The Winnipeg Construction Association would like to thank you for your continued support and wish you a warm and happy holiday season. Best wishes for the New Year!

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Membership Renewal

Membership renewal packages were sent out to WCA members at the beginning of December. Directory listings for your company as well as personnel listings and contact information are included in the package. Please check the listings over carefully and fax any changes back to the WCA offices at 783-6446 ASAP. This information will be published in our 2007 Membership Directory & Buyers' Guide. 

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2007 Construction Industry Forecast

The Manitoba construction industry will continue its hot-streak into 2007. According to the 7th Annual CIT Construction Industry Forecast, the Prairie provinces, British Columbia and the Northwest Territories are indicating continued positive growth in the new year.

Manitoba is expected to experience strong outcomes for non-residential construction in 2007. A document prepared between the Canadian Construction Association and the Construction Sector Council indicates that after a growth rate of 14.6 per cent in 2006, Manitoba's non-residential construction investment will stay strong with an increase of 7.7 per cent. Many projects set for tender or construction in early 2007 will generate a strong year for the Manitoba construction industry. Those projects include various retail outlets like Costco Wholesale, a retail warehouse with a budget high of $13 million and Polo Park Shopping Centre's south addition and expansion, estimated at $10 million.

Several health care facility projects and related construction projects are helping to continue Manitoba's building boom. Victoria General Hospital is expected to undergo an addition and renovation to their existing site with a budget between $20 and $22 million. At the site of Health Sciences Centre, construction is set to begin on Siemens Institute for Advanced Medicine, with a budget of $22 to $25 million, and a Canad Inns with a budget between $10 and $15 million. Tecumeseh Street Parkade, a project estimated to be approximately $30 million, tops off a number of construction activities at the HSC site.

Milner Ridge Correctional Centre's new correctional facility is slated for construction in 2007 at a cost of just over $10 million. In addition, Red River College has planned to build a $10 million Heavy Equipment Transportation Centre Training Facility and Maple Leaf Pork is putting $50 million into an addition and expansion of their processing plant.

Excavation and earthwork projects tendered for the Red River Floodway in 2007 are estimated to equal a budget high of $35 million. And finally, Winnipeg's Water Treatment Plant will tender a site utilities project at a cost between $4 and $6 million and a building envelope exterior project budgeted between $7 and $12 million.

Manitoba is also listed as one of the provinces that is expected to grow in residential construction investment with a 1.2 percentage change.

This includes condo projects such as The Edgewater on Wellington, set to start in 2007 with a budget between $16 and $18 million.

The economy continues to increase into 2007, and with it, more workers will be required. With a large percentage of the current workforce retiring over the next 10 years, the Construction Sector Council reports that Manitoba will be in need of 6,500 skilled tradespeople by 2014 to replace 4,427 expected retirees and to respond to industry growth, posing a major challenge for the Manitoba construction industry.

For more information on the projects mentioned above, members may refer to the Manitoba Construction News.

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Education News

Member education and training opportunities coming in 2007:

Contract Law

Employment Standards

Mechanical Blue Print Reading

Intro Blue Print Reading

Estimating Basics

Advanced Blue Print Reading

Mould Awareness

Bonding and Insurance

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Construction Specifications Canada Event

Construction Specifications Canada is holding the following Winnipeg Chapter Event: WCA Members Welcome!

Construction Insurance

Presenter: John Madison of AON

January 10, 2007

Centro Caboto
1055 Wilkes Avenue
Registration: 7:00 a.m.
Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. sharp
Cost: $20 (Students: $10)

Event Sponsor: WCA

The presentation will include a review of the various insurance conditions forming part of a standard CCDC form of contract. The requirements, a review of what each form of coverage provides and how changes to standard terminology can affect coverage will also be discussed. Advance registration required via email before January 5, 2007, to gordon.french@shaw.ca. Cash or cheque to CSC Winnipeg Chapter accepted at the door.

For the full list of CSC Winnipeg Chapter Events, visit http://www.cscwinnipeg.ca/wpgevents.html.

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New MCA Canada Chairman

Congratulations to James Derksen, the Derksen Group, who has been appointed Chairman of the Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada.

MCA Canada was established in 1895 to serve the needs of mechanical contractors of all sizes and disciplines including plumbing, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, controls systems, medical gases, welding and fire suppression, primarily with the industrial, commercial and institutional sectors. With nearly 1,000 member companies, the National Association encourages, supports and promotes the advancement of the mechanical contracting industry.

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Email: wca@wpgca.com

Visit our full website at www.wpgca.com

Winnipeg Construction Association is located at

290 Burnell Street, Winnipeg, MB  R3G 2A7

(204)775-8664

Copyright of Winnipeg Construction Association © 2006. 

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