On this episode of The Construction Record Podcast™, digital media editor Warren Frey has two interviews from the BC Council of Forest Industries (COFI) 2024 annual conference in Vancouver. The first interview is with Don Iveson, the former mayor of Edmonton and current executive advisor on climate investing and community resilience for Co-Operators Insurance. Iveson is also the co-chair for the Task Force for Housing and Climate and he spoke to the important ways both the current affordable housing crisis and the present and future climate change emergency are linked together and can be mitigated in an integrated fashion. The second interview is with Abacus Data CEO David Coletto. In his address to COFI 21024 delegates he revealed public perception of the forestry industry has changed in a positive manner because of a continuing wildfire crisis. Most of those polled in B.C. understood the industry’s role in mitigating wildfires when they occur and changing practices to manage forestry resources in a way that addresses ongoing risks, a big change from the public’s views of the industry in previous decades. You can listen to our recent interview with Stantec’s Jag Singh here and our episodes are available at the Daily Commercial News and Journal of Commerce websites, on Libsyn and at  Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music’s podcast section. Thanks for listening. DCN-JOC News Services

On this episode of The Construction Record Podcast™, digital media editor Warren Frey speaks with Stantec nuclear lead and engineering manager Jag Singh about small modular reactor (SMR) technology and its potential uses in western Canada. Singh explained SMRs are smaller, more flexible and modularized plant which consume much less water than conventional reactors and can make use of alternative nuclear fuel including material that previously was considered as waste material. He also pointed out while SMRs are generating new interest the idea has been around since the mid-1950s when a version of the technology was used in nuclear submarines, but are a leap forward in safety with reactors that become less reactive as they become hotter and others that run at normal atmospheric pressure, eliminating the hazard of a meltdown.   He also touched on how SMR technology can be used in western Canada and Alberta specifically to assist in oil and gas work by generating emission-free steam power and pointed to increased energy demand across the Prairies as a use case for adoption of SMR technology as well as conventional nuclear power. You can listen to our recent interview with Nashville contractor Brandon Mason here and our episodes are available at the Daily Commercial News and Journal of Commerce websites, on Libsyn and at  Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music’s podcast section. Thanks for listening.

On this episode of The Construction Record Podcast™, digital media editor Warren Frey speaks with Nashville-based Brandon Mason, the president of BCMason Group about his work as a contractor on both community-based and large-scale projects in the city. Mason said he grew up around construction and after work across North America with other firms he set out on his own path, starting with projects in Nashville’s African-American neighbourhoods that reflect his commitment to giving back to his own community. He’s also worked on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the area at varying levels of complexity and reflected on working on a project at Fisk University where his mother was once a student. Mason’s latest project was contributing to the National Museum of African American Music which he pointed to as an uplifting and collaborative experience with African-American construction firms working at all levels of the project. You can listen to our recent interview about economic diversification with ConstructConnect chief economist Alex Carrick and senior economist Michael Guckes here and our episodes are available at the Daily Commercial News and Journal of Commerce websites, on Libsyn and at  Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music’s podcast section. Thanks for listening. DCN-JOC News Services

On this episode of The Construction Record Podcast™, digital media editor Warren Frey speaks with ConstructConnect chief economist Alex Carrick and senior economist Michael Guckes about how general contractors and others in the construction industry can diversify their work portfolios in terms of geography, new vs. renovation projects, strategic work in verticals and the comparison between public and private sector work. Alex pointed to demographic changes in both Canada and the United States as driving construction including Atlantic Canada’s dramatic growth and the southern United States seeing an unprecedented rise in population due to migration from bigger cities. Michael also pointed to increased financial activity in the renovation space and pointed out much of that might be due to fiscal conditions outside the projects themselves. Both Michael and Alex also highlighted the opportunities for diversification in both the public and private sectors and why it’s important to keep a foot in both worlds if possible.   You can listen to our recent interview with Dream Unlimited executive vice-president Tsering Yangki  is available here and our episodes are available at the Daily Commercial News and Journal of Commerce websites, on Libsyn and at  Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music’s podcast section. Thanks for listening. DCN-JOC News Services

On this episode of The Construction Record Podcast™, digital media editor Warren Frey speaks with Dream Unlimited executive vice-president Tsering Yangki about a new report from the Task Force for Housing and Climate titled “Blueprint for More and Better Housing.” Yangki went into detail about the reports recommendations for doubling the amount of housing stock in Canada by concentrating on not only modular and panelized construction but also emphasizing climate resilient construction to ensure housing can withstand a worsening climate crisis while still building at scale. The report recommends legalizing density, implementing better building codes, investing in factory-built homes and not building in high-risk areas. Yangki also emphasized the need for not only coordination between all three levels of government but also the non-profit and private sector to ensure everyone is aligned with the purpose of expanding housing affordability for all Canadians. You can listen to our recent interviews from the VRCA and CCW’s recent LEAP conference here and our episodes are available at the Daily Commercial News and Journal of Commerce websites, on Libsyn and at  Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music’s podcast section. Thanks for listening. DCN-JOC News Services

On this episode of the Construction Record Podcast, digital media editor Warren Frey has three interviews from the LEAP conference, a collaboration between the Vancouver Regional Construction Association and Canadian Construction Women. The one-day conference held March 8 in Vancouver brought together women in the construction industry with thought leaders to push their careers further ahead and inspire them with new ways to navigate a male-dominated industry. The first interview is with VRCA president Jeannine Martin and CCW president Seema Lal about the origins of the conference and what they hope to achieve by bringing women in the industry together and the second interview is with Diana Rolston, a coach, author and speaker and she told the audience how to work around self-limiting thinking with a talk called “Leaping Forward: Dynamic Tools to Break Barriers and Elevate Success.” We also have interview with Crown Building Supplies CFO Jas Sangha, who was on the “Sisterhood at Work” panel and spoke about moving into construction from outside the field and navigating not only being a woman in the industry but also cultural factors she faced as an Indo-Canadian. You can listen to our recent interview with Steven Winter Associates Inc. research principal Dr. Victoria Lanteign about embedded equity in built forms here. Our episodes are available at the Daily Commercial News and Journal of Commerce websites, on Libsyn and at  Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music’s podcast section. Thanks for listening. DCN-JOC News Services

On this episode of The Construction Record Podcast™, digital media editor Warren Frey speaks with Dr. Victoria Lanteigne, a research principal at Steven Winter Associates Inc. in New York City about improving the built environment through equity, accessibility and inclusive design.   Lanteigne explained that embedded equity is an emerging approach to design that supports marginalized groups that have been traditionally not benefited from the ways in which the built environment has been implemented and stressed the importance of integrating equity into building sustainable structures. They added design fails marginalized communities is by not soliciting their input during the design process, but added there are projects that are fulfilling this effort such as the Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacifica American Experience in Seattle, WA which was built with full collaboration of the Asian-American community, as well as Harvey Milk Plaza in San Francisco which was designed to be inclusive of the LGBTQIA+ community. Lanteigne also said equity-based design doesn’t necessarily cost more than traditional design, though there is a misconception that is the case, though they added community engagement can take time and add to the bottom line. Their research involves creating design teams to further streamline the process. You can listen to our recent interview with Procore Technologies global technology evangelist Kris Lengieza about coming construction technology trends here. Our episodes are available at the Daily Commercial News and Journal of Commerce websites, on Libsyn and at  Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music’s podcast section. Thanks for listening. DCN-JOC News Services

On this episode of The Construction Record Podcast™, digital media editor Warren Frey speaks with Procore Technologies global technology evangelist Kris Lengieza about what new technology and innovation is headed for the construction industry in 2024. Kris explained how while artificial intelligence (AI) gained traction in 2023 in the construction industry, over the next year AI use will accelerate  as awareness of ChatGPT and other large-language models (LLM) spreads awareness of possible AI implementation for a number of different applications. LLMs will also allow for preservation of institutional knowledge, he said, by allowing industry veterans to error-check AI recommendations to better align with their own experience. He also said robotics has reached the point where more affordable technology lets worksites address safety and labour challenges while achieving new levels of efficiency. Kris also said the pace of acceleration over the next year will be a surprise, as will the focus on worker’s mental health and a new adaptable approach to bringing in previously unrepresented groups to construction. You can listen to our recent interview with British Columbia Institute of Technology instructor Justin Perry about holistic forest management here and all special episode featuring Bass Installation owners Natasha Callender-Wilson and Stephen Callender here. Our episodes are available at the Daily Commercial News and Journal of Commerce websites, on Libsyn and at  Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music’s podcast section. Thanks for listening. DCN-JOC News Services

The Construction Record Podcast™ - Special: Black History Month with Bass Installation’s Natasha Callender-Wilson and Stephen Callender On this episode of The Construction Record Podcast™, digital media editor Warren Frey speaks with Natasha Callender-Wilson and Stephen Callender of Bass Installation about their experiences as Black business owners and operators in the construction industry. Stephen explained how he came from Barbados to Toronto and worked his way up in the industry before founding his own company and was joined by his daughter Natasha who split time between higher education and managing the business end of the glass installation firm. From there they’ve worked on some of the biggest towers in Toronto including the BMO Building, CIBC Square and the Shangri-La Hotel Toronto. Stephen is also one of the founders of the Afro-Canadian Contractors Association and he discussed the challenges of both finding other Black contractors to hire and the racism they continue to face. Natasha also relayed her experiences as the only Black woman on a work site. Both Natasha and Stephen also addressed the recent push towards diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives which have seen some progress but can at times also be  more “box-checking” than real social change. You can listen to our recent interview with British Columbia Institute of Technology instructor Justin Perry about holistic forest management here and all our episodes are available at the Daily Commercial News and Journal of Commerce websites, on Libsyn and at  Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music’s podcast section. Thanks for listening.

On this episode of The Construction Record Podcast, digital media editor Warren Frey speaks with British Columbia Institute of Technology instructor Justin Perry about a new holistic approach to wildfire management. Perry recently spoke at TedX Abbotsford with a talk titled “Holistic Wildfire Management: Seeing Fire Through Multiple Lenses” (embedded below) which elaborated on ways in which we can change our perspective from a traditional approach of fighting every fire individually to shaping, cultivating and adapting the landscape to a new set of conditions as climate change creates stronger and more deadly wildfires across Canada every summer and fall. He also explained how traditional Indigenous wildfire management methods can and have been adopted to combat fires and speaks to several resources both for studying previous catastrophic fire events such as the Lytton and Fort McMurray wildfires, and resource hubs for both individuals and businesses to increase fire resilience. You can listen to our recent two-part series looking at geopolitical upheaval, labour shortages and the economic outlook for construction with ConstructConnect chief economist Alex Carrick and senior economist Michael Guckes here and here and all our episodes are available at the Daily Commercial News and Journal of Commerce websites, on Libsyn and at  Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music’s podcast section. Thanks for listening. DCN-JOC News Services https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nuepb77LPKI&t=424s

On this episode of The Construction Record Podcast™, digital media editor Warren Frey speaks with ConstructConnect chief economist Alex Carrick and senior economist Michael Guckes in part two of a two-part series looking at current challenges in the financial markets affecting not only construction but the wider economy as well as the unpredictable nature of federal politics both north and south of the border. Michael elaborated on current data which shows continued hesitancy towards investment in real estate due to high interest rates and continued fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic and cautioned that even if the Federal Reserve lowers rates, current conditions take time to change. Alex pointed to real estate as still being a point of instability and spoke about how the borrowing rate at the consumer level post-pandemic in Canada is alarmingly high. As a federal election in the United States is due in November, Michael reflected on how economic policy could change depending on which party takes the White House, and Alex and Warren discussed how no matter who wins in November, Canada must set its policy to adapt to changing political circumstances in the United States. You can listen to the first part of our economic risks series here and our podcasts from World of Concrete are also available including a preview episode, a look at robotics and construction and an episode about women in construction and the potential of 3d printing with concrete. Make sure to tune in to part two of our economics podcast with Alex and Michael next week! Other episodes are available at the Daily Commercial News and Journal of Commerce websites as well as on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music’s podcast section. Thanks for listening. DCN-JOC News Services

On this episode of The Construction Record Podcast™, digital media editor Warren Frey speaks with ConstructConnect chief economist Alex Carrick and senior economist Michael Guckes in part one of a two-part series looking at the geopolitical situation across the globe and how it affects the construction industry and the pressing need for labour at a level never been seen before in either the Canadian or U.S. economies. Alex lays out the current economic situation by laying out the latest construction starts data and pointed to risks such as the ongoing situation in Ukraine and the Middle East, climate change and pointed to a significant upsurge in Canada’s population which will affect the economy in terms of new housing and access to skilled workers. He also pointed to the need for raw materials accessed through mining and the regulatory frameworks that make for slow approvals when the world is trying to move past fossil fuels. Michael also raised the effects of climate change on shipping, as the Panama Canal experiences drought which has a cascading effect on the economy as shipping slows and goods can’t get where they need to be. Weather events across North America are also causing growing insurance claims which increases costs for commercial real estate as well as other industries. He referred to all these risks as “many small cuts” that cumulatively hurt the construction industry. Our recent interview with  CIRP executive director Vicky Waldron about pain relief without prescriptions for injured worker is available here and our podcasts from World of Concrete are also available including a preview episode, a look at robotics and construction and an episode about women in construction and the potential of 3d printing with concrete. Make sure to tune in to part two of our economics podcast with Alex and Michael next week! Other episodes are available at the Daily Commercial News and Journal of Commerce websites as well as on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music’s podcast section. Thanks for listening. DCN-JOC News Services

On this episode of The Construction Record Podcast™, digital media editor Warren Frey speaks with BC Construction Industry Rehabilitation Plan (CIRP) executive director Vicky Waldron about its Opioid-Free Pain Clinic pilot program which approaches pain management after workplace injury without drug prescriptions. Waldron spoke to the importance of avoiding opioid use to mask pain and the clinic instead uses an innovative technique called myoActivation trigger point therapy which reduces pain without pharmacological intervention. She also said those who go through the therapy recover more quickly while avoiding drug use, and that the construction industry has collaborated extensively with the clinic resulting in workers getting back to work more quickly and at significantly lower cost than surgery and other treatments. Our recent interview with “Building Toronto’s Skyline” author Nick Ainis is here and our podcasts from World of Concrete are also available including a preview episode, a look at robotics and construction and an episode about women in construction and the potential of 3d printing with concrete. Other episodes are available at the Daily Commercial News and Journal of Commerce websites as well as on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music’s podcast section. Thanks for listening. DCN-JOC News Services

On this episode of The Construction Record Podcast™ from the World of Concrete in Las Vegas, digital media editor Warren Frey speaks with both speaker and entrepreneur Rhonda Sargent Chambers and architect and designer Kaneshka Salehi. Chambers, who grew up in a construction family that ran a concrete staining business, spoke at a session titled Women Construction Business Owners: "Creating Your Legacy" where she addressed many of the challenges of running a business from a female perspective including imposter syndrome, outdated cultural attitudes and the similarities between her production business and those working in construction, including intense physical labour and high-stress environments. Kaneshka, the principal of Kaneshka Design Group, explained how 3-D printing has allowed him to express his visions in ways that simply weren’t possible with standard technologies. He also addressed the current limitations of 3D printing and the real-world challenges of building organic architecture in California, where earthquakes and other hazards are all part of the design process. You can listen to our preview World of Concrete episode, our episode about robotics and construction, and check out our World of Concrete coverage on our Daily Commercial News, Journal of Commerce and Construction Record Linkedin sites along with the DCN, JOC and Construction Record Podcast Twitter accounts, as well as daily Reels on our Instagram feed. DCN-JOC News Services

On this episode of The Construction Record Podcast™, digital media editor Warren Frey looks at the role of robotics in construction with DPR Construction robotics lead Henning Roedel and Rogers-O’Brien Construction chief innovation officer Todd Wynne from the World of Concrete conference in Las Vegas. Wynne and Roedel spoke to the many ways the construction industry is already utilizing robotics along with new innovations such as Hilti’s JaiBot drilling robot, which drills over the shoulder holes and spares workers injury and exposure to silica, as well as the Dusty Robotics Fieldprinter, a “Roomba with a printer” as Wynne called it that plots lines across real-world floors. They also spoke to the role of robotics in not only drawing in younger workers but also allowing older workers to work in new ways and preserve their decades of experience. Wynne and Roedel also talked about how interest in robotics and technological innovation is rising throughout the industry as well as outside of it, as new sources of investment come to construction fueling more startups and innovation designed to automate and digitize the worksite. We’ll be on the ground at the World of Concrete from Jan. 23 to Jan 25., and you can listen to our previous World of Concrete episode, watch our Daily Commercial News, Journal of Commerce and Construction Record Linkedin sites along with the DCN, JOC and Construction Record Podcast Twitter accounts, as well as daily Reels on our Instagram feed. DCN-JOC News Services Henning Roedel Linkedin profile Todd Wynne Linkedin profile

On this episode of The Construction Record Podcast™, digital media editor Warren Frey speaks with World of Concrete senior show manager Kevin Archibald about the history of the conference, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year in Las Vegas, as well as the many features of this year’s event. Archibald said in 1974 the original conference was started by a small group of industry professionals with 71 exhibitors over 75,000 sq ft. and the event will tip its hat to the past with a “walk down memory lane” even as the current conference covers the breadth of the Las Vegas Convention Center with exhibits, educational sessions, large-scale product demos and a series of competitions. Archibald said a conference mainstay is the Bricklayer 500, also known as the “Superbowl of Concrete,” and there will be other features such as Get Tough challenge where attendees can drive Western Star trucks around obstacles and rock carvers from around the world situated throughout the conference practicing their craft. He added sustainability and aerated concrete are two of the major trends the conference sees both in exhibits on the show floor and educational interest, along with an emphasis on safety, noise reduction and the growing importance of data in driving company decisions. We’ll be on the ground at the World of Concrete from Jan. 23 to Jan 25., so be sure to tune into The Construction Record and watch our Daily Commercial News, Journal of Commerce and Construction Record Linkedin sites along with the DCN, JOC and Construction Record Podcast Twitter accounts, as well as daily Reels on our Instagram feed. DCN-JOC News Services

