FAQ

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Have questions about CANS membership, events, education, or projects? Our FAQ section provides quick answers to the most common inquiries, helping you find the information you need—fast.

Use the headings below to navigate to the topics most relevant to you.

Don’t see what you’re looking for?
Contact us for more information on who at CANS may be able to assist you.

General

No. However, our online membership directory can be searched to find contact information for each member.

CANS encourages individuals and companies to become actively involved in our organization through advisory opportunities.

Most of our decision-making and event planning is volunteer-driven, supported by standing committees and ad hoc groups. These committees contribute to key areas, including:

  • Government and Industry Relations
  • Membership
  • Finance
  • Workforce Development

If you’re interested in making an impact and shaping the future of our industry, contact us to get involved.

Your company’s Profile Administrator has access to update your member listing. To make changes:

  1. Log in to CANSnet.
  2. Click My CANSnet in the top right corner.
  3. Select My Profile to edit your listing.

Your company’s Profile Administrator is the only employee responsible for:

  • Managing the company’s information online
  • Adding or removing employee access to CANS web resources
  • Maintaining current data in the company profile

This person is typically identified when your company first becomes a member.

Need to find your Profile Administrator? Contact Melody Hillman, Vice-President, Member Engagement & Development.

If your company is a CANS member, you’ll need to request a CANSnet username from your company’s Profile Administrator. Each member company has an assigned Profile Administrator who can create CANSnet user accounts and manage username/password information.
  1. Log in to CANSnet.
  2. Click My CANSnet in the top right corner of the screen.
  3. Select My Orders.
  4. Review any outstanding balances listed on this page.
  5. Click Make a Payment.
  6. Enter the amount you wish to pay and click Proceed to Payment.
  7. Enter your credit card information and click Process to finalize your payment.

Canada’s Anti-Spam Law (CASL) Compliance
New federal legislation, effective July 1, 2014, changed how businesses communicate with existing and prospective clients. It impacts all electronic communications—from e-newsletters to individual emails to social media. Access the legislation here.

To ensure CANS complies with CASL, we ask all members to confirm their current e-newsletter subscriptions.

Please take a few moments to confirm or update your preferences:

  1. Log in to CANSnet
  2. Click My CANSnet in the top right corner
  3. Select My Profile
  4. Update your preferences at the bottom of the screen

For further assistance, contact us.

Events

Registration for CANS Events is easy! Visit our Event Listings page, and click Details. Follow the steps to choose your tickets and complete payment. Note: You’ll need a login and password to purchase tickets. If you don’t have an account, the system will prompt you to create one.

Anyone employed by a CANS member company is eligible for member pricing. Some CANS events are also open to the general public at a non-member rate.

Events designated as members-only will be clearly identified in the online event description.

CANS offers a variety of sponsorship opportunities for our events. Learn more about sponsorship options.

Member Services

Three ways to become a CANS Member:

  1. Complete an online membership application;
  2. Visit us in person at 134 Eileen Stubbs Ave., Unit 103, Dartmouth; or
  3. Contact Kaila Chiasson, Membership Lead for assistance

CANS offers two membership types: Full and Associate.

Full Membership provides access to everything CANS offers, including Projects and Documents.

Associate Membership is restricted to companies that provide secondary products or services not directly related to construction. Representatives of Associate Member companies have access to project bulletins and newsletters.

Learn more about membership options.

Yes! CANS offers an Associate Membership for companies that provide secondary products or services not directly related to actual construction. Representatives of Associate Member companies enjoy access to project bulletins, newsletters, events, and CANS Education & Training.

Learn more about membership with CANS.

CANS offers a variety of advertising opportunities for member companies.

With multiple digital formats to choose from, there’s something for every need and budget. You can invest in a one-time placement, purchase an advertising package, or work with our team to create a custom solution tailored to your goals.

Learn more about advertising with CANS.

