#03 | 2014
CONSTRUCTION WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS
LET VIKTECH HELP YOU!
DON’T WORRY ABOUT RECRUITMENT – VIKTECH’S GOT YOU Are you involved in a large deadline or do you need to focus your resources on tasks other than recruiting, COVERED retaining and training?
We have a database with +360 skilled tradespeople and ROYALISM: general labour eager to assist you. Below we have listed FROM CANADA TO examples of 5 of our qualified staff, all of them available to start working for you asap: DENMARK Framing Carpenter - Leo
OverHOW 20 years inTO construction as a carpenter | Experience 6 TIPS ON in high-rise building, cottages, decks, docks and chalets | PROTECT YOUR Foundation forming and framing from the ground up including footings | Two to three years’ experience instalWORKFORCE ling/cladding steel wall and AD panels | WHMIS, Fall Arrest Certified and Lift ticket certified | Lives in Kitchener .
INTRODUCING MIA Drywall/Tapper/Painter - Michael KNUDSEN: Two years’ experience in drywall installation and taping | Two years’ experience in painting using rollers, brushes THE NEW COUNTRY and paint sprayer | Demolition and general labour incluMANAGER FORhardwood flooring and paint maintenance | ding drywall, WHMIS Certified | Lives in Toronto. VIKTECH, CANADA Skilled Labour - Philip years in general construction | Multifaceted UPDATEOver ON11THE general contractor/carpenter’s assistant | Experience in framing, footings, finish and trim carpentry, demolition, CONSTRUCTION renovation and some electrical | Experience in restora-
INDUSTRY IN CANADA
www.viktech.ca
WWW.VIKTECH.CA
tion carpentry on swing stage| Filled hollow steel door frames with mortar and hanging doors | Knowledge of precast concrete panels and able to read blueprints, sketches, specifications| WHMIS & Fall Arrest Certified | Lives in Scarborough and flexible with commuting. Skilled Labour - Christopher 10 years of experience in construction| Over four years of framing houses from walls and floors to building roofs | Erecting walls, sheathing interior/exterior walls | Four years’ experience in specialized trim and baseboard work, cabinet insulation, kitchen installation and drywall | Two years of landscape installation of patio stones, retaining walls and maintenance | Able to read blueprints, sketches and specifications |WHMIS and Fall Arrest Certified | Lives in Kitchener. General Labour - Jahvar Over one year of experience as a hoist operator and work within general construction labour | Worked up to 44 floors | General labour including safety railings, safety fences, cement work, clean-up and packing/unloading | Lives in downtown Toronto – comfortable taking public transportation | WHMIS and Fall Arrest Certified | Lives in Toronto. Phone: +1 416 479 5435 E-mail: viktech@viktech.ca www.viktech.ca
DON’T WORRY ABOUT RECRUITMENT
VIKTECH’S GOT YOU COVERED Maxim Group used the services of Viktech for their projects and eventually ended up hiring a Viktech employee for permanent employment. Today, Bill Sullivan, Principal of Maxim Group, happily endorses Viktech to industry colleagues and competitors in need of labour.
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BILL SULLIVAN:
“My experience with Viktech has been very positive”
PHONE: +1 416 479 5435
“A Viktech representative came to visit at a time where we were in severe need of labour in Calgary, which is a very tight market,” continues Mr. Sullivan. “He walked us through how the program typically works, walked us through some of the candidates that he had been able to place in some of our competitor’s organizations, and followed up to see what needs we had. He followed up at the right time and was able to place a couple of people for us in Calgary, which is a tough market for us.” Viktech recruited Michael Ashbury for the Maxim Group project – a highly skilled and experienced tradesman in exterior restoration. Michael turned out to be just the right professional for Maxim Group, and three months into the project the company decided to hire him permanently for its Calgary operation. Mr. Sullivan says he is very satisfied with Viktech’s services and even endorses Viktech to his competitors. “I’ve given the Viktech company name to a few of our competitors who were in need of labour,” he notes.
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axim Group is a recognized industry leader in the multifaceted field of exterior building restoration. The company operates nationally across Canada, with offices in Ontario, as well as Calgary and Halifax. With more than 40 years of experience as a corporation, Maxim Group knows exactly what it needs to get a job done. Skilled labour is essential when restoring a building, but qualified tradespeople can be difficult to find – especially when time is tight.
