News

Toronto’s construction industry is booming — creating a lot of potentially hazardous dust

As reported in The Star, as a bricklayer and someone who has been around concrete and cement for much of his working life in several Canadian provinces, John Ferreira has seen and dealt with a lot of dust. Ferreira, now a health...

Manitoba government looks at selling off provincially owned Amphibex machines

As reported in the Winnipeg Sun, the Manitoba government is seeking private-sector ideas for ice-jam mitigation that could lead it to sell off provincially owned Amphibex machines. A new request for information (RFI) notes the...

Canadian housing starts trended higher in September

OTTAWA, Oct. 8, 2019 /CNW/ - The trend in housing starts was 223,507 units in September 2019, compared to 218,782 units in August 2019, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). This trend measure is a...

Bulletin 246 – Innovations in Fire and Smoke Detection Reduce False Alarms

It has often been said that just because building occupants can’t see flames or smell smoke, it doesn’t necessarily mean there isn’t an emergency fire situation. Nevertheless, recent advances in software allow building fire alarm...

Tender to manage construction of Cape Breton Regional Hospital expansion issued

As reported in the Cape Breton Post, an expansion of the Cape Breton Regional Hospital is another step closer to reality, with the province issuing a request for proposals for companies interested in managing the construction...

Report on infrastructure calls for greater and urgent investment in core works, says CCA

OTTAWA, October 8, 2019 – Canada’s public infrastructure requires urgent attention in the coming decades in order to reverse the current state of disrepair, according to the 2019 edition of the Canadian Infrastructure Report Card...

New P.E.I. campaign to reduce accidents in the construction industry

As reported in the Journal Pioneer, Islanders on construction sites may hear some extra messages around safe work habits in the coming weeks. With growing demands on the construction industry on P.E.I., safety officials want...

Building permits issued by Canadian municipalities rise in August

Statistics Canada reports that the value of building permits issued by Canadian municipalities rose 6.1% to $9.0 billion in August, largely because of increases in multi-family and industrial permits. Gains were reported in seven...

Beyond the ban: experts say more needed to tackle ongoing asbestos problem

As reported in the Regina Leader-Post, when Paul Demers took industrial hygiene training in the 1980s he thought asbestos was a thing of the past, but 30 years later it remains the leading cause of workplace deaths in...

Green roofs can make cities healthier and happier. Why aren’t they everywhere?

As blogged on Fast Company, rooftops covered with grass, vegetable gardens, and lush foliage are now a common sight in many cities around the world. More and more private companies and city authorities are investing in green...

Plan for 55 km Saskatoon perimeter freeway includes 16 interchanges, 5 railway overpasses

As reported on CTV News, a picture of what a possible perimeter freeway around Saskatoon could look like is becoming clearer. The city’s transportation committee will review a report from the provincial government and the...

Smart cities are creating a mass surveillance nightmare

As reported in the Daily Beast, more than a million New Yorkers could soon willingly agree to carry a government-issued tracking device, whether they realize it or not. That’s the proposal from Mayor Bill de Blasio, who...

RAIC highlights climate change for World Architecture Day on October 7

OTTAWA, October 7, 2019 — On World Architecture Day, the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) is calling on architects to lead in the fight against climate change and bring discussion of the built environment to the federal...

Top 5 best ways to implement BIM on a construction site

Changing needs of construction industry has increased the use of BIM. BIM offers a range of appealing benefits like improved collaboration and coordination between different stakeholders of the same project, streamlined processes, and reduced...

One of world’s tallest skyscrapers opens in Beijing

As reported on New Atlas, shortly after the inauguration of one of the world's largest airports in Beijing, the city is now host to another massive new building, this time a skyscraper by Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF). Now officially...