On this episode of The Construction Record Podcast™, digital media editor Warren Frey speaks with author Nick Ainis about his book, “Building Toronto’s Skyline,” about the history and progress of development of apartment buildings and condominiums in Canada’s largest city. Ainis broke down how Toronto developed multi-dwelling housing from boarding houses to apartment blocks and then after initial resistance and delays in the 1970s saw a boom of condominium developments in the 1980s and beyond. He also spoke to NIMBYism (Not In My Backyard) in Toronto even as far back as the early 1900s and the future of the condominium market in the Greater Toronto area. You can listen to other episodes on the Daily Commercial News and Journal of Commerce websites as well as on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music’s podcast section. Our interview CAW Architects principals Mousam Adcock and Monique Wood about the Palo Alto architecture firm’s accomplishments is here. Thanks for listening. DCN-JOC News Services

On this episode of the Construction Record Podcast, digital media editor Warren Frey speaks with CAW Architects principals Mousam Adcock and Monique Wood about the Palo Alto architecture firm’s accomplishments in the institutional and educational sectors and the firm’s shift to becoming a women-led organization. Adcock said one of the reasons the firm has succeeded is a meritocratic structure where anyone who wants to take on more or different work can do so, leading to eventual movement into leadership positions. She said the shift to a woman-led firm was gradual and “just reflects the diversity of the firm.” Wood said the firm’s mission is to better communities through their work, which lends itself to building both educational and community projects. Adcock said other than medical facilities, CAW has built almost every other aspect of educational projects. She also said a key component of working with clients is “letting them know they’re being heard,” which isn’t always evident before the client asks questions. You can listen to other episodes on the Daily Commercial News and Journal of Commerce websites as well as on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music’s podcast section. Our interview with John Tenpenny about ReNew Canada’s 2024 list of Canada’s top infrastructure projects is here and our recent special episode about the 43rd anniversary of the Bentall IV tragedy in Vancouver is here. Thanks for listening. DCN-JOC News Services

On this special episode of The Construction Record Podcast, digital media editor Warren Frey speaks to British Columbia construction and safety stakeholders about a rising number of work-related deaths as they observe the 43rd anniversary of the tragic accident at the Bentall IV building in Vancouver that claimed four lives on Jan 7., 1981. BC Building Trades executive director Brynn Bourke hosted the event and addressed startling statistics both at the event and afterwards in an interview. Fifty-four people died in 2022 at the workplace, 28 due to trauma and 26 due to exposure to harmful materials, representing a 74 per cent increase from the average number of annual construction worker deaths over the previous three decades. She also spoke to the need to address the opioid crisis and mental health, as well as cautioning all levels of government looking to quickly build affordable housing to not lose sight of worker safety while doing so. We also spoke with WorkSafeBC senior manager of prevention field services Suzana Pripic both about the 2022 statistics and new asbestos regulations that came into effect on January 1 and with asbestos reform advocate Lee Loftus about the good of the new rules along with more work still that needs to be done.   Thanks for listening to this special episode of The Construction Record Podcast. You can listen to other episodes on the Daily Commercial News and Journal of Commerce websites as well as on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music’s podcast section. Our most recent interview with John Tenpenny about ReNew Canada’s 2024 list of Canada’s top infrastructure projects is here. DCN-JOC News Services

On this episode of The Construction Record Podcast, digital media editor Warren Frey discusses Renew Canada’s 2024 list of Canada’s top infrastructure projects with Renew editor John Tenpenny. As with previous years, health infrastructure projects made a strong showing due to pandemic-era spending increases to deal with the current health crisis and any future ones. Transit also continued to dominate the list across Canada, Tenpenny said, with over a quarter of the list’s projects. He also noted most energy projects are focused on hydroelectric transmission and nuclear power rather than fossil fuels, and pointed to most highway projects as focused on maintenance and upgrades. Tenpenny added megaprojects such as Site C in British Columbia are so large that even as they near completion the “wind down” process still takes some time and other large projects are coming through the infrastructure pipeline in the next two to five years.    You can listen to The Construction Record on the Daily Commercial News and Journal of Commerce websites as well as on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music’s podcast section. Our previous podcast with CK DesGrosseilliers, a spokesperson for the Threads of Life victims group talking about recent changes by the Ontario government regarding mandatory inquests after construction-related deaths is here. Thanks for listening. DCN-JOC News Services