So how do you get qualified labour in a quick and easy manner? Maxim Group turned to Viktech. “My experience with Viktech has been very positive,” explains Mr. Sulllivan. “It’s been very easy and efficient, and the paperwork has been minimal on our end.”
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ROYALISM FROM CANADA TO DENMARK
The Canadian and Danish Monarchies have several things in common. Both monarchies are constitutional, both date back hundreds of years, and both are reigned by a Queen. Read on and refresh your memory, or perhaps learn something new about the two country’s monarchies.
THE BRITISH MONARCHY IN CANADA Canada has been a monarchy for centuries – first under the kings of France from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, then under the British Crown in the 18th and 19th centuries, and now as a kingdom in its own right. Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth ll is a constitutional monarch, acting entirely on the advice of Canadian government ministers. According to the monarchy’s official website, “she is fully briefed by means of regular communications from her ministers.” The federal dominion of Canada was formed in 1867 with the passage of the British North America Act. It was the first dominion of the then British Empire, and the country’s full independence followed peacefully throughout
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the 20th century. Canada remains the most visited country by the Queen during her 60-year reign, and she has often described it as her second home. THE DANISH MONARCHY The Danish Monarchy can be traced back more than 1,000 years. Like the British Monarchy, the Danish Monarchy is constitutional, and cannot make or pass legislation. However, the Monarch participates in the formation of new governments and the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs regularly inform Queen Margrethe ll of Denmark on political developments and affairs. The main task of the Queen of Denmark is to represent Denmark abroad and act as a figurehead at home.
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A SPORTY CROWN PRINCE
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WE SHALL CALL YOU PINGO OR FREDE.
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THE TITLE OF PRINCE – AND FARMER
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‘GOD SAVE DENMARK’
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AND YOU, SIR, WE SHALL CALL ‘HENRIK’
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THE ARTISTIC QUEEN OF DENMARK
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COULD YOU HOLD MY HAM?
The Crown Prince of Denmark, Frederik, does not shy away from physical challenges. In 1995, he joined the country’s elite Naval Diving Corps and passed one of the most physically demanding courses in the Danish armed forces. An ambitious sportsman, he enjoys boat racing and has completed six marathons as well as an Ironman Triathlon.
The Crown Prince has been nicknamed Frede and Pingo by the Danes. The latter was his name in the army, but it has stuck with the general public for years.
Prince Joachim the younger brother of Crown Prince Frederik, is educated in agriculture and has only recently given up his farm in Southern Denmark to move back to the capital, Copenhagen.
Queen Margrethe ll of Denmark is known for her annual New Years Eve address which always ends with ‘Gud bevare Danmark’ (God save Denmark).
Margrethe married the Prince Consort Henri, a Frenchman, in 1967, but the Danes quite quickly renamed him Henrik. Supposedly, it was easier to pronounce and sounded more familiar.
Margrethe ll studied psychology and archaeology in 1960 and since 1970 has been engaged in numerous artistic endeavours including working as an illustrator, a set designer for theatre, and a textile artist. Furthermore, the Queen has – along with the Prince Consort – translated French literary works into Danish, and Danish ones into French.
At a Royal Gala celebrating the Queen’s 70th birthday in 2010, the Queen participated in a trick performed by the Danish comedian and magician Rune Klan. The trick involved the Queen choosing a piece of sliced ham from a pile as if it was a pile of cards. It is well worth doing a search on YouTube to view the clip.
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FROM CANADA TO DENMARK:
OFFICIAL VISIT OF THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES THE CROWN PRINCE COUPLE OF DENMARK On September 17 to 19 of this year, a Danish business delegation led by the Confederation of Danish Industries (DI) and the Danish Trade Council, visited Toronto on the occasion of a visit by His Royal Highness The Crown Prince and Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess.
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key goal of the royal visit was to increase existing business relationships between Canada and Denmark. There were four sectors represented by the delegation: • • • •
Health Taste Style Green Building and Living (Construction)
Viktech participated in the program as part of the Green Building and Living sector, attending a construction seminar where Danish companies presented their own vision in matters of construction. Viktech gave a presentation on the subject: The Danish Model – Exploring opportunities for cost savings and efficiency gains by leveraging flexible on-demand skilled trades. The presentation emphasized key ways in whicih Viktech’s Danish Model contributes to an increase in cost savings and efficiency gains for our Canadian partners. EMPLOYEES OR WORKFORCE? By providing workforce solutions for every need, Viktech is one of the building and construction sector’s strongest collaborators. We deliver:
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• • • • •
Temporary and permanent placements Long distance staffing Large projects assistance Support during busy periods ‘Try and hire’ program
At the seminar, His Royal Highness The Crown Prince Frederik visited the Viktech stand, where he greeted Viktech clients in attendance HRH the Crown Prince was very interested in learning about Viktech and how the company ensures the high quality work delivered by it’s skilled labour team. Viktech Country Manager, Mia Knudsen explained that a top priority for recruiters is to ensure their skilled labour has extensive experience in their field. Where needed, Viktech also provides training courses. Moreover, by allowing Danish skilled labour to work on longer projects, Viktech can offer qualified skilled labour in areas of trade that can be hard to cover with local trades. Following the seminar, Viktech clients were invited to attend an informal business lunch together with Their Royal Highnesses the Crown Prince Couple.
PHONE: +1 416 479 5435
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PHONE: +1 416 479 5435
HIRING TEMPORARY WORKERS?
6 TIPS ON HOW TO PROTECT
YOUR WORKFORCE
Inspired by recommendations from Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS), here are six tips on how to prepare your business for temporary workers.
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Figure out how to safely integrate temporary workers before they arrive. Often workers are called in at the last minute. This can leave little or no time to go through health and safety issues, which can result in injuries and accidents that could have otherwise been avoided.
Document all health and safety procedures and make them accessible to everyone – including temporary workers.
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Provide temporary workers with the same level of instruction and supervision as you do to your regular employees.
Check with the agency to determine if the worker has received the right training. If so, request a record of it. If you assign a temporary worker to a new job requiring different skills, advise the employment agency to train the worker properly.
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Monitor temporary workers’ health and safety performance. Reinforce safe praticies and coach as needed.
Enforce all health and safety procedures and discipline all workers for violations. Document the form of discipline taken so you have a record of enforcement.
PHONE: +1 416 479 5435
INTRODUCING MIA KNUDSEN:
T H E N E W COUNT RY MA NA G ER F O R VIK TE CH C A NA DA
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n late August, Mia Knudsen was brought into the Viktech family to serve as the new Country Manager in Canada. A native Dane, Mia has lived abroad for the last 11 years – seven years in Sweden and four years in Czech Republic. She was educated in Global Business Engineering from the Technical University of Denmark, and has worked at Nordea Finance, the largest Northern European financial group, where she was responsible for the company’s major Danish clients and worked on IT projects. Mia Knudsen is no stranger to running a Danish business in a foreign setting. During her time in Prague, she contacted a Danish online company looking to expand. A true entrepreneur, Knudsen established an office for the company in Prague, which grew to 15 employees in just 18 months. But Mia hasn’t been moving around to different cities these past 11 years just for the fun of it. She is married to Jess, with whom she has three children aged five, seven and nine. Jes has been working at
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the Danish Embassy in Stockholm and Prague and was recently employed at the Danish Consulate in Toronto which is why Mia decided to look for job opportunities in the area. “I am very exited about running a Danish business abroad, and what is really interesting for me in this context is the fact that the possibilities seem endless here,” she explains. Mia has also already grown fond of the Canadian people as well. ”I’ve only been in Canada for three weeks now but I already see a lot of resemblances with Denmark. For instance, Canadians are extremely open-minded, they are very humorous and the Canadian mentality reminds me a lot of the Danish mentality,” she says. The primary task at hand for Mia as the new Country Manager will be to increase the market share in the region and structuralize tasks tied to recruitment and consulting. We have no doubt that Mia is just the right fit for the job, and we look forward to working with her. Welcome to the team!
UPDATE ON THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY Canadian construction industry has suffered from less residential activities but shows modest growth as the national economy grows. There is a contemporary focus on maintenance and repair construction but new housing investments are to come in future. Ontario remains Canada’s most attractive province for new commercial investments. Toronto is leading the North American construction boom demanding for further residential building constructions.
