The GTA Construction Report – December 2008 – PAGE A5
Niagara Column
CONSTRUCTION
COMMUNITY NEWS
Prepare for a
We welcome your Community News announcements and Photos.
Please send them by email to editor@gtaconstructionreport.com
KATHILEE GRACE – Special to The GTA Construction Report
Recession
Meet your local construction workers SANDY KING – Special to The GTA Construction Report Editor
Hugh Wilson is a labourer with Wright Frankie Washington is a landscaper
As the economy continues to
Construction. He has been with the com- with DG Landscape. He’s been with the
dominate the news, we must
pany for five years. “The nice weather is a company for two years. “You know after
come to terms with the fact that
change for Toronto,” said Wilson. “I mean that first light snow we were told that we
even though we are in better
by this time we are usually wearing were done for the year,” he said. “But we
shape than our neighbours to the
toques.” Wilson has been working in con- got called back on. If the weather cooper
south, we are, and will continue
-
struction for the past thirty years. “This is ates I may get an extra month of work this
to be, affected by the recession.
all I know,” said Wilson. year,” said Washington. “You never
While these promise to be chal-
know
lenging times, we must not panic.
.”
Ted Esposito is also a labourer with
The ICI industry has the po-
Wright construction. He’s been with the
tential of doing a great deal of
company for three years. “I think that this
good in helping boost our econ-
is global warming at its best,” he said. He
omy. In the past, the Canadian
says the weather has been keeping the
Construction Association has
guys ahead of the game. “We just keep
stated that continued infrastruc-
working until the snow hits, and then I
ture investment to promote eco-
guess Ö.we keep working,” joked Espos-
nomic activity is important as
ito.
Canada moves forward into un-
certain economic times, but fed-
Lawrence Seay is a supervisor with
eral assistance is required here. In the
spending can be a fantastic tool when it
Wright. “I guess I like working outside,
earlier part of November, Canadian pre-
comes to strengthening the economy. It will
being in different places, the change of
miers met with Prime Minister Stephen
create jobs, improve quality of life, in-
scenery, that’s what makes construction
Harper at a first minister’s meeting that was
crease tourism, and if done wisely, it can
great,” he said. “It’s the perfect job for
designed to explore ways of stimulating the
also decrease our negative impact on the
someone who can’t keep still,” said Seay
economy
environment. In fact, an Informetrica Ltd.
. The first ministers agreed that
.
He and his crew were working on a new
when taking the economic slowdown we
study found that $1 billion dollars spent up-
home in Toronto.
are currently experiencing into considera
grading roads, bridges, and water mains
-
tion, the federal government should speed
would produce more jobs and a greater
The contractors that work for Daniels
up spending on infrastructure projects that
economic stimulus than a combined $2-bil-
Group were busy trying to complete a
have already been approved in principle.
lion tax reduction.
condominium on Bayview Avenue in
Each region will have its own areas that
In addition to federal funding from the
North York. This condominium is yet to
need attention with various potential eco-
Building Canada Fund, which was created
be completed, but for more information on
nomic advantages. In the Niagara region,
almost two years ago, each ICI business
the developer visit their website at
we have Niagara Falls, our wineries, fine
needs to quickly re-evaluate its immediate
danielshomes.ca
dining, entertainment, and scenic trails and
and future goals and procedures, taking a
conservation areas making tourism an ob-
good look at both sides of the coin to de-
vious source of revenue. Will this change?
termine which aspects of its business are
Bert Wood is an inspector with Prestige
Tourism may decline, or it may stay the
working, which ones aren’t, and what can
Telecom. Wood says that constant change
same. The key is to keep drawing them in
be done differently. The key is not to get
and challenges keep him on his toes. “I
and keep them happy while they are here.
stuck in the old mindset – you may have to
like the variety of work, and the problem
Funds have already been allocated in the
forget how you’ve always done it. Times
solving I get to do on the job,” he said.
last Tory budget and the Niagara region
are always changing and survival means
Wood has been with the company for 18
was slotted to receive $2.3 million for
being able to ride all of the waves, not just
months.
roads and bridges. Federal infrastructure
the big ones.
Chris Lessak is a labourer with Fame
Construction. He has been with the com-
pany for two years. “I love the variety of
work, and all the different people I get to
meet,” he said. “I’m not a huge fan of
freezing all winter though,” said Lessak.
Lessak and the crew at Fame were work-
ing on a residence in Scarborough.
Ryan Wilks is a supervisor with Fame
Construction. “My favourite part about the
job is pay day, isn’t everybody’s?” says
Wilks. “I’ve been working as a labourer
for awhile, so it’s nice to finally get a su-
pervisor position where I can tell these
guys what to do.” Wilks has been in con-
34 Scott Street W.,
struction for 10 years.
St. Catharines, ON L2R 1C9
Tel: (905) 682-6661 Fax: (905) 688-5029
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