This edition sponsored by:
February 16, 2023
Welcome to this edition of the Round Up published by Construction Links Network.

Top news has Statistics Canada reporting that investment in building construction decreased 1.3% to $20.2 billion in December. The residential sector declined 2.1% to $14.6 billion, while the non-residential sector was up 0.8% to $5.6 billion. Industrial construction investment increased for the 13th consecutive month, up 2.1% to $1.1 billion. Commercial construction investment remained relatively stable for the month. Institutional construction investment increased 1.5% to $1.4 billion and has remained around this value since October 2021. 

The top video is courtesy of one of my favorite YouTube channels, Interesting Engineering. A team of researchers from Imperial College London and Empa mixed two of the most popular technologies in the tech industry and came up with the concept of 3D printing drone swarms. This system that was inspired by wasps can make construction faster and cheaper, offering a possible solution to overpopulation and the housing crisis.

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Arnie Gess
President & Publisher
Top news and video sponsored by:
Top news and video
Investment in Canadian non-residential building construction increases in December

Statistics Canada reports that investment in building construction decreased 1.3% to $20.2 billion. The residential sector declined 2.1% to $14.6 billion. Investment in non-residential construction was up 0.8% to $5.6 billion in December.
Wasp-Inspired Drones can now 3D Print Buildings

This system that was inspired by wasps can make construction faster and cheaper, offering a possible solution to overpopulation and the housing crisis that comes with it. While they are at the beginning of heir development cycle, 3D printing drones have endless potential. Can 3D printing drones be the future of the construction industry?
Member news, blogs and videos
Construction & Aggregate – Back to the Basics 

As an industry, we risk straying too far from what made us such an incredible line of work in the first place. We need to avoid giving our people unnecessary tasks and responsibilities, ones that occupy too much of their time and keep them from doing what they’re good at.
Five Equipment Dealership Trends that will Shape 2023

The theory behind the equipment triangle is that all transactions between end users, distributors, and OEM/suppliers should be a win-win for all parties. However, with major changes in the construction equipment industry underway, dealerships and manufacturers will need to adapt to keep the Equipment Triangle in balance.
Magic Lite expands and improves Tape Light offering

With over 38 years in linear lighting, Magic Lite has once again expanded and improved it’s offering of indoor and outdoor tape light products. Boasting the broadest tape light offering with industry-leading warranty of 6 years, Magic Lite is confident that we can find the perfect solution to all your linear lighting projects. 
Protecting Workers: Be aware of what you are breathing

In 2019, it was announced that asbestos was the leading type of occupational lung cancer in Ontario. It is estimated that approximately 1900 lung cancers, 430 mesotheliomas, 45 laryngeal cancers and five ovarian cancers are caused by exposure to asbestos in the workplace.
The Fun Side of Construction: From Themed Hotels to Aquariums, Unconventional Building Projects

The construction industry is constantly pushing the limits of what’s possible, and unique and interesting projects are becoming more common as a result. From themed hotels and museums to sports stadiums and public art installations, construction professionals are using their creativity and technical expertise to build spaces that are not only functional, but also immersive and memorable.
Large Flat Commercial Rooftop Introduces a Roofline System to the Rooftop

No matter the size, working on a roof is dangerous and poses a fall risk. We sometimes think that the larger rooftops are less dangerous as you have more space to conduct maintenance, but that’s not entirely true.
Freezing Rain and Your Home or Business – How to prepare and recover after a winter ice event

Every year, the season brings unexpected conditions and challenges that risk the stability and safety of building structures and more importantly their occupants. Find out how to deal with acute winter weather events for residential and commercial properties.
B2B on-demand marketing services for hire

Do you own a small business and lack the human resources and time to properly promote your business online? I can help for five to ten hours a month.
More news and videos
Industry watching as financially troubled Vancouver developer seeks creditor protection

A major Vancouver developer’s recent move seeking creditor protection is unusual because of the size of the company and its portfolio, but not necessarily indicative of a larger trend in the sector, industry observers say.
Canadian architects help lift ‘curse’ of bad sound at New York’s famed Lincoln center

There’s a Canadian signature on a beam of one of New York City’s most iconic buildings: the newly revamped David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, home to the New York Philharmonic. Gary McCluskie, a principal architect with Toronto-based Diamond Schmitt Architects, can show you exactly where the signature is.
P.E.I. vacancy rate target out of reach without bigger workforce, says construction industry

The Construction Association of P.E.I. says the provincial housing minister’s goal for the Island’s vacancy rate to go from less than one per cent to four per cent within two years won’t be achievable without the addition of more skilled tradespeople.
Cities and towns want PST dropped on construction projects

Cities in Saskatchewan are crying foul over the PST. On Friday SUMA (Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association) issued a news release saying cities, towns, and villages are paying the province millions of dollars in provincial sales tax on construction projects.
Builders say Canada’s foreign buyers ban is stopping construction of new homes

