Month: March 2023

In our work at ICBA Benefits, we work with a number of insurance carriers, including Desjardins. Last week, Desjardins put out a new report, Building workplace mental health strategies for a healthy tomorrow – 3 challenges and how to overcome them, which includes the results of a Conference Board of Canada research study Desjardins sponsored.

The site is worth a look, but here are a few key points our team are analyzing:

• One-third of companies have increased mental health support coverage from 2020 to 2022.
• 72% of organizations already have or are in the process of developing a mental health strategy in addition to their group insurance.

But there is still a lot of work to be done:

• 2 out of 5 employers never measure the effectiveness of their mental health and wellness initiatives.
• Only 30% of organizations ask their employees what they would like included in their mental health and wellness initiatives.

Read the full site HERE – including many great tips for employers.

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 90 companies and nearly 10,000 construction professionals better understand mental health. This program is free for all ICBA members – check out icba.ca/wellness for details.

Our friend Corey Hirsch retweeted a video from former TSN host Michael Landsberg, one of Canada’s most important mental health advocates.

Michael tore his ACL recently, and he has posted a short video comparing it to the depression he has battled for decades. He had been texting with someone who was struggling, and he was reminded of four words that have made a big difference in his life:

Proud of the shower.

A shower may seem like something minor, but for someone working through depression, it can be a major step sometimes. Just as taking a step during physical rehab on his surgically rebuilt knee, sometimes a shower is a huge step forward. We would celebrate that step in the physiotherapy room – we should celebrate the step of getting up and getting into the shower for those who are finding even that small step a struggle.

Landsberg is involved with #SickNotWeak – a great mental wellness site worth visiting.

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 90 companies and nearly 10,000 construction professionals better understand mental health. This program is free for all ICBA members – check out icba.ca/wellness for details.

CALGARY – The Independent Contractors and Businesses Association (ICBA) is expanding in Alberta, and Mike Martens, one of the province’s top advocacy leaders, has been selected to head up ICBA Alberta, ICBA president Chris Gardner announced today.

Building on the growth of its Alberta group health benefits business which has been offering health, dental and retirement plans to contractors and businesses for nearly a decade, ICBA is rolling out a suite of new services for its members in Alberta.

“Founded 48 years ago, ICBA has grown into the country’s largest construction association with more than 4,000 members and clients and 150,000 people on one of our group health benefit plans,” said Gardner. “Today, I’m proud to announce that we are expanding in Alberta and that Mike Martens has joined us to lead the roll-out and growth of the suite of new member services we will be offering to ICBA Alberta members. Mike is a dynamic, respected advocate, and is focused on growing the construction, building, and resource development industries in Alberta.”

Martens was Director of Public Affairs (Western Canada) for the Progressive Contractors Association of Canada for the past eight years. Working out of ICBA’s Calgary office as ICBA Alberta President, Martens will work with the ICBA Alberta team to expand its member service offering in areas related to advocacy, group health benefits, training, and wellness programs designed for Alberta’s open shop contractors, builders, and entrepreneurs.

Some 88 per cent of the more than 220,000 people who work in Alberta construction make up the open shop sector.

“It’s an honour for me to be able to help build on ICBA’s incredible platform in Alberta,” said Martens. “We’re going to be offering some very exciting services to help merit and open shop construction contractors grow, and we’re going to give them a strong voice in public policy advocacy.”

Over the past few years, ICBA has worked to advance several projects important to growing Alberta’s economy:

• Generated thousands of supportive emails through ICBA’s #Get2Yes petition in support of Alberta energy projects
• Offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and charge of the people who attacked the Coastal Gas Link LNG pipeline construction site in northern B.C.
• Produced an international award-winning “Big Gas Pipeline” video that was viewed more than 2 million times on social media
• Intervened in the court challenge to support Alberta’s fight against the Bill C-69
• Intervened in the court challenge against the B.C. Government and supported Alberta’s efforts to get the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion approved
• Wrote op-eds in major Alberta papers supporting the need for Canada to speed up building permits – currently Canada is 64th in how long it takes to approve construction and infrastructure projects

When it comes to federal advocacy, ICBA Alberta is a member of Merit Canada, joining Merit Saskatchewan, Merit Manitoba, Merit Ontario, Merit Nova Scotia and ICBA. Through Merit Canada, this powerful partnership of open shop construction organizations advocates on issues important to open shop contractors in Ottawa.

“Mike and the team at ICBA Alberta will be working to help construction companies grow and support their workers with the best benefits, training and advocacy possible,” said Gardner. “They will be supporting the reduction in unnecessary red tape and the creation the economic conditions necessary to attract investment, build the infrastructure and harness our energy resources in a way that secures our long-term prosperity.”

“I’ve hit the ground running with meetings and introductions, and I can’t wait to share what ICBA Alberta can do to help construction companies,” said Martens. “If you’re a merit-based, open shop construction company doing work in Alberta, send me a note at mmartens@icba.ca and let’s meet to discuss how our association and our services can help you.”

Great news out of Calgary – and news we hope is replicated in B.C. – as the $39M Marian and Jim Sinneave Centre for Youth Resilience, opened Monday. This facility will help 8,000 kids a year deal with mental health issues.

The centre, which will augment the work being done at Alberta Children’s Hospital, will provide three programs — no-cost, walk-in therapy sessions; services to address escalating symptoms to keep youth out of acute care; and a day hospital to transition patients out of round-the-clock treatment.

Construction was funded through private donations, but Alberta taxpayers will pay $10 million a year in operating money.

As ICBA’s President Chris Gardner and Wellness ambassador Corey Hirsch wrote last year in the Vancouver Sun, we need more mental health supports and funding:

“A system of support, intervention and help must be there whenever and wherever someone reaches out, asking for help to make it just one more day. For far too long, government has failed to make the investments required to build that network. It’s time to stop turning our collective backs on people in crisis and make the investments required to save people, families and communities.”

For families in Alberta, the Sinneave Centre is a step toward that goal.

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 90 companies and nearly 10,000 construction professionals better understand mental health. This program is free for all ICBA members – check out icba.ca/wellness for details.

Spring sprung this week – as we celebrated the first day of a new season yesterday. And the Canadian Association for Mental Health was all over it!

“It’s the season of fresh starts and new beginnings, symbolized by growth and new life. It’s a time when we’re encouraged to clean our homes and organize our lives. It’s also a great time to give a little attention to renewing your mental health as well,” the CAMH says.

Sounds good to us! Among the CAMH’s suggestions:

1. Create a to-do list of short-term and long-term goals that you want to complete
2. Try to improve your physical health
3. Begin to renew your spirit
4. Work on improving your stress management skills
5. Actively contribute to your community
6. Live in the here and now

For more detail, check out CAMH’s full piece HERE.

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 90 companies and nearly 10,000 construction professionals better understand mental health. This program is free for all ICBA members – check out icba.ca/wellness for details.

Helping businesses keep a promise to their employees is a great feeling, and that is what we deliver everyday. We are one of the pre-eminent construction industry and business associations in Canada, and we are looking for great team members who want to feel fantastic about the benefit plan services they provide and the good they do.

For nearly 45 years, the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association (ICBA) has been the voice of B.C.’s construction industry. Today, ICBA represents more than 4,000 members and clients, and is one of the leading third-party providers of group health and retirement benefits in B.C. and the single largest sponsor of trades apprentices in the province. ICBA undertakes public policy research and advocacy initiatives focused on the construction sector and responsible resource development.

Summary

As an Office Administrator for ICBA, based in our Surrey, BC head office, you will report to the Events and People Manager.

This is a full-time in office position.  Hours of operation are Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm

Responsibilities

Office Administration

• Maintain and manage operations for all office administration functions
• Organize and distribute incoming and outgoing mail, packages, couriers
• Answer incoming calls and emails, taking messages, and re-directing calls and emails as required
• Greeting clients and visitors
• Monitor and maintain office and kitchen supplies inventory
• Manage relationships with building management, vendors, and service providers
• Assist in organizing meetings, parties, and events
• Perform other related duties as assigned

Accounting

• Assist with basic accounting administration

Workforce Development

• Assist with training data entry
• Assist with apprenticeship data entry

Membership Support

• Process membership payments
• Assist with member onboarding administration

Requirements

• Proven office management, administrative, or assistant experience
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Attention to detail and problem-solving skills
• Pleasant demeanour and the ability to work with various types of personalities within an office setting
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software

We offer:

• A competitive base salary
• Team Bonus structure
• Full benefits package
• RRSP matching
• Vacation
• Parking/Transportation allowance
• Employee Wellness program
• We encourage professional development and designations, as well as pursuing learning & development opportunities as part of a growing organization

How to Apply

Please send resume to hr@icbabenefits.ca