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April 24, 2008 |
New Features to the Online Planroom Service New CCA 61 - 'Risks of Pre-Purchasing Equipment and Materials for Construction Projects' Manitoba Budget Includes Funding for New Apprenticeship Spaces Government to Prepare Manitoba Workers for the Jobs of the Future Provide Adult Students With Two Weeks of On-the-Job Training |
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*Please note , WCA members
already on the list to receive this newsletter*
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WCA hours are: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. __________________
Upcoming Industry Events ...............
WCA Board Meeting - WCA May 20, 2008 - 3 p.m. * Mark your Calendar for WCA's Annual Spring Golf Tournament on Wednesday, May 28, 2008! * WCA Spring BBQ - Tuesday, June 24, 2008 __________________ WCA Education News ............... ............... Follow the above link for full schedule details or call Kelly Pochuk
at *Most courses can be used toward the Gold Seal Program* __________________ WCA Membership News ............... WCA Welcomes its Newest Members: Superior Propane - Todd McLuckie Western Specialty Contracting - Philip Spring Partition Systems Ltd. - Nicki Bruce Beaman Contracting Ltd. - Jayson Beaman Norcraft Cabinetry - Clement Michaud Wheat City Roofing Ltd. - Bruce McCallum PETRO CANADA FUEL PLAN * All WCA members currently enrolled in the Petro Canada Fuel Plan will receive an additional 10% discount on car wash purchases with the purchase of fuel at all Petro Canada tunnel car wash sites. * To enroll in the program, call Doug Sargeant at 989-4405. For more information regarding WCA membership, contact: Kelly Pochuk 775-8664 x 2225 or email: __________________ Planroom News ............... For technical difficulties regarding the online planroom, please contact: Eric Sigurdson
Online Planroom Training Sessions Dates: 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. April 30, 2008 May 14, 2008 May 27, 2008 June 11, 2008 June 26, 2008
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New Features to the Online Planroom Service
The Winnipeg Construction Association, in partnership with Infinite Source, is proud to introduce new features to the Online Planroom Service.
Bid Calendar - The new Calendar will allow WCA members to quickly view the list of current-day closing projects by clicking within the Calendar located on the Main page. Give it a try!
Build a Search - The Build a Search feature is designed to allow members to view the project information specific to their own needs. Select the criteria to create a custom search – either as a one-time search, or save it for every day use.
To access this new feature, select “Build a Search” from the top navigation bar; select as many items as needed from the Search Criteria area on the left. Once all of the criteria appears in the “Current Selection” section on the right, choose “Save current selection” and the search will appear on the main page under “My Searches”. Use “Clear current selection” to begin a new search.
In addition, WCA has prepared a few saved searches on the main page to assist members. Check out the Current Low & Awarded option under “My Searches”.
This saved search includes projects with Low Bid (Bid Results) and Award information published in the last 14 days.
Activity Manager (to create a custom report) - The Activity Manager feature is used to create a custom report from a “Search Results” list. Click on the Activity Manager icon when it appears above “Search Results”; it will produce another list, which will provide a check box on each project. Once the projects have been checked, select “Show Report” to create a custom report which will include those projects of interest. Also available, add a group of projects to your favourite or subscription list.
To receive training on this and many other WCA Online Planroom features, please attend one of our next Online Training Sessions. A sign-up form is available HERE, or register by contacting the Planroom at 774-2431.
New CCA 61 - 'Risks of Pre-Purchasing Equipment and Materials for Construction Projects'
Please be advised that the new CCA 61 'Risks of Pre-Purchasing Equipment and Materials for Construction Projects' is now available from the Winnipeg Construction Association Planroom.
To order the new document, please contact the WCA Planroom at 774-2431.
Manitoba Budget Includes Funding for New Apprenticeship Spaces
Manitoba's Minister of Finance, Greg Selinger, presented the 2008-09 provincial budget on April 9, 2008, which includes an incentive to employers hiring journeypersons.
Selinger announced that the new Journeyperson Hiring Incentive (J-HI) provides a refundable tax credit of 5 per cent of wages and salaries paid to employers of recent graduates of apprenticeship programs. An eligible employer may earn up to $2,500 for each of the first two 12 month-periods of employment for each journeyperson. Note: Only employers engaged in training apprentices, as verified by the Manitoba Apprenticeship Branch, are eligible to claim the incentive. (Editor's Note:The Winnipeg Construction Association has considerable concerns regarding this incentive and will update its members with further information and clarification as it becomes available.)
A few days later, Competitiveness, Training and Trade Minister Andrew Swan announced $3.8 million to support the creation of 1,100 new apprenticeship training seats -- a first step towards the committment to an additional 4,000 seats.
Government to Prepare Manitoba Workers for the Jobs of the Future
On April 11, the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development announced that the Government of Canada will invest nearly $110 million in training Manitoba's labour market over the next six years. The new agreement addresses employers' need for skilled workers.
Now, residents of Manitoba who are not eligible for training under the Employment Insurance (EI) program will have opportunities to improve their skills. The funding will be used to help those often excluded from the labour force, including Aboriginal people, immigrants and persons with disabilities, gain access to the training they need to find good quality jobs. It will also help people move from low-skilled work to better jobs within a variety of sectors such as construction, mining, and manufacturing.
