< Previous| 20 APRIL 2023WRITTEN BY ERIC O’CALLAGHAN When they are not tackling possible risks to the construction industry, the OGCA are busy being the pro-active voice for all general contracting issues across the Province of Ontario. For more than 83 years, the OGCA has diligently worked to build Ontario by directly assisting members to deliver con- struction excellence in the Industrial, Commercial and Insti- tutional (ICI) Sectors — with plans of furthering their mission as they move forward. One of the ways in which the OGCA has decided to tackle the construction industry’s current “pandemic” is their Pathways to ICI project. The Pathways to ICI project was submitted into the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Devel- opment (MLITSD) as a grant application in order to provide funding for a program that focused on soft skills i.e., inter- personal/communication skills combined with construction specific learning scenarios. President of the OGCA, Giovanni Cautillo, is one of the people responsible for putting this plan into motion. Although Cautillo is one of the driving forces behind the initiative, he assures me that it was the industry and its members who are truly responsible for this initiative. “Labor shortage has affected us greatly because we're now looking to replace a large cohort of individuals that are retir- ing, and unless we have people to replace them, we’re always going to be in a deficit position. Everyone's always looking for skilled trades and you've got governments touting incentives for skilled trades, but we always need to look at what it is that our members need. After months of discussion and vigorous debate, it was highlighted that supervisory positions like proj- ect management, project/field coordination, coordinator, and site supervisors are imperative, and the members can't move forward without these positions. We ascertained through roundtable discussions that there weren’t courses for this, which is how the Pathways to ICI was brought about.” T here is no bigger threat to an industry than the expi- ration of those within it, which is why the current skilled labor shortage in the construction industry needs to be addressed and discussed. With both Canada and America facing serious labor shortages, the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum predicts that 75,000 new apprentices need to be hired in the next five years to fulfil the demand for skilled workers. While the world is slowly recovering from the recent pan- demic, it seems as though the construction industry is facing a pandemic of its own. A disease that, if not treated, threatens the livelihood of those within its reach. In Canada, consider the people at Ontario General Contractors Association (OGCA) and its Members the physicians in this situation. The people working tirelessly to create a resolution to an imminent threat. With a direct focus on upskilling, strengthening and furthering education, the OGCA are helping to create paths in order to build the road to a better future. “OGCA are helping to create paths in order to build the road to a better future.” | 21 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONAddressing the skills development and capacity building for employers by creating Upskilling Toolkits and a Train- the-Trainer Program for current project coordinators, site supervisors and project managers is only one aspect of the Pathways to ICI. There is another path within this initiative that focuses on attracting new people to the industry — those who may not have considered construction or had access to construction as a career path. Manager of Pro- grams at OGCA, Khoa Ly-Kilis, is just as passionate about developing potential as Cautillo. Ly-Kilis believes that these courses have the ability to not just focus on building soft skills to existing workers in order to upskill them, but also to focus on new fresh talent. “Building specific courses and curriculum allows individuals to bridge that knowledge and experience gap. This means that a newcomer or a new graduate who is interested in exploring a career in construction can, through OGCA’s Path- ways to ICI New Entrants Bridging Program receive training that is specific to understanding the construction landscape, construction health and safety, scenario-based soft skills development, and workplace best management practices to arm them with the essential information and training to be successful in a work placement; the ultimate goal being the start of a long-standing career in construction. A career path in construction can truly go anywhere. The sky's the limit when you join construction at that entry level.” While speaking with both Cautillo and Ly-Kilis, it became apparent extremely quickly that the members of the OGCA are of the utmost importance to the association. They are at the core of every decision, incentive, and idea the OGCA constructs. OGCA members account for approximately 70% of all of Ontario’s Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional (ICI) projects and the majority of all Alternative Finance Proj- ects (AFPs). With a mission to inform, advocate and elevate a dynamic industry, the association focuses on key areas: Health and Safety, Advocacy, Engagement, and Innovation. | 22 APRIL 2023Health and Safety was a paramount priority for the OGCA more than 83 years ago and is still at the forefront of the association today. The message here is clear, the association’s members want to ensure that all workers arrive home safely at the end of the day. Their advocacy aspect of the organization focuses on representing members of the OGCA and being the voice of the industry — whether that be with stakeholders, associations or government. There is a cohesiveness that flows through the association’s key features, allowing them to bleed into one and other. The engagement key area is closely linked to their advocacy key area and revolves mostly around their members and assuring all voices are being heard. None of the above key areas would be possible without the innovative approach the OGCA has adapted over the years. The association empowers construction and technology lead- ers to identify, evaluate, and communicate relevant and useful innovations for the industry. Ditching pens and paper for tab- lets is an example of choosing not only innovative ways to alter the industry, but a greener more sustainable approach to work. While the OGCA developed the above key features with the construction industry in mind, the association has also imple- mented some of their key features themselves — especially regarding innovation. Listening to member feedback and creating smart, innovative ways on how to implement this feedback is what led to the Pathways to ICI project being cre- ated. Recognizing what is needed is one aspect but using the information on hand to create an equilibrium point between supply and demand is innovation in its truest form, and the only cure to the industry’s current labor shortage pandemic. With the OGCA working on an antidote, skilled labor shortage will hopefully be nothing but another inconvenience the con- struction industry overcame to continue thriving. To those within the Ontario area, do not fear. The OGCA are