The wording of the ban, which came into effect at the beginning of this year, unintentionally prevents a broad swath of companies from purchasing vacant land to turn into new housing due to its strict limits on foreign involvement, they say. That’s making it harder for the Trudeau government to ease the country’s housing crisis — the reason the prohibition was introduced in the first place.
Site preparation begins for Prince Albert Victoria hospital project

SaskBuilds and Procurement (SBP) is moving forward with the Design Early Works Phase for the Prince Albert Victoria Hospital Project. This phase of the project will be led by PCL Construction Management Inc. and includes designs for a new acute care tower, renovations to the current facility, and replacement of the existing adult mental health space.
Construction begins on Vancouver FC’s new 6,600-seat soccer stadium in Langley

The stadium is being built within a short timeframe, made possible with its modular design, with off-site prefabricated structures transported to the site for assembly — a process that shortens the construction timeline, and greatly reduces the cost compared to conventional construction methods.
Canada needs to boost home building by 50 per cent to keep up with immigration, report says

The country is on track to break ground on about 210,000 housing units this year, according to Desjardins Securities. But the Desjardins report says about 100,000 additional housing starts are needed this year and next, as Canada gets ready to admit a record number of immigrants.
Architectural Technologies graduate builds dream home

Freemantle graduated from Sask Polytech’s Architectural Technologies diploma program in 2017. Since finishing the program, she has worked full time as an architectural technologist at Voce Developments in Saskatoon and started her own company called Aspire Drafting & Design.
The building blocks of sustainable concrete

Gupta and his team in UVic’s Facility for Innovative Materials and Infrastructure Monitoring (FIMIM) are pushing the boundaries of what can be done with concrete by replacing cement with other sustainable binding materials, providing an alternative to carbon dioxide sequestration.
Concordia University’s experiential learning is making sustainable city-planning fun

The project, CityPlayer, uses the elements of video-game-playing – or gamification – to make urban planning interactive and accessible. Li acted as lead programmer in the development of a prototype game, My Perfect Neighbourhood, which allows players to find the ideal balance between a livable and sustainable environment.
AECOM appoints Jean-Christian Dupont as national defense client account manager in Canada

Before joining AECOM, Mr. Dupont was director of business development for C-CORE, a not-for-profit research and development business based in St-John’s Newfoundland. Immediately prior to that he held the same role with Serco Canada Inc. in Ottawa. 
More news and videos
Federal Government calls for applications for green building retrofits

Julie Dabrusin, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change launched the call for applications for two new initiatives to accelerate building retrofits: the Deep Retrofit Accelerator Initiative (DRAI) and the Greener Neighbourhoods Pilot Program (GNPP). 
CASE Teases New Attitude, New Equipment and “The New CASE” Heading into CONEXPO-CON/AGG

The 180-year-old+ manufacturer will highlight “The New CASE” at the industry’s largest North American trade show — showcasing groundbreaking new equipment, exciting new partnerships, and a range of new solutions designed to help contractors get more work done, easier and more profitably than ever before.
Contruent launches SaaS-based capital project management software solution

Contruent Enterprise offers owners and EPCs a simple way to stay on project and budget and make the most of industry opportunities. Contruent Enterprise, a software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution, was built to help budget owners of public infrastructure and large-scale commercial megaprojects ($100 million+) complete projects faster, better and with cost savings.
The EU green buildings plan aims to slash emissions – but this European country isn’t happy

The ‘green buildings’ pact aims to slash greenhouse gas emissions in the building sector – the single largest energy consumer in the EU. But Italy says neither its government nor homeowners can afford to complete the required renovations.
K.A. Group to Display Unity and Inclusivity at CONEXPO-CON/AGG

K.A. Group’s theme for the 2023 show is “Earthmoving For Everyone”. The company recognizes that earthmovers everywhere have a variety of materials to be moved from one location to another. The optimal equipment selected to move this material is dependent on the application, and the machines that are already owned by the earthmover. 
New air cleaner is both quiet and energy efficient – ideal for times of tripledemic

Swedish air cleaning company QleanAir now launches an air cleaner specially designed to improve the air quality in sensitive environments such as hospitals, schools, offices and other public spaces.
Graco to introduce the latest in Auto Lubrication Injector Technology at CONEXPO-CON/AGG

Visit booth #S61419 in the South Hall to learn how Graco’s lubrication equipment solutions extend the lifecycle of off-road mobile and other machinery while expediting maintenance tasks, so construction experts can better adhere to schedules.
Yanmar Compact Equipment to introduce new product line at CONEXPO-CON/AGG

The Yanmar CE NA booth will feature 12 machines and attachments, showcasing Yanmar Compact Equipment’s full line of compact equipment offerings suitable for any worksite.
Energy-efficient construction materials work better in colder climates

In recent years, phase change materials (PCMs) used to improve the energy efficiency of buildings are gaining momentum. PCMs can store and release large amounts of energy—when in a solid phase, they can absorb heat, providing a cooling effect and when a PCM is in its liquid phase it can release heat, providing a warming effect.
The Secret to Making Concrete that Lasts 1,000 Years

For decades, researchers have probed samples from Roman concrete structures—tombs, breakwaters, aqueducts, and wharves—to find out why these ancient buildings endure when modern concrete may crumble after only a few decades.
These robots might build your house

