Editor's
viewpoint Winter 2017
Table of Contents
By Mark Buckshon
Interim editor, Canadian Design and Construction Report
I enjoy the misleading ostrich allegory: If you bury
your head in the sand (like an ostrich) you’ll be run over
by the fast changing and moving forces around you. This
belies the fact that the ungainly African bird, with rather
large eggs, has survived quite well through the eons.

Maybe the ostriches know more than we about survival
(and there is an explanation for the head burying - see
below). Clearly, there are rather serious dangers in not being
aware of our environment and adapting to it. Technolog-
ical changes are moving at an amazing pace. These give
me hope for a really bright future ahead.

For example, solar energy has started to become ra-
tionally economic in many market/climate conditions -
and this is without artificial government incentives and
prop-ups. Wind turbines have also become an important
business. The electronic car has become a high-end in-
demand product (Telsa).

And building technologies have advanced to the point
in Europe where extremely large structures are designed
and built to consume virtually no energy, be comfortable
for users, and economic to maintain (Passive House.)
The world is changing.

Publishers like me also need to see the changes, and
I think the evolving direction to primarily electronic
media, supported by low-run print-on-demand services,
such as for Canadian Design and Construction Report,
will become the new norm.

Yet maybe the ostrich has something on the push for
change. Because these birds don’t actually bury their
heads in the sand, according to National Geographic
Kids. (Amazing how grown-ups sometimes have to
check kids’ literature to figure out the facts.)
“Ostriches don’t bury their heads in the sand – they
wouldn’t be able to breathe! But they do dig holes in the
dirt to use as nests for their eggs.

“Several times a day, a bird puts her head in the hole
and turns the eggs. So it really does look like the birds
are burying their heads in the sand!”
We can certainly emulate the ostrich, carefully tending
our business “eggs” by respecting, nurturing and encour-
aging healthy growth and adaptation.

I welcome your thoughts and observations. You can
reach me by phone at (888) 627-8717 ext. 224 or by
email at buckshon@cadcr.com. You can also read my
daily blog at www.constructionmarketingideas.com.

UBC’s School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture to host
LafargeHolcim Awards for Sustainable Construction jury . . . . . . 5
THE GREAT CANADIAN DRYWALL COMPROMISE
Anti-dumping duties remain, but punitive provisional tariffs
rolled back after manufacturer, contractors agree on strategy . . 6
The CITT decision: Reducing the anti-dumping tariff burden
on drywall manufacturers, distributors and contractors . . . . . . . 8
CaGBC seeks Canada’s Green Building Product of the Year . . . 11
COVER STORY: The silica dust hazard
What is it and why should I be concerned? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
New Ontario “Construction Act” to be released
in spring, says Ontario’s attorney general . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
News Briefs across Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
CDCR Hotel Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
SPECIAL FEATURES
Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA)
Awards of Excellence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
CDBI Awards recognize excellence and contributions
to design-build profession’s stature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
BOMA BC combines education and advocacy as it encourages
energy efficiency and higher building standards . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
youRhere Inc. provides touchpoint
for tenants and visitors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
EIFS Council of Canada introduces Architectural
Design Awards program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Canamould Extrusions Inc.

Time saving, cost effective and durable pre-coated
architectural foam shapes solve EIFS challenges . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
DuROCK’s PUCC System meets new EIFS
building code standards with effective
drainage, insulation and ease of installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Passive House Institute US advances passive building
through training, education and resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Canadian Association of Pipeline and Utility Locating
Contractors (CAPULC) focuses on competency,
ethics and professional recognition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Gear Equipment Inc: RSP dry suction excavators reduce
environmental stress while enhancing production efficiency . . 40
Dodge upcoming project reports . . . . . . . . . . . ONLINE ONLY - 47
The Canadian Design and Construction Report — Winter 2017 – 3