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ACTJ-2.0-aug2012(newversion)_Layout 1 2013-08-09 10:28 AM Page 1

EVERY ROOM HAS A VIEW

AUGUST 2012

VOL. 8 NO. 4

By RYAN QUIGLEY • Journal Pioneer

[North Rustico, PEI]– A house under construction in North Rustico (Prince Edward Island) has been turning heads lately. Story on page 5

1500 SKILLED WORKERS HAVE LEFT NB: MCGINN Tom McGinn says the cutbacks New Brunswick made in its highway maintenance budget have forced 1500 skilled workers to look for employment in other provinces. Story on page 4

PEI FORUM TOLD HST COULD HIKE COST OF RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION By MITCH MACDONALD • The Guardian

A harmonized sales tax poses a threat to new Prince Edward Island homeowners as it could increase the cost of residential construction by up to eight per cent, a public forum was told Tuesday night (June 26). Story on page 7

CHANGES BEING MADE TO APPRENTICE REGULATIONS By ASHLEY FITZPATRICK • The Telegram

A permanent change in provincial regulation is expected to help get a flood of new skilled trades apprentices in this province up to journeyperson status. Story on page 9

RUNWAY EXTENSION KEY TO DEVELOPING CARGO BUSINESS By TOM PETERS

The extension of the main runway at Halifax Stanfield International Airport is potentially the key to developing more cargo business, both import and export, says Jerry Staples of the Halifax International Airport Authority.. Story on page 11

VIA RAIL TO CUT HALIFAX TO MONTREAL SERVICE BY HALF IN OCTOBER By ALEX BOUTILIER • Metro Halifax

VIA Rail is cutting the number of round trips between Halifax and Montreal by half. Story on page 12

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Repair work on the Princess Margaret Bridge in Fredericton, New Brunswick continues this summer. The tourism department amazed a number of people when they airbrushed the bridge out of a photograph in the tourism guide. Apparently the covering that protects the bridge during construction wasn’t very photogenic. (Photo: Heather Jones)

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AUGUST 2012 | THE AC&TJ | Construction

Atlantic premiers strike workforce partnership [Brudenell, PEI]— A new workforce partnership struck Wednesday (June 6) between the four Atlantic provinces hopes to measure labour shortages in the region in order to focus training and education initiatives to meet current gaps. The region’s four premiers shook hands on the new Atlantic Workforce Partnership during their meeting in Prince Edward Island Wednesday. They promoted the idea as a way to maximize the potential of major projects like the $25 billion Halifax shipbuilding contract which will need thousands of workers, but workers with specialized skills. “What we see in Atlantic Canada is some 354 projects that are in various stages of development that will total some $71 billion,” said Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter. “How do we provide sufficient skills training, upgrading, educational incentives in order to allow us to move as many people as possible into the productive part of the supply chain?” The partnership will be led by a steering committee of deputy ministers responsible for economic development, skills training, labour and immigration in the four provinces.

Together they will do an inventory of the current skills sets of the region’s workers, then develop strategies to enhance their skills through greater apprenticeship opportunities and educational programs. P.E.I. Premier Robert Ghiz said they hope to get the region’s universities and colleges to cooperate with one another in order to help train the population for the jobs that will be available. “This is really about all four Atlantic provinces getting together, sharing information in terms of the jobs that are going to be available and are available now and into the future and how we can get our populations prepared for those jobs,” he said. New Brunswick Premier David Alward said this initiative is being developed to show the federal government the region is working to help seasonal workers who regularly draw employment insurance to have enhanced job opportunities in skilled labour positions. “(This is) work that we’re going to be doing in a collaborative way and a collective way around the development of our workforce in Atlantic Canada and that’s another very positive message that we’re sending.” The four Atlantic premiers were in P.E.I. Wednesday for the annual Council of Atlantic Premiers.

