Editor's
viewpoint Winter 2018
By Mark Buckshon
Table of Contents
Some stories are simple in their complexity. For exam-
ple, the decision by Construction Specifications Canada
(CSC) to change its strategic alliance for marketing the
Canadian National Master Specification seems straight-
forward enough. The association issued a news release
announcing the new alignment and all is well . . .

But I know from 20 years of membership in the na-
tional association (and a couple of years as chair of its
Ottawa chapter), that there was more than met the eye
at first sight here. The decision to end a 15-year market-
ing alliance doesn’t come without consequences, espe-
cially since the NMS in fact is owned by the federal
government, through the National Research Council
(NRC). I tried to find the reason for the change and assess its
consequence. One thing is certain: There will be more
competition in making the NMS available to architects,
engineers and contractors throughout Canada because
the former alliance partner arranged its own licencing
agreement with the NRC to stay in the marketplace; and
so now there are three distribution channels for this im-
portant resource, which is at the core of most of the
country’s construction contract documentation.

You can also read several other stories, including a re-
port on Ontario’s new Construction Act, updates on top
B.C. architects, and my own explanation about how to
effectively develop a marketing strategy, requiring little
money for entirely effective results.

We’re getting ready for the next issue and as usual I
welcome your comments and suggestions. You can best
reach me by email at buckshon@cadcr.com
Ontario’s New Construction Act to reform
industry dispute resolution, payment practices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
AEC Marketing Communication in the New World:
Low cost strategies that really work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
CCA publishes a Corporate Social Responsibility
guide for Canadian construction companies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
National Master Specification competitive landscape
shifts with new CSC strategic alliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
CCPPA introduces new Environmental Product Declaration . . . 14
SPECIAL FEATURES:
TOP 10 CONCRETE FLOOR CONTRACTORS
Apollo Concrete Contracting, industry experts for 25 years . . . 15
BC TOP 10 ARCHITECTS
Now available:
PDF Page-FliPPiNg techNology just like
the DocumeNt you are reaDiNg Now...

Diversity, leadership, initiative and focus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
DA Architects + Planners,
designers of more than just buildings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Ciccozzi Architecture focuses on collaborative,
co-operative and interactive design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Lubor Trubka Associates Architects recognized
internationally as a leader and innovator in wood design . . . . 22
TOP 10 CANADIAN TRUSS MANUFACTURERS
Phoenix Building Components continues
to expand its products and capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Magazine and Newsletter Design
Online or Print – Big or Small
It can always be simple
www.memoproductions.ca 819-827-3802
info@memoproductions.com TOP 20 GENERAL CONTRACTOR
Fillmore Construction: Meeting tight deadlines on
challenging projects for more than 25 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
News Briefs across Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
The Canadian Design and Construction Report — Winter 2018 – 3