Tim Hortons opens first location in China

Tim Hortons opened its first restaurant in Shangai, China today. The new restaurant is located in the People’s Square in central Shanghai.

According to a press release the company signed an exclusive master franchise joint agreement with the Cartesian Capital Group (Cartesian) last year.

Every detail in the new restaurant is designed to elevate the experience of visiting the Canadian coffee shop. The design of the floor tiles is inspired by the image of maple leaves in autumn. The restaurant features a lot of red and plaids, artwork featuring the maple leaf and there is even a hockey stick door handle to pay tribute to its hockey heritage and well-known love of the game.

“We’re excited to bring the iconic Tim Hortons brand and a piece of Canada around the globe”, said Alex Macedo, President, Tim Hortons in a press release.

“China is an attractive growth market and we can’t wait for guests to try our classic favourites and some new offerings crafted specifically to the Chinese market.”

Tim Hortons now has over 4,800 locations in Canada and around the globe including the United States, Mexico, Europe, the Philippines, and the Middle East.

When to rent, lease or buy floor care equipment

Next to employees, equipment is an essential part of a cleaning operation. It’s also a major upfront expense if a facility manager/building service contractor chooses the traditional route of straightforward purchase. In many cases, short-term rental and long-term leasing may offer a more cost-efficient method for accessing this cleaning necessity.

To determine the most suitable option, it’s important to consider the pros and cons of each option, facility/business budget, specific client/facility needs and any unique constraints as there’s no one-size-fits-all approach.

OPTION 1: RENT
Facility managers may want to contemplate renting some or all of their floor cleaning equipment on an as-need basis when use is infrequent (less than a handful of times per year). For instance, renting may be the best option if the building exterior or parking lot is swept just once a quarter. Renting is also ideal for annual deep cleans, such as spring cleaning.
Money saved from making a significant capital outlay on equipment that’s not really needed can be put towards upgrading existing models (if any) with more advanced features. Renting also offers company flexibility, allowing it to easily adapt to business fluctuations, and, depending on a company’s financial strategy, rent payments can be considered an operating expense, which is a key advantage given lease regulation changes. Rentals can also usually be delivered to the worksite.
For building service contractors, renting may be a way to avoid paying for equipment storage if contract circumstances change. Additionally, if the rented equipment is only needed for a single, specific client, the rental cost can be built into the contract.
Renting also offers the opportunity to try out a piece of equipment before buying. Keep in mind that newer models may not be readily available, check available dealer inventory in advance.

OPTION 2: LEASE
Leasing equipment comes with distinct advantages, as well. This method doesn’t usually require a deposit (as is often the case with renting) and involves making regular payments, which becomes a fixed expense that is easily added to a facility/business’s budget. Some lease agreements may offer an option to purchase the equipment at the end of the term, either at a set price or at current market value. However, keep in mind that sales tax will be added to the purchase price, which could amount to a significant cash outlay.
A downside is that the lessee may be responsible for the repair and maintenance of the equipment. However, with most leases, it’s possible to upgrade from one model to another if experiencing problems with a specific model or brand, or if the facility manager/building service contractor simply wants to incorporate new features into their cleaning regimen.
Should equipment be no longer needed, the lessee may also be stuck in a multi-year lease that’s impossible to get out of. In addition to regular payments, the facility manager/building service contractor will continue to be responsible for the cost of insurance, personal property taxes and fees for damages to the equipment.

OPTION 3: PURCHASE
Purchasing equipment is probably the best option if it is used daily and needs to be readily available. Ownership allows operators to become highly familiar with the machines, which increases productivity. Purchasing the equipment outright also enables businesses to take advantage of tax deductions from interest, depreciation and maintenance costs.
However, it’s much more difficult to upgrade to a different model after purchase than if renting or leasing. To do so, facility managers/building service contractors may have to sell existing equipment below market value to offset the cost of a new item. Another drawback is that ownership comes with repair and maintenance responsibilities as well as associated costs. Building service contractors are all responsible for transporting equipment to and from client facilities (and will need the necessary vehicles to do so), unlike rentals that can usually be delivered to the job site.

