February 10, 2012

SNC-Lavalin dismisses execs over conduct, internal turmoil

SNC-Lavalin, the Montreal construction and engineering firm, says executive vice-president Riadh Ben Aissa and vice-president finance Stephane Roy are no longer with the firm.

February 10, 2012

Canadian Association of Women in Construction launches mentorship, career programs

The Canadian Association of Women in Construction (CAWIC) has launched its self-service career and mentorship programs.

February 9, 2012

Ottawa to invest millions in stadium improvements

Staff at the City of Ottawa are recommending that Ottawa Stadium be leased to Beacon Sports Capital Partners, which proposes to spend $5.5 million on capital improvements and bring in a AA baseball team.

February 8, 2012

Don Smith Commercial Building Awards recognize innovation in and near London, Ontario

The winners of the Don Smith Commercial Building Awards, named after EllisDon Corp.’s co-founder, were announced in London, Ontario. The awards were established by the Regional Commercial Council of the London and St. Thomas Association of Realtors.

February 8, 2012

Lanterra Developments to add nine storeys to Toronto Sutton Place Hotel

Lanterra Developments has acquired the Sutton Place Hotel and plans to expand the base of the existing tower to accommodate 20,000 square feet of retail space, and increase the height of the 300-foot tower by nine floors. It will work with Page & Steele to redevelop the building just east of the Ontario Legislature building at Queen’s Park.

February 8, 2012

Takeover by Quebec real estate firm Cominar of Canmarc nearing completion

Cominar Real Estate Investment Trust (TSX: CUF.UN) of Quebec City announced after hours Tuesday it has taken an additional step of taking over Canmarc Real Estate Investment Trust (TSX: CMQ.UN) of Montreal by acquiring more than 90 per cent of the Canmarc units not owned by Cominar or its acquisition group. Canmarc’s properties include the Montreal Canadian National Railway passenger terminal, Place Longueuil shopping centre and the 27-storey Plaza Tower apartment building in Westmount.

February 7, 2012

Westmount, Quebec awards $38-million design-build recreation centre construction contract

The City of Westmount, Quebec, on the island of Montreal has awarded a $38-million design-build contract to Pomerleau Inc. for the construction of a recreation centre with ice surfaces and a pool.

February 7, 2012

St. John’s Newfoundland budget includes $4.3 million on street rehabilitation

The City of St. John’s, Newfoundland will spend more than $21 million in its capital budget in 2012. Capital projects include upgrading Main Road in Goulds, south of the city, for $3.2 million in 2012 and $1.4 million for sanitary sewer diversion on Pine Bud Place.

February 7, 2012

Les Architectes FABG to design $16-million Montreal theatre

The Montreal borough of Verdun announced Monday that Les Architectes FABG will design the plans and specifications for a $16.3-million theatre, converting the former Arena Guy-Gagnon. It includes demolition, construction, landscaping, parking and equipment.

February 6, 2012

Ottawa city budget proposes $13.6 million in capital spending on wastewater treatment plant

The City of Ottawa environment committee has received a staff-proposed rate-supported budget for water and wastewater that includes several construction projects at the Robert O. Pickard Environmental Centre.

February 6, 2012

Environmental assessment starts for Alderon open pit iron ore mine in Labrador

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency announced Monday that a joint federal-provincial assessment will be done on Alderon Iron Corp.'s (TSX.V: ADV) Kamistiatusset (Kami) Iron Ore open pit mining project in southwest Labrador.

February 6, 2012

Honeywell alleges HVAC controller patent infringement in lawsuit

Honeywell International Inc. is suing Nest Labs Inc., alleging the defendant infringed on a Honeywell patent for a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) controller plus six other thermostat technology patents. Nest Labs is a Palo Alto, California-based thermostat vendor.

February 3, 2012

Caterpillar to close London, Ontario locomotive factory

Progress Rail Services Corp., a subsidiary of construction equipment maker Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT), is closing a London, Ontario locomotive factory.

February 3, 2012

Montreal gas station designed by Mies van der Rohe converted to recreation centre

The Montreal borough of Verdun has officially opened La Station, a former Esso service station as a centre for youth aged 12-17 and adults 50 and over. Located on L’Ile-des-Soeurs, about a kilometre south of the Champlain Bridge over the St. Lawrence River, the former gas station was designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe between 1967 and 1968, and was recognized as an historical monument after it was shut down in 2008.

February 2, 2012

Fisheries and Oceans Canada proposes harbour improvements in Fox Island River, Newfoundland

The Newfoundland and Labrador department of Environment and Conservation announced this week that a proposed harbour construction project on the west side of the island has been registered with the province by the federal department of fisheries and oceans.

January 30, 2012

Minto office building in Ottawa, Ontario gets environmental rating from Building Owners and Managers Association

Minto Group Inc. said its 180 Kent Street tower in Ottawa, Ontario attained Building Environmental Standards (BESt) Level 4 certification from the Building Owners and Managers Association of Canada (BOMA). Minto is aiming platinum certification under Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). The building includes a rainwater harvesting system, green roof and heat recovery units.

January 30, 2012

Ontario completes construction on Barrie Allandale GO Transit station

The Ontario government announced construction has finished on the Allandale GO Transit railway station in Barrie for commuter service to and from Toronto Union Station. Completed at a cost of $9.2 million, the project includes a snowmelt system for the platform, tunnel work and improvements to Gowan Street.

January 26, 2012

Canadian Building Trades applauds Harper’s regulatory reform pledge

The director of Canadian Affairs for Building and Construction Trades Department (BCDT) of the American Federation of Labour-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)is encouraged by remarks made by Prime Minister Stephen Harper about regulatory approval for construction projects. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Harper said the federal government plans to take action to ensure energy and mining projects are not subject to unnecessary regulatory delays.

January 26, 2012

Construction scheduled for St. John’s, Newfoundland theatre complex

Empire Theatres Ltd. of Stellarton, Nova Scotia plans to build an eight-screen movie theatre in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Construction is scheduled to begin this year and the complex will open in 2013.

January 26, 2012

Canadian Auto Workers to picket Caterpillar dealers, service centres

The Canadian Auto Workers plans to set up information pickets at equipment centres and dealers of Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) construction products in Montreal, Winnipeg, Edmonton , Surrey, British Columbia, Chicoutimi, Quebec and in the Ontario cities of Windsor, St. Catharines, Sudbury, London and Concord (north of Toronto).