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By TERESA WRIGHT The Guardian

The Trans-Canada Highway (Route 2) in New Brunswick has been officially named the Highway of Heroes. Premier David Alward as well as federal, provincial, municipal and military officials attended a commemoration ceremony Aug. 12 at Officer’s Square in Fredericton. Alward (centre) joined other dignitaries in the reviewing stand for the ceremonial parade and march past. (Photo: Communications New Brunswick)

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Construction | THE AC&TJ | AUGUST 2012

Energy self-sufficient townhouses expected to be ready by October [Glace Bay, NS]— The first energy self-sufficient townhouse units aimed at keeping seniors in the community should be ready for occupancy by October. Luciano Lisi and his wife Christine Kavanagh, owners of the New Aberdeen Garden Townhouses in the New Aberdeen neighbourhood of Glace Bay, (Nova Scotia) broke ground on the project more than two years ago. With the use of wind, solar and geothermal energy, the costs to heat and run electricity will remain stable in the long run, Lisi said. “It keeps their rental only at inflation increases,” he said Wednesday (Aug. 15). “If Nova Scotia Power in the next five years doubles the rates, which everybody seems to think will happen, the tenants won’t be affected. That’s how they benefit.” The complex will work on a net metering system, Lisi said. That means it will produce electricity for its own use and sell any unused energy to Nova Scotia Power for a set price. There also remains the possibility the com-

plex would purchase electricity from the grid, he continued. “It’s kind of like a debit-credit situation. The facility will produce more (energy) than it consumes, and we will have a little bit more in our favour that will get a little bit of cash flow.” Earlier this month the federal government provided a loan of $445,000 for the energy selfsufficient aspect of the project. It was announced during a visit by Environment Minister Peter Kent who stated the housing complex was an example of a project built to strengthen the community and local economy. So far there have been 16 units constructed in two separate buildings. The first eight will be ready by Oct. 1, while the second eight units should be ready for tenants by Dec. 15. Another 16 townhouse units will be constructed next year on the 3.5-acre property located at the corner of Connaught Avenue and West Avenue. The total project cost is almost $2 million with the remaining cost being financed by a traditional mortgage taken out by Lisi and Kavanagh. The rent will include heat and lights and is ex-

Housing market will slow: CMHC The housing market in Atlantic Canada is expected to slow down this year. In its third quarter outlook, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation predicted both single and multiple housing starts in the region would slow "Notwithstanding the decline, the level of construction activity is forecast to remain above 11,000 units for the third year in a row,” CMHC's Regional Economist Alex MacDonald said. “Multiple starts, including apartments, are forecast to decline 17 per cent in 2012 and a further nine per cent in 2013. Moderate employment and wage growth are expected to

dampen single starts by eight per cent in 2012, with a further decline of four per cent in 2013." MacDonald said MLS(R) prices in the second quarter of 2012 were up close to seven per cent. Prices are forecast to rise closer to five per cent in 2012. Existing home sales were also up close to seven per cent in the second quarter, but this trend is not expected to continue for the remainder of 2012. Sales for 2012 are forecast to decline moderately, in the one per cent range, and a further four per cent overall in 2013. For more information, visit www.cmhc.ca or call 1-800-668-2642.

NS consults with construction sector By Staff, The Daily Business Buzz

[Halifax, NS] – The province (Nova Scotia) is asking builders, architects, engineers, municipal building officials and other interested parties for input on 24 recommendations prepared for the

Building Advisory Committee. A discussion paper, in English and French, and the complete Review of Obligations under Letters of Undertaking are posted at www.gov.ns.ca/lae/policy

New Aberdeen Garden Townhouses, energy self-sufficient units in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia utilize wind, solar and geothermal energy. (Photo: Steve Wadden/Cape Breton Post)

pected to be “marginally below current rental levels in the area, with the goal of keeping energy use and cost at its lowest possible level,” according to its website at www.newaberdeengardentownhouses.com. While the initial cost to build a green energy heating system is expensive, Lisi said overall maintenance costs will remain low. “Our operation and maintenance costs will be approximately 20 per cent of what they would be if we were a traditional (home) and had to purchase fuel.” The units will have in-floor heating supplied by a geothermal system that makes use of the heat from mine water in the former Dominion No. 2 and 9 coal mines. By using geothermal energy as a heat source, as well as wind and solar energy to drive the heat pumps, the project will avoid the use of fossil fuels.