Provide Adult Students With Two Weeks of On-the-Job Training
Together with Employment Manitoba, WCA is conducting a 24-week Introductory Construction Industry Training Pilot Program (ICITP) delivered by Assiniboine Community College. The program, which began December 7, 2007, provides 15 registered adult students with basic training and skills essential for working in the construction industry. Program content includes money management, teamwork, blueprint reading, safety training, basic carpentry skills and an introduction to skilled trades in construction.
WCA Needs You! WCA needs you to take an ICITP Program student(s) for two weeks of on-the job training with the intent of employing them at program completion. Note: Employers are not obligated to pay wages. These students are committed to starting careers in the construction industry. On-the-job training is scheduled for May 20 - May 30.
REGISTER to take a student for two weeks of training.
For more information on the ICITP Program, contact Kelly Pochuk at 775-8664 x2225 or kpochuk@wpgca.com.
Sisler Supports Skilled Trades
Slide over Nintendo Wii, students at Winnipeg’s Sisler High School are trying their hand at a new activity – construction. At their first-ever Construction Career Day, Sisler’s Grade 9 students were introduced to a variety of skilled trades, and encouraged to participate in interactive demonstrations.
The morning started off with a number of Trade Up: Careers in Manitoba Construction presentations, each 40 minutes in length, during which students were introduced to the various careers available in Manitoba construction. Representatives from Manitoba’s Apprenticeship Branch took part in the presentations, and a journeyperson bricklayer and mechanical apprentice spoke about their experiences in the industry.
In the afternoon, Sisler’s junior gym was abuzz with masonry, 
carpentry, drywall and mechanical demonstrations. Approximately 350 students in groups of 10-15 rotated from booth to booth, participating in laying bricks, drilling screws and constructing walls. The small group activities allowed students to ask questions, work together and cheer on their fellow classmates.
Big thanks to Mark Laarveld from the Manitoba Masonry Institute for coordinating Sisler’s Construction Career Day, and to Tri-Star Masonry Contractors Ltd., Euro-Can Enterprises Ltd., Pellaers Ventilation Inc., PCL Constructors Canada Inc., Loewen Drywall Ltd. and Manitoba Apprenticeship Branch for participating in this event. We’d also like to express gratitude to the Sisler High School staff for establishing a career event that showcases skilled trades and encourages their students to make educated career decisions.
New Group Retirement Program
Wednesday, April 30, 2008 @ 12 noon - Lunch provided!
Presented by: AQ Group Solutions
Location: Winnipeg Construction Association
AQ Group Solutions and Assante Wealth Management have developed a Group Retirement Savings Program to help you attract, retain and provide affordable retirement planning for your employees.
REGISTRATION New Group Retirement Program
Construction Blueprint Reading - Introduction
Two-day Course: May 20-21, 2008
Registration Deadline: May 12, 2008
Gold Seal Credit: Two Points (WCA)
Location: Red River College
Unsure where to find information? This course is an overview of commercial construction drawings for buildings, with a focus on architectural and structural content, but including an overview of mechanical and electrical drawings. Also included will be an introduction to the Project Manual (Specifications).
REGISTRATION Construction Blueprint Reading - Intro
WCA Member Fee: $350.00 + GST
Project Scheduling with MS Project 2003 (Level 1)
Two-day Course: May 26-27, 2008
Registration Deadline: May 20, 2008
Gold Seal Credit: Two Points (WCA)
Location: Red River College
This course is introductory in nature and is intended for individuals in the design and construction industries. Learn the theory of critical path project scheduling and use Microsoft Project 2003 to schedule projects, assign resources and track project progress.
REGISTRATION Project Scheduling with MS Project 2003
WCA Member Fee: $350.00 + GST
Introduction to Quantity Take-Offs
Two-day Course: June 9-10, 2008
Registration Deadline: June 2, 2008
Gold Seal Credit: Two Points (WCA)
Location: Red River College
This course is intended for individuals who are new to the estimating process, but have some knowledge of the organization of a set of construction drawings. You will learn to extract information from a set of commercial construction drawings in order to prepare a quantity take-off for some of the required materials. There will be numerous hands-on exercises using a variety of actual construction drawings. Also covered will be some common methods of organizing the data onto ledger sheets or Excel spreadsheets. Previous computer experience is recommended.
REGISTRATION Introductory to Quantity Take-Offs
WCA Member Fee: $350.00 + GST
Construction Law - Gold Seal Online Training
Objectives: This course will provide managers with the tools to help them understand
construction contracts, write contracts, identify simple errors in construction contracts,
understand the process claim and learn to solve construction disputes effectively.
This course has been accredited by the Canadian Construction Association (CCA) to five (5)
credits towards Gold Seal Certification upon successful completion of this course. A final
mark of 75% is required in order to receive a certificate of completion.
WCA Member Fee: $90.00 + GST
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E-mail: wca@wpgca.com
Visit our full Web site 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 © 2007.
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