June 2023 - ICBA

TRAINING THURSDAY: Communication Skills

Kerry and Jordan talk about this week’s featured ICBA Training course.

Communication Skills
June 13-14, 2023 | 830AM – 430PM
Gold Seal: from 2 credits
https://icbatraining.arlo.co/w/courses/52-communication-skills
Missed this one? Check out icba.ca/courses

Participants will be able to identify and practice skills needed for effective communication and learn about barriers to communication. They will also learn about different communication styles and identify what their dominant style is as well as how to deal with people who have a different style of communication.

The course material also provides insight into anger and how to manage it as well as helps develop the skills required to supervise others.

The course will also cover the following:

  • Effective Leadership through Communication Skills
  • Dealing with Difficult People, Conflict, and Confrontation
  • Assertive Training and Speaking Skills
  • Communicating Motivation
  • Communication through Body Language
  • Managing a Good Impression to Clients
  • Constructive Use of Anger and Persuasion Skills
  • Anger and Conflict Management Skills
  • Communicating Discipline and Termination
  • Resolving Disputes through Communication
  • How to Prepare for and Facilitate Meetings
  • Communication through Writing Skills
  • Drafting and Preparing Proper Reports and Correspondence
  • Communicating Teamwork to Staff and Workers

This course is designed for construction owners, managers, estimators, and supervisors, construction safety officers and staff, or anyone that wants to learn how to improve their communication skills.

Happy New Year, Joe!

Congratulations Joe Geluch, president/CEO of ICBA member Naikoon Contracting!

Joe attended our ICBA Gala last month and won our big door prize: an NHL Winter Classic experience, including two tickets to the January 1, 2024, outdoor game at T-Mobile Park (the usual home of the baseball Mariners) in Seattle, where the Seattle Kraken will take on the Vegas Golden Knights.

Joe will also enjoy a night’s stay at the Hyatt Regency Seattle, and he won two jerseys to ensure he can cheer for both teams – presented by ICBA membership director Sanjeev Dhillon today.

What a way to kick off the new year!

Thanks to our incredibly generous sponsors, including Bet99, for helping make this happen. And congrats again, Joe!

WELLNESS WEDNESDAY #104: Move for Your Mental Health Month

June has been dubbed Move for Your Mental Health Month by the Canadian Men’s Health Foundation, and for good reason. As the Financial Post points out:

“More than 8 in 10 Canadian men (81 per cent) surveyed believe physical activity has a positive effect on their mental health, based on new data from TELUS Health’s Mental Health Index. Yet, according to Canada’s most recent Adult Report Card, 88 per cent of adults are too sedentary.”

The Foundation’s website includes easy ways to add more physical activity, including:

  1. Parking further away from places
  2. Go for walking meetings
  3. Walk during your kid’s sports warmups
  4. Walk the dog
  5. Go for a walk after supper

There’s more at the site – and remember, science shows that better physical health can help mental health.

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.

TRAINING FRIDAY: Introducing Buildforce Canada’s Construction Career Pathways program

Kerry and Jordan talk about this week’s featured webinar, plus her recent visit to two career fairs.

Introducing Buildforce Canada’s Construction Career Pathways program
FREE!
Wednesday, June 28, 9-10AM
Register at https://icbatraining.arlo.co/w/courses/276-free-introducing-buildforce-canadas-construction-career-pathways-program/1069
Missed this? Check out icba.ca/courses for all our offerings

This complimentary webinar will introduce Buildforce Canada’s Construction Career Pathways program.

Its objective is to connect job seekers who are looking for entry-level opportunities in construction with companies that want to hire new talent ahead of the busy work season.

What’s more, with the support of the Government of Canada, Buildforce Canada is able to offer employers wage-subsidy incentives of up to $2,400 per worker. That’s money businesses can use to help offset onboarding costs.

Construction Career Pathways is open to any worker, including newcomers to Canada, youth seeking work experience, and individuals who are looking for employment or who simply want to change their career paths. Buildforce Canada also has a particular focus on increasing diversity in construction through the hiring of women, members of Black, Indigenous, and racialized communities, persons with disabilities, newcomers to Canada, and those who identify as LGBTQ2+.

WELLNESS WEDNESDAY #105: Wellness Testimonial

ICBA Wellness isn’t just for B.C. and Alberta companies – we’ve partnered with Merit associations in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and Nova Scotia and helped them launch their own provincial-specific versions.

Merit Nova Scotia especially has done an amazing job, hosting events and sharing the message of breaking through mental health stigma on worksites.

Last week, one of their companies (Celtic Construction, a division of Bird) sent over this great testimonial:

“When we first implemented it in January (as an add-on) to our toolbox talks, our employees were reserved and quiet during the weekly chats. But the change in dialogue within the first six months is staggering. Our staff is now engaged and feel open to discussing their mental health. The program has been key to breaking these stigmas of mental health and has helped foster a relationship of communication. In this uncertain time, everyone can benefit from these chats. Thank you.”

Amazing!

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.

ICBA NEWS: Canada Can’t Afford a Port Strike

This week, ICBA joined more than 120 other business organizations from across Canada to call on the federal government to prevent a work stoppage at the Port of Vancouver and the Port of Prince Rupert. These ports handle $500 million of cargo every day, and are a vital part of our national supply chain.

