< Previous| 100 APRIL 2023WRITTEN BY ERIC O’CALLAGHAN At VICA, the association serves the institutional, commercial, industrial, civil, and multi-residential construction sectors on Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, and other coastal areas of British Columbia. Working to foster growth, economic stability, and prosperity in the construction community, VICA aims to promote a greater understanding of construction by advocating and supporting its members. Chief Execute Officer, Rory Kulmala, has been working within the construction sector throughout Canada for the last 25 years. Kulmala has been at VICA for almost 6 years and is heavily involved in a lot of the work carried out by the association. “We do a lot of work when it comes to advocacy and the procure- ment that is going on with governments, local governments, regional, municipal, provincial, even federal. When it comes to procurement, we talk in terms of fair, open, and transparent type of procurement, and we advocate for that. We also talk about training and education. We have a very robust program here that looks to upskill our members and their employ- ees so that they can maintain their relevance in the market. T he construction industry is viewed as quite a merito- cratic industry where hard work pays off, and is more often than not, rewarded. There are a wide variety of roles on offer with relatively good pay and the possibility of lifelong careers. However, while there are numerous positive aspects to this industry, it is not without its issues. According to a recent British Columbia (BC) Coroners Service report focusing on 872 overdose deaths in B.C., many of the employed people in the province who died of an overdose worked in areas such as construction, trades, and the trans- port industry. Other worrying stats also show an increase in mental health claims within the last 3 years among construc- tion workers. Recognizing and championing the construction industries best qualities are just as important as advocating and tackling the issues construction workers face daily. By supporting and caring for the construction industry, the team at Vancouver Island Construction Association (VICA) are trying to improve the construction industry and promote operational excellence. | 101 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONAnd the networking is also important. We host events to bring our community together, allowing the opportunity to network with likeminded people.” There are a number of standout initiatives at VICA that offer great benefits to the construction industry. The Con- struct Your Future program (CYF) was designed to create new knowledgeable workers that can be placed into the construction sectors. This usually includes people that are recently out of high school and aged between 18 to 24. The participants often have no experience in construction and are joining this program to build experience and credibility as they join the industry. Offering 11 certificates and training, participants are made to feel more equipped for their new role. After completion, 90% of students become hired by members of VICA, but if a par- ticipant has an interest in a particular area that's not available, the association will try connecting them with employment. Another interesting initiative being run by VICA is The Tailgate Toolkit Project. According to Kulmala, VICA discovered some harrowing news which affects the construction industry leading the people at VICA to try support members and raise awareness of the issue. “Back in 2016, the BC government declared a public health emergency because of the toxic opioid crisis. Since then, we've been actively trying to educate our sector on what it is and how it affects our workers. There was a coroner's report in 2018 that cited that one in five people that were dying due to this crisis were from the construction and transportation sector. That’s since been revised down to one in four. We partnered with the Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA) to develop the Toolkit and then the BC government to deliver this education and awareness program throughout the province in partnership with our other regional construction associations. It’s a 40 minute on-site discussion covering many topics such as what the toxic drug supply is, pain man- agement, safe use and a number of other topics all designed to reduce the stigma associated with the use of drugs, par- ticularly opioids and to provide resources for someone to get help as needed.” Other committees also support VICAs mission for members to feel included and valued. Such as is its Young Builder’s Network (YBN)/U40 groups and Women in Construction (WIC). Young Builders/U40 provide an atmosphere of net- working to build relationships within the construction com- munity; to present information, professional development and leadership or mentorship opportunities that will benefit the individual U40/YBN members and their respective com- panies; to participate in community engagement initiatives; and to support and promote career paths in the construction industry. Meanwhile the Women in Construction (WIC) group is a grassroots Vancouver Island network working to pro- mote and support female participation in construction with chapters in both Nanaimo and Victoria chapters. Throughout its work, VICA has recognized areas within the construction industry that deserve attention. By creating initiatives to help address these areas and working with different committees, VICA are not only dealing with these | 