March 20, 2009
Winnipeg Construction Association Honoured at CCA Conference
The Winnipeg Construction Association was awarded the Canadian Construction Association Gold Seal Association Award on March 14, 2009. CCA presented its national awards honouring excellence in the Canadian construction industry during their 91st Annual Conference at the Hyatt Regency at Gainey Ranch in Scottsdale, Arizona.
WCA promotes Gold Seal certification to its members through a variety of communication tools, including the WCA Web site, quarterly Upword magazine, bi-weekly e-News reports, and through various presentations. The association has also worked very closely with the Red River College and is now delivering numerous Gold Seal accredited courses through the college. Online training is also available through WCA in partnership with the Construction Sector Council.
At the event, various other awards were presented to associations and contractors, including the CCA Member Association Award of Excellence, CCA National Safety Award and CCA Environmental Achievement Award.
To read the full list of award winners visit the CCA Web site HERE.
Icelandic Recruitment Initiative
A group of Manitoba delegates who recently travelled to Iceland have established a joint labour agreement that will connect Manitoba employers with Icelandic workers. The agreement will facilitate opportunities for skilled Icelandic citizens to gain temporary employment in Manitoba.
According to the delegates, a number of the willing Icelandic workers are skilled tradespersons. If your company is interested in connecting directly with any of the Icelandic people who will be travelling to Manitoba for interviews, please send us a note at wca@winnipegconstruction.ca and we will pass your name along to immigration staff. For further information about the initiative in general, please contact Karen Sharma at Karen.Sharma@gov.mb.ca.
New Government of Canada Economic Action Plan Web site
The Government of Canada has launched a Web site to allow Canadians to track the government's progress in implementing the stimulus announced in Budget 2009. Visit the new Web site HERE.
Impact of Fiscal Stimulus on the Construction Industry
The Construction Sector Council has released a budget impact analysis titled The Impact of Fiscal Stimulus on the Construction Industry. This document is a preliminary analysis preceding the release of the CSC Construction Looking Forward 2009 - 2017 reports that will be available later in the spring.
Read The Impact of Fiscal Stimulus on the Construction Industry.
WCA Education: Business Owners' Seminars
You spoke and we listened! Starting April 7, 2009, WCA, Assante Wealth Management and United Financial will sponsor an Executive Seminar Series exclusively designed for the business owner.
1. Succession, Sale & Tax Planning
Tuesday, April 7, 2009, 8:30 a.m. - 10 a.m.
The first seminar will deal with succession and tax planning issues facing business owners over the next 10 years. Specific strategies that will be discussed include:
1) Multiplying your access to the $750,000 small business capital gains exemption
2) Issues of waiting to plan for succession or sale of your business
3) Income splitting strategies
4) Corporate freeze structures and
5) Estate planning – how to create significant tax savings for your family.
2. Compensation Strategies for Owner Managers
Tuesday, April 21, 2009, 8:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.
3. Asset Protection: Strategies for the Business Owner
Tuesday, April 28, 2009, 8:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Executive Seminar Series Presenter: Sean Rheubottom, BA, LLB, TEP
Sean Rheubottom, a lawyer for United Financial Corporation, has worked in the field of tax and estate planning since 1997 and specializes in tax planning for business owners.
Come to one or come to all! To register, please contact Kelly Thiessen at kellythiessen@winnipegconstruction.ca.
Support the Skills Manitoba Competition!
Winnipeg Construction Association is once again organizing the Carpentry and Cabinetry Competition at Skills Manitoba, an event designed to improve the public perception of trade-based careers by bringing students, employers and educators together for a friendly day-long competition.
WCA is also looking for sponsorship and contributions toward the bursary, materials or registrant prizes. To view the Skills Manitoba High School Building Competition support form, click HERE.
2009 Manitoba Construction Career Expo
With the increasing skilled trades shortage, NOW IS THE TIME to introduce students and youth to the variety of skilled trade occupations in the construction industry!
The first-ever Manitoba Construction Career Expo is designed to encourage Grade 9 and 10 students to learn more about the unlimited career opportunities in the construction industry. Students will explore their future in skilled trades with hands-on demonstrations in masonry, carpentry, roofing, concrete finishing, painting and more! 
Students and Teachers will also enjoy...
• Free Admission
• Complimentary Lunch
• Great Prizes
• Busing to and from school within a 30 km radius of the Red River Exhibition Park
• Reimbursement for Substitute Teacher(s)
• And lots more!
Let’s join forces to show students how profitable, fulfilling and fun a career in construction can be!
For more information, go HERE, or contact:
Ron Mark
Ready Event Marketing
Phone: (204) 219-4442
Fax: (204) 219-4443
Gold Seal Online Training 
Communication, Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
Objectives: This course is designed to help improve the written, oral and negotiating skills for estimators, superintendents and project managers who must deal effectively and professionally with employees, sub-trades, owners, clients, engineers and their employees. This course is self-paced and is approximately 8 hours in length.
WCA Member Fee: $90.00 + GST
Construction Project Management
Objectives: This course is designed for project managers, superintendents and estimators. The course covers business case development, procurement, contracting, risk management and project close-out.
WCA Member Fee: $90.00 + GST
Construction Law
Objectives: This course will provide managers with the tools to help them understand construction contracts, write contracts, identify simple errors in construction contracts, understand the process claim and learn to solve construction disputes effectively. A final mark of 75 per cent is required in order to receive a certificate of completion.
WCA Member Fee: $90.00 + GST
For more information, visit www.goldsealcertification.com or contact Kelly Thiessen, Gold Seal Administrator, Winnipeg Construction Association, at kellythiessen@wpgca.com or 775-8664 x 2225.
Winnipeg Construction Association promoted skilled trades in construction to Manitoba youth at the Rotary Career Symposium on March 11 and 12. 2009. The event, held at the Winnipeg Convention Centre, is designed to provide valuable information about various education and employment options available to students in Senior 1 through Senior 4.
WCA's "Explore Your Future in Skilled Trades" booth was busy over the course of the two days with students, parents, teachers and jobseekers of all ages interested in finding out more about a career in construction.
On a very positive note, teachers and guidance counsellors were also very interested in the upcoming 2009 Manitoba Construction Career Expo and in registering their students for the event.