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Uniting ARCCAW members across Alberta Winter 2013 Children’s Christmas parties; tool reviews; apprenticeship contest highlights Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement #40063788 Return undeliverable mail to 200-15210 123 Ave Edmonton,AB T5V 0A3 New southern Alberta office takes shape Take Action in 2013 Why resolutions fail and what to do about it Local Focus Fort Mac construction company makes its mark Leaving a Legacy Deluxe doghouses raise funds for a good cause

Hard Hat Winter 2013

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Page 1: Hard Hat Winter 2013

Uniting ARCCAW members across Alberta Winter 2013

Children’s Christmas parties; tool reviews; apprenticeship contest highlights

Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement #40063788 Return undeliverable mail to 200-15210 123 Ave Edmonton,AB T5V 0A3

New southern Alberta offi ce takes shape

Take Action in 2013Why resolutions fail and what to do about it

Local FocusFort Mac construction company makes its mark

Leaving a LegacyDeluxe doghouses raise funds for a good cause

HH_WInter13_p01.indd 1 1/22/13 9:29:25 AM

Page 2: Hard Hat Winter 2013

57%MORE

RUNTIME1

UP TO 1.5X MORE RUNTIMEVS LEADING COMPETITORS2

BRUSHLESS MOTOR

PUSH BUTTON CHUCKOne handed operation for quick & easy accessory changes

FUEL GAUGE BATTERYCheck the amount of charge left in the battery, packs are fully interchangeable with existing 20V MAX* tools.

3-SPEED DESIGNProvides enhanced application control. Monitor what speed the tool is in without turning it on.

MORE ONLINEFor more detail and full videodemonstrations, scan this code using any QR-code reader.

BRUSHED MOTOR“RED” indicates friction caused by brushes on conventional motors. This slows the motor down and generates heat.

“GREEN” indicates electronic transfer of energy within the tool. This allows the tool to run longer between charges.

† Vs. brushed motors.1 - Vs. DEWALT 20V MAX* DCF885C2. Number of 3" deck screws driven into a pressure treated 4"x4". Average results based on 3 units, 2 times each.2 - Up to 1.5x More Run-Time vs Leading Competitors" vs. Makita 18V Brushless LXDT01Z(with BL1815 Battery), Milwaukee 18V 2650-21 (with Red Lithium Battery), Hitachi 18V WH18DSAL, Bosch 18V 25618-01. Number of 3" deck screws driven into a pressure treated 4"x4". Average results based on 3 units, 2 times each.* Maximum initial battery voltage (measured without a workload) is 20 volts. Nominal voltage is 18.

10 Amp Compact Reciprocating Saw | DWE357

20% SHORTER*

14.5˝ IN LENGTH20% SHORTER*

14.5˝ IN LENGTH20% SHORTER*

14.5˝ IN LENGTH

Copyright ©2012 DEWALT. The following are examples of trademarks for one or more DEWALT power tools and accessories: The yellow and black color scheme; the “D”-shaped air intake grill; the array of pyramids on the handgrip; the kit box configuration; and the array of lozenge-shaped humps on the surface of the tool. * vs Milwaukee® 6519

UNIQUE SPECIAL ANGLED BODY was designed for balance and control in tight areas.

4-POSITION BLADE CLAMPdesigned for versatility in multiple applications with 2 horizontal and 2 vertical cutting positions.

10 AMPS & 2,800 STROKES PER MINUTE make this saw powerful enough to cut through a variety of materials in tough, jobsite environments.

000HH-Dewalt-DPS.indd 1 1/4/13 11:55:03 AMHH_Winter13_p02-03.indd 2 1/21/13 4:39:08 PM

Page 3: Hard Hat Winter 2013

57%MORE

RUNTIME1

UP TO 1.5X MORE RUNTIMEVS LEADING COMPETITORS2

BRUSHLESS MOTOR

PUSH BUTTON CHUCKOne handed operation for quick & easy accessory changes

FUEL GAUGE BATTERYCheck the amount of charge left in the battery, packs are fully interchangeable with existing 20V MAX* tools.

3-SPEED DESIGNProvides enhanced application control. Monitor what speed the tool is in without turning it on.

MORE ONLINEFor more detail and full videodemonstrations, scan this code using any QR-code reader.

BRUSHED MOTOR“RED” indicates friction caused by brushes on conventional motors. This slows the motor down and generates heat.

“GREEN” indicates electronic transfer of energy within the tool. This allows the tool to run longer between charges.

† Vs. brushed motors.1 - Vs. DEWALT 20V MAX* DCF885C2. Number of 3" deck screws driven into a pressure treated 4"x4". Average results based on 3 units, 2 times each.2 - Up to 1.5x More Run-Time vs Leading Competitors" vs. Makita 18V Brushless LXDT01Z(with BL1815 Battery), Milwaukee 18V 2650-21 (with Red Lithium Battery), Hitachi 18V WH18DSAL, Bosch 18V 25618-01. Number of 3" deck screws driven into a pressure treated 4"x4". Average results based on 3 units, 2 times each.* Maximum initial battery voltage (measured without a workload) is 20 volts. Nominal voltage is 18.

10 Amp Compact Reciprocating Saw | DWE357

20% SHORTER*

14.5˝ IN LENGTH20% SHORTER*

14.5˝ IN LENGTH20% SHORTER*

14.5˝ IN LENGTH

Copyright ©2012 DEWALT. The following are examples of trademarks for one or more DEWALT power tools and accessories: The yellow and black color scheme; the “D”-shaped air intake grill; the array of pyramids on the handgrip; the kit box configuration; and the array of lozenge-shaped humps on the surface of the tool. * vs Milwaukee® 6519

UNIQUE SPECIAL ANGLED BODY was designed for balance and control in tight areas.

4-POSITION BLADE CLAMPdesigned for versatility in multiple applications with 2 horizontal and 2 vertical cutting positions.

10 AMPS & 2,800 STROKES PER MINUTE make this saw powerful enough to cut through a variety of materials in tough, jobsite environments.

000HH-Dewalt-DPS.indd 1 1/4/13 11:55:03 AMHH_Winter13_p02-03.indd 3 1/21/13 4:39:11 PM

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Executive Secretary Treasurer’s REPORTAspiring to Be the Best

Martyn A. Piper

here is something called the Consumer Choice Awards, a national program that considers criteria such

as a product’s integrity, reliability, dura-bility, safety, longevity and even company productivity.

This is an interesting parallel for unions who supply labour to contractors. Whether we like it or not, we are competing with other labour providers. Do they offer a similar prod-uct in many respects? Yes, they do. However, we say we provide a superior product. When owners and developers make decisions on their labour strategy for a new construction project, maintenance contract or a shutdown, where arguably the labour cost could be 30 per cent or more, they have to take into con-sideration what they are getting from the labour provider they select.

If one supplier had a monopoly on the mar-ket, this would not be an issue. However, there are very few monopoly sectors in the market today. Instead, there are always other options. In the past, manufacturers of con-sumer products or service providers (to name just a couple) arguably got lazy, did not become innovative or creative, or did not pay attention or care enough about what was being sold to the buyer. Consequently, some are out of business and others have been over-taken by new competition.

So what does this tell us? Well, on the one hand, we can say “screw” the buyer. Workers have a right to choose a union and they may

prefer a certain type of collective agree-ment with certain terms. The problem with that scenario in today’s world is that the “buyers” our union deals with, and non-union companies, do have other options. We could end up causing contrac-tors and owners to look for other sources of labour. So what can we do about this?

There is a very simple, and what should be an obvious solution to this dilemma, which is to provide a better product so that even if we cost more we can convince the contractors and owners that they are and will get good value for the money. Things such as being at work every day, being reliable, performing to a high level, ensuring produc-tivity, considering all the hazards, identifying the “what ifs” for doing the work safely, doing the job right the first time, ensuring longevity and durability, and finally complying with the existing drug and alco-hol policies, all demonstrate a professional, organized and valuable labour supply.

We all know that buyers will often pay more for a quality product. Buyers like it when they get what they are paying for, particularly if they are paying more, and this often creates brand loyalty. Do we want to be the AMC Gremlins of labour supply or do we want to be Mercedes?

Stop and think when you are out shopping for that new television, iPod, mobile phone, motorbike, car or booking a vacation. How do you make your purchasing decisions? What criteria do you use? Are you upset when you pay more than a friend and end up with the same or lesser product? Of course you are, and it is no different for the busi-nesses with which we work.

2013 is a New Year. Let’s agree to rededicate ourselves to the qual-ity of our product, become more professional, build like there is no tomorrow, and be the winner in the Consumer Labour Provider Awards category.

T

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Edmonton 780-471-3200 FortMcMurray 780-743-1442 Calgary 403-283-0747 CarpentersTrainingCentre 780-455-6532 CarpentersHealthandWelfare 780-477-9131 CarpentersPension 780-477-9131 IndustrialWorkers 403-283-0747 MillwrightLocal1460 780-430-1460 LocalUnion1325and2103Dispatch 1-888-944-0818

PublisHeD FoR:

Alberta Regional Council of Carpenters & Allied Workers

15210 – 123 Avenue Edmonton, Alberta T5V 0A3

Tel: (780) 474-8599 / Fax: (780) 474-8910www.albertacarpenters.com

PublisHeD by:

VenturePublishingInc.10259–105Street

Edmonton,AlbertaT5J1E3Toll-free:1-866-227-4276Phone:(780)990-0839Fax:(780)425-4921

www.venturepublishing.ca

PublisHeR Ruth Kelly

AssociATe PublisHeR Joyce Byrne

ARccAW eDiToR MartynA.Piper

eDiToR KimTannas

ART DiRecToR CharlesBurke

AssociATe ART DiRecToR AndreadeBoer

AssisTAnT ART DiRecToR ColinSpence

PRoDucTion cooRDinAToR Betty-LouSmith

PRoDucTion TecHniciAn BrentFelzien

conTRibuTing WRiTeRs Gisele Aparicio-Hull, Bobbi-Sue Menard,

Lisa Ricciotti, Robin Schroffel, Matt Smith, Wanda Vivequin

conTRibuTing PHoTogRAPHeRs AnD illusTRAToRs

Buffy Goodman, 3TEN Photo - Eugene Uhuad

Vice-PResiDenT, sAles AnitaMcGillis

ADVeRTising RePResenTATiVe DavidFrazier

sAles AssisTAnT KarenCrane,JennRush

Contents©2013byARCCAWInc.Nopartofthispublicationshouldbereproduced

withoutwrittenpermission.

Important Phone Numbers

on THe coVeR: An artist’s rendering of the new southern

Alberta administration building.

21

Winter 13

Contents

29

18

FEATURES

10 fit@workForget your resolutions and find the right kind of motivationBy Matt Smith

12 bring on 2013Photo highlights from the 20th National Apprenticeship Competition

14 For the DogsApprentice-built doghouses raise funds for a good causeBy Wanda Vivequin

18 A Place to call HomeSouthern Alberta administrative building marks a bold new visionBy Lisa Ricciotti

21 The Personal TouchCBS Construction makes the best of its competitive edgeBy Gisele Aparicio-Hull

DEPARTMENTS

4 note From the executive secretary TreasurerBy Martyn Piper

6 site lines Aluma volunteers for a good cause; Safety milestone achieved; a new auto-mated dispatch system; Stampede parking fundraiser

23 geared upTools to help you work better

24 KidZoneHighlights from the children’s Christmas parties

26 Training and Apprenticeship ReportBy Len Bryden

27 local 1460 Millwrights ReportBy Bob Hugh

28 Meet the instructor

29 Meet the Apprentice

30 Parting shot

31 Training & events; in Memoriam

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� HARDHAT WINTER2013

Aluma Lends a Helping Hand

For the fourth year in a row, Aluma teammembersinCalgaryvolunteeredtheirtimetoerectanddismantlefivescaffoldtowersfortheCanadianBreastCancerFoundation’s2012CIBC5KRunfortheCureheldattheendofSeptember.

AlumateammemberStephenBrazilsaid20workersputintheextratimetoassembleandtakeapartthefivetowersthatnotonlymarkedthestart/finishlinebutalsoofferedanimportantvantagepointformediaandthosefilmingtheevent.TheAlumacrewteamedupwithPCLworkerstogetthejobdone.

“Wearesopleasedthatthisisthefirstyearsincestartingthisvolunteerprojectthateachandeverypieceofequipmentandservicewasfullydonated,”saidBrazil.

“Thisincludedlabour,transportationandanythingassociatedwithgettingthematerialfromtheyardtothesiteandbackagain,”hesaid.

Thisyear,theRunfortheCureraisedover$30millionacrossthecounty,withCalgaryaccountingfor$1.5millionofthefundsraised.

AlumaloanedthescaffoldmaterialfreeofcostandAlumaSystemsandPCLbannersweredisplayedthroughouttheeventinrecognitionofcontributionstothisgreatcause.

“Ittakesabouttwoorthreehourstosetupanddismantlethetowers,andknowinghowimportanttheworkCBCFdoesinthecommunitymakesthisallveryworthwhile,”saidBrazil.

AftertheSeptemberevent,AlumaaddedtoitscontributionbyorganizingagolftournamentthatbroughtitstotaldonationtoCBCF(includingthedonationofrentalequipment)to$10,000.

“Wearesopleasedtobeinvolvedwiththisimportantworkthataffectsthelivesofsomanyinthecommunity,”saidBrazil.

Site Lines News in Brief A roundup of news and events from around the region

BY WAnDA ViVequin

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HARDHAT WINTER 2013 7

A six-week turnaround at the Nexen Long Lake facility has created a result all members of the Fort McMurray Aluma team can be justifiably proud of – 500,000 labour hours without a recordable incident.

Aluma director and general manager Mick Herke says the turnaround provided its own set of challenges for the team as the entire plant was brought down with zero output, meaning time was of the essence in getting the

Turnaround Achieves Safety Milestone

job done to schedule.Herke says much of the credit for the zero

recordables (and zero incidents – a first) on this job was due to the extensive pre-planning and the new worker orientation program.

“We brought on an extra 200 people for this job, bringing the total workforce for this project to 260,” Herke says. The new worker orientation and its focus on safety also contributed greatly to the result, according to Aluma project manager Mike Mayuk.

Pre-planning using 3-D drawings of the site ensured exactly all the materials were at the work site when needed.

Herke says a good tripartite agreement between the contractor, the owners and Local 1325 made this a largely seamless experience that produced a fantastic result. “Overall we were really pleased with this result and want to thank all the members and those involved for making this possible,” he says.

Bruce Payne, business agent for the Regional Council, presents a plaque to Leona Vieira on behalf of the executive and membership of Local 2010 in appreciation for her years of service. Vieira was one of the key members responsible for organizing Ply Gem, a Calgary-based manufacturer of residential windows and doors.

Formerly CWD Windows & Doors, the company was unionized in 2005 and has more than 300 employees. Vieria was also being recognized for her role as a job steward and executive member of Local 2010.

Spotlight on Member Recognition

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8 HARDHAT WINTER 2013

Site Lines News in Brief A roundup of news and events from around the region

on the out-of-work list will know straight away whether they have the right qualifications and certificates rather than finding out later they are not eligible.

Hugh says the system will be phased in gradually throughout 2013 although the old book system will run parallel to the automated one until everything is running smoothly.

Early this year, a family-friendly automated dispatch system is being phased in that will provide three different ways for millwrights to find out about jobs for which they are eligible and qualified.

Millwrights senior business representative Bob Hugh says the most exciting feature of the automated system is giving those on the out-of-work-list access to available job postings the night before the callouts go out. This will allow the millwrights a chance to see where they are on the out-of-work list, discuss job opportunities with their families and partners and pre-select what they are interested in, rather than having to make a decision on the spot.

“Those people who choose to go online the night before will be able to see where they are on the out-of-work list, see what they are qualified for and indicate their interest rather than getting a call, say, in the grocery lineup telling them a job starts tomorrow without having the chance to discuss this with the family,” says Hugh.

This new feature is just one of several being incorporated into a new automated system that will eventually see job postings sent out via text messages, emails and automated calls. “We want to make sure we can access people in a variety of ways,” he says.

The automatic dispatch system was developed after months of evaluating other North America systems and then taking the best elements from each of these to build a specific site in-house for the Alberta millwrights.

Hugh says the last few months have been busy for office staff entering the qualifications and certificate information for all members into a database which will be used to make job searches and callouts more efficient. This will ensure that those

New Automated Dispatch for Millwrights

Carpenters & Joiners of America LU1325Service Awards banquet (for years 2011 & 2012)

Chateau Louis Hotel & Conference Center11727 Kingsway, Edmonton, ABCocktails 5:30 pm - Dinner 6:30 pmInvitations have been sent to award recipients. (RSVP by Tuesday, February 12, 2013)

Tickets will go on sale on February 13, 2013, $50.00 each and available at:

15210 - 123 Avenue, Edmonton, AB (780) 471-3200 or6, 266 MacKay Crescent, Fort McMurray, AB (780) 743-1442

February 23, 2013

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HARDHAT WINTER 2013 �

Parking for STARSWho would have thought parking cars could be so much fun and do so much good?

Well it can and it did.Members of the Calgary Civic Union Coalition

donated hundreds of volunteer hours in partnership with the City of Calgary to park cars during the 2012 Calgary Stampede, raising $71,793.36 for STARS Air Ambulance.

Local 2103 business agent Bruce Payne said this was a substantial increase from the amount raised in 2011 thanks to the generosity of City of Calgary managers who donated an additional parking lot for the event. 2012 marked the 100th anniversary of the Calgary Stampede, which has become an iconic Canadian and Alberta event.

Local 254 assistant business manager Karen Stoshnof, who organizes the event on behalf of the Civic Union Coalition, says the project, which is now in its 19th year, continues to go from strength to strength. “We have raised almost half a million dollars to date and have a great time doing it,” says Stoshnof.

Volunteers donate their time to collect parking fees from eager Calgary Stampede-goers, with all of the money collected going towards a worthy cause that has touched the lives of many union members and non-union members alike.

Payne says the group of people who delivered the donation were treated to a tour of the STARS Air Ambulance facility and learned first-hand about the impressive behind-the-scenes technology that makes this such an efficient and critical service for the province.

“We are so proud to be involved in fundraising for this incredible project. Their systems for dispatch are mind-bogglingly complex and it was good to learn about the process for getting emergency services to even the most remote and challenging places,” Payne says.

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o the end of the world didn’t happen and unfortunately that means that all the holiday gorging

accompanied by weight gain was for naught. Summer will be here before we can say “asphalt” and we’ll be rushing around trying to lose those extra couple of pounds before we go on vacation. And they say most people are inconsistent in their fitness efforts. I say it’s actually predictable – just really inefficient, don’t you think?

How can we take advantage of knowing that we get this boost of motivation at the beginning of the year and make a more efficient plan to get better results for more than a couple months? How can we do things more consistently throughout the year so we don’t all have to freak out when “that time of year” comes around? I’ll give you a few points to ponder that I hope will

By MATT SMITH

based on logical thinking instead of emotional reaction. I’m not saying that no one benefits from these emotional bursts; it’s just that the majority of people do not benefit long term from this. How many of you have already

given up on your resolutions?

The way December and January flow together sets off an almost unhealthy or unrealistic amount of motivation for people. We can make

great strides in terms of fitness and health because we have all this energy to better ourselves but as we quickly come down from that high, the plan we set out is near impossible to maintain in our daily lives. Life kicks in and we need to focus on other things.

I’m not saying you shouldn’t strive for

help with your overall mindset of “why we take action and why we don’t” while giving you some advice on what you can start doing right now to get on track again.

It’s not completely our fault that we go through this pattern of bad eating habits at the end of the year, followed by guilt-motivated resolutions, followed by going back to old habits shortly after. Christmas is unfairly timed being so close to the start of the new year. This timing is a big part of the reason that people have this huge boost of motivation to take action on crazy, unsustainable resolutions.

If people didn’t feel so bad about eating in December, they might make realistic goals

It’s not completely our fault that we go through this pattern of bad

eating habits at the end of the year, followed by guilt-motivated

resolutions, followed by going back to old habits shortly after.

