Uniting ARCCAW members across Alberta

Winter 2015

Vegas Mentorship

Sisters in the Brotherhood

connect at ITC Conference

Recruitment pitch lures

workers to careers in
the skilled trades
End of an Era

Local 1460s Bob Hugh retires

ACTC exp
an
Trade Win ds west;
tools; me ds nets
et
new chair BTAs
man;

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Executive Secretary Treasurers

REPORT

What a Difference
a Month Makes
Martyn A. Piper

ne thing I have come to learn

in life, and perhaps confirmed more

so recently, is that there is no such
thing as certainty and we should not take
things for granted. Just when everything
seems to be going right and percolating
along nicely, bang! Things just changed
almost overnight. Yes, you know where I am
going: oil prices! How could it be that no one
predicted this? Where are all the economic
gurus now? House prices, gas prices, low tax
regime, interest rates, the Canadian dollar,
public services, new schools, immigration,
temporary foreign workers, pick of the jobs
tough luck to the rest of Canada! However,
now as the chickens come home to roost, all
of us are touched in one way or another due to
the price of that black liquid stuff.
So now the question becomes where to
from here and for how long is this period of
uncertainty going to last? What plans should
one make other than to reef in the sheets, put
the bow into the wind and ride out the storm.
For most working class people this
turbulent time presents almost immediate
challenges. Very few have assets socked
away for a rainy day, simply because workers
generally cannot afford such a luxury. The
average working person has a significant
rent or mortgage burden. For those with
mortgages, many are playing the margins
with a variable rate that can go up and out
of sight at the whim of the financial markets.
The same applies to those plastic cards
which are all too readily available at the time
of purchase, but risky given the interest
rates which, if not high enough already, can
increase at a moments notice. I guess it all

HARDHAT | WINTER 2015

comes down to
jobs and availability
of work.
Clearly, this
latest state of affairs
has everyone cautiously looking over their shoulders wondering if
they will have a job tomorrow or whether they are likely to have one
anytime soon. Alternatively, there is the threat of facing wage cuts or
reduced terms and conditions of employment. I would like to be in
a position to be able answer these questions; however, at the time of
writing this column the only conclusions that I can draw is that most
owners in the oilsands at least are tightening the screws, looking
for cost savings where they can, cancelling project work that can
wait, and looking for more with less on maintenance. With respect
to commercial work, one has to wonder whether investors will get
the jitters about demand for commercial or residential space, circle
the wagons and wait for a time when there is more confidence in the
Alberta economy. The premier has said publicly he plans to go ahead
with new schools; however, given the state of the provincial treasury,
it is hard to see how he would risk further expenditures through this
period of obvious belt tightening.
What a difference a month or two makes, and if you believe the economic strategists, all because a few sheikhs a cosy cartel and others in
far-flung countries that have questionable values and principles, particularly as it relates to human rights have decided to flood the world oil
markets to reduce prices and wreak havoc on economies, such as ours.
One question I ask in this dismal economic retreat is: when is the West
going to wake up including the global oil companies who operate here
and stop playing nice with oil producing countries that have no respect
for sovereignty, basic human values, and that can jerk our collective
chains whenever they feel like it, or worse yet coerce our governments
to send our men and women to fight their wars? And on top of that, the
Gulf States and other middle eastern countries are notorious in their
exploitation of foreign workers who are brought in as the cheap exploited
labour supply to build their oil wealth as well as the other construction
and labour servitude which takes place in these countries.
Too political? No! Just frustrated. Did someone say pipelines?
North-south, east-west; that would at least be a start.

Contents
Undeliverable mail should be directed to ARCCAW 200-15210 123 Ave Edmonton, AB T5V 0A3 Email: lhelmeczi@albertacarpenters.com Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement # 40063788

Winter 15

FEATURES

PUBLISHED FOR

Alberta Regional Council of

Carpenters & Allied Workers
15210 123 Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta T5V 0A3
Tel: (780) 474-8599 / Fax: (780) 474-8910
www.albertacarpenters.com

12 Building Awareness
New province-wide campaign
aims to recruit workers to jobs
in the skilled trades
By Jacqueline Louie

PUBLISHED BY

Venture Publishing Inc.

10259 105 Street
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 1E3
Toll-free: 1-866-227-4276
Phone: (780) 990-0839
Fax: (780) 425-4921
www.venturepublishing.ca
PUBLISHER

18 Millwright of Passage
Bob Hugh hangs up his coveralls
after more than four decades with
Local 1460
By Nadia Moharib

20 Christmas Party Recap

Photos by Daryll Propp and Joey Podlubny

Ruth Kelly

ARCCAW EDITOR

18

23 Sisters Unite
UBC conference for women in
the trades full of takeaways for
work and life
By Shelley Williamson

Martyn A. Piper

DIRECTOR OF CUSTOM CONTENT

Mifi Purvis
EDITOR

Shelley Williamson
ART DIRECTOR

DEPARTMENTS

Charles Burke

ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR

Andrea deBoer

PRODUCTION COORDINATOR

By Martyn Piper

Betty Feniak Smith

PRODUCTION TECHNICIANS

Brent Felzien, Brandon Hoover

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Len Bryden, Bryan Getson, Jacqueline Louie,

Nadia Moharib, Martyn Piper, Erica Viegas
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
AND ILLUSTRATORS

Buffy Goodman, Bryce Meyer, JoeyPodlubny,

Darryl Propp, Kelly Redinger
VICE-PRESIDENT, SALES

Anita McGillis

Note from the Executive

Secretary Treasurer

Site Lines
New digs for ACTC; Meet the
chairman of BTA; Floorlaying
conference; Tribute to Broken
Families; Prostate cancer
apprentice; Tools for Trade Winds;
No Labour Code changes

20

25 KidZone

ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE

Kathy Kelley

26 Meet the Instructor

SALES ASSISTANT

Julia Ehli

Contents 2015 by ARCCAW Inc.

No part of this publication should be reproduced
without written permission.

27 Meet the Apprentice

28 Training & Apprenticeship Report
By Len Bryden

29 Safety Report
Important Phone Numbers

Edmonton 780-471-3200

Fort McMurray 780-743-1442

Calgary 403-283-0747
Carpenters Training Centre 780-455-6532
Carpenters Health and Welfare 780-477-9131

Carpenters Pension 780-477-9131

Industrial Workers 403-283-0747

Millwright Local 1460 780-430-1460
Local Union 1325 and 2103 Dispatch 1-888-944-0818

By Bryan Getson

30 Parting Shot
31 Training & Events; In Memoriam
ON THE COVER:
Warren Fraleigh, executive director of BTA , is
pulling for new blood in the trades.
PHOTO: Kelly Redinger
WINTER 2015 | HARDHAT

Site Lines

News in Brief

A roundup of news and events

from around the region

Apprenticeship Works
on Prostate Cancer
It may be slightly out of the Building Trades of Alberta
(BTA)s wheelhouse, but the organization has partnered with Prostate
Cancer Canada and the University of Alberta to take a swing at
prostate cancer.
The BTA announced in January it would donate $80,000, in the form
of an apprenticeship for a young researcher to work on Dr. John Lewis
prostate cancer research team at the University of Alberta.
The lucky apprentice is U of A grad student Srijan Raha, who has studied cancer metastasis through his past research, and says he is delighted
to work with Lewis. Another Calgary-area researcher-in-training, yet to be
announced, will also benefit from the funding. Lewis team is working on a
simple blood test to predict the spread of cancer for Albertans living with
prostate cancer, so they can decide how to best treat the patient. The test
differentiates between prostate cancer that spreads or metastatic and
that which does not.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer affecting men in Canada,
with one in eight expected to be diagnosed in his lifetime. Four thousand
deaths and nearly 24,000 new cases of prostate cancer are expected
across the country in 2015.

Warren Fraleigh, executive director of the BTA and president of the

Building Trades of Alberta Charitable Foundation, says the donation fits
well with the BTAs membership. The BTA is proud to participate in the
funding of these critical prostate cancer research positions that will help
expand on the awareness, prevention and treatment of this menacing
disease, says Fraleigh.
Rocco Rossi, CEO of Prostate Cancer Canada is grateful for the BTA
contribution. Their $80,000 commitment further helps us ensure that
men will have access to these tests and the knowledge they represent to
make decisions that will maximize quality of life.

Families Remembered
Grant Notley Park users have likely noticed an obelisk
standing tall as a tribute to broken families as they pass. The four-sided,
14-foot tall by 10-foot wide monument, designed by local artist Memi Von
Gaza, shows four families each missing a family member, cast in bronze.
First unveiled in 2012 on the International Day of Mourning (April 28)
a day dedicated to remembering workers killed or injured on the job the
obelisk was a joint effort by the Alberta Regional Council of Carpenters
and Allied Workers (ARCCAW). Project manager Bob Provencher
was helped by ARCCAW members Mike Srejic, Marvin Eskiw, and Jake
Waldner, who crafted the concrete base of the monument over just six
weeks.
The Edmonton and District Labour Council commissioned the project,
which is also graced by a tribute poem Broken Families by Michael
Brown, who won the opportunity in a contest. Brown is also a member of
the International Association of machinist and Aerospace Workers.
Bruce Fafard, president of the Edmonton and District Labour Council,
says the monument, which will also be home to this years Day of Mourning ceremony, is to commemorate health and safety for all workers as
well as the workers who have lost their loves while on duty, regardless of
whether they work for the union. There are no borders.
Save the Date: The Edmonton and District Labour Councils will
mark the International Day of Mourning this April 28 with a theme of
anti-bullying and non-violence in the workplace, and a ceremony at the
Broken Families monument in Grant Notley Park from 4-6 p.m.
WINTER 2015 | HARDHAT

Site Lines

News in Brief

A roundup of news and events

from around the region

Status Quo for Code

After three years, several ministers, even more
meetings and a formal review, the Alberta government has
decided there will be no changes to the provinces Labour
Relations Code at this time. Minister of Jobs, Skills, Training
and Labour, Ric McIver noted in a letter the matter had been
laid to rest.
Martyn Piper, Alberta Regional Council of Carpenters and
Allied Workers executive secretary-treasurer says this is good
news for industry and union workers. This means we can get
onto the core business of being productive, working safe and
being competitive; we are happy the government has decided
there are bigger issues, he says.

New Face of the BTA

Training Centre
Expands West
The Alberta Carpenters Training Centre has expanded
west. Len Bryden, director of training and apprenticeship for the
Alberta Carpenters Training Centre, says the decision to expand the
facilities to include the new Centre West campus was made because
the existing space has been insufficient to train a burgeoning crew of
carpenters/scaffolders-in-training coming up the ranks.
The new space at 12122 154 Street in Edmonton opened its doors
to the first scaffolding class back in September. We pushed hard.
It was a fast-track project, says Bryden of the new 13,000-squarefoot digs, which include a classroom, lunchroom and a large open
shop space ideal for setting up scaffolds. Its going to add a lot of
value to our training programs, he says.
In addition to scaffolding classes, future plans for Centre West
will include offering programs and instruction in concrete forms,
floorlaying, and ISM (interior systems mechanics/drywall),
says Bryden.
We realize theres a continuing huge demand for skilled workers
in the province and the Training Trust Fund is there to meet those
needs; this new space is helping us do that.
8

HARDHAT

WINTER 2015

The Building Trades of Alberta (BTA) has a new

addition, with the appointment of Doug Worobetz to the
position of chairman in November 2014. Worobetz has been an
Alberta Red Seal Journeyman Sheet Metal Worker since 1984 and
is a member of the Sheet Metal Workers Union Local 8, representing those members in the role of business manager.
Worobetz has also held the post of business manager with
the BTA since June 2006. Its a little bit of a different role, but I
am familiar with some of the roles just from participating in the
executive board meetings, he says. I am looking forward to the
challenge and I am excited about it.
The Building Trades of
Alberta, founded in 1906,
represents over 60,000
members in 16 affiliated
unions and 22 locals across
Alberta. The Building Trades
of Alberta Charitable Foundation is supported through
its members charitable
activities. Read more on
the organizations latest
recruitment and awareness
DOUG WOROBETZ
campaign on page 12.

Tool Time for

Trade Winds
Its hard to complete a pre-apprenticeship program
without the proper tools in hand. Thats why the organizers behind the
Trade Winds to Success program run out of the Alberta Carpenters
Training Centre approached the generous folks at Canadian Tire in St.
Albert for a hand up for its students.
For the past several years, once or twice a year, Canadian Tire has
been offering up tools at a discounted price for participants in the TWTS
program, a 16-week course for aboriginal students looking to get some
hands-on experience and a chance at work in the trades. Since 2006, 781
students have completed the Trade Winds to Success program, which
purchases and supplies all tools to participants.
Len Bryden of the Alberta Carpenters Regional Training Centre
appreciates Canadian Tires generosity.
Its helping, because the Trade Winds to Success Society, they are
funded provincially, federally and also have corporate donors. Every year
or two they have to go through the same steps to get their funding. Any
cost savings that we can help with goes right back to the Trade Winds to
Success Society.
Len Bryden says carpentry instructor Wilf Pipke first set up the
program with Canadian Tire, which sees Trade Winds organizers net
discounts of up to 70 per cent on tools of the trade.
Normally, its really easy to do with tools because they are on sale
throughout the year, adds Gord Fletcher, St. Albert Canadian Tire store
manager. And because it was a really good reason that they were doing it,
it just made sense for us.