working hard to disseminate a long-term solution and the hope is that the skilled labor shortage will be a topic that will no longer be discussed... within the construction industry at least. Will this happen overnight? Sadly not. But getting to the root of the prob- lem will prevent it from coming back, or as Cautillo would say: “We're not looking at a band aid that fixes the symptom. We’re looking at fundamentally addressing the cause.” | 23 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONWRITTEN BY LILE KOBALIANI A rsenal Constructors started out in 2015 and since then the company has been at the forefront of the industry, redefining the ideas of adaptation, efficiency, and team effort. The company history stretches further than 2015, however. Arsenal Constructors began through the strategic expansion of an interior finishes company - International Fixture Installations, and, as evidenced by its ongoing growth and success, has been a successful continuation of the original idea. To give more space to their new vision, the team at IFI decided to compart- mentalize the general contracting services under a completely different division. This decision marked the beginning of Arsenal Constructors and allows both companies to provide diverse and flexible services to clients, with Arsenal Constructors working on larger General Contracting work and subcontracting the interior finishes back to the sister company IFI. At the time, the new structure made it more efficient for the company to divide its responsibilities effectively and provide the best results on time. The results show that this was a wise strategic move. Arsenal Constructors provides various services for clients. Starting from base buildings, the company operates on the civil and site works in addition to having its own in-house interior finishes and millwork which includes metal, wood, and composite materials. This diverse range of options ensures that almost any finish can be handled to the highest standard in-house. At the same time, the capability to partner with some strategic architectural and engineering firms gives Arsenal Constructors the opportunity to expand its creative framework. | 24 APRIL 2023| 25 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONHowever, in an industry as fast paced and pressurized as construction, any new venture needs to plan early and plan well. The truth is that the early years of a company are the most crucial for its future development. While some ideas fall away or are adapted to suit the industry climate, others remain and even manage to overcome the most unforeseen challenges. With the company in its infancy, the team at Arsenal Constructors was faced with the COVID pandemic. While it was a challenging time for everyone, the construction industry was no exception. One aspect of working through a pandemic that was most challenging to the industry was change. The ability to pivot and adjust was essential to the survival of companies. Arsenal Constructors experienced these very same issues, but the company was efficient and adaptable enough to not only survive, but thrive. The team at Arsenal intro- duced virtual meetings as opposed to traditional on-site meetings, at the same time they followed strict protocols. As the industry began to rebound and regulations relaxed somewhat, it was time to take stock. Unsurprisingly, Arse- nal Constructors had the foresight to anticipate the next wave of challenges that the industry would face, such as inflation and material shortages. | 26 APRIL 2023A LEADER IN THE STEEL FABRICATION & ERECTION INDUSTRY Founded in 2013, United Steel Fabricators & Erectors has grown rapidly in just a few short years and has established a reputation for providing high-quality products and services to clients across a range of industries, based on our attention to detail and dedication to customer service. One of the company's strengths is its team of highly skilled and experienced employees, many of whom have been in the industry for over 20 years. This expertise enables the company to tackle even the most complex and challenging projects, delivering outstanding results for clients every time. With a focus on precision and attention to detail, our in-house steel erectors work in collaboration with our experienced project management/engineer team to ensure seamless execution of every project. With a proven track record of delivering projects on time and within budget, we take pride in our ability to exceed our clients' expectations and provide exceptional value. With its state-of-the-art facilities, highly skilled team, and dedication to quality, the company is well-positioned to continue its rapid growth and establish itself as a leader in the steel fabrication and erection industry. IN-HOUSE O.W.S.J DESIGN/FABRICATION COMPLEX STRUCTURAL STEEL STRUCTURAL TOWERS/OVERSIZE FRAMES IN-HOUSE ENGINEERING/DRAFTING SHORT LEAD TIMES ON JOIST FABRICATION 65,000 SQFT FACILITY SPECIALIZING IN RENOVATIONS, FROM MINOR RETROFITS TO MAJOR RENOVATIONS REINFORCING & ROOF LIFTS EXPERTS IN MISCELLANEOUS METAL WORK CUSTOM STAIRCASE & RAILING DESIGN AND FABRICATION THAT IS BOTH FUNCTIONAL & VISUALLY STUNNING INFO@UNITEDSTEEL.CA UNITED STEEL FABRICATORS & ERECTORS (905) 277-8547 For the team at Arsenal Constructors, there was only one priority and that was to shield its clients from these chal- lenges as much as possible. The solution was to maximize the use of its internal warehouse capabilities. This helped it to store pre-purchased materials which meant that rapid price increases could be avoided, thus saving the client from spiraling costs. In a nutshell, this approach highlights the vision at Arsenal Constructors - to provide the best solutions for its clients and work in an efficient, timely manner. Even though the unpredictability of COVID made deadlines even tighter than before, the company has always applied great significance to team effort and efficiency. One key aspect of the success Arsenal Constructors has expe- rienced is placing huge value on acquiring the highest quality team. For Joe Zamparo, President of Arsenal Constructors, the in-house skill is the company’s greatest strength. “We strive to execute projects in a timely manner. This has been a challenge for all constructors these days, but we have a base of knowledgeable and experienced craftsmen, superin- tendents, project managers, and coordinators. We bring that to the forefront so that we can work with our clients in getting to their overall goal of cost controlled, scheduled openings of their projects.” | 28 APRIL 2023 With this mindset, Arsenal Constructors has avoided any major challenges and has successfully navigated difficult times for the industry. The outlook now is to continue developing and maintaining relationships. As Zamparo explains, this growth will largely be achieved by creating a stable work environment for its employees. “The environment for employees is more volatile now than ever before. We make sure that we stay close to our employees, and we give them the support that they require to get the projects completed on time. It is really more of a team effort these days than it ever was before.” | 29 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONNext >