Exchanger

INDUSTRY NEWS

National maternity strategy needed for industry women

The federal government needs to take necessary steps to develop a national maternity assistance program strategy to remove barriers for women and level the playing field in the trades, the Canadian operating officer of Canada’s Building Trades Unions recently told a senate committee on social affairs, science and technology.

Visit https://canada.constructconnect.com/dcn/news/labour/2018/12/national-maternity-strategy-needed-industry-women-stresses-building-trades to view the full article online.

What is the relevance of LEED as more green rating systems emerge?

The number of green building rating systems on the market has increased over recent years but LEED remains the standard for sustainable best practice.

Visit https://canada.constructconnect.com/dcn/news/projects/2018/12/relevance-leed-green-rating-systems-emerge to view the full article online.

LEADERSHIP, EDUCATION & TRAINING

CEC Estimating Conference – Project Procurement and Strategies

CEC is pleased to announce that it will once again offer its highly acclaimed Estimating Conference in Calgary, AB from February 27 to March 1. This conference focuses not on how to estimate, but rather project procurement and strategies. Sessions covered will include deal breakers, project risk and go/no-go strategies, putting together a proposal, what a general contractor looks for in its selection process—to name a few.

Visit http://mcac.ca/cec/programs/estimating/ to view the full article online.

Have you signed up for the Advanced Project Management course?

The Construction Education Council is pleased to announce the launch of its brand-new Advanced Project Management course. The program builds on the teachings in the highly successful 10-day program, and provides 28 hours of Gold Seal-accredited, industry-specific, advanced-level project management training.

Graduates will bring back to their companies’ strategies for making their projects even more successful. Senior project skills that will be covered include:

The Art of Facilitative Leadership
Organizational Planning – Portfolio Management
Financial and Basic Accounting Principles for Project Managers
Principles of Lean for Construction

INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY

Hire 'mad scientists' to spark change in construction firms

Ensuring your company is a disruptor rather than the disrupted takes intentional action. James Benham, JBKnowledge CEO, and Ricardo Khan, Mortenson Construction’s senior director of innovation, shared some of the ways they foster innovation in their respective companies.

Visit https://www.constructiondive.com/news/help-wanted-hire-mad-scientists-to-spark-change-in-construction-firms/543693/ to view the full article online.

Canadian constructors lagging on data use: professor

Canada’s construction sector is seriously lagging in exploiting social media analytics and mining other data sources to improve projects, a Buildings Show workshop audience was told recently.

Visit https://canada.constructconnect.com/dcn/news/projects/2018/12/canadian-constructors-lagging-data-use-professor to view the full article online.

Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada