Sunalta Community Hub opens in Calgary

The Sunalta Community Hub has officially opened, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of the Sunalta neighborhood. Designed by MBAC, the Hub, which will serve as a gathering place for residents and a resource for community-building activities, promises to enhance the quality of life in the area with a variety of services for all ages.

The development of the Sunalta Community Hub was made possible by the City of Calgary which invested approximately $3 million through the Established Areas Growth and Change Strategy and the Centralized Climate Fund. In addition to this, Sunalta Community Association also secured funding from the Government of Alberta, Calgary Foundation, United Way’s Community Hubs Initiative, and local businesses, family foundations, and residents.

“The Sunalta Community Association consists of a group of people who believed in their power to do amazing things for others. They rallied a community, philanthropic investments and navigated City funding initiatives to create a neighbourhood living room where all are welcome. I encourage everyone to visit, if for nothing else but to realize and be inspired by how much a community filled with imagination and willpower can accomplish,” said Councillor Courtney Walcott.

The Sunalta Community Hub is a part of United Way’s Community Hubs Initiative. The initiative has committed significant seed funding, operational support and capital investments to help Sunalta build a welcoming, inclusive and supportive neighbourhood.

The vision for the Hub is to remove social isolation and improve food security. A variety of programs will be offered ranging from social support, food programs to cultural programming. The Hub is also a social enterprise, with the income it generates going back into the community.

“The opening of the Sunalta Community Hub showcases the strength of Sunalta’s spirit,” says Jenny Vickers, executive director of the Sunalta Community Association. “The Hub is a gift to the community and it is thanks to the dedication of our staff, board of directors, resident volunteers, project team, local businesses and non-profits, political allies, and the generosity of our funders that we have reached this pivotal milestone.”

Canadian Construction Safety Council launches

Canada’s leading general contractors have united to form the Canadian Construction Safety Council (CCSC), with a mission to elevate safety performance and establish innovative new industry benchmarks to protect construction workers nationwide.

The Council’s founding members include Aecon, AtkinsRéalis, Bird Construction Inc., Dragados Canada Inc., EllisDon Corporation, EBC, Graham Construction Inc., Kiewit Corporation, Ledcor Industries Inc., PCL Construction, Pennecon, and Pomerleau.

Among CCSC’s inaugural initiatives are the adoption of Type II safety helmets, with integrated chin straps, which offer superior head protection compared to traditional hard hats. Additionally, the council is adopting a new fall protection standard, requiring safety measures such as harnesses and guardrails at six feet—lowering the current standard from 10 feet—to reduce falls, a leading cause of injury in the industry. The CCSC will also promote the adoption of ANSI level 4 cut-resistant gloves to help reduce the significant number of hand injuries sustained by nearly half a million Canadian workers each year.

Driving industry change to proactively protect, engage, and support workers is the foundation of CCSC’s mission. By sharing best practices and insights, the council aims to build a safer and stronger construction industry across Canada. The goal is to collaborate, educate, and advocate for every worker’s safe return home every day.

Strategic Objectives of the Canadian Construction Safety Council:

Reduce Serious Injuries and Fatalities: Decrease the number of serious and fatal injuries in the construction industry through improved safety practices and protocols.
Champion Industry Safety Improvements: Develop, adopt and implement best safety practices.
Enhance Safety Image and Relationships: Improve the construction industry’s safety reputation and foster stronger relationships with public and private clients, as well as regulatory bodies.
Networking and Education: Provide opportunities for members to share knowledge, access safety resources, and learn from one another.
Leverage Industry Resources: Utilize the creativity, innovation, and the industry’s collective expertise to establish and maintain higher safety standards.
Mental Health Awareness: Promote resources and education to support the mental health and overall well-being of workers within the construction industry.

In conjunction with the initiatives outlined, CCSC has launched a new website detailing its vision, mission, and key focus areas for members and the wider community.

Improvements in smart lighting

Are you looking to improve lighting at your facility? Choosing the right lighting for your business can increase energy savings, maximize your occupant experience, and increase employee happiness and productivity. Using smart lighting systems in your facility can improve operations, boost production, and save you money.

A natural approach

Many of today’s smart lighting systems focus on a natural approach, delivering human-centric lighting (HCL), which is designed to mimic natural light patterns inside the building for better health. Some of the documented benefits generated by natural light include reduced eye strain, increased cognitive function, decreased seasonal affective disorders, better rest, and higher job satisfaction. Studies show that natural lighting in the workplace can increase employee productivity by up to 15 per cent, too.

By integrating a lighting system that relies on providing simulated natural light sources, your business may be able to improve employee wellness, decrease absenteeism, and increase office productivity.

