ICBA

Building B.C.'s Open Shop Construction Sector.

For more than 50 years, ICBA has helped builders, contractors, and tradespeople grow their businesses, strengthen their teams, and shape the future of construction in British Columbia.

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Membership

Join thousands of open-shop companies across B.C. and Alberta. Membership gives you access to tools, resources, training, and industry support that help your business grow stronger.

JOIN ICBA

Benefits

Give your team the coverage they deserve. ICBA Benefits delivers flexible, construction-ready health, dental, retirement and wellness plans built for companies of every size.

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Training

From skills development to leadership courses to apprenticeship sponsorship, ICBA offers 900+ training options to build confident, capable teams across every trade and role.

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Events

Connect with contractors, owners, GCs, developers and industry leaders at the province’s most impactful construction events — from meet-ups to conferences to signature summits.

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Advocacy

We stand up for open-shop construction. ICBA works with all levels of government to protect fair bidding, reduce barriers and strengthen the business environment for construction companies.

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ICBA was founded in 1975 by 169 open shop contractors who were shut out of bidding on public projects – not because of the quality of their work, but because they weren’t part of a building trade union.

They met at the Terra Nova Motor Inn in Trail, B.C., and launched a movement rooted in one simple belief: every contractor and every worker deserves a fair shot. No special deals. No closed doors. Just open competition and equal opportunity.

Since then, we’ve grown into Canada’s largest construction association. We’ve helped thousands of companies grow their businesses. We’ve stood up against closed-shop policies like the B.C. NDP Government’s so-called “Community Benefits Agreements.” And we’ve invested in the next generation by becoming the province’s #1 sponsor of trades apprentices.

Founded in Trail, B.C. – April 26, 1975
Fought to end union-only bidding rules
Built B.C.’s largest construction training and apprenticeship platform
50 years of defending open shop principles

4500

members and clients

300000

Canadian on our benefits plans

6000

Canadians trained each year

3000

apprentices sponsored

WELLNESS PROGRAMS

Practical, construction-ready mental-health tools including toolbox talks, posters, videos and supervisor guides to help improve well-being, safety and resilience on every job site.

LABOUR RELATIONS TOOLKIT

Up-to-date guidance, templates, legal insights and resources to help open-shop contractors protect their workforce and confidently navigate Canada’s evolving labour-relations landscape.

SAFETY TRAINING

Industry-focused safety courses and certifications designed to keep crews compliant, informed and job-site ready, with options for online, in-person, or custom delivery.

HR TOOLKIT

Fully customizable hiring, performance and workplace-policy templates created specifically for construction employers, helping teams stay compliant, organized and confident in everyday HR decisions.

RED SEAL CHALLENGE PROGRAM

Support, resources and exam-prep tools designed to help experienced tradespeople challenge the Red Seal exam and achieve nationally recognized certification faster and with confidence.

5stars Kerkhoff Construction is proud to be one of the founding members of the association over 40 years ago, and today the ICBA mandate is the same as then: Fighting for fairness in the construction industry and supporting the construction industry.

Leonard Kerkhoff

Kerkhoff Construction

5stars When I read about ICBA’s new Wellness Program I immediately knew this was something IRL Construction should be a part of. Mental Health is something that is very important and close to our hearts here, so having this program available to our employees was a no brainer! We are excited to be part of this great initiative.

Aaron Lacey

IRL Construction

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5stars ICBA continues to be an incredible partner in providing various employee-facing services such as Training and Development, Mental Health, and Benefits Administration for us. Their staff are always delightful and easy to work with.

Charla Fernandez

Unitech

5stars Both myself and our organization have benefited greatly from the training opportunities provided by ICBA. I am continually amazed by the vastness of their course catalog and that if they do not have the training that we are looking for ICBA will always try to find something that fits our needs.

Shane Stirling

Epscan Ltd.