CANADIAN ECONOMY IS RECOVERING The Canadian economy is slowly recovering from the global economic downturn. Recent economic forecasts state Canada’s Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to increase in 2014 and 2015 at 1.9 and 2.4 per cent respectively. In the upcoming year, also Ontario’s economy will continue with a growth below 2 per cent. However, there are better years to come. Ontario’s outlook for 2016 promises a growth towards 3 per cent, exceeding the 3 per cent mark in 2017 and 2018. ECONOMY GROWTH WILL STIMULATE HOUSING INVESTMENTS AND RESIDENTIAL ACTIVITIES Also the 2014 outlook for the construction industry shows modest growth. In the previous year, the industry suffered especially from less residential activities. Not surprisingly, the Ontario Ministry of Finance therefore reckons the 2014 offset to come from maintenance and repair construction. But following the positive economic outlook, the national housing market will experience a modest growth in 2015 and a further boost in 2017 and 2018. This outlook is related to the overall growth of the national economy which will increase incomes, stimulating more housing investments and residential activities. TORONTO IS LEADING NORTH AMERICA’S CONSTRUCTION BOOM Thanks to a strong increase of multi-family home constructions, Ontario accounted for Canada’s strongest provincial gain of building permits in this summer. It is especially Toronto’s steady construc-
tion boom that is the reason for Ontario’s great performance. With 122 active high rise projects this summer, no other North American city can keep up with Toronto’s construction boom. And according to Toronto Construction Association, the construction scene in the city is likely to grow even further, as Toronto is continuously attracting new residents, resulting in a moderate and steady growth of the town. And truly, it seems that Ontario’s capital has the power to go against the contemporary national decline in residential construction: 92 per cent of the city’s active 122 high rise projects are built for residential use and a vast majority of these are condominiums. ONTARIO’S COMMERCIAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS STRONGEST IN ALL CANADA According to Statistics Canada, overall investments in non-residential building constructions have increased by 4 per cent between the 2nd quarter in 2013 and 2014. While Ontario’s industrial and institutional constructions are suffering from a decrease in investments (a decline of 5.1 and 14.2 per cent respectively), the province remains strong on commercial building constructions. Compared to 2013, investments have risen by 9.4 per cent and in the second quarter of 2014, Ontario was named to be by far the largest contributor to the increase in commercial investment in the country. As a result of a higher spending on office buildings and retail and wholesale outlet, Ontario’s commercial investments rose by 3.4 per cent to $ 3.1 billion – waiting for an even brighter future to come.
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LET VIKTECH HELP YOU! LET VIKTECH HELP YOU!
Are you involved in a large contract, long distance project,
re youapproaching involved in a large deadline or do you need to a deadline or do you need to focus your ocus your resources on tasks other than recruiting, resources on tasks other than recruiting, retaining and etaining and training?training?
We have database with +360 skilled tradespeople Wea have a database with +850 skilled tradespeopleand and eneralgeneral labourlabour eagereager to assist you. Below we have listed to assist you. Below we have listed xamples of 5 ofofour ed staff, of them examples 4 ofqualifi our qualified staff,allavailable to available start o startworking working asap: forfor youyou asap:
tion carpentry on swing stage| Filled hollow steel d frames with mortar and hanging doors | Knowledge precast concrete panels and able to read bluepri sketches, specifications| WHMIS & Fall Arrest Certifie Lives in Scarborough and flexible with commuting.
Skilled Labour - Christopher 10 years of experience in construction| Over four year framing houses from walls and floors to building roo SKILLED LAIBOUR MIKE FRAMING CARPENTER - LEO raming Carpenter - Leo Erecting walls, -sheathing interior/exterior walls | F Are you involved in a large deadline or do you need to tion carpentry on swing stage| Filled hollow steel door Two years’ experience in drywall installation and and tapingbasebo | Over 20 years in construction as a carpenter | Experience ver 20 years in construction a carpenter Experience years’ in specialized trim focus your resources as on tasks other than | recruiting, frames with mortar and experience hanging doors | Knowledge of retaining and training? precast concrete panels and ableinsulation, toinread blueprints, years’ experience painting using rollers, brushes and in high-rise building, cottages, decks, docks chalets n high-rise building, cottages, decks, docks andand chalets | | Two work, cabinet kitchen installation and dryw sketches, specifications| WHMIS & Fall Arrest Certified | paint sprayer | Demolition and general labour including dryFoundation forming and framing from the ground up includoundation forming framing from ground | Twoand years installation of patio stones, We have aand database with +360 skilled the tradespeople and up inLives in Scarborough flexibleof withlandscape commuting. general labour eager toyears’ assist you. Below we have listed wall, hardwood fl ooring and paint maintenance | WHMIS ing footings | Two to three experience installing/cladluding footings | Two to three years’ experience instaltaining walls and maintenance | Able to read bluepri of 5 of our qualified staff, all of them available Skilled Labour - Christopher Certified | Lives in Toronto. ding steelexamples wall and AD panels | WHMIS, Fall Arrest Certifi ed to start wall workingand for youAD asap: 10 years of experience in construction| Over four years of |WHMIS and Fall Arrest C ng/cladding steel panels | WHMIS, Fall Arsketches and specifi cations framing houses from walls and floors to building roofs | and Lift ticket certifi ed | Lives in Kitchener. est Certified and Lift ticket certifi ed | Lives in Kitchener . tifi ed | Lives in Kitchener. Framing Carpenter - Leo Erecting walls, sheathing interior/exterior walls | Four
LET VIKTECH HELP YOU!