S

Ditch the resolutions and meet your goalsBecoMe AweSoMe in 2013

10 HARDHAT WINTER 2013

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Matt Smith, CSEP-CPT, NASM-CES

By Randy Stefanizyn, Manager, Labour Relations, Syncrude Canada Ltd.

massive success, but for the average person, there are steps that need to be taken before you start taking over the world. I believe anyone can get to the point of taking on extremely ambitious goals but only after this person has trained themselves to do so. The same way we learn a new skill such as a sport or job, we have to start out with small steps and tasks before becoming team captain or employee of the month. In the beginning all you need to ask is: “Is this something I can do every single day even if I’m tired?”

I’ll be going over three major points in how you can forget the idea of resolutions and instead establish more fulfilling habits in your life.

VISION OF WHYMost people do not understand their internal motivation to do anything. A lot of the time it just seems like something they should want. It could be a superficial health or fitness reason but I challenge you to evaluate exactly how changing or creating these things about yourself will affect your life. Be specific about what you want to achieve (lose 10 pounds, have better endurance, etc.) and then list five very specific situations in your life that this would affect and how you would feel about them (going out at night, playing recreational sports with friends, shopping at the mall, etc.).

People often say, “It’s so easy to work out and eat properly when I’m motivated, but after a while it gets harder and harder to keep up. What’s up with that?” My retort is always, “Please look up the word motivation and get back to me.” The dictionary defines it as follows: “Motivation is the psychological feature that arouses an organism to take action toward a desired goal and elicits, controls, and sustains certain goal-directed behaviours.” It’s easy to take action on something when we are motivated to do so. It’s literally the definition of the word.

So the question that is most effective to keep you working hard for more than a few months at the beginning of each year is as follows: How can we use our time most efficiently when we are motivated to set ourselves up for success when we are not motivated? This is what I’m going to answer with the remaining two points.

SIMPLE HABITS AND POSITIVE FEEDBACK LOOPEven the most lame and easy habits, done consistently, can help prove to yourself that you’re someone who gets things done and you simply have to do them consistently. Let me rephrase this: it doesn’t matter what you do (easy or hard). These things help teach you that you’re awesome and can achieve anything. It simply takes time.

It’s also why I mentioned earlier that you have to start at the beginning with easy habits before going after overly ambitious goals. Train yourself first and then take over a small country. The big trick in fitness is aligning these habits with your end vision in mind – which hopefully continues to evolve through your own process. Do something, do anything and make sure you do it for a long period of time. If you still can’t achieve something after a year of consistency, come find me and we can go over more advanced strategies.

FINDING HELPHaving a mentor or a solid base of information is very important to give you confidence in whatever adventure you are setting out after. You don’t go travelling without direction. Why is it any different while travelling through life? Whether it’s trying to lose weight or gain muscle, having a website, coach/mentor or even a very knowledgeable friend to count on is better than just running around with information you’ve gathered randomly from different sources. Just because it sounds good doesn’t mean it’s going to help at all. Find something or someone who knows what they’re doing and stick with it for more than six months.

When it comes to starting a workout or nutrition plan, how much of our stress comes from not being confident about the actual plan of attack? Would you feel more confident if I built you a car or would you rather buy a car from a dealership? You would spend way more money on a professionally made car because you know it will do exactly what you need it to do when you need it. On the other hand, although cheaper, the car I’d make you might not even get you out of the driveway and I also don’t give refunds or have a warranty. It might explode as well.

Having a solid plan of action from someone

BECOME AWESOME iN 2013

who has way more experience than you takes care of the worry of “Is it working or efficient?” and allows you to focus on staying motivated throughout the year. Stop “resolutioning” and start getting things done in your life.

If you’d like more information on what was presented in this article or have any questions about training and assessments, please contact Matthew by emailing [email protected]. Working with all types of trades and athletes, Matthew is a Certified Personal Trainer and Corrective Exercise Specialist through the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology, National Strength and Conditioning Association and National Academy of Sports Medicine.

NEW GYM TIMES

Please make note of the new times for the fitness centre at the Provincial Training and Administration Centre in Edmonton. It will now be open: Tuesday and Thursday: 4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.Saturday and Sunday: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

HARDHAT WINTER 2013 11

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In late August 2012, apprentices in carpentry, drywalling and millwrighting put their skills to the test at the annual National Apprenticeship Competition. It was a high-light for a couple of reasons – not only was it the 20th anniversary of the event but – for the first time since 2002: Edmonton played host to the competition.

Alberta’s Tyler Shipton took home top honours with his first place finish for the millwrights and we have equally high hopes for strong performances from the province’s competitors at the 2013 competition, which will take place in St. John’s, Newfoundland, this summer.

Alberta did us proud at the National Apprenticeship Competition this past August. We’re highlighting some of the moments from 2012 as we look ahead to this year’s contest

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National apprenticeship competitors make a difference with their deluxe doghousesBy WANDA VIVEQUIN

en Bryden loves the two dogs that he has adopted into his home – one of them fromthe Humane Society in Brooks, Alberta, and the other rescued from a bad home, both within the past six years. It’s no wonder, then, that the director of training and apprenticeship for the

Alberta Carpenters Training Centre chose doghouses as the construction project at the 2012 UBC National Apprenticeship Contest in Edmonton this past August.

Competitors showed off their skills by building 12 deluxe canine quarters, each complete with a peaked shingle roof, shuttered windows and a solar panel-powered porch light. The doghouses were delivered to the Edmonton Humane Society on October 4, much to the satisfaction of all involved.

The houses were designed by Bryden in conjunction with people from the Humane Society, and although the apprentices did the bulk of the construction at the competition in August, the fine-tuning and detailing was done by ACTC staff members.

“Delivering these completed doghouses was a real pleasure for me as I know first-hand what an incredible difference this organization makes in the lives of thousands of homeless and abused animals each year,” he says. The doghouses are being auctioned off by the Edmonton Humane Society as fundraisers.

Three of the doghouses were auctioned at the society’s annual “Paws and Claws Gala” at the end of October, raising $2,400. Edmonton Humane Society spokesperson Shawna Randolph says it was the first time doghouses have been donated as auction items.

“Community support like this makes a huge difference to our ability to help the up to 13,000 animals we take care of each year,” says Randolph. The remaining nine houses will be auctioned off over the next year.

Bryden says it’s important for each UBC competition to leave a legacy in its host city.“Over the last few years we built things like garden benches for seniors’ homes and playhouses for

children,” he says. “As an organization we recognize the real benefit and importance of giving back to the community.”

The project also garnered extensive media attention for both organizations, including coverage on Global, CTV, CBC, as well as in the Edmonton Journal and Edmonton Sun.

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Always Wear Safety Goggles. Copyright ® Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.

TRADITION. PRODUCTIVITY. INNOVATION.These words are everything you know Stanley Tools represents.