Terry Watson is the area sales director, Canada/Northeast, at Tennant Co. Tennant is committed to creating and commercializing breakthrough, sustainable cleaning innovations to enhance its broad suite of products and services, including floor maintenance and outdoor cleaning equipment, detergent-free and other sustainable cleaning technologies, aftermarket parts and consumables, equipment maintenance and repair service, specialty surface coatings and asset management solutions. Watson can be reached at [email protected].

Energy efficient elevators for 400 West Georgia

KONE Corporation, a global leader in the elevator and escalator industry, has won an order to provide energy-efficient elevators and a destination control system for an office tower under construction at 400 West Georgia in downtown Vancouver, B.C.

The project consists of a 25-storey mixed-use building with ground floor retail space and 24 levels of office space. Rising some 91 meters (around 296 feet) from the ground floor to the roof, the building includes six floors below ground. Elevator installation is scheduled for the summer of 2019, with substantial project completion expected in mid-2020.

Described as a living sculpture, the building will integrate new technologies with state-of-the-art design features, including a triple-paned curtain wall, operable windows, large spans of column-free space, glass floors and lush greenery in a design tailored to maximize efficiency and aimed at meeting LEED Platinum criteria.

“KONE is excited to provide innovative solutions for this unique project,” says Larry Wash, executive vice president, KONE Americas. “KONE elevators deliver a superior customer experience, reliability and exceptional energy efficiency, all of which are essential features in visionary projects like this one.”

KONE solutions at 400 West Georgia include eight KONE MiniSpace elevators travelling at speeds of up to 1,200 fpm (6 meters per second) with the KONE Destination destination control system, four KONE MonoSpace 700 elevators and one KONE MonoSpace 500 elevator.

The project is being developed by Westbank Project Corp., a leading developer of luxury residential and mixed-use real estate headquartered in Vancouver. EllisDon Construction is the general contractor and the design is by OSO, Tokyo.

EPA releases major update to chemicals list

For the first time in 40 years, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released an update of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Inventory listing of the chemicals that are actively being manufactured, processed and imported in the United States.

According to a press release, a key result of the update is that less than half of the total number of chemicals on the current TSCA Inventory (47 per cent or 40,655 of the 86,228 chemicals) are currently available for commercial production and use in the U.S.

“It’s important for us to know which chemicals are actually in use today. This will help us with our work prioritizing chemicals, evaluating and addressing risks. This information also increases transparency to the public,” said Alexandra Dapolito Dunn, office of chemical safety and pollution prevention assistant administrator.

More than 80 per cent (32,898) of the chemicals in commerce have identities that are not Confidential Business Information (CBI), increasing public access to additional information about them.

For the less than 20 per cent of the chemicals in commerce that have confidential identities, EPA is developing a rule outlining how the Agency will review and substantiate all CBI claims seeking to protect the specific chemical identities of substances on the confidential portion of the TSCA Inventory.

Urban form linked to obesity and climate change

A global consortium of public health practitioners and advocates identifies the built environment as both a major contributor and potential antidote to the overlapping crises of escalating obesity rates, under-nutrition and climate change. The research team behind a newly released study in the medical research and news journal, The Lancet, argues that urban form should be a catalyst for physical activity, which could have the equally desirable spinoff benefit of lowering greenhouse gas (GHG) output.

They call for: efficient, reliable public transit to reduce reliance on single- or low-occupancy personal vehicles; infrastructure to encourage and safeguard pedestrians and cyclists; and neighbourhood-based services and amenities that include purveyors of healthy food.

“Changes in commuting from cars to active or public transportation have been associated with reductions in BMI (body mass index),” the report notes. “Reduction in carbon dioxide emissions through reduced motor vehicle use and increased active travel — e.g. bicycling or walking — exceeds the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions that could be expected from increased use of lower emission motor vehicles.”

Hypotheses related to transportation, urban design and land use are just one part of the report, which also addresses agriculture, food production, commercial interests that aggressively market products and/or sway policy makers, and human choices and habits. In exploring the underlying connections between obesity, under-nutrition and climate change, the researchers are also looking for possible fixes.

“Many systems-level interventions could serve as double-duty or triple-duty actions to change the trajectory of all three pandemics simultaneously,” they assert.

Reducing automobile dependency tops the list of actions with dual benefits for environmental and human health. More green spaces and tree canopy could also encourage physical activity and absorb more carbon dioxide.