Collecting data

Evolved smart lighting systems provide facility and maintenance managers with real-time data through AI-driven insights and integrated technologies. Integrating your smart lighting system with other technology can help maintenance and facility managers better manage their buildings. By analyzing occupancy patterns, electricity consumption, and user preferences, smart lighting can help businesses better allocate their resources and lower their energy costs. This data can help optimize efficiency and identify more opportunities for cost savings.

With the addition of AI, predictive lighting can provide data to help improve your usage over the long term. This approach can save on energy costs, as well as prolong the lifespan of your lighting system by better allocating its use.

Remote control

As technology continues to progress, managers can increasingly monitor and control their systems remotely.. Smart lighting allows remote access to turn lights on and off, re-program timers, adjust sensors, monitor data, and more. This flexibility means that managers can address issues and adjust for optimized performance anytime, anywhere.

Smart lighting can help maintenance and facility managers achieve an optimal working environment, decrease energy usage, and gather data to continue to optimize efficiency for their business.

Canada, Toronto announce rental housing investment

The Government of Canada and the City of Toronto have announced a significant investment in affordable, purpose-built rental construction via the Apartment Construction Loan Program (ACLP). The federal government is providing $2.55 billion in low-cost loans to help build more than 4,800 rental units, including 1,000 affordable rental units. Meanwhile, the City of Toronto will provide approximately $234.83 million in estimated value of City benefits for these affordable and purpose-built rental homes.

According to the governments, this partnership will help drive down the cost of building and hasten housing construction by providing low-cost federal financing, conditional on the City of Toronto providing relief on development charges, fees and property taxes. These funds are in addition to the recently announced $975 million investment to accelerate the delivery of Waterfront Toronto’s revitalization plan, creating over 14,000 new homes along Toronto’s Waterfront at Quayside and Ookwemin Minising.

“Every Torontonian deserves an affordable place to call home” said Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow. “Today’s landmark housing agreement will reduce barriers so more than 4,800 homes will be built faster. By working together with our federal partners, we are securing affordable homes in Toronto for generations to come.”

The Government of Canada and the City of Toronto also announced their continued commitment to supporting people experiencing unsheltered homelessness, particularly in encampments. Under the Unsheltered Homelessness and Encampments Initiative (UHEI), the federal government is providing $25.8 million over two years and the City of Toronto will contribute $400 million.

Under Reaching Home’s Designated Communities stream, the federal government is also allocating an additional $62.7 million to the City of Toronto through Budget 2024 funding, which is helping service providers in Toronto prevent and reduce homelessness.

As of December 31, 2024, the government has committed $21.76 billion in low-cost loans through ACLP to support the creation of more than 56,000 rental units across Canada.

New B.C. legislation to allow quick tariff response

Legislation has been introduced to strengthen B.C.’s ability to respond quickly to threats of tariffs imposed on Canada by the United States, to grow a more self-reliant economy, and to defend workers and businesses.

“President Donald Trump doesn’t care about the devastating effect his chaotic actions are having on Canadian and American families alike,” said Premier David Eby. “In the face of escalating attacks on our sovereignty that have included threatening to erase the Canada-U.S. border and taking our water, we are not backing down. We are arming ourselves with the tools we need to respond swiftly, break down trade barriers within Canada and strengthen our economy.”

If passed, the economic stabilization (tariff response) act will enable the B.C. government to be nimble in its response, giving government time to develop more long-term responses, as the threat of tariffs evolves rapidly and unpredictably. A focus on expanding interprovincial trade and moving procurement away from American vendors will help encourage greater reliance on goods and services made in Canada and increase opportunities for people and businesses in B.C.

The act would give cabinet a strong set of targeted tools to fight back against Trump’s tariffs and counter the negative impact of tariffs on British Columbians and Canadians. If passed, the bill will allow cabinet to take action in the following ways:

remove or amend barriers that impede interprovincial trade;
impose tolls/fees on non-Canadian commercial vehicles using provincial public infrastructure such as highways;
direct public-sector bodies to exclude U.S. suppliers when procuring goods and services; and
temporarily make changes to cut red tape and regulations to take fast action to defend the B.C. economy from challenges brought on by continued threats.

The act provides temporary authority to cabinet and will automatically be repealed by 2027 at the latest. The legislation also includes guardrails. For example, it does not allow government to override permitting processes or First Nations consultation. If passed, most of the legislation would take effect upon royal assent.

The next generation of cleaners

Many industries, commercial cleaning and facility maintenance included, continue to face an on-going skills gap. This is especially concerning as many trades workers retired during or after the pandemic, leaving a labour shortage throughout the industry and a growing concern about the future of the workforce for the next generation.

What are some of the challenges the industry is facing when trying to recruit candidates from Gen Z?

Lack of information

While trades and vocational schools provide a stable, reliable, and long-term career path for many, there is a stigma associated with careers like commercial cleaning for 76 per cent of Gen Z, and that may be because it’s a path they have not considered. 61 per cent said their parents haven’t spoken to them about vocational school, with some even telling their children to avoid that path. To that end, 17 per cent of Gen Z said they hadn’t learned about the benefits of vocational training until after high school, making it a lesser-known path than bachelor’s degrees, community college, and entrepreneurship.

Misconceptions

It seems that many Gen Z-ers may have impressions about the trades that do not accurately reflect the industry. When asked what job amenities are most appealing, the availability of flexible hours was the top answer (73 per cent), followed by job stability (61 per cent), and overtime pay (58 per cent), but these amenities are offered by many jobs from commercial cleaning and beyond. As well, nearly half of respondents (48 per cent) agree that women are discouraged from pursuing careers in similar fields from a young age, possibly adding to the misconceptions around this type of employment.

A path forward

How can commercial cleaning companies attract Gen-Z candidates? The good news is that the industry is moving in the right direction in aligning with many of this generation’s top concerns like innovation and technology, sustainability, company culture, and employee wellness. Gen Z is also motivated to learn so companies offering professional development opportunities will set themselves apart and have more of an appeal for candidates. Commercial cleaning companies that focus on aligning with Gen Z and their future employees may have an advantage with tomorrow’s labour force.

New enhanced battery recycling solutions for Canadian businesses

Call2Recycle, Canada’s leading battery collection and recycling organization has announced a new initiative with Staples Professional,^™ the leading business supplier in Canada, to expand its “Recycle Your Batteries, Canada!” program to Staples’ professional business customers nationwide.

Staples Professional is offering its business customers of all sizes across Canada access to the Recycle Your Batteries, Canada! program. This will enable participating businesses to conveniently recycle their used batteries safely and responsibly, ensuring they are recycled in accordance with the highest industry standards. Used batteries will be processed to recover valuable materials for reuse in manufacturing new products, reducing the environmental impact, and contributing to a strong circular economy.

Through its Staples for Community platform, Staples Canada is committed to making a positive impact by promoting equity, preserving the environment, and supporting education. This new recycling initiative is part of Staples’ continued efforts to help businesses easily recycle used batteries and old electronics such as computers, cell phones, keyboards, telecom equipment, and printers. Through their continued partnership over the past 20 years, Staples and Call2Recycle have worked to encourage battery recycling as a sustainable practice among Canadian consumers and businesses and have recycled almost two million kilograms of used batteries since 2004 – with more to come.

“Staples Professional is committed to delivering products, services, and solutions that not only meet the diverse needs of our customers but also protect our natural resources and our planet,” said Chris Saniga, Chief B2B Officer at Staples Professional. “We are proud to extend that commitment to support our customers’ environmental initiatives through Call2Recycle’s Recycle Your Batteries, Canada! program.”

“We have made great strides with our partner Staples Canada for the past 20 years, helping Canadian consumers become increasingly aware of the importance of recycling batteries,” said Joe Zenobio, President of Call2Recycle Canada. “We are thrilled to expand these efforts to Staples Professional, making it even easier for Canadian businesses to recycle their batteries and contribute to a more sustainable future.”

Call2Recycle’s program partners with businesses, retailers, battery manufacturers, provincial governments, and municipalities to collect and recycle as many used batteries as possible across Canada, driving positive environmental progress nationwide.

Visit the nearest Staples Canada location or find additional drop-off points at www.recycleyourbatteries.ca.

Carbon price refocused on industrial emitters

Cancellation of the consumer carbon price comes with the Canadian government’s affirmation that tax credits and other incentives for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from buildings remain in place. A newly enacted federal regulation resets the carbon-related surcharge on fossil fuels to $0.00 per tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) as of April 1, 2025, but continues the output-based pricing system for large industrial players that emit more than 50,000 tonnes (50 kilotonnes) of CO₂e annually.

The latter group has been subject to the same pricing trajectory as household and commercial consumers paying the fuel charge, but it is applied as a per-tonne rate on emissions that exceed a prescribed limit. This is slated to rise to $95 per tonne of subject CO₂e emissions next month, while accompanying analysis with the new regulation indicates further adjustments will be considered to “refocus” carbon pricing in the future.

“In the absence of the fuel charge, other measures will continue to incentivize emissions reductions,” the regulatory analysis states. “The federal government intends to strengthen Canada’s approach to carbon pricing for industry to ensure its continued effectiveness and continue to make progress on climate targets.”

An estimated 12.57 megatonnes (Mt) of emissions reductions projected to be attributable to consumer carbon price between 2025 and 2030 will now be foregone. However, the regulatory analysis cites a combination of other government policies that could offset that loss so that it amounts to just a 3 Mt setback. Those counterbalancing factors include the clean fuel regulations, mandates for zero-emissions vehicles and the package of initiatives known as the green buildings strategy.

“There are now a suite of different emissions reduction policies, and removing the fuel charge now would have a smaller impact on emissions compared to when it was introduced,” the regulatory analysis declares. “There are now other policies covering the same emissions sources that will take on a larger role if the fuel charge is eliminated.”