The letter is clear:

“We request the government’s active engagement with this bargaining process and that it be prepared to act to prevent a labour disruption. It is imperative that the federal government work with the parties to secure an affordable, stable, and efficient supply chain.”

Read the full letter HERE.

ICBA CONSTRUCTION MONITOR: Housing Affordability Steamrolls from Very Bad to Catastrophic

In 1972, with a population of 22 million, Canada built 232,200 new homes. Fifty years later in 2022, with a population of 39 million, fewer than 220,000 new homes were built. We have not been able to move the needle on supply in two generations. In fact, we’re losing ground.

In the June 2023 Construction Monitor — ICBA’s quarterly publication with information and statistics relevant to the B.C. construction industry — ICBA examines several recent housing reports and compiles statistics on the B.C. housing crisis.

According to a recent report by RBC, between now and 2030, Canada will need to build nearly six million new homes (or 830,000 annually) to meet demand – several times more than what we’ve achieved over the past five decades.

“How can we have any hope of reaching this level of new home construction?” asks ICBA President Chris Gardner in his introduction to the Monitor. “Four things have to happen: a dramatic reduction in the costs imposed by city halls; a wholesale change in the project approval and permitting process; commitments from all levels of government to be bold, and to act faster and work together; and an acceptance of the reality of densification by the public.”

For the full Monitor, click HERE.

 

TRAINING THURSDAY: Proposal Pursuit – Strategies for Success

Put on your dancin’ shoes as Kerry and Jordan talk about ICBA’s latest featured course, Proposal Pursuit, which somehow led into a deep dive on their respective career dance cards.

As always, come for the Training news, stay for the banter.

Proposal Pursuit – Strategies for Success
June 27-29, 9 hours
9 BC Housing CPD Points + 1 Gold Seal Credit
https://icbatraining.arlo.co/w/courses/62-proposal-pursuit-strategies-for-success
Missed this one? Check out icba.ca/courses for more options

This workshop will share decades of expertise from the perspectives of the Project Owner, Consultant, and Contractor on each stage of the proposal process and discuss how to make sure each partner is successful in the pursuit. Packed with tips and suggestions: you’ll walk away with actionable knowledge you can put to work on the job immediately.

A team of multi-discipline experts will provide you with exceptional feedback, great insight, and actionable strategies.  We look forward to sharing this expertise with you.

In this workshop you will:

  • Learn the key ingredients to prepare a successful Request for Qualification (RFQ)
  • Understand the Project Owner’s mindset in soliciting a Request for Proposal (RFP) competition
  • Identify “homework” to be done prior to responding to the RFQ/RFP
  • Familiarize yourself with best practices when successfully responding to an RFP
  • Develop a winning RFP strategy
  • Recognize the same techniques for successful Subcontractor submissions
  • Understand how to prepare for, manage and excel in the Interview
  • Learn about Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and create ideas on how to demonstrate your CSR Strategy
  • Apply learnings to an RFP case study and table your RFP mini proposal to an evaluation panel
  • Enhance your presentation skills by participating in an RFP interview simulation

WELLNESS WEDNESDAY #106: Island Health Opens Up Mental Health Help

ICBA has, and will continue to, been pushing for more mental health and addictions support in B.C. So when some comes along, it’s important to recognize the improvement.

Nanaimo News Now reported last week that Island Health is working towards improving mental health support for individuals facing moderate mental health and substance use challenges.

The plan is to collaborate with 11 private sector services, to assist an additional 1,500 people.

Patients will be able to access counseling either by self-referral or through their primary care provider. The expanded services cover a range of conditions such as anxiety, PTSD, and substance use triggers. The initiative includes a mix of non-profit and for-profit organizations, offering in-person and virtual care options.

Every little bit helps – and hopefully more help is on the way.

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.

TRAINING THURSDAY: Introduction to Time Management

Kerry and Jordan talk about ICBA’s latest featured course.

Introduction to Time Management
Live Online
Tuesday, July 25, 2023 | 8:30AM to 3PM
https://icbatraining.arlo.co/w/courses/255-introduction-to-time-management
Missed this one? Check out icba.ca/courses for more options

Time is money, the saying goes, and lots of it gets lost in disorganization and disruption. We also deal with a constant barrage of technology, people, and tasks that can contribute to that disorganization. Many people find that they move from one task to another, trying to get everything done but often falling short.

In this workshop, we will introduce you to the basics of time management. We’ll talk about how to make the most of your time by getting a grip on your workflow and workspace, using your planner tool effectively, and delegating some of your work to other people when possible.

This session will cover:

  • What Is Time Management?
  • Setting Goals
  • Planning Tips and Tricks
  • Setting Priorities
  • Making Decisions
  • Delegating
  • Scheduling
  • Putting an End to Procrastination
  • Creating Order

What Will Participants Learn?

  • How to better organize yourself and your workspace for peak efficiency.
  • The importance of, and the most useful techniques for, setting and achieving goals.
  • How to plan and schedule your time efficiently
  • Setting priorities and making decisions
  • What to delegate and how to delegate well.
  • How to take control of things that can derail your workplace productivity.
  • How to create order and get organized.
  • How to manage your workload.