Urban design catalysts for walking, cycling and other physical activity are perhaps more straightforwardly applied to obesity and climate change than to the dilemma of under-nutrition, which is increasingly manifested as obesity in higher-income countries. However, more mixed-use neighbourhoods and less centralization of employment could counter the scarcity of supermarkets in some urban areas, which have become known as food deserts. Meanwhile, areas with a profusion of fast food outlets — labelled food swamps — can be challenging competition for healthier options, both on price point and product offerings.

“Land-use zoning can create urban environments that promote food systems for healthy and sustainable diets,” the report suggests. “Strategies include the promotion of urban agriculture, government regulation of the location, nature and size of food and restaurant outlets, although the evidence for the effectiveness of this intervention is mixed, and incentivizing food retailers and restaurant outlets that sell healthy products to relocate to low-access areas.”

Call for RAIC International Prize submissions

The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) is inviting submissions for the 2019 edition of the RAIC International Prize.

This unique international award, formerly known as the Moriyama RAIC International Prize, recognizes the power of great architecture to transform society. In keeping with a focus on the social relevance of architecture, jurors will visit all finalist projects to see the buildings in use and appreciate their impact on society and human well-being.

The mandate and criteria for this open, juried competition remain the same. The $100,000 prize is open to architects from anywhere in the world and is awarded every two years for great transformative architecture that aids society and community by demonstrating the humanistic values of equality, respect and inclusiveness.

“Now that the uniqueness and importance of the International Prize is widely recognized, and that the name of the RAIC has gained weight in the international world of architecture, Sachi and I happily return the torch back to the RAIC to manage the International Prize,” says distinguished Canadian architect Raymond Moriyama. “We welcome the renaming of the Moriyama RAIC International Prize to the RAIC International Prize.”

The RAIC, the RAIC Foundation and Moriyama created the prize in 2013. Their goal was to share Canadian architectural values with an international audience and to celebrate architecture that is socially transformative.

The RAIC is accepting entries from architects anywhere in the world, of any nationality, until April 26, 2019. The buildings should be “inspired as well as inspiring” and reflect humanistic values of equality, respect, and inclusiveness. Projects should have been completed and in use for at least two years. The two previous winners, in 2014 and 2017, were a library near Beijing and a kindergarten in Tokyo, Japan.

The most recent competition garnered submissions from 17 countries across six continents, and organizers hope for entries from even more countries. In addition to the main Prize, three students from a Canadian university architecture program will each receive scholarships of $5,000. They will be chosen on the basis of a written essay.

Vancouver’s Broadway Subway project goes to RFQ

The B.C. government is moving forward with the Broadway Subway in Vancouver. The $2.83 billion project will add 5.7 kilometres and six stations to the Millennium Line between VCC-Clark and Arbutus Street.

As part of the competitive procurement process, a request for qualifications (RFQ) has been released on BC Bid to identify a contractor to design, build and finance the Broadway Subway project.

The RFQ will close in April 2019. The ministry will then select up to three respondent teams to participate in the subsequent phase of the competitive selection process, which is the request for proposal stage.

Early work will soon get under way to prepare for subway construction starting in 2020. Current activities involve installing trolley wire poles and upgrading intersection signals and lampposts on routes adjacent to the corridor. This work will enable future trolley bus detours and keep people moving during construction of the Broadway Subway.

The project will be delivered under the Community Benefits Agreement announced by the provincial government last summer. The agreement generates benefits to the surrounding community by providing opportunities for local workers, Indigenous peoples, apprentices and other groups.

The Transportation Investment Corporation (TI Corp.) is delivering the project on behalf of the province. TI Corp. is a Crown corporation with the legislative authority to deliver major transportation projects, similar to its role on the Port Mann Bridge project. With tolls now removed on the Port Mann Bridge, TI Corp. will provide oversight and management of the delivery of other major projects throughout the province.

The Broadway Subway project is a key part of the rapid transit program in Metro Vancouver’s Mayors’ Council 10-Year Vision. The vision is funded by the governments of B.C. and Canada, TransLink and local municipalities. Subway construction is anticipated to complete in 2025.

“I’m excited that following years of planning, regional prioritizing and funding discussions, we have the green light to start construction on the Arbutus portion of the Broadway Subway. The Broadway Subway is not only Vancouver’s number one transportation priority but an infrastructure investment that helps improve the entire region’s transportation future,” said Kennedy Stewart, mayor, City of Vancouver.