This is the kind of variety, quality and innovation professionalcontractors and do-it-yourselfers alike have come to expect from Stanley, and those characteristics are clearly thought of for every tool we offer. We work continually to design productswith real-world benefits that will see you through to the end of job after job. Whether you are doing your first home projector completing a full room renovation, Stanley has the toolsyou need for the job.

STANLEY. TOOLS THAT GET THE JOB DONE RIGHT.www.stanleyhandtools.ca

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Always Wear Safety Goggles. Copyright ® Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.

TRADITION. PRODUCTIVITY. INNOVATION.These words are everything you know Stanley Tools represents.

This is the kind of variety, quality and innovation professionalcontractors and do-it-yourselfers alike have come to expect from Stanley, and those characteristics are clearly thought of for every tool we offer. We work continually to design productswith real-world benefits that will see you through to the end of job after job. Whether you are doing your first home projector completing a full room renovation, Stanley has the toolsyou need for the job.

STANLEY. TOOLS THAT GET THE JOB DONE RIGHT.www.stanleyhandtools.ca

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t doesn’t look like much yet, but it will. Currently the construction site in north-eastern Calgary, just south of the airport, isn’t much more than a large hole in the ground. But come back in September, when the transformation is complete, and you’ll see a sleek, modern building of steel, stone and glass—the new administrative home of the Alberta

Regional Council of Carpenters and Allied Workers (ARCCAW) in southern Alberta.“It’s been in our plans since 1997, since the inception of the regional council,” explains

Martyn Piper, ARCCAW’s executive secretary treasurer. “We always promised that after headquarters were completed in Edmonton, southern Alberta would get a new building too. And now’s the time.”

Piper says ARCCAW’s current Calgary facility on 10th Street has served union workers well since 1979 but after almost 35 years, it’s time for a fresh new look. In many ways, a building stands as a visible symbol of the organization it houses, and Piper believes ARCCAW deserves a structure that sends the right message. “A contemporary, cutting-edge building is a better match for our progressive membership. The new building will better exemplify

who we are and what we do, and present a stronger, more up-to-date image to the public.”

Project manager Bob Provencher shares the same philosophy. “If you want to deal with large construction companies and government, you need a strong community presence. The new building will represent the quality of our members’ work and rein-force our credibility.”

Provencher says that another consid-eration in designing the building was the creation of a landmark location in south-ern Alberta. “We want the building to be

IARCCAW’s new administrative building in Calgary marks a bold new vision for the union

By LISA RICCIOTTI

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easily identifiable and widely known as ARCCAW’s southern home,” he explains. “By constructing a building that will be a hallmark of the neighbourhood and an industry landmark, ARCCAW demon-strates that it’s a good corporate citizen. It’s a visible sign that we’re part of the com-munity and we contribute to it.”

The new 12,000-square-foot building was intentionally designed to comple-ment, but not copy, the Provincial Training and Administration Centre in Edmonton. “We consider it a sister building,” says Provencher. “We used the same design firm, ONPA Architects, and the building has the same red, blue and grey exterior colours. It shows the same spirit, but it’s different.”

One element that both buildings share is the eye-catching inclusion of long, dark-

red exterior pipes that rise diagonally from the ground to the roof, on one side only. Provencher explains that there’s no structural reason for the pipes, but they’ve become the Edmonton building’s signature and he hopes the same will happen in Calgary. “The pipes create a memorable presence. In Edmonton, people identify our building by saying, ‘You know, the one with the pipes.’ We hope the same will happen in Calgary. It ties the two buildings together.”

EllisDon is the project’s general contractor. “Some of our southern members will help build our new home,” says Provencher. And while LEED certification is not a goal for this project, the focus is still on making it as green as possible, within reasonable financial considerations. The two-storey building will also house a tenant (yet to be determined) on the lower level as an ongoing source of revenue. Administrative staff for each local, as well as regional representatives, will set up shop on the second floor.

Among its upgrades, the new building offers more space, including a large hall for membership meetings, as well as the latest in computers and programming technology. Members will also find the new location easier to access by public transportation and eas-ier to find than the current downtown building.

“It’s an exciting development for southern Alberta,” says Piper. “From a broader per-spective, this new building shows the public that all four locals are part of one big family. It will give southern members a modern site to identify with and be proud of, a place to call home.”

NEW DIGS: Artist’s rendering of the new administration building in Calgary

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Members or probationary apprentices: if you do not notify the Millwright Training Centre that you are unable to attend a course you are registered in, you will be billed a “no show” fee of $100. No show fees for any other courses sched-uled outside the Millwright Training Cen-tre will be the full cost of the course.

NAIT hoisting and rigging course is subject to a $450 no show fee.

SCAFFOLD TRAININGIndustrial Technical Training (ITT) $100Level One Scaff olding $100Level Two Scaff olding $100Level Three Scaff olding $100Scaff old Journeyman Upgrade $100CARPENTRY TRAININGAIT Period One Carpentry $700AIT Period Two Carpentry $700ENHANCEMENT TRAINING1st Aid/ CPR $135Blueprint Reading $250CSTS $50H2S Alive $135Hoisting & Rigging $250Insulating Concrete Forms $200OSSA Confi ned Space $150OSSA Fall Protection $150

NO SHOW FEESIf you register for any of the following courses through the Alberta Carpenters Training Centre and fail to attend and not notify the Alberta Carpenters Training Centre, you will be charged the following NO SHOW Fees.

*any other Enhancement Training will be the full cost of the course

ALBERTA CARPENTERS TRAINING CENTRE

MILLWRIGHT TRAINING CENTRE

IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND A COURSE THAT YOU HAVE REGISTERED FOR AND YOU NEED TO CANCEL,

CALL AND LEAVE A MESSAGE AT 780-455-6532 EXT. 4226.

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HARDHAT WINTER 2013 21

ccording to Randy MacNutt, general manager of CBSConstruction, the contracting environment at his home

of Fort McMurray has changed so much in the last 10 years, it’s unrecognizable.

“It’s a global economy now, and we are competing directly against major constructors that work worldwide,” he says. “Everybody who’s anybody is up here and this is where the activity is happening.”

Despite the competition, this comparatively small and local company boasts decades-long relationships with major players Suncor and Syncrude and maintains a loyal employee base with some staff counting 20 years of service. What got CBS there, says MacNutt, is a commitment to the same principles from when it all began.

In the early ’80s, CBS employee Garry Fizzell bought and took over the organization. With less than a handful of employees, the

Amidst Fort McMurray’s global construction market, locally owned and operated CBS Construction maintains a competitive edge

A

By GISELE APARICIO-HULL

Personal TOUCH

company’s business primarily came from mobile home park main-tenance. But as the region’s oil industry expanded, Fizzell – who continues as president and owner today – found an opportunity to complete small maintenance projects for Suncor and forged a part-nership that continues almost 30 years later.

