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July 21, 2008
Refurbishment of Dahla dam could make it a target: defence analyst
Refurbishing a derelict Afghan dam has been billed as one of Canada’s “signature projects” in the war-ravaged nation, but defence analysts say these major initiatives carry a giant bull’s eye for militants desperate to obliterate tangible signs of progress — and morale.
July 21, 2008
Vanbots oversees smooth progress of Bramalea City Centre Mall project
Construction manager Vanbots Construction Corp. began the two-storey, 325,000-square-foot Bramalea City Centre Mall project in July 2007. Completion has been scheduled for November 2009.
July 21, 2008
Use of dispute resolution services rises in competitive construction market
The old adage, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” is particularly relevant in the construction industry when it comes to matters of dispute resolution.
July 18, 2008
Burnac puts finishing touches on Madison Avenue Lofts’ first phase
Outside work moves along on the old Toronto Hydro Building now being converted into the Madison Avenue Lofts phase I in Toronto.
July 18, 2008
Planning will help Ontario construction industry cope with looming labour shortage
Steady growth in Ontario’s construction industry will require 74,000 new hires over the next eight years, says the Construction Sector Council’s recent Ontario labour market forecast.
July 18, 2008
Bruce Power touts benefits of Peace River nuclear plant project
The Bruce Power partnership predicts a nuclear plant in the Peace River region of Alberta would contribute $12 billion to the province’s economy during the construction period and would generate 2,700 long-term jobs.
July 18, 2008
Diamond + Schmitt partner with Oz Architecture on re-design of Denver’s Boettcher Concert Hall
The firm of Diamond + Schmitt Architects has been chosen to re-design the Boettcher Concert Hall in Denver.
July 17, 2008
Clive Thurston: Alternative pricing takes fairness, predictability out of bidding
As the rules surrounding bidding and procurement continue to fluctuate and change — sometimes from necessity, sometimes for a better idea and sometimes at the desire of the courts — those involved are often left wondering if there are any rules at all, writes Clive Thurston, president of the Ontario General Contractors Association.
July 17, 2008
Aecon Industrial signs alliance agreement with Union Gas
Aecon Group Inc. (TSX: ARE) announced July 17, 2008 that its Industrial Division has signed a multi-year alliance agreement with Union Gas Limited to perform all of Union Gas’ compressor station construction and upgrading work across Ontario.
July 17, 2008
H & R reaches the rooftop at Royal York Grand condominium project
Construction has reached the roof of the Royal York Grand Condominiums at Royal York Rd. and Eglinton Avenue West in Etobicoke, Ontario.
July 17, 2008
Kwason Structures crews show fine form at The Parc condominium project
Workers guide a concrete form into place during construction of The Parc in Coquitlam, B.C.
July 17, 2008
Mechanical construction contractors Lockerbie & Hole earn $5 million in first quarter
Lockerbie & Hole Inc. earned $5 million in its first quarter as revenue grew more than 50 per cent.
July 17, 2008
PCL wins contract to build, finance Kingston hospital
Infrastructure Ontario and Kingston General Hospital have announced that they have signed a contract with PCL Constructors Canada Inc. to build and finance the hospital’s redevelopment project.
July 16, 2008
$50,000 tires just part of the high cost of oilsand extraction
Todd Dahlman gestures proudly to a 4,900-kilogram tire on display at the edge of Shell Canada’s vast oilsands mine north of Fort McMurray, Alberta.
July 15, 2008
GM to build rooftop power plant in Spain
Solar energy product maker Energy Conversion Devices Inc. said it will supply solar cell laminates to General Motors Corp. for the world’s largest rooftop power generation system.
July 15, 2008
Shane B. keeps moving at St. Gabriel Village
A worker gives guidance at St. Gabriel Village condominium and townhouse project in North York, Ont.
July 15, 2008
‘Red-Dead’ canal promises life for Dead Sea desert
It is hard to predict how the proposed artificial waterway from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea, popularly known as the Red-Dead canal, will turn out.
July 14, 2008
Experience rating system fails to account for ‘rating prevention practises’
Gary Robertson is President of Wellington at Work, a Hamilton company specializing in injury prevention, claims and disability management in the construction sector. He is past president of the Council of Ontario Construction Associations and has almost 20 years of human resources experience working for construction contractors.