Alternative channels for emissions reduction

In particular, the clean fuel regulations, which have been projected to curb national GHG emissions by up to 26 Mt by 2030, are identified as a foil for potential backsliding in consumer behaviour. Since 2023, producers and importers of liquid fossil fuels (gas and diesel) must meet mandated thresholds for reducing the carbon intensity of product sold in Canada.

These requirements are designed to become more stringent on a yearly basis to progress toward the goal of reducing the combined emissions from extracting, refining, distributing and using the fuels by 15 per cent, relative to 2016 levels, by 2030. That began with a stipulated reduction of 3.5 grams of CO₂e per megajoule (MJ) in 2023, with an additional 1.5 gram improvement mandated each year until a 14-gram CO₂e/MJ reduction is achieved in 2030.

That’s envisioned to be accomplished through a credit market, in which each credit represents a 1-tonne CO₂e reduction. Fuel suppliers subject to the regulations can create credits or purchase them from a verified source in three categories of investment:

reductions in lifecycle carbon intensity through projects such as carbon capture and storage, on-site renewable generation or co-processing:
low-carbon-intensity fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel; and
fuel/energy for advanced vehicle technology such as electric vehicles or hydrogen-fueled vehicles.

Government analysts hypothesize that an uptick in fossil fuel consumption on household and commercial consumers’ part would force regulated fuel suppliers to make corresponding adjustments. Higher fuel demand and/or a diminished market for lower-carbon fuel blends would increase suppliers’ compliance obligations and create more pressure on the availability and price of clean fuel credits. The pass-through of those costs would then encourage a consumer pullback, while also spurring more investment in clean energy development and innovation.

“Higher CFR (clean fuel regulation) credit prices induce some additional emissions reductions across sectors that create CFR credits,” the regulatory analysis maintains.

Canada’s electric vehicle availability standard, which will begin to roll out with the 2026 model year, is another identified brake on fossil fuel consumption. Automobile manufacturers and importers will initially be required to meet a target for light-duty (sedans, SUVs and small trucks) EVs to account for 20 per cent of new sales, which will steadily rise to 60 per cent of new sales by 2030.

“This significantly limits the national emissions impact of eliminating the fuel charge,” the regulatory analysis reasons.

Green buildings strategy limbo

The ameliorating impact of the green buildings strategy is not so straightforward. Removal of the consumer carbon price is expected to lower the short-term economic cost of fossil fuels in all Canadian provinces and territories except Quebec, where a cap-and-trade system is still in place. The regulatory analysis acknowledges this could undermine originally projected emissions reductions, “mostly related to the slower adoption of technologies which reduce emissions from natural gas used for home heating”.

In the commercial/institutional buildings sector, retrofit project proponents have commonly factored a carbon price set to rise to $170/tonne CO₂e by 2030 into their payback assumptions and business cases for decarbonization. The regulatory analysis does not contemplate what the absence of that driver could mean.

However, the green buildings strategy is specifically identified as one of the “complementary climate mitigation policies” within the overarching climate plan, and there are hints that further refinements could be coming. “The environmental impacts of the amending regulations may be mitigated by other future climate policies implemented in place of the fuel charge,” the regulatory analysis states.

Buildings sector insiders have plenty of ideas on that front. A recent joint publication from the Real Property Association of Canada (REALPAC), the Canada Green Building Council (CAGBC) and the University of Ottawa’s Smart Prosperity Institute explores how widescale decarbonization projects, in keeping with Canada’s emissions reduction targets, can be practically justified, funded and delivered. That identifies some pressing needs for cost-competitive technology, amenable financing and supportive public policy, and includes a list of enabling mechanisms that government, other key institutions and industry service providers could contribute.

Governments at all levels are urged to:

provide incentives, tax credits, favourable financing and loan backing for both the buildings sector and technology developers;
invest in enabling infrastructure, such as the smart electricity grid;
find ways to make public utility data more straightforwardly available; and
work to harmonize standards so that environmental performance ratings and labelling have consistent nationwide meaning.

“The portion of the carbon price that consumers pay at the pump or point-of-sale is getting dropped, but the carbon pricing model still holds,” reiterates Bala Gnanam, vice president, sustainability, advocacy and stakeholder relations, with the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) of Canada. “Now there needs to be a combination of other tools to take the place of the fuel charge so that we are still on track to meeting our targets.”

Accelerated regulatory process

The new regulation is discordant with conventional Canadian government practice in that it was not published as a proposed draft for public consultation. This is described as necessary to meet the government’s objective to remove the fuel charge on April 1.

The regulatory analysis relies on the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Canada’s modelling program, known as EC-PRO, to estimate how the cancellation of the consumer carbon price will affect previously projected emissions reductions and related economic outcomes.

