ICBA represents The entrepreneurs, businesspeople, and skilled construction professionals building BC
Every morning in British Columbia, nearly 250,000 men and women get up and go to work on a construction site. They are employed by some of the best and brightest entrepreneurs in Canada; independent contractors who are taking a risk on their business, their talents, and their teams. Together, these men and women are building every part of our province – from the largest LNG plants to the tallest condo buildings to the busiest hospitals to the rural farmhouse. They are building our communities, one job at a time.
We’re proud to represent more than 4,000 of these entrepreneurs, businesspeople, skilled construction professionals, independent contractors, sub-trades, and responsible resource development companies – who together employ 150,000 Canadians.
They are the open shop companies – independent contractors who treat their workers well, build incredible projects, seek fair bidding opportunities, and create our communities’ homes, schools, roads, services, and much more.
Everything we do at ICBA is dedicated to serving these open shop businesses, helping their teams, and growing their businesses. We come to work every day because we believe in the people in construction and resource development.
To protect their workers and their families, we have grown into one of the leading independent providers of group benefits in western Canada. To ensure there are opportunities for future generations of workers, we are now the single largest sponsor of trades apprentices in BC.
To build the strong economy we know is vital to create the opportunities for projects and jobs, ICBA is the province’s leader in public policy analysis, advocacy initiatives, social media, and provides training focused on supporting the construction sector and ensuring responsible resource development.
We offer services that have proven to help our businesses grow, including human resources help, wellness programs, innovative professional development courses, wage and benefit surveys, jobs boards, and much more – all geared to improve our members’ team and bottom line.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur striking out on your first solo job, a sub-trade looking for new projects, a general contractor in the midst of a tough bid, a resource development company looking for workers, a booming construction company, or anything in between – ICBA is there to help you meet every challenge and seize every opportunity.
Introducing ICBA’s new Indigenous logo
In 2022, ICBA launched a competition to create a logo to enhance our brand and reflect the pillars of ICBA, while incorporating elements of Indigenous culture. Nearly 30 designs were submitted, and Carmen Thompson’s Together was selected.
ICBA is honoured to have been given this design to use with our work with Indigenous communities and groups. See our news release HERE.
Carmen Thompson | Tlaa’kwa Hul’puulth | Copper Moon
Carmen Thompson (Diitiidaht/Kyuquot/Coast Salish) has been designing and building costumes for theatre, television, music videos and feature films for more than 15 years and over 60 credits to her name. Known for her research & attention to detail with a commitment to cultural authenticity has made her an in-demand member of creative teams in Los Angeles, Vancouver and Victoria.
In 2022, she won the CAFTCAD Award for costume design for the short film Kiri and the Girl, and has garnered a Leo Nomination for “Best Costume Design in a Motion Picture” for Marie Clement’s Red Snow (2019), and “Best Costume Design in a Short Drama” for her work on Matthew Belcha’s Super Bingo (2018).
Our relationship with ICBA spans over a decade. We are incredibly appreciative for their responsiveness and prompt customer service whenever we have needed assistance. We look forward to our continued partnership into the future.
Dave Pearson,
COO, Beedie
4,500+
Members and Clients
170,000+
People on an ICBA benefit plan
1,400+
Apprentices
85%
of the BC Construction Industry
Vision + Mission
Vision
To be the leading voice for construction and to expand by providing an exceptional member and client experience.
Mission
Advocate for fairness, opportunity, and free enterprise. Support the success of open shop contractors and ICBA members by delivering services that enhance the competitiveness of their business.
History of ICBA
The Independent Contractors and Businesses Association dates back to 1975, making it one of the oldest advocates in Canada’s open shop association community. Open shop contractors were denied access to bid on public work by the NDP provincial government, simply because they were not affiliated with a building trade union. More than 150 of these contractors met in Trail, BC, and, on April 26, 1975, formed an association to lobby for openness, fairness, and transparency in the way taxpayer-funded infrastructure projects were tendered. A grassroots provincial movement was underway.
In the face of a persistent building trade union lobby for preferential treatment, special deals, and closed shop work sites, ICBA’s commitment to equality, fairness, and open job sites resonated. ICBA’s position is clear: no special deals or favours. Every construction contractor and every man and woman working in construction deserves a fair shot at taxpayer-funded projects.
Our success has eclipsed the vision of the open shop contractors who met in Trail in 1975. Today, ICBA offers a full suite of member services, including training, apprenticeship sponsorship, benefits, wellness programs, and much more. ICBA is the single largest sponsor of trades apprentices in BC, and 85% of construction workers in the province work for open shop companies like the ones represented by ICBA.
Jobs at ICBA
Governance
The Independent Contractors and Businesses Association is governed by a board of directors chosen by the membership at our Annual General Meeting. Become an ICBA member and meet our Board.