July 14, 2008
Vanbots builds Allstream conference centre within Automotive Building facade
MTS Allstream has forged a 10-year sponsorship agreement with the Board of Governors of Exhibition Place and the City of Toronto, the owners of Toronto’s future conference and convention centre.
July 14, 2008
Cressey Development’s Donovan tower project rises
The 18-storey Donovan condominium tower in Vancouver will be connected to a podium-style four-storey structure.
July 14, 2008
Leaks won’t delay opening of Indianapolis Colts stadium
Three roof drains in Lucas Oil Stadium sprang leaks when thunderstorms hit Indianapolis last week, leading to some water damage in a data centre and other areas.
July 14, 2008
Customers will help pay for green corporate headquarters for Halifax electric utility
Nova Scotia’s electric utility will look to its customers to help pay for a multimillion-dollar conversion of an old power plant into a “green” corporate headquarters in Halifax, the company’s president says.
July 11, 2008
Crews pour it on at Toddglen Avenue condominium project
Concrete pouring progresses at the Avenue Condos at Avenue Road and St. Clair Avenue West in Toronto.
July 11, 2008
Boom times mean no rest for portable restroom providers
Canada’s hot construction market is having an effect on an essential construction industry service — portable restroom operators.
July 11, 2008
Boralex acquires Gengrowth wind-power project in southwestern Ontario
Boralex Inc., a Montreal-based electricity producer, says it has acquired the rights for a wind project with a potential installed capacity of 100 megawatts of power in Ontario.
July 10, 2008
Miller says Toronto will move ahead with more LEED-H building
Moments after he dug the first ceremonial shovelful on Canada’s “largest green low-rise residential development” Toronto Mayor David Miller took a dig at the province for not moving quickly enough to incorporate LEED standards into the Ontario Building Code.
July 10, 2008
Times Group crews take to the stage at Majestic Court
Work progresses at the Majestic Court condominium project on Clegg Road in Markham, Ontario.
July 10, 2008
Greenpark’s Rosewood rises
Construction progresses at the Wynford Drive site of The Rosewood condominium project in Toronto.
July 10, 2008
Utility Locate Rodeo puts locators’ field skills to the test
“Locate from Hell” is the ultimate challenge for any of the 35 locators taking part in first-ever Utility Locate Rodeo, organized by the Ontario Regional Common Ground Alliance (ORCGA).
July 9, 2008
PCL Constructors begins cover-up of Durham Consolidated Courthouse project
PCL Constructors Canada Inc. began the five-storey, design-build Durham Consolidated Courthouse project in May 2007. Completion has been scheduled for late 2009.
July 9, 2008
Regent Park Community Energy System features centralized power plant
Phase One of the Toronto Community Housing (TCH) project includes the creation of The Regent Park Community Energy System, an environmentally-conscious plan to provide competitively-priced heating, cooling and hot water to all of the buildings in the community while slashing carbon dioxide emissions.
July 9, 2008
DJ Campbell Construction keeps working at Dunfield Retirement Community
Construction manager DJ Campbell Construction Ltd. began the 17-storey, 179-suite Dunfield Retirement Community project in July 2007. Completion is expected in April 2009.
July 9, 2008
Canadians agree to build ‘Great Wall of Kandahar’ around university
The Canadian government struck a deal last week with officials at Kandahar University to build a three-kilometre perimeter of stone, brick and iron around the school campus.
July 8, 2008
Sound engineers at Capitol recording studio fear impact of nearby building project
Capital Records’ large, three-room facility and its fabled subterranean echo chambers, whose sound, experts say, cannot be recreated, may soon be picking up some bad vibrations from an adjacent 16-storey condominium and office project, part of downtown Hollywood’s ambitious revitalization effort.
July 8, 2008
Remington swings into next construction stage at Downtown Markham project
Owner/general contractor Remington Group Hi Rise Division began the Downtown Markham Phase One residential/retail project in May 2007.
July 8, 2008
Crews dig deep at phase one of Boutique condominium project
The 16-storey, 333-unit Boutique building was designed by ZAS Architects for owner Simcoe Nelson Property Inc. The work includes guest suites, five levels of underground parking and retail on the ground floor.