As well, it notes the possibility that some households and businesses will realize net economic gains from the elimination of the fuel charge, while others will be disadvantaged through the loss of the Canada carbon rebate. The latter scenario will be most prevalent among low-income households and qualifying small businesses with fewer than 500 employees that “had a relatively high number of employees and used relatively low amounts of fossil fuels.”

The regulatory analysis also clarifies that not all costs have been considered.

“In addition to reducing carbon emissions, the federal fuel charge could lower air pollutants that harm health and ecosystems,” it observes. “Removing the fuel charge could therefore result in environmental and health costs, which are difficult to quantify and not included in this analysis.”

Stantec to design new BC Cancer Centre in Nanaimo

Stantec has been selected to design the new $289-million BC Cancer Centre at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital. The new cancer centre will bring radiation treatment closer to home for patients and families on central and north Vancouver Island. Preliminary site work will get underway this month.

The design of the four-storey building will also focus on the patient care journey and access to natural light and views and offer radiation therapy, including a CT simulator and linear accelerator vaults to provide radiation treatment.

The centre will offer an outpatient oncology ambulatory care unit with exam rooms and consult rooms, a PET/CT diagnostic scanner, systemic therapy, an oncology pharmacy and outpatient dispensary, and a sacred space.

Construction is expected to begin in the fall of 2025 and finish in 2028.

The facility, a partnership of BC Cancer, Provincial Health Services Authority, and Island Health, is part of British Columbia’s 10-year Cancer Action Plan to better prevent, detect, and treat cancers, improving care for people facing cancer now while preparing for the growing needs of the future.

Photos courtesy of Stantec.

Summa Property Management: Professional property management done the right way

Managing a property is no easy feat. It requires a lot of time, attention, and money to maintain your property assets and provide tenant/owner/board satisfaction. Knowing the ins and outs of management is where the professionals shine. Summa Property Management offers expert recommendations, knowledgeable insight, and valuable guidance.

“The right professional property management company will take care of your property as if it’s their own,” said Ryan Stone, President and CEO of Summa Property Management. “They’ll work closely with you to protect your investment.”

Ryan Stone has been in the property management industry since 1984. In 2005, he founded Toronto-based Summa Property Management. His company manages residential rental properties, shopping plazas, commercial buildings, and condominium corporations, specializing in boutique-sized properties. Ryan and his team pride themselves on having built long-lasting relationships with their clients and still manage properties from their first year in business.

Why hire a professional property management company?

“Property managers know property management, and that’s why it makes sense to hire experts to look after your building,” said Ryan. Property managers deal with all facets of maintenance including plumbing, electrical, structural deficiencies, repairs, upkeep, budgets, and accounting. And the fact that they are always on call when needed removes the headaches of ownership. You save time while putting their expertise to work.

Paperwork and administration can also be overwhelming and time-consuming. A property management company can take over the bulk of that work. Responsibilities include monthly accounting, managing financial statements, contract negotiations, understanding relevant acts, verifying contractor work, practicing conflict resolution, running AGMs for condominium corporations, and reviewing your condominium’s by-laws, rules, and regulations.

A professional property management company is invaluable in helping you manage your liability, your time, and your investment! No matter the size of your portfolio, Summa Property Management recognizes that property management is critical to the success of your operations.

Based on the updated Condominium Act in 2017, additional time, work, and proper licensing are needed to manage your condominium corporation, and that makes it even more imperative to rely on a professional company like Summa Property Management.

Finding the right fit

It is not enough to hire a professional property management company; you need to find the right fit for your needs. Building owners need hands-on property managers who share their goals and provide the level of service required to keep everything running smoothly. While a larger property management company may have more staff, often there is potentially more extensive employee turnover, and that means you may receive less frequent attention.

According to Ryan, “We are large enough to deal with any sized property while providing stability of management as well as personal attention to detail. Plus, we never assume smaller properties need less attention.”

The professionals at Summa Property Management get to know their clients, usually visiting properties once a week and develop long-term partnerships. “The important part of our client relationships is that we are in it together, on the same team,” says Ryan Stone. “I have my hand in all the properties we manage. I am always reachable – we do not operate on a 9 to 5, Monday to Friday schedule.”

The perfect partner should also understand that each owner of a property has unique goals and objectives, and that is the hallmark of Summa’s approach. Summa’s property managers consider your specific objectives, preparing budgets and implementing a management plan that delivers the desired outcome.

Summa is results-driven, dedicated to maintaining and enhancing the bottom line by ensuring, in the case of a rental, that your property is rented to quality tenants and managed effectively. As part of its comprehensive services, Summa can help provide peace of mind with complete building inspections.

One example is the company’s “mystery shopper” inspections for landlords of rental properties, which are implemented when vacancies are higher, or units are not renting quickly. These can verify that the site management personnel are doing their utmost to rent units and are following company policies, plus ensure proper advertising is being done and units are properly rent-ready.

