Entries by CANS

Technology Can Help Close Performance Gap

The skilled labor shortage is a well-documented epidemic. As baby boomers continue to reach retirement age and the younger generations enter the workforce in stronger numbers, companies must take steps to understand how best to recruit and retain these workers — and technology can help with that. Read more.

‘You Got This’ Campaign Encourages Women Pursuing Careers in Trades

Women Building Futures (WBF) wants females to consider careers in the trades and it’s helping by training and matching them with jobs in the field. “We’ve got a lot of work to do,” said Jacqueline Andersen, the director of stakeholder relations with the non-profit society. “Women are between four and six per cent of the […]

Focus on CSR: Practical Advice for Sole Operators

Even for a sole operator, there are many things you can do to start your CSR journey: Make and communicate a CSR commitment statement Volunteer in your community Make donations Mentor a young person Hire summer students or apprentices Buy green and local products Buy only as much as you need Share equipment with others […]

CANS has concerns regarding Builders’ Lien Act compliance

The Construction Association of Nova Scotia (CANS) is concerned that contractors and buyers of construction are still not compliant with the new regulations of the Builders’ Lien Act even though the province proclaimed all three industry-recommended amendments effective in June. Read more.

What Does Design-Build Bring to a Project?

The Canadian Construction Association interviewed some people closely related to the 2017 CDBI Award of Excellence winning projects for their views on the benefits of design-build. Watch video of PCL Construction superintendent Shawn Carels (Interior Heart and Surgical Centre in Kelowna, B.C.) Watch video of SNC-Lavalin project director Dave Weatherby (Evergreen Line Rapid Transit Project […]

The Impact Made by Artificial Intelligence on the Construction Industry

Opportunities are endless with the introduction of artificial intelligence to the construction industry, from the design to the actual build. Artificial intelligence is where machines exhibit their own intelligence through using algorithms to solve problems using inputted data. By harnessing robotics, construction managers can utilise intelligent machines that can perform routine tasks that were once […]

Corn Walls and Rice Bricks: Tomorrow’s Cities Will Be Built from Crops

Today, pineapple, potatoes, mushrooms, corn, oranges, and bananas are staples of the produce aisle. Tomorrow, they might be the backbones of our cities, according to a new report from Arup. In The Urban Bio Loop, the engineering firm advocates turning organic waste into construction materials as a way to use resources more effectively and develop […]

Navigating the Digital Future: The Disruption of Capital Projects

Productivity in the construction sector has stagnated for decades, with the average capital project reaching completion 20 months behind schedule and 80 percent over budget. Some overruns result from increased project complexity and scale, but another factor also looms large: all stakeholders in the capital-projects ecosystem—project owners, contractors, and subcontractors—have resisted adopting digital tools and […]