Resource launches to improve DoPS implementation

Ontario’s Design of Public Spaces Standard (DoPS), the design requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), was created to make it easier for everyone, including people with disabilities, seniors and families, to use public spaces.

AllAccess, launched by the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI) and Human Space (a consulting division of Quadrangle) with support of the Government of Ontario’s EnAbling Change Program, is a program that gauges awareness and understanding of DoPS for designers, planners, municipalities, property owners and others, while identifying barriers to and best practices for effective implementation.

In an effort to further this goal, it has released the AllAccess Toolkit, a collection of online resources developed to support practitioners’ understanding and implementation of DoPS.

Developed to be used by planners, landscape architects, architects, designers and anyone working with DoPS, the AllAccess Toolkit has been designed as a set of individual tools and resources for practitioners to support their understanding and application of the DoPS Standard. Each of the resources is available separately, or combined in the Toolkit.

The CUI’s work on AllAccess, which included a survey, interviews and workshops, unveiled some common needs, challenges and questions in regards to DoPS. The AllAccess Toolkit aims to address many of these common challenges and to support successful implementation of the DoPS.

The AllAccess Summary Report identified recommendations for future areas of exploration and outreach to help support the role of DoPS.

The Toolkit includes information on the scope of DoPS; a technical and consultation requirements summary; a parking summary; a requirements summary; site plan visualization of DoPS and the Ontario Building Code scope; best practices for implementing DoPS and more.

Cadillac Fairview invests in Kitchener-Waterloo region

Cadillac Fairview (CF) is investing $70-million in the Kitchener-Waterloo region through the development of its CF Grand Market District (GMD).

According to a press release, GMD will transform CF Fairview Park, the former Sears building with a complete recladding of some elevations and a careful restoration elsewhere where the distinctive ribbed precast exterior will be preserved.

“Today’s consumers and retailers are looking for unique and inviting spaces that bring people together to enjoy exceptional services and shared experiences. CF’s Grand Market District is driving change and re-defining the shopping experience by creating a premier mixed-use destination for the Kitchener-Waterloo community,” said Finley McEwen, senior vice-president of development, Cadillac Fairview in a press release.

Led by CF, the redevelopment team includes Colliers International, project architect Petroff Partnership Architects and project designer Roy Higgs International.

Key features of GMD include

A pedestrian-friendly streetscape surrounding the property;
The new LRT system will have a terminus at the GMD site, making it easily accessible for Kitchener and Waterloo residents;
Retail spaces with operable exterior entrances to create more permeable building edges; larger windows to allow natural sunlight into interior spaces; and warmer feeling building materials;
The architecture will feature a unique blend of historical and contemporary design. Traditional brick materials will be used for both building exteriors and pedestrian areas to pay tribute to the city’s Victorian-era industrial past;
More than 1,500 solar panels will be installed on top of the building to offset electricity consumed at the property;
Dedicated stormwater facilities to channel stormwater from the roof areas to underground “infiltration galleries” will be installed, thereby reducing contaminated run-off and making the property more resilient to extreme weather.

Phase I of the GMD includes 180,000 square feet of new or repurposed space at the site. The long-term plan will bring additional office, residential, retail space and a parking structure at the property.

Ground-breaking is expected this spring with completion of Phase I of the project targeted for 2021.

Historic climate action spending appears modest

The British Columbia government has pledged $679 million to respond to climate change plus an additional $223 million to boost the flow-through tax credit linked to the province’s carbon levy. Actual climate action spending for the 2019-20 fiscal year will amount to $189 million since most of the initiatives outlined in the provincial budget earlier this week are to be rolled out over a three-year period. An additional $37 million will be held as contingencies funding in 2019-20, for programs under development.

Commercial and residential landlords may be able to tap into some of the $10 million set aside for energy efficiency improvements this year. Promised investment in program development could also have an impact on the buildings sector.

“We are reducing climate pollution by shifting homes, vehicles and businesses away from fossil fuels, towards clean electricity and other sources of renewable energy,” Finance Minister Carole James told the legislature as she tabled the budget. “We are building a strong, sustainable low-carbon economy for the future.”

