Construction

Most PPE in B.C. is only made with men in mind, creating one more barrier for women looking to enter the trades.(Credit: Pixabay)

From hardhats to boots: PPE is keeping women from the trades

Virtually all personal protective gear is designed only for men, creating barriers and safety risks

  • Jan 22, 2023

 

Liz Barrett had hoped to return to her electrician apprenticeship after a year of maternity leave. Now her kids are nearly two years-old, but she can’t go back to work due to the lack of childcare spaces. (Courtesy of Liz Barrett)

Child care, benefits, stigma among barriers fuelling labour shortages in B.C. trades

Canada will face a shortage of at least 10,000 workers in every recognized trade in the next 5 years

 

An LNG Canada employee shows off a model of what the natural gas company’s massive terminal in Kitimat will look like once complete. (Michael Bramadat-Willcock/Terrace Standard)

Changes to Kitimat skyline on the horizon as LNG terminal comes online

Residents can expect the sight of natural gas being flared off into the atmosphere

 

Minister of Seniors Kamal Khera speaks at a funding announcement for $21 million from the federal government to increase the number of trades apprentices in the province. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

Feds announce $21 million in funding to hire more than 2,100 apprentices in B.C.

B.C. Construction Association to administer project focused on increasing, diversifying workforce

Minister of Seniors Kamal Khera speaks at a funding announcement for $21 million from the federal government to increase the number of trades apprentices in the province. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Crews work at the Othello Bridge on the Coquihalla on Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. (B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure)

Permanent repairs coming for Othello stretch of Coquihalla Highway

Work is expected to begin in early August and be completed sometime in the fall

Crews work at the Othello Bridge on the Coquihalla on Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. (B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure)
A memorial was held on the one year anniversary of a crane collapse that killed five at a construction site in downtown Kelowna July 12, 2021 (Brittany Webster - Capital News)

VIDEO: Memorial marks one year since deadly crane collapse shook Kelowna

Five horn blasts were aired to mark the one year anniversary

A memorial was held on the one year anniversary of a crane collapse that killed five at a construction site in downtown Kelowna July 12, 2021 (Brittany Webster - Capital News)
Kicking Horse Canyon extended closures are back, with a one month closure that comes into effect on April 19 and will last until the May long weekend. (MOTI photo)

Fourth round of extended Highway 1 closures announced east of Golden

It’s a part of Phase 4 of the Kicking Horse Canyon Project

Kicking Horse Canyon extended closures are back, with a one month closure that comes into effect on April 19 and will last until the May long weekend. (MOTI photo)
Danielle Pritchett was supported by friends and family as she spoke in Kelowna’s Ben Lee Park on April 28, 2022 about her son Cailen Vilness, a victim of the July 2021 Kelowna crane collapse (Brittany Webster)

Mom of man killed in Kelowna crane collapse speaks out on workplace Day of Mourning

161 work related deaths were reported in B.C. in 2021

Danielle Pritchett was supported by friends and family as she spoke in Kelowna’s Ben Lee Park on April 28, 2022 about her son Cailen Vilness, a victim of the July 2021 Kelowna crane collapse (Brittany Webster)
B.C. announced a new Mass Timber Action Plan April 7, with an initial invesment of $1.2 million into four structures. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. investing in future of mass timber with 4 new structures, long-term action plan

Province looks to be leading producer in carbon-capturing material

B.C. announced a new Mass Timber Action Plan April 7, with an initial invesment of $1.2 million into four structures. (Black Press Media file photo)
Centre 64 is getting a new roof, along with city hall and the RCMP building. Bulletin file

City of Kimberley awards tenders for new roofs for City Hall, Centre 64 and RCMP buildings

Costs of construction just keep rising and the City of Kimberley is…

Centre 64 is getting a new roof, along with city hall and the RCMP building. Bulletin file
Demand for construction and skilled trades workers is higher than ever, but there aren’t enough workers to meet the demand. (Pixabay photo)

Labour shortage hampers B.C. construction industry amid high demand for work

Survey from Independent Contractors and Businesses Association finds 75% of companies are short-staffed

Demand for construction and skilled trades workers is higher than ever, but there aren’t enough workers to meet the demand. (Pixabay photo)
Ann Squires Ferguson of Western Design + Build. Lia Crowe photography

Secrets and Lives with CEO Ann Squires Ferguson

Reshaping the construction and design industries

  • Oct 15, 2021
Ann Squires Ferguson of Western Design + Build. Lia Crowe photography
Doug Howson loads lumber onto a forklift at Haney Builders Supplies, in Maple Ridge, B.C., on June 12, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Do-it-yourself-ers benefit from lower prices in aftermath of lumber correction

A two-by-four inch piece of framing lumber that cost $12.65 on June 1 is now selling for $3.95

Doug Howson loads lumber onto a forklift at Haney Builders Supplies, in Maple Ridge, B.C., on June 12, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Emergency vehicles responded to the scene at the former Empire Theatres building in North Vancouver after the building partially collapsed during construction. (Nigel Hubbard/Twitter)

1 person dead, another injured after partial building collapse in North Vancouver

North Vancouver RCMP’s Serious Crimes Unit has assumed conduct of the investigation

Emergency vehicles responded to the scene at the former Empire Theatres building in North Vancouver after the building partially collapsed during construction. (Nigel Hubbard/Twitter)
May 15, 2021, 2021 - Kyle Velikovsky photographed in front of boats and boat houses at Van Isle Marina for Secrets and Lives in Boulevard Victoria. Don Denton photograph

Secrets and Lives With Kyle Velikovsky

White Wolf Homes custom home builder talks business and life

  • Jun 28, 2021
May 15, 2021, 2021 - Kyle Velikovsky photographed in front of boats and boat houses at Van Isle Marina for Secrets and Lives in Boulevard Victoria. Don Denton photograph
In a Council of Construction Associations video about hardhat safety, Vickramjit Poonia of Lecor Construction Ltd. (right) speaks as David Sarai of New York Painting (left) looks on, at a Surrey job site. (Youtube.com)

B.C.’s relaxed hardhat rules aim to include more turban-wearing workers on job sites

WorkSafeBC change ‘will allow more Sikhs to come to work without having to compromise religious beliefs’

In a Council of Construction Associations video about hardhat safety, Vickramjit Poonia of Lecor Construction Ltd. (right) speaks as David Sarai of New York Painting (left) looks on, at a Surrey job site. (Youtube.com)
Lumber is shown in the back of a van in this recent image provided by the Saskatoon Police Service. The skyrocketing prices for lumber is fuelling a trend that has authorities across the country warning builders to keep their guard up. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Saskatoon Police Service-Const. Derek Chesney *MANDATORY CREDIT*

‘It is a gold mine:’ Builders warned of rising lumber thefts across Canada

Many North American mills curtailed production temporarily earlier in 2020 because of COVID lockdowns

Lumber is shown in the back of a van in this recent image provided by the Saskatoon Police Service. The skyrocketing prices for lumber is fuelling a trend that has authorities across the country warning builders to keep their guard up. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Saskatoon Police Service-Const. Derek Chesney *MANDATORY CREDIT*
Inflation rose 2.2 per cent in March 2021 compared to March 2020, according to Statistics Canada. Month-to-month inflation rose 1.1 per cent in March over February. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang)

Inflation up 2.2% in March but figures reflect declines during pandemic

Monthly inflation rose 1.1 per cent in March over February

Inflation rose 2.2 per cent in March 2021 compared to March 2020, according to Statistics Canada. Month-to-month inflation rose 1.1 per cent in March over February. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang)
Charlotte and Travis Erdely

Life and style with Charlotte Erdeley

Custom home building as a team with husband Travis

  • Feb 1, 2021
Charlotte and Travis Erdely
Ed Geric of Mike Geric Construction. Photo by Lia Crowe

Life and style interview with Ed Geric

A passion for family, community and development projects

  • Jan 13, 2021
Ed Geric of Mike Geric Construction. Photo by Lia Crowe
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