“Through some good relationship-building and I suspect perfor-mance as well, we have never left the site,” says MacNutt, who start-ed with CBS 17 years ago as a contract controller. A maintenance contract with Syncrude followed and led to construction projects. Today, the company’s suite of services includes general contracting with specialties in foundation and concrete work, a large mainte-nance division and the only unionized mill shop in the area.

In addition to ongoing maintenance contracts, major projects to date include completing the turnkey for Suncor’s new millennium control building and also overseeing the complete construction of its 20,000-square-foot millennium maintenance shop. A founda-

The

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tion project for Syncrude’s Fine Fluid Tailings (FFT) plant is cur-rently underway with wrap-up expected at the end of 2013.

Although CBS Construction has grown considerably over the last three decades, it has not changed its local focus. It’s a strategy that has paid off with a stable workforce and the ability to provide a personal touch with clients.

“It’s very tough to compete [with large companies],” explains MacNutt. “They have huge resources that they can draw from and as a smaller organization we’re sometimes challenged.

“But developing those relationships with the people we are working for allows us to continue to stay at the table.”

Relationships at CBS, says MacNutt, are viewed as partnerships where long-term connections trump short-term gains. What makes their client experience unique is regular face-to-face interaction with site managers and senior management, lending to what MacNutt describes as “personalized relationships over time.

“They actually get to see our faces. Myself as a general manager, I’m out in the field and see the client regularly, as does our vice-president,” he says.

“For a small company to survive [in the Fort McMurray market] they’ve got to really have their game together,” says David Henry Todd, ARRCAW business representative for Fort McMurray. “But they hold their own.”

In Todd’s experience, a safety culture that ensures the well-being of employees is also paramount to success, a practice CBS has taken to heart. Around 2005 the company took its safety commitment to the next level and established a dedicated team, involving all employees from the worker level to senior management in helping to develop a safety program. “It’s no good to sit in a room and write

“It’s very tough to compete [with large companies],” explains MacNutt. “They have huge resources that they can draw from and as a smaller organization we’re sometimes

challenged.”

up procedures and say, ‘OK this is what we believe in theory will keep everyone safe,’ ” explains MacNutt. “Because it’s actually the workers who have the first-hand impact and knowledge of what goes on.”

In combination with regular analysis, continuous improvements and ongoing communications, MacNutt calls CBS’s safety program “one of our biggest graces.” He is proud to note that in 2012 there was zero lost time due to injury. The significance of this statistic is not

lost on the company’s employees. “When I’m out in the field doing a walkthrough, they express appreciation for our dedication to their well-being and how we present our programs and keep them up to speed,” he says.

And MacNutt feels strength at the ground level is critical. With almost 200 union employees including carpenters, labourers, cement masons, painters and operators, CBS treats the employee relationship as a “family affair.” And MacNutt says an early decision to align with the union gave them the access they needed to the best talent. He credits the union’s training programs and the quality skill sets they provide as the reason ARRCAW continues to be their labour provider of choice.

And that committed working relationship with their employees and the union, says Todd, also sets them apart. “Their supervisors, management, are all carpenters. They’re all tool hands at heart and just want to do the best for the people working for them.”

When asked what the next 10 years could bring to Fort McMurray and CBS in particular, MacNutt has learned the only thing you can rely on is change. “It seems every year the window changes dramatically here,” he says. “But I don’t think there’s a big change in the way we will approach what we do and how we deal with our clients. I think it’s been reasonably successful.

“And Fort McMurray is going to be busy for a long time to come.”

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Geared Up

SPEEDY STAPLESSteel framing construction is

common in commercial settings and is gaining ground in residential projects.

New tools are needed to help professionals effectively deal with the demands of the material. Bostitch introduced its new

1 1/2 -inch Light Gauge Steel Coil Nailer – model SF150C in October 2012. This new design eliminates the time-

consuming process of driving screws, says product manager Robert Pare. “This revolutionary approach to steel frame construction offers an alternative way to tackle sheathing applications.”

The tool design specs offer some real advantages. The SF150C delivers 430 inch pounds of impact energy and can drive fasteners through exterior gypsum or wood sheath-ing into light gauge steel. It weighs in at 5.8 pounds, has an adjustable rafter hook that can be positioned for easy hanging to keep it nearby and a rubber bumper system to protect it from the inevitable tool abuse of a work site. The nailer is fast and easy to use. The one-piece magazine can be reloaded with a new coil of fasteners in less than three seconds, while a zero nail lockout mechanism cuts down the rate of dry-firing.

A new line of light gauge steel fasteners from 1 to 1 1/2 inches boosts the lifetime project efficiency of the nailer. To increase join consistency, these new fasteners fea-ture optimized ballistic nail points and a bugle head shape.

The model SF150C nailer is available at construction supply stores and lumber yards. It comes with a seven-year limited warranty and retails for $399. www.bostitch.com

DRILLING DOWNA new multi-material drill bit lineup from DeWalt is designed to allow professionals to switch between several types of materials without switching drill bits. The new design is intended for electri-cians, plumbers, remodellers and professionals in fast-paced work sites. The goal is to transition smoothly between tasks and materials that are commonly found in both residential and commercial projects: light-gauge steel, PVC, wood, ceramic, tile, brick and cinder block.

To decrease the downtime that comes with constantly changing out drill bits, the line has several features that make clean bores. The bit has a carbide split point tip with

Tools to help you work faster and smarter

aggressive flute angles. This means the bit is both sharp and fast. The line of bits also has DeWalt’s non-slip shank.

“We know professionals often have to tackle a variety of tasks on the job site and in our research we saw professionals carrying multiple types of bits in order to execute each unique job. This versatile bit quickly tackles varied drilling applica-tions,” explains Greg Weston, lead category manager with DeWalt.

The multi-material drill bits are available at mass retailers across Canada in a full range of sizes. www.dewalt.com

common in commercial settings and is gaining ground in residential projects.

New tools are needed to help professionals effectively deal with the demands of the material. Bostitch introduced its new

1 1/2 -inch Light Gauge Steel Coil Nailer – model SF150C

INSIDE STRAIGHTBanish the aggravation of ripping a piece of plywood or MDF into a manageable size with the Kreg Rip-Cut. This simple and inexpensive add-on accessory to your circular saw eliminates the need for marking and chalk lines. With built-in measure-ments, you can cut pieces from 1/8 inch to 24 inches wide with accuracy. Built with an aluminum guide rail and an easy-to-

read adjustable scale, the Rip-Cut will reverse for right or left-handed use. The Kreg Rip-Cut retails online

for $34.99. www.kregtool.comswitch between several types of materials without switching drill bits. The new design is intended for electri-cians, plumbers, remodellers and professionals in fast-paced work sites. The goal is to transition smoothly between tasks and materials that are commonly found in both residential and commercial projects: light-gauge steel, PVC,

To decrease the downtime that comes with constantly changing out drill bits, the line has several features that make clean bores. The bit has a carbide split point tip with

accuracy. Built with an aluminum guide rail and an easy-to-read adjustable scale, the Rip-Cut will reverse for right or

left-handed use. The Kreg Rip-Cut retails online for $34.99. www.kregtool.com

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24 HARDHAT WINTER 2013

KidZone Children’s Christmas Parties

The fi fth annual Millwright Children’s Christmas party was once again a huge success. Santa was kept busy chatting and giving out gifts to nearly 80 children. The face painting artist and balloon artist were also kept busy. Magic Mike was back to entertain the crowd with his hour-long magic show. Special thanks to the Millwright members who volunteered their time. This greatly contributed to the success of this event.