The 50-kilowatt wind turbine, installed a few weeks ago, won’t be operational for another month, Lisi said. Under normal working conditions no greenhouse gas emissions will be generated, however a backup generator is in place to support the mechanical systems if necessary. The exterior design of the one-storey buildings is inspired by the oldest company houses built for miners by the mining companies at the turn of the 20th century. Each unit is approximately 850 square feet in area and contains two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The design is open concept with cathedral ceilings in the living areas and wheelchair accessible. A courtyard between the buildings will include a walking track and park benches, specifically aimed to keep seniors physically and socially active.

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The Atlantic Construction & Transportation Journal is published quarterly by TC Media (Atlantic Region),a division of TC Media Inc. The opinions expressed in the Atlantic Construction & Transportation Journal are those of the authors and do not represent the official views of TC Media or its management. The Atlantic Construction & Transportation Journal and its contributors can accept no legal responsibility for loss through any error in information contained herein. Contents of the Atlantic Construction & Transportation Journal may not be reproduced without reproduced without written consent of the publisher, who accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, transparencies and other material. The publisher is not responsible for statements or claims by advertisers. Mailed under Canada Post Publications Mail Agreement No. 40064924

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By CHRIS SHANNON Cape Breton Post

www.tc.tc

Published by . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TC Media Produced by . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .TC Media/Holiday Media Group Publisher, Western NS News Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fred Fiander ACTJ Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Heather Jones Sales Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ian Ross Sales Executive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Scott Higgins (scott.higgins@tc.tc) ACTJ Graphic Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dave Schaffner ACTJ Traffic Coordinator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jodie Purchase The Atlantic Construction & Transportation Journal 211 Horseshoe Lake Drive in Bayers Lake, Halifax Phone: (902) 468-8027 Fax: (902) 468-2425 Return undeliverable addresses to: TC Media 1888 Brunswick Street, Suite 609, Halifax, NS, B3J 3J8 Publications Mail Reg # 7145

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AUGUST 2012| THE AC&TJ | Construction

1500 skilled workers have left NB: McGinn

om McGinn says the cutbacks New Brunswick made in its highway maintenance budget have forced 1500 skilled workers to look for employment in other provinces. In a July letter to the Times & Transcript, the NB Road Builders Association Executive Director said the government’s decision to reduce spending from $500 million one year to $60 or $70m has disrupted 202 companies. McGinn said the entire New Brunswick Community College’s equipment operator graduating class has left the province. He warned that unless maintenance was conducted on highways and bridges safety would be compromised and in a few years brand new roads would have to be built.

Transportation & Infrastructure Minister Claude Williams conceded that the government has made cuts to road construction and maintenance because of the province’s burgeoning debt. He told the newspaper that $500m of the $743m budget went into the Highway 1 Gateway project. He estimated that $66m was budgeted for permanent highways, $38m on rural roads and $42m on the TCH. McGinn said the department should annually invest around $350m in construction and maintenance and that it should renew the federal cost share program and increase its contribution. He said the province should also encourage municipalities to use the Gas Tax Fund and provide its portion of the program.

NS’s mobile asphalt plant in operation Nova Scotia’s $3,569,638 mobile asphalt plant started work Aug. 3 in Victoria County. The province proclaims it will save close to $2.5 million annually. The portable plant, constructed by General Combustion Corp. in Orlando, Florida, was to be operational in July or early July. Transportation & Infrastructure Renewal Minister Maurice Smith said despite the late start, “we will do the road work (90 kilometres) we promised." Smith said in previous years, the province paid private industry $91,000 per kilometre of

double chip seal. He maintained that in 2011 it paid $40,000/km for tendered work. The NS Road Builders Association is yet to be convinced that the government’s road building business plan is not “flawed, unachievable and unrealistic.” Executive Director Grant Feltmate has pointed out that the mobile asphalt plant’s work will not be audited for five years and that the province will spend nearly $100 million without verifying that it has benefited taxpayers.

Construction was well underway in August over the WestBranch Musquash River in Charlotte County, New Brunswick. (Photo: Heather Jones)

Bridge work and repairs for NL The Exploits River Bridge will receive substantial improvements this fall as part of road work taking place throughout Newfoundland & Labrador. The bridge provides access to the Salmonid Interpretation Centre on the Exploits River, as well as the Sandy Badger Moose On Aug. 9 a tender had been called to replace decking and railing, and also repair the bridge substructure. The work is scheduled to

begin after the annual closure of the Salmonid Interpretation Centre in September. In Labrador, work will be completed on St. Lewis River bridge, Route 510; Alexis River bridge, Route 510; Beaver Brook bridge, Route 516; and, St. Mary’s River bridge, Mary’s Harbour. A separate tender will include supplying, distributing and grading granular material on sections of Route 510 over a distance of approximately 55 kms.

Work continues on the CBS Bypass Newfoundland & Labrador Minister of Transportation and Work Tom Hedderson announced a tender for paving and sub-grade work on the CBS Bypass, from the Legion

Road Interchange towards Seal Cove, on Aug. 3. The tender was closed Aug. 16, and work is expected to begin in September.

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Construction | THE AC&TJ | AUGUST 2012

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Every room has a view [North Rustico, PEI]– A house under construction in North Rustico (Prince Edward Island) has been turning heads lately. The home, owned by Stephanie and Steve Arnold, has a twist – it'll be able to rotate 360 degrees. Designed by Luke Everingham, founder of E Rotating Structures, the house will be two stories and 2,500 square feet. The round house is based on a Deltec home, a company based out of North Carolina. Despite its mechanical intricacies, the designer estimates the cost of rotating the house to be about 20 to 50 cents on an average day. "You're not likely to do more than two rotations a day," said Everingham. The home does its rotation using a bearing in the middle of the spoke-like frame of the floor. Two 700-watt drive motors, the equivalent of two large washing machine motors, on either side of the platform would move the central bearing. Twenty-four wheels around the perimeter will move at a speed of about one rotation per 38 minutes. Plumbing and electrical will run up through the central bearing in the house in flexible tubes and cables. The house will only turn 360 degrees before turning back the other way to avoid twisting the cables. The couple is considering putting in an elevator to get upstairs.

The waterfront property's rotating capability will be controlled in the palm of a hand. The rotating feature is on an application for Arnold's phone. The app divides the house into 16 sections and can be instructed to go to any one of the 16 main coordinates of a compass. The base could be told to have one section follow the sun's path throughout the day. "It comes in handy if it's a really hot day and we want to have a barbecue," said Arnold. "You rotate the part of the deck with the barbecue to face the ocean breeze." Arnold's family is from P.E.I., though he lives in Australia and spends summers in the province. He plans to turn this house into a bed and breakfast, which he'll name Around the Sea. The Arnolds will live in the top half of the home during the summer, while the bottom is being divided into four suites, each with a kitchen, bathroom, two bedrooms and – of course – an ocean view. "I know Luke wanted us to have only two units on the bottom so then you can have it facing the ocean all the time, but I said that's why you have a rotating house so you can give it to everybody," laughed Arnold. "I think a lot people will be interested in coming now, just because it rotates." The house will cost about $1 million to construct, but Arnold said the four bed and breakfast suites drove that figure up. Everingham, an electrician and musician by

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By RYAN QUIGLEY Journal Pioneer

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Construction work begins on Steve and Stephanie Arnold’s rotating house in North Rustico, Prince Edward Island. The home has a special design that allows it to rotate 360 degrees. (Photo: Courtesy of the Arnolds)

trade, originally drew the design after a friend in Australia said he wished he could rotate his home 15 degrees to the north. The Australia native went to work, designing is own rotating house, and capturing worldwide attention. The Arnolds later saw the home featured on an Australian television network, and the couple began seriously considering the design for land they purchased in North Rustico. Stephanie admits she had her reservations. "I just got sold on the idea," she said. "At first I thought he was just crazy, but now I'm really happy with it." Everingham took on the job after meeting the couple, but had to factor in new designs for the differences between P.E.I. and Australia's climate. "As a result of the snow, you end up with a lot

more weight on the house. You can double the weight of it," he explained. "Everything's had to be a large capacity to accommodate for 100 tons of load." The Arnold's first experience in a rotating house came after meeting Everingham for the first time. They noticed the home had moved because Stephanie's shoes were not in the same place when they walked back outside. The couple has received lots of support from the community of Rustico, with many residents inviting welcoming them. Photos of the house's construction and more information can be seen on the bed and breakfast's website: aroundthesea.ca, and more information on rotating houses can be viewed at erotatingstructures.com

