NEWS BRIEFS
Advanced construction technolo-
gies and modern mass timber prod-
ucts are making building tall with
wood a viable option that is gaining
traction and appeal from design and
construction communities who face
growing pressures to reduce the car-
bon footprint of buildings. Wood prod-
uct based construction remains a
great solution to these challenges as it
is a renewable building material, origi-
nating from sustainably managed
forests in Canada.
Poor economy drags
Quebec construction
workers’ vacation pay
A poor economy is dragging the
construction industry down with it and
is being blamed for another decline in
the annual vacation pay for construc-
tion workers, says the Commission de
la construction du Québec, the Mon-
treal Gazette has reported.
The CCQ (Commission de la con-
struction de Quebec) reported that va-
cation pay is down three per cent
compared to figures for last year, mak-
ing it the third annual decline.
Approximately 147,000 vacation
pay cheques have been issued for a
total of approximately $364 million.
The two-week construction holiday
this year runs from July 24 to Aug. 6.
NEW BRUNSWICK
Construction has started
on Irving Oil Ltd.’s new
11-storey headquarters in
uptown Saint John
The start came a little over a month
after Saint John Council pushed
through the changes to the city’s Her-
itage Development bylaw, CBC re-
ports. Irving Oil president Ian Whitcomb
said in a news release that the new
home office project was an invest-
ment in the community and people.
“As our company continues to grow
in a very competitive industry, it be-
comes more and more important for
our people to be able to work together
in a modern and collaborative work en-
vironment.” CONSTRUCTION ACROSS CANADA
The changes came after neighbour-
ing property owner Jim Bezanson ap-
pealed the company’s plans to the
province’s assessment and planning
appeal board in early April.
The Saint John heritage architect
and contractor took issue with the
building’s height and its positioning,
which didn’t comply with the city’s
heritage conservation area bylaws.
Despite it being too tall and too far
back from the sidewalk, the city’s Her-
itage Development Board approved
the plans for the company’s headquar-
ters. The exemption was given, in part,
because the board felt the plans fit the
King’s Square location where it would
be built.
Following the launch of the appeal,
Saint John city council fast tracked the
change to the bylaw after city resi-
dents and businesses rallied to sup-
port the Irving project.
After a three-week process, council
passed the changes on May 2.
The new building will bring 1,000
employees under one roof.
Toronto based B + H Architects
and landscape architect Alex Novell
designed the project. Irving Oil would
not disclose its costs, and none of the
published material outlines if the com-
pany has selected a general contractor
or is building it with its own resources.
Irving executive vice president
Sarah Irving said the support from the
community “has meant a lot to every-
one at our company.”
Federal government
allocates $38 million for
Base Gagetown training
centre construction
22 – September 2016 — The Canadian Design and Construction Report
Defence minister Harjit Sajjan has
announced $38 million in federal fund-
ing to establish a training facility for
dealing with improvised explosive de-
vices, as well as other upgrades on the
military base.
A National Defence press release
says the bulk of the funding, up to $36
million, will go to Dartmouth, Nova
Scotia based contractor Maxim Con-
struction to build the facilities.
Another $2.3 million is being set
aside to improve infrastructure at the
base. That money will be used to re-
pair roads throughout the base that are
washed out, and to upgrade the
base’s airfield and its facilities.
“The major construction work that
is soon to begin will create new jobs
for residents, and will create growth
opportunities for businesses through-
out the Atlantic region,” said Sajjan.
The minister said that all work
should be completed by November,
2017. NOVA SCOTIA
Class action lawyers initiate
legal action about Halifax
Nova Centre construction
Several downtown business own-
ers—one of whom also happens to be
running for mayor—are taking legal ac-
tion over disruptions caused by the
Nova Centre’s construction, The Coast
reports. The Carleton, Attica and the
Wooden Monkey are “negotiating pro-
ceedings” against the municipal,
provincial and federal governments in
an effort to recover financial losses
they say were incurred from the hotel
and convention centre’s four years of
construction. “They were supposed to be done in
September 2015,” says Wooden Mon-
key co-owner Christine Bower. “It’s re-
ally changed, the timeline, and people
don’t know what it takes to stay open,
and pay your bills and keep your staff
employed.” Halifax’s Wagners law firm is repre-
senting the businesses in their notice,
which also names the Halifax Conven-
tion Centre Corporation, Argyle Devel-
opments and
Argyle’s parent