While James terms it “the largest investment in climate action in B.C.’s history”, the commercial building sector’s portion is likely to be modest. Operating funding allocated to improve energy efficiency — $58 million over three years — is to be shared with homeowners and the provincial government’s portfolio of owned and leased buildings.

An additional $26 million in capital funding is earmarked solely for upgrades in provincial buildings. However, the budget document points to spinoff economic benefits. “This investment will create opportunities throughout the province for local businesses, Indigenous peoples, professions and trades to development building retrofit expertise that can be applied in their communities,” it states.

Presumably drawing from the $58-million pot, the strategic plan released in conjunction with the budget promotes three incentives for homeowners: $2,000 for replacement of fossil fuel heating systems with an electric air-source heat pump; up to $1,000 for window and door upgrades; and up to $700 toward a higher-efficiency natural gas furnace. “In addition, we will develop new retrofit financing options to make these upgrades more affordable for people across B.C.,” the document promises.

Following this year’s $10 million outlay to energy efficiency, somewhat more generous allotments are scheduled. Half of the funds — $29 million — will be deployed in fiscal year 2021-22, also coinciding with the next provincial election in October 2021.

Another $3 million over three years has been directed to the development of a net-zero building code and associated standards. Residential property managers or commercial buildings with in-house food services may also see some benefits from the $1 million over three years to be channelled into programs to support organics collection and processing.

Large industry gets the largest allocation. That is $168 million over three years to reward major emitters that excel in reducing carbon output and/or to encourage investment to reduce emissions.

The next biggest chunk of climate action spending — $107 million for transportation — could trickle through to the buildings sector to a minor extent. It provides $5 million to support installation of electric vehicle charging stations in homes and workplaces. Another $6 million over three years is tagged “for projects that help make communities more walkable and that support cycling infrastructure.”

Ontario invests $1.6 mil in community agency renos

The Government of Ontario is investing $1.6 million in over 60 projects that will upgrade and repair community agencies across the province.

The funding, which comes from the annual Partner Facility Renewal program, will be used towards maintaining buildings so agencies can provide better service for people with developmental disabilities, women and children escaping domestic violence, Indigenous people, children with mental health needs, and others being supported in community settings.

Maintenance will include replacing the furnace, repairing the roof, upgrading fire safety equipment or repairs to the building structure.

“This important investment will allow us to upgrade the homes of over 90 individuals with multiple disabilities and special communication needs and provide the necessary supports to enable individuals to live, work and participate in their communities,” said Karen Belyea, Executive Director of Total Communication Environment (TCE), in a news release.

TCE is a non-profit charitable organization that provides residential, day services and outreach to long-term care homes for adults with multiple disabilities and special communication needs.

Canada invests in Canadian Centre for Architecture

The Government of Canada is providing more than $1.2 million in funding for the Canadian Centre for Architecture (CCA) through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund.

The funding will allow the organization to preserve its collections. The funding will also be used to replace the building’s roofs and the fire protection system, as well as optimize storage areas. This project will ensure that the building housing the CCA is brought up to standard.

The CCA, located on Baile Street in Montreal, is one of the largest Canadian museums dedicated to architecture. The mission of the organization is to increase public awareness of the role of architecture in contemporary society and promote research in the field. The CCA is home to one of the largest architectural design collections in the world.

“This important funding from Canadian Heritage during our 40^th anniversary year will allow us to continue to modernize the CCA’s physical building in Montréal, as we work to expand our offerings online, as well as internationally,” said Mirko Zardini, director of the CCA, in a news release. “I am thankful that the support of major cultural institutions remains a top priority for the Department, as centres like ours help enrich Canada by getting society to address important subjects.”

CaGBC receives support from Climate Action Fund

In an effort to increase awareness on climate change among small and medium-sized businesses and increase knowledge of the design, adoption and application of zero carbon buildings, the Government of Canada is providing up to $496,333 in funding to the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) through the Climate Action Fund.

The funding will benefit CaGBC’s 1,000 emerging green-building professional members, including young professionals and students working to make zero carbon buildings the standard.