MILLWRIGHTS LOCAL 1460

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Approximately 60 children enjoyed a surprise visit and gifts from Santa at the Local 2103 Children’s Christmas party on December 9, held at the Carpenters Union Hall in Calgary. The event featured a magician, a balloon artist as well as an air brush tattoo artist. Special thanks to all of the volunteers who helped make the event a success.

Approximately 430 people attended this year’s Local 1325 Christmas party. Held at the Italian Cultural Centre in Edmonton, it featured face painters, balloon makers and a magic show. Children also had a chance to interact with live snakes and lizards. Thanks to the volunteers who continue to make this a highlight of the holiday season.

LOCAL 2103

LOCAL 1325

HARDHAT WINTER 2013 25

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26 HARDHAT WINTER2013

nce again I write my regular article for our magazine from our International Training Centre in Las Vegas. As mentioned in a previous

article, I am involved, along with many others, in the development of various facets of this international organization and what it offers to members in training and subsequent employment opportunities across our two countries. On this current assignment, a group representing two countries is building and improving a scaffold training curriculum to enhance our overall skill set. Across the hall they build books on floor laying, storefront and curtain walls, millwrighting, safety and many other topics. Last week there was a “new staff orientation,” a five-day program to ensure that our UBC staff members at all levels are playing the same game from the same rulebook, ensuring quality and consistency across the UBC, whether it be dealing with members, contractors or politicians.

I was fortunate to be able to spend time with trainers, staff and representatives from across Canada and the U.S., as we shared lunch and stories of our local areas and the challenges we all face. That was only a few of the things that were happening around here. This week coming, more work is to be done on graphic design in our student manuals, there will be a meeting between Canadian experts and U.S. experts to discuss and share our hoisting and rigging programs as well as a dozen or more events I wouldn’t even know about.

The UBC is serious about training our staff, instructors and members, and anyone that can’t recognize this has their eyes and ears closed tight. Projects and vision of this magnitude, and change such as this, compared to how we used to run this organization in the past, take time, patience and perseverance to see the results. These changes don’t happen overnight and it takes time for us to reorganize ourselves and how we conduct our operations to benefit the most important aspect of the organization: the UBC member!

Our National Apprentice Contest (NAC) this past August was able to deliver and donate 12 special projects to the Edmonton Humane Society. Be sure to read more about it in this issue. Thanks again to all the staff and supporters that helped me see this through to the

Full Steam Ahead

REPORT Training and Apprenticeship

O

very end. We made some people very happy and received city-wide recognition for who we are and what we stand for. It was a great experience.

Back in Alberta, we continue to strive to offer the best quality Pre-employment, Period One and Two apprentice training in Carpentry and as many of its related specialized skills as possible. Courses and full programs include Printreading, Scaffolding, Builders Level and Transit, Commercial Door Hardware, Hoisting and Rigging, all the required safety training, and more. Commit to improving your own skills, and we commit to doing everything we can to assist you as a member.

Keep in touch with our ACTC staff if you have any questions, and we hope you have a healthy, happy and safe winter season. Things are going to be full steam ahead into 2013 for all of us as Alberta gears up for another construction push. Let’s be ready.

Len Bryden, Director of Training and Apprenticeship

Alberta Carpenters Training Centre

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HARDHAT WINTER 2013 27

tephen Harper’s federal Conservatives recently passed a private member’s bill that, if not stopped in the Senate, will mean huge changes and incredibly

increased operating costs for Canada’s unions.Bill C-377 amends the income tax act. Framed as a reform

that brings transparency and accountability to the labour union movement, it is seen by most of the labour sector as an attack on unions.

Supporters of the Commons bill used the excuse that union dues are tax deductible. Because of that, they argued, unions should be forced to reveal virtually every detail of their finances, as well as incredible detail about their organizing and political lobbying efforts on behalf of members.

These details would be placed on the web for all outsides to see. Outsiders would include union-unfriendly organizations like CLAC and MERIT Contractors.

Consultants analyzing the effects of Bill C-377 for the labour movement estimate the new reporting requirements would increase administrative costs by 10 per cent to 20 per cent, forcing union dues higher if we were to maintain current service levels to members.

Why does labour see C-377 as an attack? Many other kinds of employment-related organizations also charge their members annual dues, and those dues are also tax deductible. Organizations representing the interests of doctors, lawyers, dentists, accountants, professional engineers and geologists and many other occupations were not included in this bill. Only labour unions were included in C-377.

In addition to profit-loss and income-expenditure overview statements, the bill requires us to file annual statements that include specific detail of every single transaction we do with anyone who does more then $5,000 worth of business with us in a year (detail to include names, and purpose of each specific transaction), the amount of time officers spend on political or lobbying activity, and costs related to a wide variety of things (administration, political activity, lobbying, organizing, overhead, collective bargaining, conferences, education and training, etc.)

There is much more. It all adds up to a gigantic bureaucratic load on our offices and a giant federal government bureaucracy to manage all this information.

There is still a faint hope that if we put pressure on the federal government, they may back down or amend it in the Senate.

Please get involved. Go to the Building Construction Trades Canada website (www.workersbuildcanada.com) to register and let your MP know how you feel. You can email Stephen Harper at [email protected].

Bill C-377: Continue the Fight

REPORT Local 1460 Millwrights

Bob Hugh, Senior Business Representative - Millwrights

S

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n the early ’80s, Wilf Pipke, a Red Seal ticketed carpenter, headed up to Cadotte Lake, a First Nations community located east of Peace River, Alberta. He was participating in a government program,

providing carpentry training to people in the settlement while building much-needed housing at the same time. By the time he returned home to Edmonton, he and the other participants had constructed four sturdy homes, and Pipke had gotten his first taste of what it was like to teach.

The experience stuck with him, and five years ago Pipke finally left the job site to become a full-time instructor at the Alberta Carpenters Training Centre. He teaches students in the first- and second-year apprenticeship programs, along with those enrolled in the Trade Winds to Success program, a pre-employment program for Métis, Inuit and First Nations people.