July 7, 2008
Ottawa city council votes in favour of plasma gasification plant to process municipal waste
Ottawa city council voted unanimously Wednesday to negotiate a contract with Plasco Energy Group to have the company build a gasification plant to handle about 400 tonnes of municipal garbage a day.
July 7, 2008
Davies-Smith crews pull together at waterfront Rowe condominium project
Construction moves along for The Rowe condominium project in Whitby, Ont.
July 7, 2008
Tucker HiRise crews ready rebar at X condominium project
Workers toil tying rebar at the site of the X condominium project.
July 7, 2008
Innovative George Brown trades program trains potential apprentices
In Toronto, the city’s 14 social service agency offices carry a caseload of almost 70,000 and of those, 39,000 are aged 16-30, the prime working years.
July 4, 2008
SNC-Lavalin wins contract to build two natural gas compressor stations in France
SNC-Lavalin in Europe has been awarded a contract by GRTgaz — a subsidiary of Gaz de France — to construct two new natural gas compressor plants in France.
July 4, 2008
Treatment of Chinese workers brings union disputes and calls for public inquiry
Representatives from some of Alberta’s construction unions say the case of Chinese temporary foreign workers having their paycheques siphoned by their employer reveals huge flaws with the federal government program that need to be addressed by a public enquiry.
July 4, 2008
Tower rises at DJ Campbell Construction’s Casa condominium project
The beginnings of what will eventually be a 47-storey tower rise at the Casa condominium project on Charles Street East in Toronto.
July 3, 2008
Aboriginal workforce offers solution to looming Canadian labour crisis
Encouraging aboriginals to enter the trades was a topical and crucial aspect of the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum’s 2008 Conference recently held in Victoria.
July 3, 2008
Bondfield makes progress at Richmond Hill Centre For The Performing Arts project
Bondfield Construction Ltd. is the general contractor on the two-storey Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts facility. The building features 600-seat theatre and 150-seat rehearsal hall.
July 3, 2008
Major engineering projects will stress Atlantic Canada’s labour supply, CSC report says
Major engineering and industrial construction projects in New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador will stretch Atlantic Canada’s workforce to the limit, according to the Construction Sector Council.
July 2, 2008
Alberta program launches women into construction careers
A bold Alberta program proves that women can do very well in the trades if they have support when they begin their journey to become journeywomen.
July 2, 2008
Part of the Pulse of North York
Outside brick work continues at the Pulse Condominium project at Yonge Street and Finch Avenue in North York, Ont. Developer is The Pemberton Group and general contractor is Saddlebrook Construction Inc.
July 2, 2008
Toronto Office Tower Construction
Work moves along on Wellington St. W. for the RBC Centre office tower in Toronto.
July 2, 2008
Immigrant training questioned by Alberta electricians’ union
The electricians’ trade union in Alberta is screening some new immigrants because of concerns over certification.
July 2, 2008
Manitoba sees construction trades pinch ahead
The executive director of the Manitoba Building Trades Council says the province will need 10,000 additional skilled tradespeople to keep up with demand by 2016.
July 2, 2008
New tunnel safety regulation opposed by British Columbia unions
Two groups representing unionized construction workers in British Columbia are voicing their opposition to proposed changes to safety regulations for tunnelling.
June 30, 2008
Diamond + Schmitt incorporate water stewardship into Cambridge city hall design
When Diamond + Schmitt Architects set out to design Cambridge’s new green city hall, development of a comprehensive water management strategy was a key agenda item.
June 30, 2008
EllisDon makes waves at Art Gallery of Ontario expansion project
Project manager EllisDon Corp. continues to work on the Art Gallery of Ontario expansion. The site is on Dundas Street West in Toronto.
June 30, 2008
Alberta unions mount campaign to halt labour-reform Bill 26
The political battle over the passage of controversial changes to Alberta’s labour laws is heating up.
June 30, 2008
Aecon wins Alberta Transportation contract to twin 13-kilometre section of Highway 21
Aecon Group Inc. has been awarded a contract by Alberta Transportation to twin a 13-kilometre section of Highway 21 near Edmonton.
June 27, 2008
Crews ready rebar at Bird Construction’s Olympic ice rink project
Workers are busy building an Olympic ice rink at Trout Lake in Vancouver.
June 27, 2008
Giffels builds Lakeshore Lions Arena
Steel work continues at the site of the new Lakeshore Lions Arena on Kipling Avenue in Etobicoke, Ontario.