“The Canada Green Building Council is pleased to be a recipient of Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Climate Action Fund, which will support Canada’s role as a leader in constructing zero carbon buildings or retrofitting them,” said Thomas Mueller, president and CEO of CaGBC, in a news release. “This innovation in Canada’s building sector will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, decrease the need for fossil fuels, and support the transition to a clean-energy economy. The funding will increase the knowledge and skills of architectural, engineering, technology, and renewable-energy firms in applying low-carbon measures to the design and construction of buildings across Canada.”

The Climate Action Fund provides up to $3 million in support to initiatives that help provide new ideas and innovations to address climate change and encourage others to take action to support the country’s climate goals. The funding is provided to projects delivered by students, youth, Indigenous Peoples and organizations, not-for-profit organizations, small and medium-sized businesses, and research and educational institutions.

New rental tower breaks ground in Vancouver’s West End

GWL Realty Advisors formally broke ground on a 21-storey market rental tower at 1500 Robson Street in Vancouver’s West End with Mayor Kennedy Stewart in attendance. When complete, the tower will add 128 purpose-built rental units to a neighbourhood experiencing extremely low rental vacancy rates. GWL Realty Advisors is developing the project on behalf of the project owner, the London Life Insurance Company.

“We are proud to be increasing the supply and diversity of rental housing in the west end of Vancouver,” said Ralf Dost, President, GWL Realty Advisors. “This new development will provide the neighbourhood with desperately needed rental units – especially those suitable for families – in a professionally managed building with great amenities. This project represents the type of community building we want to undertake in the City of Vancouver and for our investment clients.”

In response to the shortage of family-oriented rental housing, a third of the building will be made up of two- and three-bedroom units suitable for families.

The resident experience is also a focus of this development with high-level indoor and outdoor amenities such as fitness, yoga and lounge rooms as well as a rooftop patio with an outdoor fireplace, seating area and dining space being incorporated into the building’s design. The entire penthouse floor of the tower has been set aside as a common area for all tenants. The building will also be pet and cyclist friendly.

With some of the highest land costs in the Vancouver market, new developments in the Lower Robson neighbourhood have tended to take the form of luxury condominiums. This new family-oriented rental building, however, will break this trend.

The development also hopes to aid in the reduction of car dependency as residents will be able to live, work, shop and play within the downtown peninsula. Designed by IBI Group, the building will further support a car-free lifestyle by offering substantial bicycle storage and maintenance facilities.

“Developments like this one at 1500 Robson are adding much-needed supply to the downtown rental market,” says Mayor Kennedy Stewart. “In order to alleviate the housing shortage in our city, we need more of all types of housing – especially purpose-built rental. By incorporating larger units suitable for families into the design, this new tower at 1500 Robson will also help diversify the housing mix in the Lower Robson neighbourhood”.

This development is the first project on the Robson corridor to be approved under the new West End Community Plan and is in line with the City’s policy of increasing rental housing density in the area. With construction now underway, the building is expected to be finished in early 2021. Following construction, the building will be professionally managed by GWL Realty Advisors.

New CBTU program aims to increase women apprentices

Canada’s Building Trades Unions (CBTU) have announced the launch of provincial Offices to Advance Women Apprentices (OAWA) in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia. The federal government is providing $3.1 million over the next three years to open the offices, in an effort to assist women in apprenticeships.

“Today in the construction industry, women represent approximately four per cent of the workforce. Where the OAWA currently exists in Newfoundland, the number sits at 13 per cent; a successful model that we will replicate,” said Robert Blakely, Canadian Operating Office, Canada’s Building Trades Unions, in a news release.

The CBTU, in partnership with Manitoba’s Building Trades Unions, Saskatchewan’s Building Trades Unions and the Atlantic Canada Regional Council of Carpenters, Millwrights and Allied Workers, will create ongoing support services for women already employed, or seeking employment in skilled construction trades. Support provided to tradeswomen includes providing career services, employment supports and networking opportunities. The program will engage and build partnerships with over 75 key stakeholders, including employers, unions and training providers to improve participation and success of women in skilled trades. A registry database will also be developed to track services provided and apprenticeship numbers of tradeswomen.

The CBTU has enlisted Social Research Demonstration Corporation (SRDC) to provide research and evaluation to assess the impact of the program.