102 APRIL 2023conversation while we have lunch. We do those up and down the island. Then we have our annual Christmas luncheon that's coming up in December, we've sold out in a week. We're always looking to create opportunities for membership to come together. Even if sometimes it's just to let off some steam, just to have a beverage or have a burger or talk to your colleagues. Sometimes it reminds them they're not alone out there and that everybody's facing the same challenges”. VICA has two offices that serve the entire Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast. The team also collaborate with the BC construction Association, as they advocate for regional and local matters. VICA supports the BC Construction Asso- ciation who focus on provincial level matters whilst also work- ing with the Canadian Construction Association on national issues. The influence and reach VICA has is enormous. By joining VICA, members are exposed to an influential network ranging from community-based grassroots type advocacy to provincial and federal advocacy. Members of the construction industry invest so much time end energy into completing projects that ultimately better communities. It only seems fair that the same time and energy is invested into the members of this industry in order to promote their hard work and provide appropriate resources. The team at VICA work hard to help support this industry because they are passionate about the con- struction industry. But their hard work is not done simply because it has to be done, it is done because the people care. Because VICA cares. issues, but are also helping to resolve them. Creating a space where everyone can share, network, and communi- cate is extremely important to the association and this is why VICA host numerous events throughout the year. These events include golfing tournaments, an annual conference, barbecues and more. The great advantage is that many of these social events cost little to nothing for members of VICA, it is all about creating a space for members to social- ize and interact. “We have luncheons throughout the year we call lunch and learns. We'll bring in a guest speaker for a 20–30-minute “Creating a space where everyone can share, network, and communicate is extremely important to the association.” | 103 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONWRITTEN BY DAVID O’NEILL T he concept of renewable energy is a simple one in the- ory. Creating heat and energy through fuel sources that may well have a perpetual lifecycle is a vital aspect of any governmental policy. In order to reduce carbon emissions, decrease global warming and meet climate targets, sustain- able and renewable fuels need to be top of the agenda. Science and innovation, coupled with the skills inherent in construction and technology, mean that the drive towards transitioning to | 104 APRIL 2023renewables should be attainable, if not easy. So why is it that this issue is hit with delays and stumbling blocks at every cor- ner? Powerful lobby groups and single use fuels seem intent on clinging onto power while seemingly accessible and sensible choices struggle to gain traction. Given that the motivation to making this transition seems as political as it it environmental, it may yet be a long road ahead. However, lobby groups and politics are not the only barriers to renewable energy. | 105 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONWhen it comes to environmental reform, we are always told to do more. From every corner of the globe the message is clear; the planet is on an unsustainable path and we humans that inhabit it are called to action. Notwithstanding the glar- ing omission of including large scale businesses in this con- versation, it seems as though a crude tool is being used here. Everyone needs to recycle, people should live sustainably, we should all ‘go electric.’ Well-meaning and ideologically-correct as it is, it seems that we are continuously bombarded with both evidence and conjecture. We are told that sustainable fuel is needed while fossil fuels bans should be imposed in domestic settings… but are things as simple as this? On closer inspection, it seems as though the gravity of the situ- ation means that our lived reality can rarely keep up. It goes without saying that the goals are worthwhile and these voices have merit. The problem with these rigid demands, however, are that very few people are in a position to actually follow them. It is widely regarded that families experiencing unem- ployment or poor housing solutions are in a difficult position when it comes to buying more costly, yet sustainable, foods or items. The ability to repurpose — or in some cases rebuild — heating systems is certainly not universal. With the cost of living spiraling out of control, families and homeowners across North America need to make savings wherever they can. When this is viewed on a larger scale however, even greater problems emerge. The unfortunate truth is that climate change poses the great- est impact to those least responsible for it. This includes low-income and disadvantaged communities, women, racial minorities, marginalized ethnic groups and the elderly. These facts form the cornerstone of the Climate Equity movement. Climate equity involves the equal distribution of the benefits of climate protection efforts and also alleviates unequal bur- dens created by climate change. Simply put, Climate Equity is ensuring that those most effected by the devastating impact of climate change are given the most tools and protection to combat it. As programs and initiatives to reverse the effects of climate change are announced around the world, it is imperative that recognizing the need for climate equity is a vital aspect of any initiative. According to World Resources Institute, a science- and evidence-based institution estab- lished in 1982 to carry out rigorous policy research in the areas of global environmental and development issues, the benefits of climate equity are substantial. “Low-carbon and resilient climate action can be a powerful engine to revitalize global economic growth, contribute to poverty reduction, generate jobs and expand income opportunities, all while vigorously countering growing climate risks. Among other benefits, ambitious climate action could lead to benefits like improving food security, reducing energy costs, creating more than 65 million new low-carbon jobs and preventing 700,000 air pollution deaths in 2030.” In a world where climate inequality, in both the funding and infrastructure required to alleviate it, plays a massive role, what can be done to redress the imbalance? Thankfully, solutions are not too far away. The Africa Renewable Energy Manufacturing Initiative (AREMI) launched at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2023 recently to great fanfare. Those | 106 APRIL 2023behind the initiative, philanthropic groups and environmental organizations, are driven to empower African countries by sharing skills, information and opportunity. “Our goal is to drive investment and mobilize action in African countries to scale up renewable energy manufacturing capabilities. This international Initiative will help drive the financial, technical, and socioeconomic investments required to unlock the con- tinent’s potential for up to 1.2 Terawatts of clean energy, 14 million new jobs and 6.4% growth in GDP by 2050.” In addition to this plan, detailed research has been conducted to highlight the challenges and benefits of renewable energy production in Africa. The results of this report were intrigu- ing. While recognizing that Africa will be under considerable pressure to develop and grow its power network, the poten- tial is there to meet these needs in sustainable and practical ways. According to research conducted by the group, Africa’s demand for power is projected to double by 2030 and grow by a factor of eight by 2050. With current infrastructure in place, these demands are virtually impossible. However, the fact that the continent has almost unlimited potential for solar energy, coupled with abundant hydro, wind and geothermal energy sources gives rise to the hope that changes can be made. “The report – supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the African Climate Foundation, and the ClimateWorks Foun- dation – analyzes Africa’s renewable energy manufacturing landscape, highlights pathways to accelerate a homegrown renewable energy industry, and provides a roadmap to help bridge the gaps and achieve a just, equitable, and green energy transition in Africa.” To ensure that the transition to renewable energy sources is conducted in an equitable manner, solutions need to be provided. While Africa is not the only example of climate inequality, the Africa Renewable Energy Manufacturing Initia- tive is leading the way in terms of providing the education, tools and assistance needed to balance things out. As part of the work being done by AREMI, ten key opportunities across eight different African countries were identified. Its research considered the readiness of each country to make transitions and considered many key success factors including demand, manufacturing scale, political stability, policies and regula- tions, trade relations with China, infrastructure and the ability to export. According to those at AREMI, the potential benefits are enormous. “On average, Africa could experience a ~6.4% increase in GDP between 2021 and 2050 that is directly attrib- utable to the energy transition. Economic growth is expected to be driven by public investment and expenditure; private investment in energy transition technologies; and net trade differences. Key sectors likely to benefit from this transition include electricity supply—for underserved and low-income areas—public and personal services, basic manufacturing, and business services.” While the transition period to renew- able energy is fraught with political struggles, the benefits are clear for all to see. This transition not only positively impacts the environment, it provides solutions to some of the greatest inequalities still present today. The question of balance and equity is a difficult one. It seems, however, that the questions may finally be nearing an answer. seforall.org | 107 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONSUPPORTED BY 12 LiUNA FENGATE ASSET MANAGEMENT SG CONSTRUCTORS 24 Arsenal Constructors Inc. DIVI MECHANICAL CONTRACTORS LTD. FIA PLUMBING & HEATING LTD. PATROLMAN SECURITY SERVICES INC. TOP GUN PAINT SOLUTIONS INC UNITED STEEL FABRICATORS & ERECTORS 32 BDA, Inc. DIAMOND ARCHITECTURAL OPENINGS IORI PLASTER & DRYWALL CONTRACTORS LTD. 38 Build North BURLING RANGER COMPANY INC. EVANS HOME BUILDING CENTRE 44 Berkim Construction MONOPOLI ELECTRIC LTD. 54 Powell Foundations EQUIPMENT CORPORATION OF AMERICA 58 Advanced Precast Inc . COLOURED AGGREGATES BALDASSARRA ARCHITECTS 64 Mahan Form WARDELL LUMBER 76 Corporate Contractors Inc . LEWIS CONSTRUCTION 90 H. J. Russell & Company SUPER HERO FIRE PROTECTION| 109 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONNext >