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March 17, 2010

Deaths of five immigrant workers changed jobsites forever

Dusty, dirty and tired, the construction workers sit, swaying side to side with each lurch and stop of the College Steet streetcar. The late day sun streams in through the windows.

March 16, 2010

Construction continues on the Nautilus at Waterview condo project in Etobicoke, Ontario

Conduit work moves along on the Nautilus at Waterview condominium project in Etobicoke, Ont. Owner/developer Monarch Corp. has occupancy scheduled to begin in early 2011. The work includes a 39-storey tower with over 400 units, a three-storey podium with retail, recreation facilities and five levels of underground parking.

March 16, 2010

Construction moving forward on Ho Chi Minh City tunnel

The first of four reinforced concrete segments has been anchored at the construction site of the Thu Thiem Tunnel on the Sai Gon River.

March 15, 2010

Work continues on Market Wharf condo in Toronto

Construction continues on the Market Wharf condominium/retail project in Toronto. Bluescape Construction Management Inc. began the 35-storey project, which includes an eight-storey podium, in late 2009. Completion is scheduled for early 2011.

March 15, 2010

St. Marys Cement plant workers go on strike in Bowmanville, Ontario

Dozens of workers set up picket lines outside the St. Marys Cement plant in this eastern Ontario town March 14 over proposed changes to their pension plan. The walkout follows two months of intensive negotiations between the Canadian Auto Workers and the Toronto-based company.

March 15, 2010

Canadian Mechanical Contracting Education Foundation offering Gold Seal course for supervisors

Mechanical contractors’ associations in Kitchener-Waterloo and Hamilton have teamed up to host the Canadian Mechanical Contracting Education Foundation’s (CMCEF) first Gold Seal supervisory program.

March 15, 2010

Chilliwack Cultural Centre project sets tilt-up concrete record

The $22-million Chilliwack Cultural Centre project recently set a Canadian construction record for tilt-up concrete, as massive panels 82 feet (25 metres) in height were erected in January. The panels each weigh an average of 100,000 lbs. (45 tonnes) and represent the tallest ever erected in Canada.

March 12, 2010

Alberta team wins silver at U.S. bricklaying championship

Canadian bricklaying team was named among the world’s best at the 2010 Spec Mix Bricklayer 500 National bricklaying championship held at the Las Vegas Convention Center last month.

March 12, 2010

Ontario Masonry Contractors’ Association launches design awards

If the 2010 Ontario Masonry Design Awards aren’t the first of their kind offered by the Ontario Masonry Contractors’ Association (OMCA), at least they’re the first in recent memory.

March 12, 2010

New technology allows concrete to come clean

A recently completed major renovation of the Sun Life Financial Centre in Waterloo is one of a small, but growing number of projects where special cement has been incorporated so that buildings can harness the sun to self clean and de-pollute themselves.

March 11, 2010

Ontario General Contractors Association applauds plan for WSIB advisory committee

The call for creating permanent stakeholder advisory committees at the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board is a progressive move by the WSIB, says the head of a construction industry task force.

March 10, 2010

Tip Top condos get glass in Toronto

Glass installation continues on the Quay West at Tip Top condominiums in Toronto. Monarch Corp. is owner/general contractor of the 24-storey, 365-unit project; the architect/consultant is architectsAlliance.

March 10, 2010

EllisDon continues construction on 18 York Street office building in Toronto

Construction is moving up on a new office building at 18 York Street in Toronto, Ont. EllisDon Corp. is construction manager for the 26-storey office, which includes three levels below-grade parking and ground floor retail space.

March 10, 2010

Niagara Construction Association award winner honoured for decades-long contributions

On the eve of his 79th birthday, industry veteran Jack Bell of Bell Contracting and Equipment shows little sign of slowing down.

March 10, 2010

Collapsed Montreal parking garage was poorly built: coroner

A coroner says a Montreal parking garage that collapsed and killed a man was poorly built and badly maintained.

March 10, 2010

University of Winnipeg aims for LEED Gold certification

The University of Winnipeg’s Science Complex and Richardson College for the Environment will ensure that the school practises what it teaches.

March 9, 2010

Construction continues on Village Gate West III condo project in Toronto

Construction is moving along on the Village Gate West III condominium/rental project in Toronto. Owner/developer Concert Properties Ltd. - OMERS Sun Life Financial is also an owner - and general contractor Deltera Inc. began the two-tower, 501-unit project in spring 2009.

March 8, 2010

Work continues on Dufferin Street underpass project in Toronto

Construction continues on the Dufferin Street Jog Elimination CN/GO Transit Underpass project at Dufferin and Queen Streets in Toronto. Dufferin Construction Ltd./Holcim Canada have completion of the project scheduled for June 2010.

March 8, 2010

Large concrete pour creates tunnel roof in Australia

More than 2,800 cubic metres of concrete was laid during a marathon engineering effort recently at the Airport Link site at Kedron, Australia.

March 5, 2010

In new Woody Harrelson movie, Hamilton, Ont. construction worker becomes ‘Defendor’ at night

The recent Canadian movie release Defendor pulls off a neat trick by daring to set the tale of an everyday superhero in an undisguised Hamilton, Ont.

March 4, 2010

Report unsafe work sites, Building and Concrete Restoration Association of Ontario says

The Building and Concrete Restoration Association of Ontario (BCRAO) Safety Task Force continues to encourage anyone who sees any health and safety violations at a work site to call the Ministry of Labour.

March 4, 2010

EllisDon continues work on Canmet MTL, McMaster Innovation Park in Hamilton, Ontario

Work continues on the Canmet MTL, McMaster Innovation Park project in Hamilton, Ont. General contractor EllisDon Corp. began the three-storey building — which is designed for LEED Canada NC Platinum Certification — in May 2009. Completion is scheduled for October 2010.

March 4, 2010

Full text of Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s budget speech

As I rise in this House today, our nation is at a crossroads. We have passed through some steep and rocky terrain. Much of the territory was uncharted. We were prepared, and we protected ourselves. We are making our way through, and our compass has not failed us.

March 3, 2010

Conservative government lays out austerity plan for Canada

Say goodbye to the big-spending glory days. After two months “recalibrating” during a controversial parliamentary shutdown, the Conservative government laid out an austerity plan for the country in Wednesday's throne speech in a bid to chop the record $56-billion deficit.

March 3, 2010

Full text of the throne speech

The following is the unedited text of the speech from the throne delivered by Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean on Wednesday.

March 3, 2010

Workplace Safety and Insurance Board should establish industry advisory committees, chair says

Creation of permanent stakeholder advisory committees at the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board is a progressive agency recommendation, says the head of a construction industry task force.

March 3, 2010

Construction continues on Trump International Hotel and Tower in Toronto

Construction continues on the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Toronto. Developer Talon International Development Inc. and construction manager Lewis Builds Corp. have completion of the 60-storey project — with 261 hotel guest rooms/suites and 118 condominium residences — scheduled for spring 2011.

March 3, 2010

Tories vow to complete economic stimulus plan

A 6,000-word throne speech which outlined the Conservative government’s themes for governance on the eve of the federal budget delivered a commitment to complete its economic stimulus plan.

March 2, 2010

Bird Construction continues work on affordable housing project in Toronto

Work has reached the top floor of the affordable rental housing project for seniors at 717 Broadview Ave. in Toronto. Bird Construction Co. is construction manager of the eight-storey building, with approximately 70 units. Completion is expected by December 2010.

March 1, 2010

Work continues on feedermain tunnel in Mississauga, Ontario

Work continues on the new Herridge feedermain (contract two) on Southdown Road between the QEW and Lakeshore Road in Mississauga, Ont. The $26-million project, being constructed in a tunnel by McNally Construction Inc. for the Region of Peel, will be completed by late summer 2010.

March 1, 2010

Haitian politician owns shares in GDG Concrete and Construction

Haiti’s top reconstruction planning official owns part of the country’s largest concrete company, which stands to reap major gains from the coming wave of international rebuilding aid.

February 26, 2010

ITC Construction manager lends expertise to Winter Olympics

The person in charge of safety with a local construction firm is working as a volunteer safety co-ordinator during the 2010 Winter Olympics.

February 25, 2010

TransAlta, EPCOR finishing construction on Edmonton-area coal-fired plant

The construction of one of Canada’s most advanced coal-fired power generation facilities is nearly complete, despite serious skilled labour and material shortages, as well as disruptions in the supply of equipment.

February 25, 2010

Construction continues on new Richard Ivey School of Business

Work continues on phase one of the new Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ont. EllisDon Corp. began the three-storey project, which is designed for LEED Gold, in August 2009. Completion is scheduled for March 2011.

February 25, 2010

B.C. Industry Training Authority retains roadbuilding veteran

Over the past four years, Kent Orrock has made a name for himself in the roadbuilding industry by creating, managing and overseeing the development of training programs for the B.C. Road Builders and Heavy Construction Association.

February 24, 2010

Construction continues on James Cooper Mansion condo project in Toronto

A section gets lifted at the James Cooper Mansion condominium project on Sherbourne Street in Toronto. Tridel Corp. is general contractor of the 32-storey tower, which will connect to the heritage mansion by a glass podium. The refurbished mansion will be used for amenity space.

February 24, 2010

Work continues on Crystal Blu condos in Toronto

Exterior work continues on the Crystal Blu condominiums on Balmuto Street in Toronto. Bazis International Inc. is owner/general contractor of the 35 storey, 135-unit project, which includes six levels of underground parking. Completion on the project has been scheduled for early 2010.

February 23, 2010

Work continues on Niagara Convention & Civic Centre

Steel work continues for the Niagara Convention & Civic Centre in Niagara Falls, Ont. Bondfield Construction Co. Ltd., along with MHPM Project Managers Inc., have the opening of the two-storey, design-build centre scheduled for January 2011.

February 23, 2010

Post-earthquake rubble removal to take three years: Haitian president

It will take three long years to clear the rubble left by Haiti’s devastating earthquake, says President Rene Preval who admitted even he’s still afraid to sleep under concrete in case another quake strikes.

February 22, 2010

Construction continues on The Bayview in Toronto

Outside ground work continues on Rean Dr. for The Bayview project in Toronto. Daniels Corporation is owner/construction manager of the nine-storey, 74-unit project. The work also includes a separate retirement residence building.

February 22, 2010

Work moves upward on expansion of Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie, Ontario

Construction continues on the expansion and addition to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie, Ont. Vanbots has completion of the project scheduled for winter 2013. The work includes a new four-storey residential lodge for cancer patients, space for 101 additional beds and a coronary care unit.

February 19, 2010

Construction continues on Solaris at Metrogate in Toronto

A section gets a hoist at the Solaris at Metrogate Phase I and II in Toronto. Deltera Inc. is general contractor for the two, 40-storey towers with 868-units, ground floor retail and six-levels of parking above and below grade.

February 19, 2010

Construction worker’s fatal fall didn't involve swing stage

A construction worker is dead after falling as much as six storeys from a building in east Toronto Thursday. Police say a piece of metal may have fallen and hit the worker, knocking him off the building.

February 19, 2010

Concrete-testing company chief convicted of concocting phony results

The president of a concrete testing company that worked on such New York City landmarks as the new Yankee Stadium was convicted Wednesday of concocting phony test results, but a jury acquitted a low-level manager and has yet to reach a verdict on the top racketeering charge against the president and company.

February 18, 2010

Construction continues on The Republic condos in Toronto

Glass work continues on The Republic condominiums at Yonge St. and Eglinton Ave. in Toronto. Tridel Corp. has completion of the two-tower project scheduled for late 2011.

February 18, 2010

REpower Systems, Renewable Energy Systems complete construction of Quebec wind farm

REpower Systems AG and Renewable Energy Systems Canada Inc. have successfully completed the construction of a test wind farm in the Gaspé region.

February 18, 2010

Haiti to mandate use of specific sand in structural concrete

Haiti’s government is banning a commonly used sand from structural construction in an attempt to improve building safety.

February 18, 2010

Innovative compaction solves instability issue at Calgary pipe plant

The first fully automated concrete pipe plant in Western Canada was built in Calgary using dynamic compaction and includes environmental engineering solutions, such as water- and vapour-management systems.

February 17, 2010

Construction continues on Legacy at Heron’s Hill condo project in North York, Ontario

Construction is moving along on the Legacy at Heron’s Hill condominium project in North York, Ont. Owner/developer Monarch Corp. has completion for the 25-storey, 254-unit project — which includes a five-storey podium with 88 units — scheduled for late 2010.

February 17, 2010

Qualified tradespeople can go in many directions, Algonquin College students told

Qualifying in one of the construction trades can lead to a satisfying career, high school and college students were told recently. But being a tradesman doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll spend your working life on the jobsite.

February 16, 2010

Glass installation continues at iLoft condo in Toronto

Glass installation moves along at the iLoft condominiums on Legion Road North in Toronto. Toddglen Construction Co. Ltd. is construction manager of the 28-storey, 230-unit project, which includes an exercise room, pool/sauna, squash courts and a party room.

February 16, 2010

Construction continues on York Region police facility in Aurora, Ontario

Work continues on the York Region Police Investigative Services and Support Services facility in Aurora, Ont. General contractor Bondfield Construction Co. Ltd. has completion of the four-storey project scheduled for late 2010.