Susan Conrad: Winner of CANS 2025 Trailblazer award

Over more than three decades, Susan Conrad transformed Nova Scotia’s construction industry, proving that leadership, technical mastery and mentorship know no gender.

Her posthumous recognition with the 2025 Trailblazer Award is more than an honour, but a reflection of a career that helped change the landscape for women in construction.

Conrad began her career in 1991 with Floors Plus, then known as Install-A-Flor Ltd., at a time when women in project management were virtually unheard of. She started with blueprint takeoffs and manual calculations, long before computers became standard tools. Her sharp numerical skills and meticulous organization quickly set her apart.

Within a few years, she was managing major accounts and overseeing projects that shaped Nova Scotia’s infrastructure.

Her work on the original QEII Infirmary Hospital was a turning point — a clear signal that women could lead large-scale, technically demanding projects. From hospitals to banks to specialized contracts for the Canadian Navy, Conrad handled complexity with confidence. She didn’t just manage projects; she mastered them.

Conrad’s ability to lead crews and clients alike was rooted in preparation and clarity. She anticipated every step of a project, from the installer’s next move to the client’s concerns. For Tracy Gibson, COO of Fiddlehead Flooring Specialty Group and Conrad’s niece, the connection was both personal and professional.

“She invested in her projects all the way from the technicians performing the work, the end user, the design community, and to the builder. She anticipated the sequence of a project, which is what made her such an excellent project manager.”

Her reputation for reliability became legendary. When Conrad was on a job, stakeholders knew the work would be done right. That trust was her greatest currency — and it extended beyond clients to competitors, who openly acknowledged her as the benchmark for excellence.

Construction projects often involve hundreds of moving parts and high-pressure deadlines. Conrad thrived in that environment. She could walk into a chaotic job site and immediately bring order. Gibson recalls, “She had an ability to simplify the chaos. She would organize it immediately. She would have clarity; she would be able to see the play.”

That clarity wasn’t just technical; it was relational. Conrad spoke plainly, even when conversations were tough. Whether explaining a schedule delay or negotiating a change order, she earned respect by being direct and fair. In an industry where communication can make or break a project, Conrad’s approach was a game changer.

Conrad never set out to be a mentor — but she became one through the way she worked. She taught practical skills not through lectures, but through example: how to prepare a job sheet, how to calculate difficult layouts, how to walk a site with confidence.

“She made you feel like you deserve to be there,” Gibson says. “She made you forget that it was a male-dominated industry.”

Daniella Simmonds, contract administration at Floors Plus, remembers her independence vividly: “She was just so independent. She took care of everything herself. And then little by little, she let me in.”

Over time, Simmonds saw what made Conrad exceptional. “It takes trust and the ability to speak everyone’s language. Conrad’s leadership was her gift for connecting with every level of a project.”

For Simmonds, now a project manager, Conrad’s influence was life changing. “I don’t think I would be a project manager today if it wasn’t for her. She made me do that switch.”

Conrad’s quiet mentorship set a standard for women in construction. She didn’t frame success as a gender issue — she framed it as competence, preparation and integrity. That mindset continues to shape the culture at Floors Plus today.

Conrad’s leadership extended beyond her day-to-day role. She served as president of both the Atlantic Floor Covering Association and the National Floor Covering Association, influencing standards and workforce development nationally. She volunteered extensively, supported community organizations, and ran a successful tax accounting business. Her sense of responsibility was matched only by her generosity.

Those who worked with her remember not just her skill, but her character. “She created stability wherever she went,” Gibson reflects. “She raised the bar without burning people out. She showed that you could be a strong leader, but kindness could coexist.”

Susan Conrad didn’t just open doors — she removed barriers. She proved that women could lead in construction without compromise, and she inspired others to do the same. Her influence lives on in the professionals she mentored, the standards she set and the countless projects that bear her mark.

In every sense of the word, Conrad was a trailblazer. Her legacy is not only in the buildings she helped create, but in the culture of respect, trust and excellence she left behind.