Industry Education

Registering for CANS Education & Training courses is easy!

Visit our upcoming course listing page, find the course you’d like to register for, and click details. Follow the steps to choose the number of seats and complete payment.

Note: You’ll need a login and password to register. If you don’t have an account, the system will prompt you to create one.

Nationally acclaimed, the Canadian Construction Association’s (CCA) Gold Seal Certification is a recognized standard of excellence for construction management professionals. Gold Seal Certified (GSC) construction management professionals have attained the highest standard of excellence, have proven industry experience, and are held in the highest regard.

Gold Seal certification is available for estimators, forepersons, owner’s construction managers, project managers, safety practitioners or superintendents working in Canada’s industrial, commercial, institutional, and civil (ICIC) construction sectors.

CANS is proud to be involved in the Gold Seal Certification Program and can help you with the training required for your application. Contact your CANS Education team for more information on how to start your Gold Seal journey with CANS.

Learn more about the Gold Seal Certification Program.

Projects and Documents

To access project documents, you must be logged in to CANSnet. Once logged in:

  1. Visit the Projects page.
  2. Click Bulletin (to view all current projects) or Inventory (to view both closed and current projects).
  3. Find the project you want and click its Project Code. This will open a page with project-specific details, including specifications and drawings (if applicable).

To view documents, click the document or drawing name. A PDF version will open on your desktop.

  1. Select the documents and drawings you want by selecting the box next to each document labeled Download or clicking Add next to each drawing.
  2. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click Download Selected Project Files (ZIP).

A zipped folder containing all selected documents and drawings will then download to your desktop.

  1. Log in to CANSnet using your own profile.
  2. On the Bulletin, click the Project Code for the project you’re interested in.
  3. On the project page, scroll to the Plan Takers/Bidders section and click Add Me to Plan Takers List.

  1. Log in to CANSnet using your own profile.
  2. On the Bulletin, click the Project Code for the project you want to follow.
  3. Click Add to My Projects near the top right corner of the page.

Why Watch a Project?
Watching a project keeps you up to date on important changes such as Addenda, Extensions, Bid Results, and Awards. You’ll receive email notifications whenever updates occur, and the project will be easier to access under My CANSnet.

  1. Log in to CANSnet.
  2. Click MY CANSNET in the top right corner of the site.
  3. In your profile, select My Projects.

This will display all the projects you’re watching in the same format as the Bulletin and Inventory sections of the website.

CANS projects are available for viewing purposes only. Tender forms are locked and can only be viewed online.

To obtain tender forms, please contact the project owner directly.

Printing your documents and specs is easy with CANS printing services. For instructions on printing and scanning, click here.

We provide a comprehensive selection of CCDC and CCA standard documents to support your projects.

Don’t see what you’re looking for?
Contact us for more information on who at CANS may be able to assist you.

Have general feedback to share?
Email us at cans@cans.ns.ca.

Click on each heading below to find answers for each section:

GENERAL

Does CANS distribute or sell its membership list?
How can I get involved?
How do I update my member listing?
What is a profile administrator and how do I find out who it is?
My company is already a member of CANS—how can I create a CANSnet user login?
How do I make a credit card payment on CANSnet?
How do I subscribe or unsubscribe from CANS marketing emails?

EVENTS

How do I register for an event?
Who can attend?
What sponsorship opportunities are available?

MEMBER SERVICES

How do I become a member?
What is the difference between a Full and Associate member?
My company is not a construction company—can I still be a member?
What advertising opportunities does CANS offer?

INDUSTRY EDUCATION

How to register for a course?
What is Gold Seal?

PROJECTS AND DOCUMENTS

How can I view project specifications and drawings online?
How can I download a zipped folder of documents and drawings from CANSnet?
How can I add myself as a Plan Taker for a project?
How can I add myself as a Watcher on a project?
How can I see the projects I am watching on My CANSnet?
Why can’t I print tender forms from CANSnet?