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AUGUST 2012 | THE AC&TJ | Construction

PEI begins expropriation of land for Plan B By RYAN ROSS The Guardian

he last few holdouts in the Trans Canada Highway re-alignment will soon be getting expropriation notices after the deadline passed to sell the (Prince Edward Island) government their land. Transportation Department spokesman Leo Creamer said as of the noon deadline Wednesday (Aug. 22), there were still five landowners who hadn’t come to an agreement with the government. The government will expropriate those properties, Creamer said. “We can start the process and still talk to them

right up to the date that the documents are registered.” The land purchases are necessary for the province to start construction on the so-called Plan B highway re-alignment in Churchill. That work is supposed to start in September. Government expects to pay $4 million to buy the properties it needs for the project. The provincial and federal governments will cost share the other $16 million needed to build the highway. Of the properties the government is buying, 10 have houses on them and eight are occupied, although only one of the houses is in the realignment’s direct path.

Owners of the expropriated properties will still be paid for their land. The expropriation process involves a legal survey identified as an expropriation plan to show what the province is buying. It also requires a notice of expropriation, which lays out why the government is buying the land. Finally, the government has to advertise for three consecutive weeks after the expropriation to notify the public that anyone who wants to file a claim for compensation related to the property must file it within six months after the registration date. Creamer said most of the survey work is fin-

ished so it’s a matter of physically producing the survey plan. “It’s a little bit of paperwork, basically,” he said. Despite the expropriation process moving forward, Creamer said the government will continue to talk to the affected landowners. “We’re not shutting off the process at this point,” he said. Meanwhile, opposition environment critic Hal Perry has called for the fisheries, transportation and rural development committee to hold public hearings to discuss the project’s environmental assessment. In a news release, Perry said the government plans to hold a public meeting Monday (Aug. 27) about the environmental impact assessment, but it should go further. “I have been to this government’s public meetings before and they are nothing more than an opportunity to sell their ideas,” he said. Perry said public hearings are needed immediately because the government is planning to start work in September. “If there are findings in the report that could potentially stop this project, Islanders need to have a say and it is the committee’s responsibility to give them an avenue to do so,” he said.

Twinning contract awarded A New Brunswick company has been awarded a contract for the twinning of the Route 2, the Trans-Canada Highway, between Edmundston and the Quebec border. Restigouche Construction Co. Ltd. of Grand Falls was the successful bidder for the $6.8 million contract. The work involves grading and paving 2.7 kilometres of Route 2 from the Quebec border to the existing four-lane highway. Five bids were received on the tender that was issued on June 19 and closed July 6. The province plans for Route 2 to be completely twinned from the Quebec border to the Nova Scotia border by the fall of 2014.

Welsford bypass contract The New Brunswick government has awarded a $2.6-million contract to Northern Construction Inc. of Grand Falls for grading and paving on the new Welsford bypass. The work, to begin in the next two weeks (before Aug. 24), will involve grading and paving of five kilometres of roadway as well as four ramps at the northern end of the bypass. The tender was issued on July 11 and closed on July 30. Six bids were received. The project consists of 10 kilometres of four-lane highway and five main structures. The $60-million project will be completed in the fall of 2013. Construction began in late 2009.

Bridge turns 15 The Confederation Bridge between Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick celebrated its 15th birthday on May 31. There have been a few changes since the 13-kilometre span officially opened in 1997. Strait Crossing Bridge Ltd. has installed new LED lights that work “marvelously” in up to 167 km/hr winds. The bridge also has a digital radio system for emergency responses, a 511 system and a revamped website. In the future it will have new tilt meters to gauge its movements.

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Construction | THE AC&TJ | AUGUST 2012

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PEI forum told HST could hike cost of residential construction By MITCH MACDONALD The Guardian

harmonized sales tax poses a threat to new Prince Edward Island homeowners as it could increase the cost of residential construction by up to eight per cent, a public forum was told Tuesday night (June 26). The public session discussing the possible HST impact on home construction and renovations was held in Charlottetown. The session was hosted by the P.E.I. Residential Construction Sector Council (PEIRCSC) with sponsorship from the Canadian Home Builders Association PEI (CHBA PEI). Peter Brown, PEIRCSC president and owner of Bayside Builders in Summerside, said the group held the session not to promote a position on HST, but rather to raise some concerns and questions regarding the tax’s future effect on the sector. “We think this is an extremely crucial discussion to have on either encouraging or discouraging Islanders who first of all own their own homes, or off-islanders to come and invest in our beautiful Island.” The harmonized sales tax is set to be implemented April 1, 2013, making P.E.I. the final Maritime province to switch to the tax from the goods and services tax (GST) and provincial sales tax (PST). The tax rate on most items will drop from 15.5 per cent to 14 per cent, however, there will be fewer exemptions. Brown said there are four primary concerns in the sector due to increased construction costs

under the tax: job losses due to fewer homes being constructed, a growing underground economy, affordability for seniors and all new rentals, and first-time homebuyers delaying ownership. Brown said, for the sake of discussion, the group estimated the cost of a new home increasing four to eight per cent for a homebuyer. A presentation from Beth Gaudet, provincial tax commissioner, pegged the cost at three per cent. Brown said the estimate came from an impact study done in N.S. and N.B. following the implementation of HST, where the average homebuyer paid an extra eight per cent. However, Brown pointed out that, from their organization’s research, if every business passed on savings through HST, it would be a 3.5 per cent increase. “I don’t understand the math, if you take an industry that is valued somewhere close to a billion dollars and you increase the cost to the end user by four to eight per cent, what happens?” he asked. “Does everyone build an eight per cent smaller home? Do they wait eight per cent longer in their thinking and planning to build a home? Do they have to save eight per cent more before they can get into the homebuyer market? We don’t have answers, whatwe’re doing is posing the concerns.” Richard Lind, a homebuilder who was president of the Canadian Home Builders Association of Nova Scotia when the province implemented HST in 1997, said they found that

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Construction Association of New Brunswick

some had to hold off building their home but there was a major upswing in the industry before the tax was implemented. He added that at the time the entire provincial economy was on an upswing, which also reduced worries of a burgeoning underground market. “There was lots of work around for everybody, whether you were legitimate or under-

ground. Although we saw the potential for an increased underground economy because of this new tax ... we took it in stride,” he said. “The whole economy was on an upswing so the crunch that we felt from losing some things to the underground economy didn’t hurt so much. From what I understand, you’re not looking at a strong upswing in the economy right now in P.E.I.

A better grass The landscape industry has had to deal with many changes in recent years—pesticide bans, water conservation, chemical fertilizer restrictions and sustainability—considerations that are key to moving forward. And then, there’s always the unpredictability of the weather. In Canada, $4.5 billion is spent on lawn care every year. That’s a lot of money to waste with lawns going brown. What can home owners and landscape pros and architects do to address all of these challenges? Well, traditional turf grass isn’t drought resistant in part because it doesn’t have deep roots. These grasses are also inherently susceptible to chinch bug, grubs and other weed population when stressed. But Rhizomatous Tall Fescue (RTF) is a relatively new variety of patented turf grass that has been getting a lot of attention Canadawide. RTF is available as a nursery sod and as a grass seed with a root system that spreads

laterally for strength, stability and recovery– like Kentucky Bluegrass at its ideal state—and it’s tough, with more resilience to disease, insects and drought. RTF thrives with 25-30% less water. “The root of RTF can dig as deep as six feet. It’s a water sipper and its roots interlace making a dense, uniform lawn that chokes out weeds,” says Ryan Streatch, marketing and sales manager for RTF Water Saver Canada and Musquodobit Valley Quality Sod. “RTF also thwarts insects, has increased stress tolerance and drought recovery. It’s a lower maintenance, sustainable turf option.” “What caught my attention with RTF Water Saver Grass Seed is the establishment period is quicker,” says Travis Hogan, owner of Winter Summer Solutions in Petawawa, Ontario. “The endophyte content in the [RTF] seed is very attractive and helps takes care of pests and stress caused by drought, the roots tie in together, choking out weeds.”