The construction site of the future is already here as homes, office buildings and industrial sites go up around the country. Robots that can lay bricks, put up drywall and tie rebar are pitching in at a time when the construction industry is in major flux.
These building materials are made out of grass

While launching a sustainable furniture startup during the pandemic, serial entrepreneur Josh Dorfman watched as the price of wood skyrocketed. It got harder to find high-quality lumber, and he started wondering what alternative materials might be possible to use.
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Industry events
Do you have an upcoming event to advertise in this section? Contact us for details
The Canadian Construction Association (CCA) is thrilled to announce that our marquee event, the 2023 Annual Conference will take place March 7-10 in Tucson, Arizona at the Hilton El Conquistador. CCA’s National Advisory Council (NAC) meetings and Annual General Meeting (AGM) will also take place at the same location on March 6. This multi-day industry event will bring together leaders from across the country for incredible content, networking and to celebrate our member’s accomplishments through our National Awards program.
New York Build (March 8-9, Javits Center), The largest construction and design show for New York and the Tri-state area is set for the biggest edition yet at the Javits Center.

This award-winning show, is officially supported by the State of New York and Mayor of New York. Attend to learn about major construction opportunities in residential, commercial and infrastructure projects across New York and the Tri-state region. 
CONEXPO-CON/AGG is the only event that connects experts from every major construction sector. Here, you'll meet the people who make the machines, discover new technologies and build relationships in the construction community. All lead to new opportunities to improve your business, become more efficient, and grow your place within the industry. The best in construction come to CONEXPO-CON/AGG because they are driven to take themselves to the next level.

Enter to win a flight to Las Vegas. Contest closes on December 31, 2022.
With the urgency of building affordable housing, Modular for Affordable Housing by Trueventus is aimed to create a premier destination for construction industry professionals to gain insights and experience first-hand on the latest innovations and opportunities in modern methods of construction to streamline workflows, improve productivity, expand the scope of projects, expand access to data, enhance collaboration and generate stronger profit margins. Also, understanding emerging construction technologies that are becoming increasingly leveraged to aid the design and development of modular construction.
ROOFTech is Canada’s dedicated trade show and educational program for the roofing community and construction and property management industries. ROOFTech 2023 will return to The International Centre, April 4-5, 2023 in Toronto, Canada.

ROOFTech 2023 will bring together over 150 exhibitors curated to provide the latest products, services, and innovations in the roofing industry. Learn from knowledgeable industry professionals through educational seminars and hands-on, live demonstrations.

The Show is designed by the roofing industry to provide architects, specifiers, building inspectors, contractors, engineers, property managers, owners, and roofing consultants with an educational experience directly related to all aspects of roofing. ROOFTech will be an information forum that will offer significant benefits to those who wish to stay abreast of cutting-edge technologies in the roofing industry.

ROOFTech 2023 is produced by the Canadian Roofing Contractors Association, Informa Connect, and the Ontario Industrial Roofing Contractors Association.
The 2023 CGA Conference and Expo highlights:

Industry Leading Speakers
Keynote addresses from respected industry leaders and professional development specialists during meal functions. Professional moderators and facilitators will keep discussions moving.

Carefully Curated Sessions
Two full days of education and personal enrichment focusing on quality, not quantity. Specialized tracks for targeted stakeholder groups consisting of timely and relevant material.

Interactive Exhibit Hall
50,000 square foot exhibit space to showcase the industry’s finest products and solutions. The Outdoor Tour – hands-on demos in digging and dialogue.
Equip yourself with new information and technologies to better position and optimize your buildings as well as expand your professional network! PM Springfest brings together property management professionals to connect with leading suppliers, explore new innovations and learn from industry experts about latest regulatory, health, and life safety changes; efficient energy management strategies; retrofitting aging buildings; essential capital planning details; and much more.
The CISC & CSSBI are proud to present SteelWeek 2023

This week will be a virtual, interactive, “steel centric,” networking event, bringing together leaders in the Canadian steel design, manufacturing, and construction community.

Engineers, architects, fabricators, erectors, contractors, developers, students, educators, and the general public are invited to see how we contribute to building Canada.

SteelWeek is your chance to learn about steel, all while getting to know the Canadian steel construction industry. Up close!
The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) invited proposals for continuing education sessions and architectural tours, for the RAIC 2023 Conference on Architecture —taking place May 2 to 6, 2023 in-person at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Calgary, AB. This event will also have a virtual component for continuing education sessions. 

The program, which is tailored for professional and educational success, will feature high-quality learning opportunities that include interactive content, innovative ideas, and engaging discussions. Participants at all career levels will take away insights, inspiration, and ideas for practical application. 
This all-inclusive trade exhibition highlights every facet of the utility industry, from improved productivity to enhanced safety to increased efficiency. We connect attendees with new ideas, new solutions, and new products from the world’s best and most innovative manufacturers. All while providing hands-on demonstrations and one-on-one communication that let everyone return to their organization more confident, more intelligent, and more prepared for wherever the industry goes next.