakeholders. That education portfolio has been developed along with Darlene South of Darlene South Consulting Solutions and Jason Tratch of Proteus Waters.
I am looking forward to seeing people learning from these two at our office in Regina. The association views these education and training opportunities as essential in helping members build a sustainable workforce through improved recruitment and retention strategies.
So, this winter, reflect on all the hard work you have done and how meaningful that work is to our province, while you also decide who you would like to send to the training courses.