GENERAL LABOUR - STEVE
Over 20 years in construction as a carpenter | Experience years’ experience in specialized trim and baseboard Overinsulation, one year of experience construction and working SKILLED TRADE – PATRICK (FROM DENMARK) in high-rise building, cottages, decks, docks and chalets | work, cabinet kitchen installation and in drywall rywall/Tapper/Painter Michael Labourof -patio Jahvar Foundation forming- and from the ground up in| Two years ofGeneral landscape installation stones, reat heights | General labour including helping caulkers and Over 7 years in constructionframing in Denmark and over 6 months cluding footings Two to threeinstallation years’ experienceand instal-taping taining walls and maintenance | Able read blueprints, as a hoist operator and w wo years’ experience in| drywall Over one year oftothe experience to operate swingstage, clean-up and packin Canada | experienced exterior and interior ling/cladding steel wallinand AD panels | WHMIS, Fall renovation Arsketchesbricklayers and specifications |WHMIS and Fall Arrest CerTwo years’ experience inLift painting rollers, within general labour– |comfortable Worked up to rest Certifiof ed and ticket certifiusing ed | Lives in Kitchener . tifi ed | Lives in Kitchener. ing/unloading | Lives construction in downtown Toronto and restoration old structures | windows andbrushes doors re-
nd paint sprayer | Demolition and and general labour inclufloors | General labour including safety railings, sa placement | old roof demolition new roof installation Drywall/Tapper/Painter - Michael General taking Labour - public Jahvar transportation | WHMIS and Fall Arrest CertiTwo years’| experience in drywall and| sanding taping Over yearfences, of experience as a hoist operator work ing drywall, hardwood flooring and installation paint maintenance | onefied work, and clean-up and packing/unloadin | Lives incement Toronto. | waterproofing brick renovation | caulking wire | Two years’ experience in painting using rollers, brushes within general construction labour | Worked up to 44 WHMISwheeled Certified | Lives in Toronto. Lives in downtown Toronto – comfortable taking pu metal power | painting and paintrailings sprayer | and Demolition andwashing general labour inclu- metal floors | General labour including safety railings, safety hardwood the flooring and paint slabs maintenance | balcofences, cement work, clean-up and packing/unloading | Fall Arrest Certified | Li transportation | WHMIS and railings | ding jackdrywall, hammering concrete on the WHMIS Certified | Lives in Toronto. Lives in downtown Toronto – comfortable taking public killednies Labour - Philip Toronto. | working on heights and on swing stage | WHIMIS and transportationin| WHMIS and Fall Arrest Certified | Lives Skilled Labour Philip in Toronto. PHONE: +1 416 479 5435 Fall Arrest Certified | Lives in Toronto. ver 11 years in general construction | Multifaceted Over 11 years in general construction | Multifaceted E-MAIL: VIKTECH@VIKTECH.CA eneral contractor/carpenter’s assistant Experience in +1 Phone: +1 416 479 5435 general contractor/carpenter’s assistant ||Experience in Phone: 416 479 5435 framing, footings, finish and trim carpentry, demolition, E-mail: viktech@viktech.ca WWW.VIKTECH.CA aming, footings, finish and trim carpentry, demolition, E-mail: viktech@viktech.ca renovation and some electrical | Experience in restorawww.viktech.ca enovation and some electrical | Experience in restorawww.viktech.ca
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www.viktech.ca