The BC Construction Association (BCCA) presented three awards for exceptional leadership to cap the fifth Annual Construction and Skilled Trades Month celebrations. The Leadership Awards are an annual opportunity for industry to acknowledge its outstanding people, and this year the awards recognize those who helped others through the impacts of recent extreme weather events and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“We get through challenging times when we stick together and rise to the level that the situation calls for. These awards celebrate just a few of the thousands of leaders that kept our industry going through flood, fire and pandemic this past year, and we thank them for everything they do to keep our workforce safe and productive,” said BCCA president Chris Atchison.

Philip Robinson of Pitt Meadows Plumbing and Mechanical (PMP) won an award due to his work to help properties damaged in Abbotsford after devastating flooding hit the region in November 2021. Robinson brought PMP’s emergency response trailer to Abbotsford for farmers to use and his efforts motivated the company to donate to the Red Cross.

Scott Construction was given a Company Award for their work on a 60-bed homeless shelter in Vancouver. The Klahowya Tillicum Lalum shelter is operated by the Lu’ma Native Housing Society and is funded by BC Housing. The fast-tracked project went from being an empty warehouse with no drawings or permits, to a fully functioning emergency shelter in just six months.

Acres Enterprises Ltd. HSE adviser Tammy Olsen won an award for her efforts during the historic heatwave in June 2021. She kept employees safe by quickly rescheduling work to avoid the hottest times of day and provide cooling towels and electrolyte products to help hydrate staff during B.C.’s historic 2021 heatwave.

She also supported staff near wildfire areas and during the November flooding, she  coordinated emergency procedures for the evacuation of projects.