Summa is ever-evolving, recently investing in cloud-based automated property management accounting software that simplifies accounting operations and streamlines the payment process. With a focus on excellence, the management staff at Summa are encouraged to grow their skills and knowledge with training, seminars, and education opportunities.

Since the Condominium Act was updated in 2017, property managers must be properly licensed to manage condominiums in Ontario. Summa’s licensed property managers and accounting staff are committed to offering top-notch service with the highest level of attention and commitment to the preservation and enhancement of your property.

At the end of the day, professional property management services offer owners valuable expertise, saving time, decreasing stress, and protecting your assets. Summa Property Management works with property owners and boards of directors, getting to know your objectives and your property, and delivering the highest level of attention, commitment, and service.

Summa guarantees an elevated client experience. Whether you have a residential, commercial or condominium corporation, Summa Property Management is the right choice!

Learn more about Summa Property Management and their services by visiting their website at www.summapm.com.

Global supply chain leaders feel growing distress

Escalating trade conflicts, rising global tensions, and persistent supply chain disruptions are placing unprecedented pressure on manufacturing and supply chain leaders.

The newly released 10th Annual 2025 State of Manufacturing & Supply Chain Report, from global manufacturing and supply chain company Fictiv, revealed that concern is growing among a pool of 254 senior manufacturing and supply chain leaders due to tariffs, trade wars, and geopolitical instability. Most companies produce goods in clean energy, electric vehicles, robotics, or medtech industries, which use highly complex parts.

“Concerns about tariffs and trade wars are clearly top of mind for manufacturing and supply chain leaders,” says Dave Evans, co-founder and CEO of Fictiv. “We’re seeing a level of global uncertainty and supply chain disruption we haven’t seen since 2020. However, the report also shows that companies are embracing new technologies and strategies to build more resilient and agile supply chains.”

The survey found that 96 per cent are worried about the impact of current trade policies, and 93 per cent believe trade wars will escalate in 2025. A top concern is how tariffs will affect costs and profitability (57 per cent), while 48 per cent said tariffs will drive business uncertainty.

While 68 per cent of leaders are looking at onshoring as a strategy in 2025, particularly in markets that depend on complex parts, 77 per cent said that a lack of resources, such as labour, greatly limits their ability to manage the supply chain effectively. Supplier quality, reliability and compliance are also fueling concerns.

On top of that. the industry anticipates climate-related disruptions, as well. Ninety-five per cent report that weather and climate events, such as wildfires and floods, impact their supply chain strategy, and 91 per cent have sustainability initiatives and governance in place. Despite the policy landscape (U.S. withdrawing from the Paris Accords and reversing Biden-era policies like the Inflation Reduction Act) there is an urgency to implement more sustainable practices throughout the production cycle.

Scaling production has also become more difficult as 91 per cent face barriers to product innovation, while 86 per cent said sourcing parts takes time away from introducing new products. The time engineers spend on sourcing and procurement activities is rising significantly. In 2024, 13 per cent of engineers dedicated more than eight hours per week to these tasks. By 2025, that number grew to 19 per cent, a 6-point increase.

“The wave of new tariffs introduced during the early months of Trump’s presidency represents the continuation of an international trade environment that is becoming increasingly more difficult for supply chain leaders to forecast and plan against,” said Sabrina Paseman, general partner at Omni Ventures. “Developing supply chain resiliency is more critical than ever.”

Canadian Apartment January/February 2025 Issue

New Victoria ferry terminal hits milestone

Phase 1 work at the Victoria Belleville Terminal Redevelopment Project is complete, marking a significant step toward the construction of a new, state-of-the-art pre-clearance terminal building in the inner harbour.

Phase 1 work began in March 2024 and included modifications to the Steamship Wharf and the building of a temporary terminal within the Steamship building to house FRS Clipper and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The temporary terminal enables ferry service to continue uninterrupted between Vancouver Island and Washington state during construction of the new terminal.

“The completion of the first phase of the project lays the groundwork for new terminal facilities that will secure our Canada-U.S. border, improve travel convenience and help drive the regional economy,” said B.C. Minister of Transportation and Transit Mike Farnworth. “This has been discussed for decades and has broad support locally and across the business and tourism communities.”

With Phase 1 complete, Phase 2 of the Belleville Terminal Redevelopment Project is scheduled to start in spring 2025. Phase 2 includes the demolition of existing Clipper terminal infrastructure and the construction of a new pre-clearance terminal building with modern border security standards.

The new pre-clearance terminal will comply with the Canada-U.S. Land, Rail, Marine and Air Transport Pre-clearance Agreement, and will make travel faster and easier by allowing passengers to complete the customs and immigration process in Victoria prior to disembarking in the U.S. Phase 2 also includes the replacement of aging wharf facilities and construction of a new commercial goods processing facility.