FAIR TRADE: St. Albert store manager Gord Fletcher and hardware manager
Tammy Carriere show typical tools they provide at a discount to TWFS.

He says his store will often do the same for other charities and
community causes. For us its a no brainer, we just do that sort of thing
for big groups.
Tape measures, levels, hammers, saws and drills are among the
discounted items being provided to Trade Winds to Success. A lot of the
times our in-house tools, they get great prices on them because we have
so many of them, notes Fletcher. If its been on sale, we will honour that
price. Because they are buying so much, its just a no-brainer.

A First for Floorlaying

The UBCs International Training Center in Las Vegas
was home to its first-ever conference for the floorlaying industry this
January. Derrick Schulte, dispatcher and senior business agent with the
Alberta Regional Council of Carpenters, accompanied a handful of union
contractors to the January 18-20 conference, which included a chance
to network with about 300 other flooring industry experts, including
manufacturers, from around North America. Members got a crash course
on training required for various floorlaying jobs, exposure to some new
products, and a chance for contractors to sell the UBC advantage to
manufacturers, says Schulte.
The contractor reps I took were impressed with the amount of
information available as well as the contact they were able to make with
the manufacturers and their representatives, he says. It was also good
for the contractors from across North America to see the types of work
available, as well as the systems that were being used.
Schulte says the most innovative product he discovered is a new,

fast-drying urethane for hardwood floors that takes just an hour to set, after
passing over it with a UV light. When you are finished doing that, the floor is
ready for public use; you can turn a restaurant over in two hours. Rather than
three days, its now six hours.
WINTER 2015 | HARDHAT

Site Lines
TWO CHEERS: Master cabinet maker Mike Srejic, right,
poses alongside two wine cabinets he crafted for auction at the
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundations Denim and Diamonds
last November. Barb Armstrong of JDRF, left, says the cabinetry
pair, which were filled with two dozen bottles each, sold for
$6,200 combined at the fundraiser.

Millwrights from across North America in attendance

at Januarys Sisters in the Brotherhood conference took some time
between seminars to snap a group shot. For more on the Las Vegas
conference at the United Brotherhood of Carpenters International
Training Center, see the story on page 23.

Uniting ARCCAW members across Alberta

If you have products or services that demand the

attention of the construction industry and want to reach
this key target audience, Hard Hat provides a unique
forum to access more than 11,000 of the sectors key
decision makers.
The Alberta Regional Council of Carpenters and Allied
Workers (ARCCAW) represents more than 11,000 members
working across several construction industries, including
carpenters, millwrights, scaffolders, interior system
mechanics, roofers and floor layers.
For further details or to discuss your advertising needs, contact:
Hard Hat Account Executive
10259-105 Street, Edmonton, AB T5J 1E3
Tel: (780) 990-0839 ext. 265 Toll-free: 1-866-227-4276 ext. 265
Email: sales@venturepublishing.ca
10

HARDHAT

WINTER 2015

Summary of Benefit Changes

The ACAW Health and Wellness Plan (ACAW H&W Plan)
Effective January 1, 2015
The following is a summary of changes made to the ACAW H&W benefits effective January 1, 2015 (with references to the
applicable sections of the ACAW H&W Plan Text). The changes apply to services obtained on or after January 1, 2015.
This is a summarization and members should refer to the ACAW H&W Plan Text for details of these changes.
DISABLED MEMBER REMAINS ELIGIBLE - Subsection 4.20.06
Changes to the ACAW Pension Plans unreduced retirement age effective January 1, 2015, have forced corresponding changes on
when deductions will commence on a disabled members hour bank, as follows:
A member who is receiving disability benefits* shall not have 120 hours deducted from his hour bank until the month following
attainment of:
a) Age 60, if the member was age 55 or older as at January 1, 2015 and eligible to commence an unreduced pension
(i.e. no early retirement reduction), or
b) Age 65, if the member was under age 55 as at January 1, 2015.
Previously, a member who was receiving disability benefits* did not have 120 hours deducted from his hour bank until
the month following attainment of age 60.
* Disability benefits refers to either of:
Weekly Disability Benefits from the ACAW H&W Plan
sickness benefits from the Employment Insurance Act,
total temporary disability benefits from the Workers Compensation Act, or
a disability pension from the ACAW Pension Plan or Canada Pension Plan.
SELF-PAYMENTS - Subsection 4.30.04
A member retiring on or after age 65 who has earned pension in the last 12 months, upon commencement of the members first
pension payment and once his hour bank is exhausted, is not required to make self-payments to maintain coverage for up to an
additional six months. (This one-time 6-month self-payment exception pertains to the first instance of pension commencement
on or after age 65 and ceases earlier if the member returns to work. It does not apply where a member re-employs and
later re-commences his pension.)
DRUGS AND MEDICINES Subsection 6.20
The maximum coverage for feminine contraceptives was increased from $360 to $500 per family (Member and Dependent in
total) per year.
Medical marijuana drug products will no longer be covered after January 1, 2015.
[NEW] Drugs and medicines that are a methadone drug or related drug product will be 90% covered on a one-time only basis
for a maximum of 1 year from the first purchase.
The maximum payable for allowable drugs and medicines has increased from $9,000 to $10,000 per family per calendar year.
SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL BENEFITS Subsection 6.40
The maximum coverage for services of a licensed massage therapist, chiropractor, physiotherapist, podiatrist, certified athletic
therapist, qualified speech therapist, or naturopath has increased from $600 to $900 per practitioner per person (Member or
Dependent), per calendar year.
[NEW] Asthma nebulizer or aero chamber will be 90% covered to a maximum of $50 per person (Member or Dependent) per
calendar year.
[NEW] Purchases of accessories for devices used in the treatment of sleep apnea will be 90% covered subject to a maximum of
$150 per person (Member or Dependent) per calendar year.
The lifetime maximum payable for allowable supplementary medical benefits has increased from $17,000 to $20,000
per person (Member or Dependent).
ACAW DENTAL FEE GUIDE Subsection 5.10
The maximum dental fees covered by the ACAW H&W Plan have been increased by 20%. The basic/major maximum payable
remains at $3,000 per calendar year and the orthodontic lifetime maximum remains at $3,500.

R.J. Provencher, Board Chair

WINTER 2015 | HARDHAT

11

Building

FIELD RESEARCH: Warren Fraleigh, executive director of the

Building Trades of Alberta, says a new campaign geared at
attracting awareness and workers to the building trades follows
a year of research to gauge Albertans knowledge about trades.

12

HARDHAT | WINTER 2015

Awareness
New province-wide campaign aims to recruit
workers to jobs in the skilled trades
By JACQUELINE LOUIE | Photography by BRYCE MYER

he Building Trades of Alberta (BTA) prides itself

on being Albertas No. 1 resource for skilled jobs in the

trades. Representing 75,000 skilled building trade professionals working in 16 trade unions in Alberta, the BTA is a
one-stop shop in Alberta for the building trades.
This is a great place to come to, says BTA executive director
Warren Fraleigh. We can give you all the resources youll need to have
a successful career in the trades. We consider ourselves to be leaders in
Albertas industrial construction sector, and its time we got that out.
To this end, the BTA is embarking on an extensive campaign,
together with Calder Bateman, a full-service marketing agency in
Edmonton, to raise awareness and encourage recruitment of union
members and workers in the trades. Within the Building Trades of
Alberta, there are more than 30 compulsory trades and designated
occupations, including welders, carpenters, electricians and ironworkers, who are represented by 16 trade unions that form part of the
Building Trades family.
We want to ensure that everybody knows about the career options
that are available, and that the building trades are an option, Fraleigh
says, noting the unionized construction industry in Alberta is a busy
world and that means opportunity. Bottom line, Alberta is a great
place to be in Canada because a lot of things are going on in heavy
industry and in the construction world. We have a lot of opportunities
here for folks to become involved with.

WINTER 2015 | HARDHAT

13

OPPORTUNITIES: One of the messages the BTA campaign

strives to get out is that its 16 affiliated unions are the largest
employers of apprenticeship in the province.

have to be prepared on an ongoing basis to make sure weve always

The Building Trades of Alberta not only plays a key role in building
got the best possible labour supply for the industry, for contractors
infrastructure for oil refineries, upgraders, mines, power plants and
other facilities, Fraleigh notes, but the BTA Charitable Foundation also and owners.
The BTA has been working with Calder Bateman since January
makes it a point to support a wide range of charitable organizations,
2014. Over the course of the past year, the BTA and Calder Bateman
donating nearly $6 million to Alberta charities over the past 10 years.
conducted a series of research projects with another partner to
The BTAs new awareness and recruitment campaign is twofold.
gauge the level of awareness
First, it aims to increase public
awareness and exposure of the
The BTAs new awareness and recruitment around the BTA, says Calder
building trades; and second, they
campaign is twofold. First, it aims to increase Bateman account executive
Jordan Mair. From that, they
are focusing on recruiting for
public awareness and exposure of the
developed a 12-week awareness
qualified tradespeople in affiliated
unions across the board.
building trades; and second, they are focusing and recruitment campaign,
In terms of how many workers
on recruiting for qualified tradespeople in launching at the end of January
2015, slated to run through
they need to attract, one of the
affiliated unions across the board.
February, March and most of
problems with industry, is that
April in Edmonton, Calgary,
data is really difficult to get in
regards to where were going, Fraleigh says, adding its always a mov- Fort McMurray, Red Deer and Grande Prairie.
The campaign encompasses radio, online, billboard and airport
ing target and they dont have a specific number in mind. Generally
advertising; with posters, flight information signs, digital boards
speaking, everybody believes were going to have challenges with
and more at the Fort McMurray, Edmonton and Calgary airports.
regard to the labour supply.
The whole objective is to drive people to the BTAs new website,
With the plunging price of oil, there are now fewer concerns about
buildingtradesAlberta.ca, and the campaign landing page,
the labour supply, compared to when oil was more than $100 a barrel.
workabetterlife.ca, which lists all of the different trade union job
Especially if its going to be sustained at lower prices, its going to
opportunities available across Alberta. The website promotes the
relieve a considerable amount of pressure, Fraleigh says. But we do
14

HARDHAT | WINTER 2015

BTA as Albertas No. 1 resource for skilled trade jobs, which is the
BTAs positioning, and includes an explanation of all the other benefits
that come with being part of the Building Trades family, including
collective agreements, benefit plans and pensions.
If folks are finding out more and getting involved with the trades in
Alberta, we will provide all the resources they need to explore a career
and a trade, follow through and become members of a trade union and
hopefully take advantage of all the benefits the trades have to offer,
Fraleigh says. There is also a hard hat sticker campaign, with the BTA
distributing stickers to its affiliated unions, in hopes that workers out
on job sites will put the stickers on their hard hats.
One of the Building Trades Councils great partners is the Alberta
Regional Council of Carpenters and Allied Workers (ARCCAW),
which makes up a large component of the Alberta Building Trades
membership numbers with approximately 12,000 members, including
carpenters, scaffolders and millwrights.
Weve got extremely strong support from the leadership of the
Alberta Regional Council of Carpenters and Allied Trades, including
Martyn Piper, executive secretary treasurer of the Regional Councils
executive board. We are grateful for their participation in the Building
Trades of Alberta.
The 16 unions associated with the BTA are the largest supporters
of apprenticeship in Alberta. Most apprenticeships are four years in
length. During that time, an apprentice in the building trades will
spend eight weeks each year in school, with the rest of the time spent
on the job, being trained by journeymen mentors.
We believe that serving an apprenticeship in the building trades
should be recognized, as much as any degree from a post-secondary
institution, Fraleigh says. One of the main differences between an

apprenticeship and a degree, he adds, is that post-secondary students

must pay a lot of money in order to earn a degree, as opposed to going
into the building trades, where they are actually earning a wage. When
someone starts an apprenticeship in the building trades, it means
earning while you learn.
For its clients, who are business owners and contractors, the BTA
offers stability in collective agreements. And for tradespeople in the
building trades who work under collective agreements, You know
what the wages and benefits are going to be, Fraleigh says. We get
the people to the jobs in a timely fashion. Its the unions that provide
the opportunities for our members, instead of our members going out
to seek the work. Most unions have central dispatches. Contractors
call the union to say they need manpower, and the unions dispatch the
manpower.
Most union facilities have their own self-contained training centres
for members, and the 16 trade unions that make up the Building Trades
of Alberta have collectively spent more than $100 million in the past
five years in training and infrastructure facilities to ensure their
workers receive the best training possible. We take a lot of pride in
ensuring our people are the best trained and have the most up-todate, leading-edge training and technology being developed in the
industry, Fraleigh says.
For somebody looking for a career, if you are looking to earn top
wages and benefits, the building trades are definitely the place you
want to be looking to. It has everything to do with offering what we
believe is a safer, more productive, higher quality work environment,
he says. We keep our jobs on time, on schedule and on budget. The
Building Trades of Alberta ensure an ongoing supply of apprentices for
industry, to build the workforce of tomorrow.

WINTER 2015 | HARDHAT

15

PHOTO: KELLY REDINGER

INSTRUMENTAL: Bob Hugh (left), with long-time

colleague and friend Dave Knight, was essential to getting
the Alberta Millwrights Training Centre up and running.