“We are building on this model of success, to create a meaningful program to change the face of construction,” said Lindsay Amundsen, director of workforce development for the CBTU and project manager of the OAWA project. “We will have measurable outcomes that will impact not only the construction industry, but the lives of those women that enter the trades, earn their Red Seal certification and pursue a lifelong career of learning in a challenging industry, with wages and benefits to support their families.”

The program expects at least 750 female apprentices, including Indigenous apprentices, to be served through the program. This number would increase the number of women in skilled trades by 30 per cent.

“The skilled trades are facing a shortage of workers, one that has been discussed at length over the last several years. One way we address this is to provide assistance and support to those underrepresented in our industry,” added Blakely. “Diversity and inclusion will create a stronger industry, address issues of respect in the workplace and fill the skills shortage with capable Canadians.”

B.C. construction industry deeply divided over CBA

When the B.C. government introduced the Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) in July 2018 for key public-sector infrastructure projects, it set off a heated and polarizing debate within the construction industry.

The CBA, according to the government, is intended to deliver good-paying jobs, better training and apprenticeships and more trades opportunities for Indigenous peoples, women and youth around the province. A newly created Crown corporation, BC Infrastructure Benefits Inc. (BCIB) will hire the project’s construction workers, and will work with unions and contractors to dispatch labour, as well as manage payroll and benefits.

But at issue for many opponents is the requirement that any non-union worker or a worker from another affiliation must join the building trades union for work specific to the project. Companies will also not be able to do the work with their own employees, raising serious questions about safety, risk and productivity.

Debate over the merits of the CBA was the focus of the construction keynote panel at Buildex Vancouver 2019. The overall session raised more questions than answers with moderator Chris Atchison, president of the B.C. Construction Association, keeping the “passion” around the policy in check.

The five speakers discussed key points of the CBA, apprenticeship numbers, what is good public policy, and dispelled some myths.

All the panelists agree that a severe skills shortage is a significant challenge for the industry and providing apprenticeship and skills training opportunities is critical to ensuring a future workforce. But the use of a project labour agreement model in the CBA to achieve this is sparking diverse opinions.

“We need political leadership to bring people together, not divide people,” stated Chris Gardner, president of the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association (ICBA). “Unfortunately this policy initiative is dividing the construction workforce.”

The session started with BCIB board chair Allan Bruce providing background on the board and its mandate to implement the CBA. He highlighted the benefits of the agreement which includes a project labour agreement and increased opportunities for apprentices.

The project labour agreement will “maintain stability, no lock outs, define wages and provide transparency on wages,” he said. “The CBA will help develop the next generation of workers and create a pipeline for those apprentices to gain skills they need to move to journeyperson status.”

He noted Indigenous people are the fastest growing segment of the population and women are vastly underrepresented in the trades. The CBA prioritizes the hiring of apprentices, Indigenous workers, local residents and women in trades.

“If B.C. is going to meet the skills shortage challenge, it’s going to need to develop new workers from those pools. The CBA provides the action plan and tools needed to make real meaningful change,” he said.

Bruce also addressed what he called “falsehoods that are being perpetuated” about the CBA. He asserted that no workers in B.C. will be denied the opportunity to be considered for work if they are qualified, and that no contractors will be denied opportunities to bid work on projects.

Gardner responded by pointing out: “Yes, any company can bid the work. What he left out is the companies can’t take their employees with them if they win a contract. They will bid the work but the union halls will dispatch the workers. It’s bureaucracy, it’s red tape, it’s not fair and it’s discriminatory.”

Paul DeJong, president of the Progressive Contractors Association of Canada, voiced similar concerns: “Contractors can bid but under a drastically different and compressed business model. Transfer of risk is a big concern. Employers who have taken a great amount of time to train their own workers are unable to deploy their own workforce. Contractors are going to price that risk into the model.”

DeJong focused his presentation on what is good public policy and why the CBA fails miserably. His main criticism centred around the lack of consultation or the “limited and exclusive consultation” on the CBA.

“Organizations like my own were not included and like ICBA, we represent the majority of the industry beyond the building trades,” he said. “Good public policy hinges on a democratic process…. has to be fair and open for all.”

Another concern for DeJong was that without clear targets for hiring women or Indigenous people, there are no metrics for measuring success or making improvements.

Tom Sigurdson, executive director of the BC Building Trades, shared his perspective by stating, “We have a policy now that respects apprentices. Every contractor – non union or union – will be involved.”