In some ways, the Trade Winds course harkens back to that early teaching experience: Pipke’s students spend eight weeks under his tutelage, learning the basics of everything from carpentry to scaffolding. By the time they’re finished, they have the opportunity to join the union and are armed with enough skills to get them going on the job site immediately. During the program, Pipke hammers home the importance of everything from measurement and hand tool skills to knowing the vocabulary to job site etiquette and taking pride in your work.

“These are people that sometimes haven’t had a lot of opportunities and come from varying backgrounds,” Pipke says of his Trade Winds students. “Once they get this training, it’s really up to them to go as far as they want to go.”

Pipke, who took his first construction job in 1971 on the same job site as his carpenter father, was born and raised in Edmonton in a family focused on the trade; he’s even got four carpenter brothers. Pride in his trade and in the quality of his workmanship is therefore a given. It’s the single most important value he passes on to his students – well, that, and being on time. “The pride comes along as you become a better tradesman,” he says. “There are some young people that’ll strive right off the get-go, but as you get into the work a little bit more and you’re

IBuilding Pride

By ROBIN SCHROFFELMeet the InstructorP

HO

TO: B

UFF

Y G

OO

DM

AN

WILF PIPKE

given more responsibility, that’s where the pride starts to build.”During his years as an instructor, Pipke has enjoyed seeing a sense of

confidence and self-worth take root in many of his students. He’s now been a teacher long enough to see his first-year apprentices becoming journeyman, something Pipke takes pride in, the same way he does in all his work. “They’re coming back and telling me they’re quite happy with what they received,” he says. “It’s always rewarding when you see them moving on.”

28 HARDHAT WINTER 2013

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Meet the Apprentice

hen Grant Rain’s funding fell through at the last minute not once but twice, he nearly had to drop out of

the Trade Winds to Success program. As a last resort, he looked to the human resource development program back home on Paul First Nation reserve, and when the approval for a small living allowance came through, Rain’s dream of switching trades from welding to carpentry became a reality. “I almost gave up, but I was determined and I kept going,” he reveals.

Now, the 25-year-old father of three is proud to be a new member of ARCCAW and on the road to becoming a first-year carpentry apprentice. And it’s all thanks to the Trade Winds program, eight weeks of which were spent at the Alberta Carpenters Training Centre. An even split of about half theory and half shop time, the intensive course equipped Rain with enough raw skills to start out on the job site. “Not too many people can come in off the street and join a union but we had the opportunity here doing the program,” Rain says.

It’s a chance Rain is immensely grateful for. “There are so many opportunities within the carpentry trade. I had to think long and hard all this past year, but switching trades is probably the best decision I’ve made in my life,” he says.

Growing up on the reserve on the shores of Lake Wabamun, Rain saw lots of backyard carpenters but only a few who were ticketed professionals. Still, he had an interest in building things. During two summers as a teen, he worked construction jobs, but drywall and mudding were as close as he got to carpentry. Years ago, he tried to enter the Trade Winds program, but didn’t make it past the streaming process. “I wasn’t a good candidate at the time and got the boot,” he admits. “But I changed my ways, and here I am today.”

While in the Trade Winds program, Rain

W

By ROBIN SCHROFFEL

Second Chances

GRANT RAIN

looked forward to going to class every day, taking pride in his first projects and immersing himself in the experience, the smell of the wood and even in the theory. “These guys are good,” he says of instructors Wilf Pipke and Hunter Shaw. “I wanted to be here.” The only downside? “Free coffee. I’m hooked on coffee now,” he says with a laugh.

Rain’s eye is already on the future and he’s looking forward to giving back to Paul First Nation. “Once I become a journeyman, I’ll go to my community and help,” he says, noting that there’s a shortage of housing on the reserve. “One day, I’d like to help out with the skills I’ve learned and help out with others who are in need.”

HARDHAT WINTER 2013 29

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The July 1966 issue of the Athabasca Adventure, published by Great Canadian Oil Sands Ltd., touted the birth of the oil sands captured in their cover image along with the headline “Oil Sands Offers Career Jobs.”

“The huge industrial complex these construction men are building is unlike any other. It is the world’s first plant for commercial production of oil from the famed Athabasca Oil Sands – a unique achievement for Alberta and all of Canada. The vast Athabasca deposits, one of the nation’s most valuable resources, assure plentiful supplies of oil. And to Alberta, the Great Canadian plant assures a vigorous new industry and hundreds of challenging new jobs. Here may be a chance for you to get in on the ground floor of Canada’s newest industrial enterprise!”

Birth of an IndustryParting Shot

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In MemoriamTraining + Events UPCOMING

Alberta Carpenters Training Centre

We’ve trained North America’s best scaffolders for 15 years.

The Alberta Carpenters Training Centre has delivered its 3-year Scaffolder Apprenticeship and Carpenter JM Upgrade Scaffold Programs, as well as dozens of other safety and skill training programs, to thousands of students in three training centres – Edmonton, Ft. McMurray & Calgary – since 1994.

Our new $23 million centre includes two state-of-the-art scaffold shops, including one purpose-built to accommodate suspended scaffolding.

ACTC-trained scaffolders work on some of the world’s largest mega-projects. Many of the scaffolds they design and build are unique, highly-complicated, and critical to both human safety and worker productivity.

www.abcarptc.ab.ca

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ARCCAW notes with sorrow the passing of the following members.

LOCAL 1325

Geoff BurtonshawNovember 2012, Age 96

David CorlettDecember 2012, Age 57

Robert CoyleOctober 2012, Age 83

Antoni GrycNovember 2012, Age 54

Rod HicksOctober 2012, Age 76

Wayne IwaskowNovember 2012, Age 57

Jacob LawrenceNovember 2012, Age 26

Local 1460

Daniel James FrazeeDecember 2012, Age 27

Neil HollandDecember 2012, Age 48

Marty LaucknerDecember 2012, Age 47

Local 2103

Daniel James FrazeeDecember 2012, Age 27

Gedeon AlbertSeptember 2012, Age 62

Patrick KrauskopfOctober 2012, Age 52

In Memoriam

MEETINGS

First Wednesday of each month: Local 1325 meetingThird Thursday of each month: Local 2103 meetingFourth Tuesday of each month: Local 1460 meeting

TRAINING

ALBERTA CARPENTERS TRAINING CENTRE

The ACTC provides a variety of training courses in Carpentry, Scaff olding, Blueprint Reading, Forklift Operation, Hoisting and Rigging, Industrial Technical Training, First Aid and much more at its offi ces in Edmonton, Calgary and Fort McMurray. For full listings or more information on training courses, visit www.abcarptc.ab.ca or phone the Edmonton offi ce: 780-455-6532 or toll-free 1-877-455-6532.

MILLWRIGHTS TRAINING CENTRE

Visit www.albertamillwrights.com for a current listing of training courses available

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