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Heavy Equipment

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

Lack of training blamed for death of Canada Line mobile-crane operator

WorkSafe BC says a mobile-crane operator who died while working on the Canada Line rapid-transit project wasn’t sufficiently trained to operate the equipment.

July 21, 2008

More Ontario workers register as apprentices, but rate of completion declines

Ontario apprenticeship findings in a recent labour market forecast for the province reveal polar opposite results in building the industry’s training capacity through apprenticeships.

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

Westport Innovations joins diesel research joint venture

Westport Innovations Inc. has announced a joint venture with Chinese heavy-duty engine maker Weichai Power Co. and Hong Kong Peterson (CNG) Equipment Ltd.

July 18, 2008

British Columbia’s new carbon tax will hit trucking industry hard, experts say

British Columbia’s new carbon tax is far from revenue neutral for the province’s trucking industry some say, because it imposes a tax burden that transfers wealth to other taxpayers.

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

Korky Koroluk: Ottawa approves construction of high-density Longfields subdivision

The need for greater population density is proving to be a hard sell in Ottawa — so hard, in fact, that the city’s planning committee has approved construction of its own model subdivision, a sort of object lesson for the local development community.

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

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

British Columbia’s ready-mix producers see threat in new carbon tax

The new carbon tax in B.C. may be revenue-neutral for taxpayers, but representatives of the concrete and cement industries say the tax threatens domestic producers.

July 16, 2008

OSWCA’s guide to combatting heavy equipment theft assists police

Combatting Heavy Equipment Theft, An Officers’ Guide to Proper Identification of Construction Equipment, is in its fourth edition. The guide is designed to assist law enforcement officers in the location of vehicle/product identification numbers (VIN/PIN) on construction equipment such as excavators, backhoe loaders, skid steer loaders and mini-excavators.

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

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

Demolition brings demise of Detroit’s Tiger Stadium

Demolition crews smashed the historic walls of Tiger Stadium July 10, punching through to the interior of the ballpark that stood for decades.

July 14, 2008

Speed limiters on trucks offer cost-savings and environmental benefits, federal report finds

There are positive environmental gains from capping the speed of large commercial trucks at 105 kilometres per hour (km/h) through a speed limiter, says a federal report.

July 14, 2008

Sarnia construction trades suffer blow as Shell Canada cancels refinery project

Shell Canada’s cancellation of plans for a Sarnia refinery is a huge blow to prospective new apprenticeship and trades numbers for the area, says a Sarnia Construction Association (SCA) member.

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

“Green Shift” plan comes up short on transit, industry officials say

There is not enough transit infrastructure in place to accommodate Liberal leader Stéphane Dion’s Green Shift plan, says Frank Zechner, executive director, Ontario Sewer and Watermain Construction Association.

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

Forklift fatality prompts calls for improvements to Alberta’s safety code

The death of a teenager working at a building material supply store near Edmonton last month is raising questions about the need to improve Alberta’s safety 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 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

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 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 8, 2008

City of Ottawa invites public input into greenbelt debate

A discussion paper circulating in Ottawa invites citizens to consider some limited development within the city’s treasured greenbelt.

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

Municipalities want cable, phone firms to share costs

The more money municipalities spend on repairs to roads caused by private phone and cable companies such as Rogers, Bell and Shaw, ultimately the less money there is for construction opportunities, industry officials say.

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 7, 2008

Tucker HiRise crews ready rebar at X condominium project

Workers toil tying rebar at the site of the X condominium project.

July 4, 2008

Korky Koroluk: Rising price of oil affects more than just the price of gas

With skyrocketing gasoline prices increasing the cost of the daily commute, it’s easy to forget that high energy prices are affecting everything, writes Daily Commercial News columnist Korky Koroluk.

July 4, 2008

High-school construction teacher fined after dispute with Ministry of Labour inspector

A high school construction co-op teacher has been fined after pleading guilty to an occupational health and safety charge.

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

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 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.

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

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.

June 30, 2008

Fuel Management: Ten ways for businesses to cut fuel costs

Any business can improve its fuel efficiency. It starts with a commitment from the head office and cooperation to your people on the road and at the job sites. More and more companies are making changes in their operating practices to cut costs now and to be prepared for even higher costs in the future, writes Jack Lee.

June 30, 2008