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AUGUST 2012 | THE AC&TJ | Construction | Bluenose Academy

BLUENOSE ACADEMY

Bluenose Academy an architectural challenge By ANDY WALKER

esigning a school in a town that’s recognized worldwide did present some challenges for WHW Architects. Lunenburg, Nova Scotia—home of the iconic sailing ship The Bluenose—was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site a number of years ago. When WHW Architects of Halifax designed the Bluenose Academy they wanted to both pay tribute to the community’s marine heritage while at the same time blueprint a building that would offer the next generation a 21st century education. Architect Jane Abbott explained that at 75,000 square feet, the Bluenose Academy is one of the largest buildings in the town. That added to the pressure because “we wanted it to blend in as much as possible.” One of the first requests from the Planning Committee (made up of government and school officials) was for a wooden structure. Abbott said while that would no doubt respect the town’s heritage, it would not meet the 2012 fire code. That meant the architects and builders had to be a bit more creative in honouring the town’s iconic history. For starters, there are the school’s basic colours of white and black—familiar on many of the town’s landmark buildings including the 117-year-old Lunenburg Academy. The “Lunenburg red” that appears on just about every structure in town, is also

At 75,000 square feet, the Bluenose Academy is one of the largest buildings in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. (Photo: Bluenose Academy)

used as an accessory colour on the Bluenose Academy. The school has a similar window pattern to the former academy and several other buildings in town. “We've given the classroom windows a little bit of emphasis in the form of a bay that pushes out of the room a bit," Abbott said. The architectural challenges were magnified by the fact the school, which houses 565 students in grades primary to nine, had to be designed and built to the gold standard

under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). The academy is one of the first schools in the province to achieve the designation. The LEED rating is based on five areas: sustainable site development, water efficiency, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. While there is an oil burner for backup, Abbott said a wood pellet boiler heats the Bluenose Academy. She explained that the pellets are made from waste wood and are sourced in the immediate area that reduces the school’s environmental footprint. While it is invisible to the students using the Bluenose Academy’s playground, an underground system catches the rainwater coming out of the drainage system. It is treated and then recycled for use in the school’s toilets. Water for the taps and showers comes from the town’s water system. The roof over the gymnasium has a living garden of grass and shrubs. In addition to providing a habitat for birds and insects, the architect said it also helps with rainwater drainage and protects the roof. Abbott said it would not provide any problems during the winter months. In keeping with the LEED specifications, the building also makes good use of windows to provide more daylight and less energy use. Bird Construction was the general contractor for the project, and project supervisor Collin Peters said the construction phase of the Bluenose Academy took approximately a year and a half. He said there were between 30 and 100 workers on the site, depending on the time of year.

“I wouldn’t say we had any major challenges,” he said. “Everything went pretty much on schedule.” While LEED Gold certification buildings are not quite the norm yet, Peters said they are becoming more common especially for government buildings. “One of the neat things about this project was the system for capturing the rain water for recycling.” He said it did mean some extra work but did not slow down the project. Abbott said LEED certification is now becoming more commonplace, especially for government buildings. She added, “It is very rare a government building would not be built to one of the standards in the LEED program.” One part of the Bluenose Academy’s building is three stories high while the other building is two stories. The sections are connected by a three-story atrium. The state-ofthe-art building includes: a gymnasium, small group work rooms, a multi-purpose science lab, and a raised classroom that can act as a stage. The library and seminar room on the third floor offer a view of the historic harbour. The Bluenose Academy also has: a youth health facility, a student services suite, assistive-care washrooms, a resource and multisensory room, visual arts space and innovation labs. The school officially opened June 18 although students were actually in their new quarters after the March break. The academy replaces two schools, Lunenburg Junior High School (formerly located on the same site) and Centre Consolidated School.