The new terminal will be built to LEED Gold certification as an all-electric facility, incorporating minimum energy usage and carbon emission targets, and achieve Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification (RHFAC) as a fully accessible building.

Through competitive request-for-qualifications and request-for-proposals processes, the province is working with the Phase 2 design-build proponent and anticipates finalizing contract details in the coming months.

The project is expected to be complete in time for the 2028 tourism season.

CCA National Awards winners announced

During the 2025 Annual Conference in Québec City, the Canadian Construction Association (CCA) announced the recipients of the 2024 CCA National Awards.

The CCA National Awards celebrate the change makers, leaders, and champions from across the country for their exceptional contributions to the Canadian construction industry.

“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.

PCL Construction was a double winner, taking home awards in the environmental and safety categories for their efforts.

“All of the CCA Awards represent excellence in our industry, but the National Safety Award truly reflects our company’s core value of ensuring that our workers return home safe at the end of each day,” said Mike Wieninger, COO of Canadian operations. “Safety continues to be our top priority and by preparing and planning everyday with precision, purpose and determination we are able to achieve success.”

The CCA National Awards recipients are:

Geza Banfai, CCA 2024 Pinnacle Leader Award

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..

PCL Construction, CCA 2024 Environmental Achievement Award

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.

Calgary Construction Association, CCA 2024 Partner Association Award

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, as well as new membership engagement events and activities.

PCL Construction, CCA 2024 National Safety Award

At PCL Construction, safety isn’t just a priority — it’s a core value. Every worker, every shift, 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.

Construction Association of Nova Scotia, CCA 2024 Workforce Excellence Award

Through a deep commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility, the Construction Association of Nova Scotia (CANS) is shaping a workforce that truly represents the communities it serves.

Westcor Construction Ltd., CCA 2024 Gold Seal Award

Anthony DeVito, CCA 2024 Young Leader Award

Groupe AGF, CCA 2024 Community Leader Award

Enviro-Ex Contracting Ltd., CCA 2024 Excellence in Innovation Award

Celebrating green design and small space living

Designed by Husk Interior Design, this 1,200 square foot half duplex in Vancouver was reconfigured to allow a family of four to use the small home’s main space for multiple functions including serving as music and interior design studios.

The result is a successful celebration of green design and small space living, reflecting the family’s passions, values and lifestyle in a humble and renewed space.

Inspiration for this “missing middle” renovation project came from a phrase hanging on the family wall – ‘Design Will Save the World. Just After Rock’n’Roll Does’ – which appropriately captures the family dynamics of musicians, designers and environmentalists.

The home evokes simplicity, serving as a backdrop for a rotation of accessories and musical equipment. Thrifted and inherited furniture and accessories from the 60s and 70s add interest to the home.

To demonstrate environmentally conscious living practices and provide learning opportunities for future projects, the project features detailing and green materials not commonly seen in local projects.

Biophilic elements reveal a love of nature with an interior food garden, layered lighting and the use of green materials derived from wood, paper, plant matter and clay. Local products and manufacturing are featured throughout, especially in lighting and tile selections.

“The significant consideration given to healthy and green building materials” made this project unique, says interior designer Sharon Hollingsworth.

The renovation minimized waste, utilized design-for-deconstruction detailing and considered indoor air quality with low-emitting finishes.

Hollingsworth says the project’s main challenge and greatest reward was “developing unique details for less commonly used finishes and materials while navigating existing site conditions and minimizing waste under a modest budget.”

Flexibility and generous storage were also key considerations in the design. Adaptive and playful storage surprises abound, maximizing the small space and allowing for quick change. The dining area houses a utility closet and can flexibly be used as a bar, music room, and multi-workstation home office with secretary desk and pull-out work surfaces. Other storage features include recycling space, a washer dryer and clothes closet tucked into the reconfigured entryway and ceiling-height storage above the electric fireplace.

“A favourite part is the customized storage that helps declutter the small space while ergonomically supporting various needs from record playing to bunny care. Another is the expanded sense of light in the north-facing home,” says Hollingsworth.

To offset the daylight limitations of the north-facing half duplex orientation, the firm used millwork-integrated grow lights for indoor gardening and sunlight mimicry plus a new custom French door to a Juliet Balcony. Other thoughtful details include applying photometrics, lighting controls and maximizing energy-saving windows.

The Drive Duplex project earned Husk Interior Design multiple honours at the 2025 Shine Awards of Excellence. It won an Award of Excellence and the Robert Ledingham Award as well as an Award of Merit, Climate Action and Innovation. Hollingsworth took home the Interior Designer of the Year Award.

“The awards represent a win for green building and small spaces. The Robert Ledingham memorial award will be especially cherished for the remembrance of a gentle and inspiring leader and the meaningful embodiment of both the award and project in the tactile art of Deagan McDonald at Origins,” says Hollingsworth. “I am beyond grateful for this recognition and warmed by the support of our wonderful interior design community.”