Millwright

Passage
V
eteran millwright Bob Hugh says it might have

been the camaraderie or perhaps opportunities to travel

to exotic work locations, like Fort McMurray and
Grande Prairie.
Then again, it might have been the beer.
Over more than four decades, many motivators kept him in the trade
and as he settles into retirement, the 65-year-old looks back on most of it
with rose-coloured glasses.
I was going to Grande Prairie in a 65 Chrysler with a speckled, rockchipped windshield and my head sticking out of the window because the
sun was low on the horizon wondering if I was gonna make it, Hugh says,
adding winter was even worse.
When Hugh, the son of a millwright, graduated from high school in
1967, he figured he ought to pursue post-secondary education but couldnt
muster the motivation.
I really wasnt interested in doing a lot, to be quite honest with you, he
18

HARDHAT | WINTER 2015

By NADIA MOHARIB

Bob Hugh hangs up his coveralls

after more than four decades with
Local 1460
says with a chuckle. I kind of tricked myself into thinking I was going
to go to university or college later in life but it didnt really tweak my
imagination.
With a family connection to the millwright trade, Hugh didnt have
to look far for inspiration and by 1972 was a full-fledged member with
Local 1460 Alberta Millwrights.
His first job was with Jeffry Manufacturing at the Redwater Imperial
Oil fertilizer plant literally, a cool introduction to the millwright world
(given record-setting temperatures outside that winter); it was tempered by a warm reception by fellow tradesmen boasting a real pride,
in workmanship. With millwrights, its a team effort, Hugh explains.
You are dependent on your partner or a crew to accomplish the task at
hand. I really liked that environment.
And he loved being instrumental when machinery was started up
before being turned over to a client.
Sometimes its years of work and its very exciting to actually see

PHOTO: KELLY REDINGER

your labour put into the item take on its own life and become a producing piece of equipment, Hugh says. There are lots of adjustments and
troubleshooting, but before you know it you have a plant running.
Just going to work was an adventure. There was always chatter going
on in the lunchroom and a lot of humour. I noticed that doesnt seem to
be the driver of motivation in the lunchroom anymore, Hugh muses.
People text, people do other things and its quieter.
A lot of things we would consider good fun in the early days would
probably be risqu today. Nothing was held back times were a little
different.
During Hughs tenure, which took him from pulp mills to heavy oil
You hustled a few bucks just doing what you could. I helped a friend
sands and manufacturing plants, the number of millwrights in Alberta
doing carpet and lino just something to survive, he says of those dark
grew from about 175 to about 1,600 or 1,700. Meanwhile, pay jumped
days. Interest rates were 16 to 18 per cent, inflation was running ramfrom about $4-an-hour to journeyman rates of about $44.50-an-hour.
pant, bigger projects got cancelled and we had members in our local who
And, we cant forget the beer. The brewery plant was a nice, clean
ended up walking away from their houses.
environment, he says. It actually had a
Organized labour had become complacent
hospitality room, and brewery workers could
The first time I was sent to
and
thought, They cant build it without us
have a beer with lunch. It was over 40 years
Fort [McMurray] the pavement
and they proved, We can build it without you.
ago its a different world now, he recalls.
It may not have been the most efficient or with
The first time I was sent to Fort [McMurray] ended one mile north of Boyle
the pavement ended one mile north of Boyle
and it was gravel for the next skilled tradespeople but they definitely sent a
message.
and it was gravel for the next three or four
three or four hours.
In 1993, Hugh president of the Alberta
hours, says Hugh, who navigated countless
Regional Council of Carpenters and Allied Workers (ARCCAW) for 11
Mother Nature forsaken roads to work in the days before fly-in/fly-out
years prior to his recent retirement shifted gears from the front lines to
options. Now, they have a nice, paved highway but with the volume of
a full-time position with Local 1460.
traffic its still dangerous. Over the years, workplace safety evolved to
Instead of dealing with equipment you get to deal with people. I kind
take precedence over production.
of missed the camaraderie out in the field, the chatter, the crazy, little
Hugh was instrumental in seeing a provincial training facility, the
Alberta Millwright Training Centre, become reality in 2008. While tak- things that would happen on the job sites, he says.
By the time he pulled the kill switch on his working days, Hugh had
ing the helm as its director was a career highlight, there were certainly
put in 39 years as an executive member with the union and has no
some lows, including a year-long lockout in the mid-1980s.
regrets about his chosen trade.
The measure of success when I was a young man
was going to college or university. I didnt do either.
With a trade you can earn as you learn. Its not a bad
way of educating yourself, he says. Ive put my whole
life in to it.
Retirement for the fellow also known by his coworkers as Bobbin, (because Im always bobbing along,
explains Hugh) will mean tinkering on his collection of
turn-of-the-century wood box telephones and quality
time with his wife and some of their 11 grandchildren.
Honestly, it is something I didnt get a lot of opportunity to do with my own children, says Hugh, father to a
daughter as well as three sons, who are all millwrights.
Jobs were typically out of town; you miss out on a lot
of stuff.
Martyn Piper, ARCCAW executive secretary-treasurer
who appointed Hugh as the go-to-guy for millwrights,
says Hugh may be gone but wont be forgotten.
He was always a millwright first, not just a union
person, Piper says of a man he describes as a consummate diplomat whos always committed to his goal.
At the end of the day, I would have to describe Bob as a
gentleman who left his mark, a legacy here.
And Piper adds, He is just a nice guy.
WINTER 2015 | HARDHAT

19

Party Time
LOCAL 2103
Attendees at Calgarys Local 2103 annual Christmas festivities at the
Executive Royal Hotel were treated to a cookie decorating station, a
chance to get up close and personal with some snakes and other crawly creatures and of course, a visit from St. Nick, himself.

20

HARDHAT | WINTER 2015

LOCAL 1325
Santa took a break from his hectic schedule just before the big
day, stopping in to Edmontons Italian Cultural Centre to drop off
presents for the good girls and boys. Among special guests were a
magician and a balloon artist, who kept guests of all ages entertained for the afternoon.

WINTER 2015 | HARDHAT

21

MILLWRIGHTS LOCAL 1460

Double Tree by Hilton was transformed into Santas Village for the day
as members of Millwrights Local 1460 and their families celebrated
the season. Face-painting, a magic show anda a hula-hoop station kept
the young ones captivated until the jolly guy in the red suit made his
appearance, handing out gifts to kids under 12.

22

HARDHAT | WINTER 2015

on the level

SISTERS
UNITE
UBC conference for women in the trades
full of takeaways for work and life
By SHELLEY WILLIAMSON

a group of female apprentices and journeymen who attended this

years Bridging the Way: Sisters in the Brotherhood conference.
More than 400 Sisters and a few Brothers made the trek to sunny
Nevada in late January to the United Brotherhood of Carpenters
(UBC) International Training Center, which hosted three days of
workshops, conferences and a little bit of celebrating on the famous
Las Vegas strip. Norma Guzman, of Local 2010 from Lethbridge, says
the rare opportunity was not lost on her. The energy was invigorating; the slideshows were emotional but very powerful. And I met
women from all walks of life as young as 21 with one common goal
to reach out, to support, to recruit and to lead the way for the millennium. I had the chance to meet some of the most inspiring women in
our industry.
Guzman says, in addition to structured learning, she also had the
chance to get acquainted with fellow tradeswomen from across the
continent. I had the privilege to get to know some of them on a more
personal level and listening to their stories of the challenges and
barriers they had to overcome and know that I am not alone. These
are stories that will be stored in my heart and in my memories, and
when I am discouraged I will dig them up for strength.

One speaker even joked that he had a sense,

walking into the room, of what we must
feel like every day walking onto a
[male-dominated] worksite.
Celine Stevenson, from Edmontons Local 1460, was the sole
millwright from Alberta. Among highlights for her were workshops
on financial planning, generational differences, and being part of the
UBC. As the UBC sometimes focuses its attention on carpentry and
other related trades, she was especially thrilled to share stories and
business cards with fellow millwrights, including several from across
Canada. The overall feeling is very much like the simplicity one felt
as a young child at a playground, when you could just walk up to any
other person you came in contact with and said, Do you want to be

PHOTOS COURTESY CELINE STEVENSON

t wasnt your typical weekend on the Las Vegas strip for

ALBERTA SISTERS: A group of eight journeymen and apprentices from

Alberta were among more than 400 women at this years Bridging the Way
conference in Las Vegas.

my friend? she notes. What I saw and felt both at this conference
and the previous one I attended, is that for the most part everyone
is totally at ease, walking into a group of women they had never met,
introducing themselves and forming fast friendships with people
they may never bothered to look at or speak to in another situation.
Though some of the keynote speakers were male, Stevenson says
the attending Brothers went out of their way to make the room of 420
women feel at home. One speaker even joked that he had a sense,
walking into the room, of what we must feel like every day walking
onto a [male-dominated] worksite, she says.
Brandi Thorne, Local 1325 vice-president and chair of the Alberta
Regional Council Sisters in the Brotherhood, selected fellow attendees and helped plan the conference, while Martyn Piper, ARCCAWs
executive secretary treasurer, also accompanied the group. She says
the event, which is held every five years, is growing, as is female
leadership in trade unions.
As chair of the Sisters in the Brotherhood and working with the
international Sisters in the Brotherhood committee, what I am
really most excited about is the growth we have seen over the last
five years, says Thorne. We have more committee chairs as well as
women in leadership roles. And its this growth in women leaders in
the UBC that I am most excited to see; its building momentum.
WINTER 2015 | HARDHAT

23

Geared Up

By MARTIN DOVER

Work smarter, not harder

SCRATCHING THE SURFACE
Gone are the days of guessing whats lurking behind your
walls, whether youre on the job site or simply hanging
a picture at home. DEWALTs new Hand Held Wall
Scanner (DCT419) can detect wood, ferrous and
non-ferrous metal, plastic and live electric wiring
behind wall surfaces.
The new scanner which was based on feedback
from DEWALT tool users has the capability to
sense items at a depth of up to three inches behind
ceramic tile, concrete or drywall. It also improves on
its predecessor, the DCT418s capabilities, says Greg
Weston, of DEWALT Marketing Canada. Designed
to stand up to tough conditions on the job site,
we also optimized the software inside the new
Hand Held Wall Scanner to deliver innovative and
technical solutions for professionals, he notes.
An improved detection algorithm senses more commonly
embedded materials across construction sites, such as a nail
in a wood stud.
The detector can scan up to a 9.8-foot wall section. It also
includes a tracking bar to count the number of embedded
materials detected. Retail price of the DCT419 is $499,
including a 12V MAX lithium ion battery pack compatible
with dozens of other DEWALT tools, a battery charger, and
a kit box. For more information, visit dewalt.com or follow
DEWALT on Facebook or Twitter.

CUTS LIKE A KNIFE

Got a household or worksite material thats
hard to make a dent in? Stanleys new lineup
of FATMAX snips will help you cut to the
chase. The line of 19 snips includes Aviation,
Tin and HVAC Snips. The snips feature
laser-etched quarter-inch blade markings
to help with cutting and eliminate a need to
mark a cut, spring-loaded external latches
for easier one-hand use, and a low profile.
The FATMAX Snips are rated for 18-gauge
cold-rolled and 22-gauge stainless steel, while
the FATMAX Bulldog Snip is rated for 16-gauge
cold-rolled steel or 20-gauge stainless steel.
All snips retail from $19.99 to $39.99, are available at Stanley
retailers, and carry a limited lifetime warranty. For more
information about these or other Stanley products, visit
stanleytools.com.

24

HARDHAT | WINTER 2015

TAKE IT OUTSIDE
DEWALT is taking its tried-and-true reputation for delivering
reliable battery-powered tools and bringing it outside with
a new line of premium outdoor equipment. Among the
offerings are two 40V MAX Brushless String Trimmers, two
40V MAX Brushless Blowers and a 40V MAX Hedge Trimmer.
DEWALT has entered the outdoor equipment category
because it can deliver the convenience of cordless with the
performance of gas. DEWALT 40V MAX cordless outdoor
tools answer the call for power, runtime, and durability the
same performance expected of all DEWALT tools, says Eric
Prendeville, vice-president of DEWALT Outdoor.
The 40V MAX Brushless String Trimmer features a choice
of 4.0Ah or 6.0Ah Lithium battery, a 15-inch cut area, dual-line
bump feed head, and a gear drive design that
delivers amplified torque and a consistent cut
speed, even under heavy loads. The blower also
provides a choice of battery size and boasts
up to 400 CFM of air volume and a speed of
up to 120 MPH, for quick and easy outdoor
cleanup. An ergonomically designed handle
and curved tube blower design help prevent
arm fatigue during use.
Meanwhile, the Hedge Trimmer
features a friction clutch, 22-inch laser
cut hardened steel blades with a threequarter-inch cut capacity and a removable
gear case cover. It can be used with either
the 4.0 Ah or 6.0Ah Lithium Ion battery. Available starting in
March 2015, the line of outdoor products will be priced from
$329-$399. For more information, visit dewalt.com or follow
DEWALT on Facebook or Twitter.

Solution: 1. Fish missing from water on bottom left 2. Bird on buoy is missing wing 3.Flag is missing
from boat 4.Person is missing from small boat 5.Wave is missing from womans hair 6.Feather is
missing from fishermans cap 7.Missing lighthouse on island 8. Differences in fishermans pole
9. Buoy at front of boat is missing a white line 10. Buoy at back of boat is missing a line

Kid Zone
Spot the Difference

Q: What kind of a shark can build a house?

A: A hammerhead!

5
7

10

Down
1. If you need to reach something up high, you might climb one of these
2. Small rectangular block used in construction
3. A handy electronic tool that makes math easier
5. What someone yells out when a tree is falling

Q: What did the fishing pole say to the fish?

A: Catch you later!

Solution
Across: 4. skyscraper, 6. window, 7. igloo, 8. blueprint, 9. crane, 10. hard hat
Down: 1. ladder, 2. brick, 3 calculator, 5. timber

Across
4. A very tall building with many storeys
6. Open one of these and let some fresh air in
7. A shelter you can build out of snow
8. A design plan that tells workers how to build something
9. A tall metal structure used for lifting and moving heavy objects
(also a type of bird!)
10. A protective helmet worn by construction workers
(also the name of this magazine!)

WINTER 2015 | HARDHAT

25

Meet the Instructor

By ERICA VIEGAS

A Carpenters Journey

ave Upfold almost turned down his chance to

be a carpenter. His bags were packed for a trip to

Central America when he got a call about an opening
in a British Columbia carpenter apprentice program an
opportunity that would take him on a different sort of life
journey.
At 23 years old, Upfold knew taking the apprenticeship
would mean gaining skills that would have longevity and could
never be taken away. After 36 years in carpentry, he has worked
on highrise buildings, in residential construction, custom
interior and exterior work always revelling in the chance to
be creative. His preferred jobs have always been the ones where
he was able to set his own vision, regardless of time or budget,
and come up with something unique. To Upfold, there is merit
in trying to push oneself, and in learning new things.
Looking for ways to better myself, I took business courses
at BCIT and a provincial instructor training course too,
because teaching was always on my mind, says Upfold, who
eventually moved with his family to Alberta. After a medical
surgery, I went to the union hall to inquire about pulling my
pension and retiring. Instead, they suggested I might be interested in an instructor position.

never done. It is a finishing trade and improvements are kept in mind for
the next project. The first home Upfold ever bought became such a work
in progress, undergoing so many small renovations, that he finally decided it best to use his skills on the worksite and in the instruction room.
And as for his initial dream to travel around Central America, Upfold is
finally embarking on that adventure within the next year.

I went to the union hall to inquire about

pulling my pension and retiring. Instead,
they suggested I might be interested in an
instructor position.

PHOTO: BUFFY GOODMAN

Since May, Upfold has been teaching full-time at the Alberta

Carpenters Training Centre in Edmonton, and enjoying the
chance to share what he has learned during his many years in
the trade. While carpentry has always been his main area of
interest, he also teaches a number of scaffolding courses. I
love seeing the Aha moment in the students eyes when they
really grasp a concept, and the gratification that comes from
knowing Ive taught them something they will really use on
their work sites.
And his students seem to enjoy the way he teaches, too.
Dave had so much patience with us, and actually cared about
the industry jobs we were doing. He was so committed to making sure we had the best skills walking out of the course, says
carpentry apprentice Jesse LaBossiere.
Upfold is quick to point out that learning about carpentry is

DAVE UPFOLD
26

HARDHAT | WINTER 2015

Meet the Apprentice

By ERICA VIEGAS

Flying High

nlike most people, Jesse LaBossiere feels most

alive when hes hanging more than 250 feet above the
ground. In fact, its the adrenaline rush of working at
extreme heights that got him hooked on scaffolding.
But he isnt the first in his family to work in the trades.
LaBossieres grandfather spent his career as a boilermaker,
letting young Jesse accompany him on family days at work sites.
It was no surprise when LaBossiere started working in construction at 19, but he soon wanted a greater challenge and decided
to take up a trade like his grandpa. From the moment I started
scaffolding, I loved being up high but also learning new ways of
doing things that I had never really considered.
Having recently finished his first Level 1 scaffolding course
(of the three levels needed to attain his journeyman certificate)
with instructor Dave Upfold, LaBossiere was eager to bring his
new skills to the work site. Between each level of instruction,
he needs 1,300 hours of work experience, learning both at
Edmontons Alberta Carpenters Training Centre and from
accomplished journeyman mentors on the job. LaBossiere hopes
to have his own journeyman ticket in hand within two years.

Through his site experiences, several were supervised by his

grandfather. I knew on those jobs, I couldnt get away with anything, he says with a laugh. I had to be good or it would get back
to him. But he adds that he has found a wonderful mentor, too. Its
nice to have someone relate to what Im doing. He started as an
apprentice and worked his way all the way to the top of big companies, supervising projects. Id like to follow a career path like his.

I would like to take more courses, and

possibly also finish my journeyman ticket
as a carpenter.

PHOTO: DARRYL PROPP

Already, he has had a few close calls on site. You need to have
a respect for the height when you are up there. Ive had something dropped on me from over 20 feet, and nearly missed a pipe
that fell beside me, he says. When I tell people Im a scaffolder,
they often think Im crazy, but when the job is done, its such a
great feeling.
LaBossieres work experiences, though mainly based in
Edmonton, have taken him to Drayton Valley and Rocky
Mountain House. He has worked on gas plants, a highrise building in downtown Edmonton and several construction projects
enjoying the variety of work each day. A scaffolders job involves
building a temporary work platform to help other tradespeople
accomplish their own responsibilities, so he also works alongside
many types of tradespeople.
I would like to take more courses, and possibly also finish my
journeyman ticket as a carpenter, says LaBossiere. I think the
two complement each other, and I would like to work with them
together.

JESSE LABOSSIERE
WINTER 2015 | HARDHAT

27

REPORT

Training and Apprenticeship

New Year, New

Training Centre

ast year was a time of growth and hard work for all of us.

Whether you were out in the field building, creating, or demolishing and
rebuilding, or busy teaching or representing our members, 2014 will go on
record as one of the busiest years to date. And as we look ahead, plan and strategize for 2015, the Alberta Carpenters Training Centre and UBC Training Centres
across Canada see no slowdown in sight.
Last September we successfully opened an additional training centre which
we are calling the ACTC Centre West Campus near our main Edmonton headquarters. Thanks to the facility, which includes training space, we now have the
ability to offer more scaffold
As we look ahead, plan and training classes and many
strategize for 2015, the Alberta other carpentry skill-related
offerings. We have upgraded
Carpenters Training Centre and the equipment across our
UBC Training Centres across six scaffold training shops
Canada see no slowdown in sight. and also continue to improve
our carpentry shop and plan
to offer more carpentry apprenticeship training in the future.With our UBC
member TRAIN records database in full operation, we are entering member data,
to be accessible using the member TVC (training verification QR Code card) on
a daily basis. It will take some time to upload all training data, so if there are any
questions, please speak to one of our ACTC staff at the Edmonton training centre
at 780-455-6532.
Our Hoisting and Rigging program now comprises the entire second week
of our JM Upgrade scaffold programs (we will be offering more stand-alone
classes in the future). This is very important and valuable to our members and
contractors, as we have now nearly hit the 600 mark for trained members. This
is a significant addition which will continue; if you are going to be taking JM
Upgrade classes, remember this portion of the training is in the second week,
and attendance is mandatory for completion of and credit for the UBC Rigging
certification.
We are looking at policy changes in our scaffolder programs for those unsuccessful in the practical assessments. As of January 2015, those who do not pass
the practical assessment on the first try will have to repeat the entire program.
This change is critical, as we have a small minority of members that have
proven they need much more time and more work experience to achieve the JM
Scaffolder level status through our program.
During the past few years, members at the Alberta training centres, elsewhere
across Canada and at our partner safety training centres have cited a negative
attitude shift in a small minority of our students. Disrespect and harassment
of staff or other students is very serious, and will not be tolerated in any of our