He noted the CBA framework is not new and project labour agreements were used under previous B.C. Liberal governments and dates back more than 50 years. Projects under PLAs saw much higher percentage of local hires.

He cited Site C as an example of a large public project that has a disappointing low number of apprentices and local B.C. workers. The open managed site “has resulted in 22 per cent of the labour force on that project or 690 workers coming from outside B.C. while our qualified workers are sitting at home.”

Sigurdson stressed the benefits of a CBA to address the skills shortage, how his organization supplies qualified labour to signatory contractors and criticized ICBA’s embarrassing ratio of apprentices to members. He disagreed that the agreement is restrictive or exclusive, challenging Gardner (with a payment of $1,000) to show him where in the new CBA it excludes any contractors.

He also wanted to dispel the myth about his membership, saying the building trades focus primarily on ICI construction and constitute about 55 per cent of the workforce.

Meanwhile, ICBA and other organizations have consistently stated the building trades comprise only 15 per cent of the workforce which is another reason why they object to the CBA.

“The challenge with the CBA is very simple,” said Gardner. “There was absolutely no consultation. The government didn’t form a panel or a committee to travel around the province and ask British Columbians how do we deliver construction projects better. What they did was they cut a deal in a backroom with the building trades.”

Gardner called forcing workers to leave their existing companies and employment benefits to join a building trade “ridiculous.”

“We have significant challenges in the workforce. But the answer to those challenges is not: you can bid the work but you are not guaranteed a workforce that is yours. Workers deserve choice and flexibility,” he said.

To defend workers’ choice, ICBA along with other construction associations, unions, businesses and individuals have filed a petition to the B.C. Supreme Court to strike down the hiring model.

“On February 27th, we are going to be in B.C. Supreme Court saying this doesn’t make sense. We’re going to be joined by effectively the entire construction industry except the building trades. All those people aren’t wrong. This is a flawed policy – flawed from the get-go and should not stand.”

Cheryl Mah is managing editor of Construction Business.

Line 5 South Tower set to launch early this year

Line 5 South, the second phase of the two-tower, shared-podium development from Reserve Properties and Westdale Properties, is set to launch early this year following the sell-out success experienced by the first phase of the project.

According to Shane Fenton, COO at Reserve Properties, the pending LRT line was a major factor in the sales success of the first tower. “There are only a few intersections in the entire city that offer rapid transit in all four directions. We have every expectation that Yonge and Eglinton will emerge as the new centre of the city as well as both a cultural and mobility hub,” said Fenton, in a press release.

The 426-unit second phase, designed by IBI Group and U31, is so named for the new Crosstown LRT that is currently under construction along Eglinton Avenue in midtown Toronto. It was designed to respond to how Torontonians live, including a dedicated ride-share pick-up area, intended to relieve the impact on local traffic, oversized parcel storage and hot and cold storage in the lobby.

“Line 5 advances what it truly means to be an urbanist,” said Mansoor Kazerouni, architect and global director, buildings at IBI Group. “The building plays with the existing streetscape, responding to the pedestrian context in a unique way that builds on local character but adds a new contemporary living structure.”

The two residential towers of Line 5, clad in high-contrast metal, mesh and natural materials, stand 36 and 33 storeys, alongside an eight-storey podium. The exterior features oscillating patterns, layers and textures, which provide a fresh addition to the neighbourhood. The interiors, designed by U31, are reminiscent of a boutique hotel.

“Throughout Line 5’s shared amenities and common areas, we layered a sophisticated and dynamic mix of materials to create eclectic experiences,” said Kelly Cray, principal at U31. “Line 5’s design is unexpected, with playful architectural undertones that bring an aesthetic that anticipates our future.”

The development’s amenities include a lobby juice bar, a state-of-the-art fitness facility that spans over 10,000 square feet on the ground floor and features dedicated spaces for on-demand interactive personal training, as well as yoga overlooking an outdoor Zen garden. A spa featuring a steam room and saunas is also part of the wellness suite.

The upper amenity floor will feature a joint co-working space and social club, which open up to a designer pool. Other shared spaces include two communal kitchens, three outdoor lounges, an art studio, outdoor theatre, library lounge and outdoor game lounge.

Units at Line 5 South will be priced starting in the low $400s.

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