June 27, 2008
Architect Fisher’s plans for “revolving” buildings face skepticism
An Italian architect said he is poised to start construction on a new skyscraper in Dubai that will be “the world’s first building in motion,” an 80-storey tower with revolving floors that give it an ever-shifting shape.
June 26, 2008
RCCAO calls for Lake Simcoe infrastructure plan consistent with provincial growth strategy
The way growth in the Lake Simcoe area proceeds is important to the construction industry because planned and diverse growth will provide more project opportunities, one association says.
June 26, 2008
Menkes’ 25 York Street crew keeps pumping
Concrete work progresses at the site of a new office tower at 25 York Street in Toronto.
June 26, 2008
PWGSC tests BIM with rehabilitation of former Bank of Montreal building
In an effort to get a handle on the potential benefits of Building Information Modeling (BIM), Public Works and Government Services Canada is undertaking a pilot project in Ottawa.
June 26, 2008
UAE workforce includes large number of workers from India, conference told
Workers from India comprise 42.5 per cent of the total labour force in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and most of them are in the blue-collar category, a Gulf Co-operation Council labour management conference reveals.
June 25, 2008
Wind power offers long-term potential for Ontario jobs
The launching of the TAI WIND Consortium to help push the offshore wind-power manufacturing agenda in Ontario can result in thousands of jobs.
June 25, 2008
Halliday Homes adapts pre-engineered houses to Iceland’s climate
Halliday is a manufacturer of pre-engineered, wood-frame, energy-efficient, panelized homes. And when someone in Iceland went searching on the Web, Halliday was one of the names that popped up.
June 25, 2008
Crystal Blu Construction
Below-grade work moves along on the Crystal Blu condominiums on Balmuto Street in Toronto.
June 25, 2008
Caterpillar and Navistar join forces to pursue global truck opportunities
Caterpillar Inc. and Navistar International Corporation have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to pursue global highway truck business opportunities and co-operate on a variety of engine platforms.
June 24, 2008
Cancelled Bilfinger Berger Canada contract leaves Filipino workers idle
Temporary foreign workers who were hired to work on a drinking-water project in North Vancouver have been left hanging for months without any source of income, after the contractor was terminated by Metro Vancouver.
June 24, 2008
Saskatchewan opens door to nuclear power
A “bonanza” of uranium and a government keen on opening the door to nuclear power has energy companies circulating Saskatchewan in hopes of flipping the switch on a reactor.
June 23, 2008
AGC’s “Building to LEED for New Construction” course wins approval
The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) has announced its Building to LEED for New Construction: Overview and the Impact on Construction Practices course curriculum has been reviewed and approved through the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Education Provider Program.
June 23, 2008
Context Development plans to break ground on Market Wharf project in fall 2009
Toronto’s Context Development is gearing up to break ground by fall 2009 on Market Wharf, a high-rise condo and retail project designed by architect Peter Clewes of architectsAlliance.
June 23, 2008
Crews dig in at Eastern Construction’s Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute project
Excavation and shoring work continue at the future site of the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, Ontario.
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| CURRENT STORIES |
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- Vanbots oversees smooth progress of Bramalea City Centre Mall project
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- TransCanada and ConocoPhillips plan to extend Keystone pipeline to U.S. Gulf Coast
- Refurbishment of Dahla dam could make it a target: defence analyst
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| ALEX’S BLOG |

Reed Construction Data Chief Economist Alex Carrick discusses current developments in Canada's economic environment. He also shares light-hearted reflections on life and current events.
Economics Blog More 
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Lifestyle Blog More 
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| PROJECT NEWS BRIEFS |
Updates on Canadian construction projects from Reed Construction Data’s research team. More 
- George Brown College wins $61.5 million in provincial funds for Toronto Waterfront campus (Jul 14, 2008)
- Plans get underway for Saline Creek Plateau and Parsons Creek communities (Jul 14, 2008)
- Life Construction seeks trade prices for 500 on Sherbourne condominium project (Jul 14, 2008)
- Working designs nearly complete for Joseph and Wolf Lebovic Jewish Community Campus (Jul 11, 2008)
- Alberta commits $200 million to Federal Building renovation and redevelopment (Jul 10, 2008)