28

HARDHAT | WINTER 2015

Len J. Bryden,
Director of Training and Apprenticeship
Alberta Carpenters Training Centre
lbryden@abcarptc.ab.ca
facilities in Alberta or across Canada. If you
or anyone you know feels they are being disrespected or harassed at any of our facilities,
please document this and report it to your
immediate supervisor or instructor immediately so that it can be dealt with properly and
quickly. As bad behaviour is not appreciated
and is considered unprofessional, we will
be enforcing a zero-tolerance policy toward
harassment and disrespect in 2015.
As mentioned in previous articles, we as a
training fund have the ability to train members in many disciplines and skills. Always
plan for the future and take advantage of,
but do not take for granted, the training and
funding for training that is available to you as
a member.
Contact our main office at 780-455-6532
if you have any questions, and visit www.
abcarptc.ab.ca or see page 31 of this magazine for a list of upcoming courses.

REPORT

Safety

Safe It Out
Hazard mitigation is everyones job on a
worksite, in an office or shop

hat is a hazard? A hazard is a situation that poses a level

of threat to life, health, property or the environment. To work safely,

all hazards must be mitigated. Hazard mitigation can be described
as any action taken to reduce or eliminate the risk to human life, property and
environment. This is where the term Safe It Out a simple catchphrase for hazard
mitigation comes into play.
Take a look around you; can you identify a hazard? Hazards are not always easily
noticeable, but they are everywhere. We are exposed to hazards every day in our
workplaces, whether its at a construction site, in a shop or even an office environment. We face these hazards day after day and can become accustomed to them,
often failing to properly mitigate danger, to prevent an incident from happening.
What we need to do is Safe It Out, so the hazards are removed or mitigated to an
acceptable level. The best thing about mitigating the hazards is that once you start,
it can become contagious. Think of this broken window concept: If a window is
broken and left unrepaired, people walking by will think that no one cares and that
it is an acceptable practice to leave the hazard.
These same principles can be
If we identify our hazardous applied to job site safety. If we
conditions and make the area identify our hazardous conditions
and make the area safe, people will
safe, people will be less likely be less likely to perform unsafe
to perform unsafe acts or work acts or work under hazardous conunder hazardous conditions. ditions. Safe It Out is about taking
ownership of your own safety and
that of others on your team or in your area, and mitigating the likelihood of an
incident happening. Its also about doing something with the hazards once youve
recognized them and putting effective controls in place to prevent incidents.
Look at the different controls that you could use to prevent a hazard from
causing an incident. You can use elimination, engineering controls, substitution,

Bryan Getson,
Director of EHS Canada
Safway Services Canada, ULC.
administrative controls or even personal
protective equipment (PPE). These methods
are also known as the hierarchy of control
because they should be considered in the order
in which they are presented (it is always best to
try to eliminate the hazard first). PPE is always
the last line of defence. This process is fairly
easy to remember and use, but it can be sometimes hard to change our thought processes to
actually put the mitigation plans into place.

MAKE A PLAN - Three tips to help you in with hazard mitigation on your worksite:
Look at the hazards around your workplace. The hazards could be an icy yard, sharp edges around equipment, or even furniture,
should you use it to climb to get a book in the office.
Think ahead to what you can do to make your work site safer. Talking to other people and sharing ideas can help with this because
we all have different experiences and knowledge.
Safe It Out! Put the controls into place. If you have an icy work area, put down salt or sand. If there are sharp edges in your work
space, put up a barrier to prevent a cut. Or it might require a redesign to the office, so that you do not have to reach high overhead,
to reach a box or book, for example.

WINTER 2015 | HARDHAT

29

Parting Shot

Wabamun Generating Station

Built in 1956 and using the latest in coal-fired technology at the time,
the main source of income within Wabamun, about 70 kilometres west of
Edmonton, was the power plant operated by TransAlta Utilities on the
western edge of the village. The stations main source of fuel was sub
bituminous, from the Whitewood mine. As of March 31, 2010, the plant
was taken off the grid, and on August 11, 2011, the main building was
levelled by a controlled implosion.

30

HARDHAT | WINTER 2015

UPCOMING

Training + Events

MEETINGS
First Wednesday of each month:
Local 1325 meeting
Third Thursday of each month:
Local 2103 meeting
Fourth Tuesday of each month:
Local 1460 meeting
TRAINING

In Memoriam

Scaffolding Level One:

Feb 17 to Mar 6, 2015
Mar 9 to Mar 27, 2015
Mar 16 to Apr 2, 2015

ARCCAW notes with sorrow the

passing of the following members.

Scaffolding Level Two:

Mar 16 to Apr 2, 2015
Mar 30 to Apr 17, 2015
Apr 6 to Apr 24, 2015

Sheldon Burry
September 25, 2014
Age 45

Alberta Carpenters Training Centre

The following is a sample of training courses
that are open for registration at the time of
publication of this edition of Hard Hat magazine.
For full listing or more information on
training courses, visit abcarptc.ab.ca or phone
the Edmonton office at 780-455-6532 or toll-free
at 1-877-455-6532.

Scaffolding Level Three:

Mar 9 to Apr 2, 2015
Apr 27 to May 22, 2015

All courses are at the Edmonton location

unless otherwise indicated.

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

Period Two Carpentry:

Mar 30 to May 22, 2015
MILLWRIGHTS TRAINING CENTRE

LOCAL 1325

Clyde Matchem
October 3, 2014
Age 52
Malcolm Wiley
November 17, 2014
Age 67
LOCAL 1460
Donald Elmore
September 6, 2014
Age 71
William Fred Procyk
November 17, 2014
Age 72
Anthony Brashko
November 20, 2014
Age 74
Michael T. Yarrow
December 5, 2014
Age 55
Frank Rooney
December 8, 2014
Age 75
LOCAL 2103
Alaattin Ciplak
June 16, 2014
Age 75
Keith Malmgren
August 11, 2014
Age 72

WINTER 2015 | HARDHAT

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