Articles from On-site

Skyway Bridging Partners has been awarded the design contract for the Garden City Skyway Bridge twinning project in St. Catharines, Ontario. The project aims to construct a new four-lane bridge to ease traffic during rehabilitation of the existing bridge, connecting the Niagara region with the United States. This vital transportation infrastructure enhancement supports traffic flow, secures a trade and tourism corridor, and creates jobs. The existing bridge, built in 1963, requires rehabilitation, and the new bridge will support future expansions.

GWL Realty Advisors commenced construction of a new 24-storey rental tower in Calgary's Beltline district. The project will deliver 219 rental units and 6,000 sq. ft. of retail space, enhancing the area's residential offerings and amenities. The development, managed by Axiom Builders and designed by Arcadis, aims for occupancy by mid-2028 and includes features such as modern layouts, a fitness center, and pet-friendly facilities. Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek expressed support for the development, highlighting its contribution to the city's urban core and livability goals.

In May, Canada experienced a stagnation in housing starts with a slight increase in the six-month trend but a minor monthly decline, according to CMHC. Actual housing starts rose by 9% year-over-year in cities with populations over 10,000, partly due to single-detached homes and rentals in Quebec and the Prairies. Montreal saw an increase in housing starts, while Vancouver and Toronto experienced declines, largely due to weaker condominium markets.

Fleet managers are increasingly using AI, specifically Geotab's Generative AI assistant, to gain insights into driver safety and performance. The most used prompts focus on identifying safe drivers and tracking safety improvements rather than penalizing poor performance. A majority of drivers support the use of technology to enhance driving performance, and over 1,500 companies now use this AI solution. This approach reflects a shift towards a supportive and coaching mindset in fleet management.

Humber Polytechnic, in partnership with CourseCompare and Pomerleau, has launched a Project Coordinator for Construction micro-credential program. This 16-hour course aims to fill a skills gap in Canada's construction sector by offering practical training relevant to current market demands. The course includes technical instruction and simulations conducted by industry professionals to help boost Canada's housing and infrastructure capacity. It is available to companies for upskilling employees, with flexible delivery options and pricing based on cohort sizes.

In April, the total value of building permits in Canada declined by 6.6%, largely due to a decrease in the residential sector. Residential construction intentions fell to $7.4 billion, with a significant drop in multi-family dwelling permits, particularly in British Columbia. Conversely, non-residential building permits rose by 3.3%, led by industrial and commercial sectors, especially in Ontario. Overall, Ontario saw an increase in non-residential permits, while British Columbia experienced the largest decline in residential permits.

The deadline for nominations for On-Site Magazine's '40 Under 40 in Canadian Construction' has been extended to June 23, 2025. The event, co-hosted with SitePartners, aims to recognize young leaders in construction across Canada, particularly those in infrastructure, ICI, high-rise residential, and mixed-use segments. The selected honorees will be featured in the September 2025 issue of the magazine, and nominations are open to professionals under 40 years old residing in Canada. Self-nominations are allowed, provided there are supporting references.

The Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) is lending $97 million to support the Wedgeport Wind energy project in Argyle, Nova Scotia. This project involves the construction and installation of 12 wind turbines, providing 84 megawatts of renewable energy to power over 30,000 homes. The initiative will create up to 85 jobs during construction and more opportunities for operations and maintenance. The CIB aims to bridge financial gaps for clean energy projects in Nova Scotia, with the Wedgeport Wind project being a key part of their initiatives in the region.

Aberdeen Avenue in Hamilton, Ontario, has been named the CAA's Worst Road in Ontario for the second year in a row due to issues such as potholes and poor maintenance. Barton Street East in Hamilton and County Road 49 in Prince Edward County rank second and third, respectively. CAA emphasizes the need for government funding to address road conditions and highlights that public nominations for the program have increased. Many Ontarians are willing to endure temporary construction to achieve long-term road improvements.

The Canadian employment rate remained stable in May 2025 despite the unemployment rate rising to seven percent, the highest since September 2016. The construction sector reported a decrease of 7,400 workers from April but had a year-over-year increase of nearly 46,000 workers, reflecting a 2.9% gain. This marks the third consecutive month of rising unemployment. Overall, 1.6 million people were unemployed in May, a 13.8% increase from the previous year.

Invenergy and the Alliance de l’énergie de l’Est have secured $1.1 billion in financing for the Pohénégamook-Picard-Saint-Antonin-Wolastokuk 1 Wind Energy Centre in Quebec. The project, managed by a partnership between Gilbert Group and CRT Construction, will include the development of infrastructure to support new wind turbines and create 350 jobs. The project is expected to start operations in late 2026 and add 350 MW of energy to the local grid. Financing involves participation from Canadian and international financial institutions, emphasizing the project's alignment with clean energy development.

Giatec, a digital concrete technology platform, has formed a strategic partnership with Sika AG, a specialty chemicals company. This collaboration aims to advance smart testing technologies and the real-time analysis of concrete data, enhancing quality and sustainability in concrete construction. Giatec expects this investment to boost global adoption of its technologies and plans to expand further into European and international markets. The partnership aims to improve efficiency and reduce carbon footprint in the construction industry.