Photos: Janis Nicolay

Cheryl Mah is managing editor of Design Quarterly

Analysis reveals tariff sectors that will hurt U.S.

U.S. tariffs will reduce growth in every single Canadian province, although retaliatory tariffs can inflict significant pain on the U.S. economy in a number of targeted industries, a new analysis shows.

The emergency analysis was undertaken for the Public Policy Forum by Navius Research, a non-partisan consultancy specializing in quantitative analysis. It assesses how damaging the U.S. tariffs will be on both Canada and the United States and also analyzes potential Canada-led strategies to respond to U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

“We undertook this study to provide quantitative guidance to policymakers in real-time,” said Inez Jabalpurwala, PPF president and CEO. “The work reveals emergent areas of focus for Canadian leaders, including the urgent development of east-west, and west-east trade in Canada and beyond.”

The analysis shows that sectors in every province decline or experience price reductions, from “gasoline and diesel refined in New Brunswick, aluminum exported from Quebec, steel and automobiles from Ontario, potash and uranium from Saskatchewan or oil and gas from Alberta,” the analysis notes.

Vehicle manufacturing, for instance, would endure a hit of $93.8 billion in Ontario over a five-year period, while the aluminum industry in Quebec would lose $12.7 billion over the same time frame.

Some sectors where trade flows east-west rather than north-south (trading between provinces or with Asia and Europe) are insulated from U.S. tariffs and may actually experience growth during this period.

“Sectors with access to broader markets, such as offshore oil production in Newfoundland and LNG production on the West Coast, may actually benefit from tariffs,” said Jotham Peters, managing partner at Navius Research, “which might be a guide for how Canada can insulate its economy in the future.”

In fact, the analysis notes: “Greater trade networks to either the east or west coast will help insulate Canada from trade shocks with the U.S. and can act as leverage for the next tariff threat.”

An analysis of the effect of a 25 per cent retaliatory tariff on imports of 23 classes of U.S. goods into Canada identifies the retaliatory tariffs that can inflict more damage on the U.S. than on Canada.

The U.S. would suffer more harm over a five-year period than Canada if Canada enacts retaliatory tariffs on: food, pharmaceuticals, fabricated metals, alcohol and tobacco, manufactured goods, steel, plastics, cement, non-ferrous metals, paper, mining products, clothes and wood products.

Conversely, Canada would do itself more harm than the U.S. if it retaliates with tariffs on: oil, electric products, raw wood, natural gas, chemicals, refined petroleum, machinery, biofuels, agriculture and vehicles.

Alberta charities get liberalized FM funding

New rules will give Alberta charities more leeway to use gambling proceeds to purchase, build or renovate facilities that provide publicly beneficial space. That’s part of a package of updated policies for charitable groups that hold licences from Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) to conduct casino events, bingos, lotteries and raffles, set to kick in on April 1.

Charitable groups in Alberta are generally required to pass revenues from gambling exercises directly through to designated beneficiaries, but are allowed to retain a portion of earnings to support their operational functions. The new rules broaden the scope of that allowable spending and increase maximum thresholds for some types of expenditures.

“Alberta’s charitable groups are the backbone of our communities. By giving them greater flexibility in how they use funds raised through licensed charitable gaming, we’re not just cutting red tape; we’re empowering them to continue delivering vital services and support to Albertans,” says Dale Nally, the provincial Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction.

Related to facilities, charitable groups will now be able to spend up to $100,000 per calendar year on qualifying renovations or leasehold improvements to rented facilities without seeking AGLC approval, but will still have to submit a project plan to AGLC at least 30 days before that construction begins. Expenditures in excess of $100,000 must have AGLC approval in advance.

Groups can also retain up to $100,000 of their gambling proceeds per year, up to a maximum of $500,000, to put toward the future purchase or construction of a facility, with the condition that the funds must be spent no later than four years after $500,000 is accumulated. Groups that use gambling proceeds to purchase or a build a facility must obtain AGLC approval to refinance or sell the facility. If gambling proceeds have been used to purchase or build a facility, an equivalent portion of the revenue from its sale must be directed to the organization’s direct charitable endeavours.

In all cases, charitable groups that have obtained government grants for capital investment in facilities must fully deplete those funds before dipping into gambling proceeds. To qualify as publicly beneficial space, a facility must:

be owned or controlled by a recognized charitable group;
serve as a venue for delivering the organization’s charitable efforts;
be open to the public at least 50 per cent of the time; and,
be located in Alberta.

“Alberta’s unique charitable gaming model supports over 23,000 charities in their work every year,” advises Kandace Machado, chief executive officer of AGLC. “The added flexibility in how charitable groups can use their earnings will help them continue to make a real difference for Albertans and communities throughout our province.”

Alternative channels for emissions reduction

Green buildings strategy limbo

Accelerated regulatory process

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