Every year, ICBA gives out Safety Merits Awards — a $1,500 bonus given (via random draw) to open shop construction professionals who have logged a full year of safe work. This year’s winners include Ventana’s Aleisha Landgraff (pictured with Justin...
’Tis the season for New Year’s resolutions – those goals we set on January 1st that so many of us abandon within a few weeks. But the experts have some suggestions on how to craft resolutions that will actually stick. Focus on behaviours, not outcomes. Don’t plan to...
The following op-ed by ICBA President Chris Gardner was first published Dec. 21st in the Journal of Commerce. It’s a well-worn cliché, because it’s sound advice: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Yet the BC Government, pushed by the BC Federation of Labour, seems...
This month, ICBA Wellness is focused on reflection – considering what we’ve learned as a way to help us look ahead to 2023. No one is ever going to improve on Dr. Seuss: …So he paused. And the Grinch put his hand to his ear. And he did hear a sound rising over the...
The Independent Contractors and Businesses Association (ICBA) and WorkSafeBC are pleased to announce the 2022 Gord Stewart Workplace Health and Safety Innovation Award is now open for entries from eligible ICBA members and their employees. About the Award The...
It’s a Training Thursday tradition — Santa Claus himself joins Kerry Vital to talk about ICBA’s latest featured course. Medical Gas Piping and Systems Installation 42 hours | beginning Feb 6 | blended online and in-person...
While Justin Trudeau, David Eby, and other leaders claim the age of fossil fuels is over, the data doesn't back them up, says ICBA Chief Economist Jock Finlayson and Business Council of British Columbia Director Denise Mullen:"The lesson from the EIA report and the latest Canadian data on energy use is clear: while the energy system is moving, incrementally, away from fossil fuels, the process will take far longer than many assume. Fossil fuels have been the core of economic, industrial, and human activity for generations."That isn’t going to change because of the proclamations and sometimes ill-considered policy interventions engineered by politicians or the frantic lobbying of environmental activists."Read the piece at www.icbaindependent.ca/2024/05/16/icba-op-ed-global-petroleum-consumption-surges-defying-energy-t...... See MoreSee Less
TRAINING THURSDAY: Why Supervisory Skills Matter for RetentionKerry and Jordan talk about ICBA’s latest featured course, the incomparable Pam Bragg, and Batman vs. Superman.Why Supervisory Skills Matter for Retention (LIVE ONLINE)Thursday, June 6, 2024 (11AM to 1PM Pacific)icbatraining.arlo.co/w/courses/239-why-supervisory-skills-matter-for-retention/1459 Missed this one? Check out www.icba.ca/courses With labour shortages across the country, employee retention is one of the most talked about organizational challenges facing the construction industry, and it is anticipated to continue to be a workplace trend in the coming years.Employee retention is about much more than the foundational components of wages, hours, and benefits we tend to think of. While certainly important, it doesn’t end there. There are many other factors that go into an employee’s decision to stay or leave. And the supervisor–employee relationship has a powerful influence over that decision.Employers that systematically manage and strengthen the supervisor-employee relationship will stand a greater chance of managing through the labour shortages while retaining talent. Join us as we discuss the supervisory skills needed to help you retain your talent and become an employer of choice. ... See MoreSee Less
WELLNESS WEDNESDAY #150: Whether Weather?The sun was out last weekend in southwestern B.C. – one of those incredible days where all the extra money we spend to live here (on taxes, on housing, and on taxes on housing) just suddenly feels worth it. It was warm and so many people seemed more upbeat, after months and months of rain.Healthline says that’s no coincidence. “Long, bright days can energize you… Warm, sunny weather may affect brainpower by boosting your memory, helping you feel more open to new information, and improving inattentiveness.”But it’s not all good: “Evidence suggests people are more likely to attempt suicide in the spring and early summer than any other season. Researchers don’t know exactly why this pattern occurs, although they have a few theories, including more sunlight exposure and solar radiation causing a shift in neurotransmitter levels; rapidly rising temperatures triggering a mood episode; [or] high pollen counts causing inflammation in the brain.”So add another external factor to your mental health checks: weather. --------Each week, ICBA’s Jordan Bateman reflects on what we’ve learned as we participate in ICBA’s Workplace Wellness Program. ICBA’s Workplace Wellness Program is helping more than 100 companies and more than 10,000 construction professionals better understand mental health. This program is free for all ICBA members – check out icba.ca/wellness for details. ... See MoreSee Less
WorkSafeBC is developing new washroom regulations for B.C. construction sites, but they don't seem up to speed on the lessons learned by other jurisdictions, say our friends at COCA. Far be it from us to suggest a government agency take a field trip, but WorkSafeBC officials should engage Ontario and Quebec to understand their regulatory approaches better and avoid potential pitfalls. As COCA notes: "Over the years, we have seen the unfortunate results of government policies that have been rushed — where the implementation has the opposite effect of what was intended." ... See MoreSee Less
B.C. washroom regulations should heed examples of Ontario, Quebec Posted on May 13, 2024 by cocabc Journal of Commerce | Dave Baspaly | May 13, 2024 WorkSafeBC, under pressure from Premier David Eby, ...
It's important to know the building blocks of the B.C. economy -- and we're proud that construction contributes 10% of our province's economic output.
ICBA Chief Jock Finlayson digs into the numbers at https://www.icbaindependent.ca/2024/05/15/icba-economics-the-industrial-composition-of-the-b-c-economy/