Six employers celebrated for supporting tradeswomen, workplace diversity and positive worksite culture
VICTORIA – Nine months after unveiling the resources to help the industrial, commercial, and institutional construction sector set a standard code of conduct on worksites in BC, the Builders Code has honoured six companies for their leadership at the inaugural Builders Code Champion Awards. Hosted by the BCCA and Minerva BC at the Ocean Pointe Resort in Victoria recently, the awards recognized companies with advanced policies and practices that seek to ensure all employees can reach their full potential in the skilled trades.
“Thank you to the BC Construction Association, Minerva BC and all of your partners for the work you are doing to recruit and advance more women in trades,” said Mitzi Dean, Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity. “Your commitment to safe and inclusive workplaces contributes to a more accessible sector for everyone. Initiatives like the Builders Code are a rallying point to get more people involved in the trades, helping our province continue to grow while embracing diversity.”
The award categories and winners included:
- Recruiting & Hiring Champion:RAM Consulting Ltd. (Vancouver);
- Workplace Culture Champion: Scott Construction Group (Vancouver) and Kinetic Construction (Victoria);
- Community Champion: Westcana Electric (Prince George);
- Initiate of the Year: Durwest Construction Management (Victoria); and
- Contractor of the Year: Westcana Electric (Prince George) and Chinook Scaffold Systems (Nanaimo)
“On behalf of everyone at BCCA, Minerva BC and all our Builders Code partners, I want to thank our winners for their support of the Builders Code and congratulate them for creating and maintaining outstanding workplaces that support the safety and protection of all employees,” said Chris Atchison, President, BCCA. “As an industry facing a serious labour shortage, the retention of tradespeople, and especially tradeswomen, in our sector is critical. By demonstrating their commitment to their workforce, our winners have distinguished themselves as outstanding role models in the construction industry.”
Contractor of the Year – Chinook Scaffold Systems and Westcana Electric. From left to right: Tara Fong, Manager, Equity Trades Programs, Industry Training Authority; Wendy Gaskill, Corporate Safety Manager, Chinook Scaffold Systems; Gabrielle Herle, Safety Coordinator, Chinook Scaffold Systems and Taylor Manhas, Safety Coordinator, Westcana Electric
To be recognized as a Builders Code Champion, individuals and organizations must have demonstrated their commitment, leadership, and action towards advancing and retaining women in their company and achieving the provincial goal of 10 per cent tradeswomen by 2028. Nomination applications were accepted from May to November 1, 2019, with winners selected by a Judging Panel comprised of Minerva BC, the BCCA and the Builders Code Governance Committee.
“As partners of the Builders Code, we’re pleased to apply our experience measuring and reporting on women’s representation in BC’s workplaces to the construction sector,” said Tina Strehlke, CEO, Minerva BC. “Benchmarking where the construction sector is now will help us identify where progress is happening in the sector and where there is room for improvement. By sharing their information with us, our inaugural participants have demonstrated an important commitment to advancing and retaining tradeswomen.”