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EDUCATION FEATURE

EDUCATION AND TRAINING | Construction | THE AC&TJ | AUGUST 2012

Changes being made to apprentice regulations By ASHLEY FITZPATRICK The Telegram

permanent change in provincial regulation is expected to help get a flood of new skilled trades apprentices in this province up to journeyperson status. Ultimately, the move is expected to provide more red-seal Newfoundlanders and Labradorians for skilled trades jobs opening up across the country. It comes down to a decision by the Provincial Apprenticeship and Certification Board — to make permanent a change already being tested as a pilot program. Specifically, it allows two apprentices to work on a job site under the supervision of each journeyperson. Apprentices need to clock a certain number of hours on the job, under a journeyperson in their trade, before they can be certified a red-seal journeyperson in their trade. In this province, the large number of students emerging from trades colleges looking to get their hours — paired with the number of journeypersons finishing up their careers and leaving the workforce — had resulted in a shortage of apprenticeship spaces under the past regulations (limiting the apprentice-journeyman ratio at 1:1). A motion to make the new 2:1 ratio permanent was passed in June and will apply to all trades, according to the Newfoundland and Labrador Construction Association (NLCA), just one organization now applauding the decision. In a statement issued Thursday, (July 19) the association noted the provincial skilled trades certification board has also granted the director of the Apprenticeship and Trades Certification Division, under the provincial government’s Department of Advanced Education and Skills, the ability to issue permits allowing employers three apprentices to one journeyperson in certain cases. The three-to-one permit will require at least one of the apprentices to be in their final year. The employer will also have to submit a written request to government, explaining how these apprentices will receive proper training and how workplace safety will not be jeopardized, should the higher

ratio be allowed. “At a time when we are on the cusp of an impending shortage of skilled construction trades workers, this is a positive step forward for the construction trades,” NLCA chairman Brad Sheppard stated. Sheppard told The Telegram the ratio of journeypersons to apprentices is not a main focus of the industry at present. “The shortage of labour is the issue,” he said, explaining the student-teacher ratio might help in addressing the issue. The provincial construction labour force currently amounts to between 15,000 and 20,000 workers, according to the association. The workers are mainly employed with small construction firms, averaging about 20 employees. Group Members Happy With Change The Merit Contractors Association represents some of those companies, many nonunion contractors active within the province. “Our members are quite happy with the change and the permanent status of this,” association director Paul Dubé told The Telegram, adding the possibility of having a third apprentice hired per journeyperson comes as “a very welcome bonus.” If there was one reservation the organization would have in regards to the third apprentice, he said, it would be in how the applications to government regulators are handled. “So if a contractor has the need for that third apprentice ... the process of submitting that request has to be fairly streamlined with accountability on their end to be able to turn around a decision in a reasonable time,” he said. “Because construction itself is based on the ability to have people on site to do the work, as well as getting the work. If things are held up on the regulatory side, that’s not going to be a good thing.” Dubé said the availability of journeypersons and apprentices in certain trades already has some companies seeking “mentors” for the training of apprentices — recently retired journeypersons interested in teaching at the job site. “They’ll be on for the sole purpose of being able to mentor apprentices,” he said,

explaining having a journeyperson to instruct allows employers to then hire one or two new apprentices. “People are trying to be creative out there to overcome some of the (labour) challenges.” Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Joan Burke was unavailable for comment on the changes to apprenticeship ratios Thursday, (July 19) as she was tied up with meetings in Central Newfoundland, according to a department spokesman. Written comment from government on the changes is expected today (July 20).

Budget 2012 included $4.1-million for programs aimed at advancing apprentices through their training, including the introduction of a journeyperson mentorship program, expansion of the apprenticeship wage subsidy program and the introduction of an apprentice tracking system. $200,000 has been set aside to establish a Workforce Development Secretariat and efforts are being made to improve access to child care — also aimed at addressing barriers to apprentices making their way through training.

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SAFETY FEATURE

AUGUST 2012 | THE AC&TJ | Construction | SAFETY

Worker falls while putting on siding Man hospitalized after falling 3 erected on one side of the residence. He was not at the highest point on the scafmetres at Halifax construction site folding and fell about “four or five feet,” accordBy ASHLEY FITZPATRICK The Telegram

By HALEY RYAN

Metro Halifax

man working on a construction site at Dalhousie University was sent to the hospital Tuesday morning (July 3) after falling three metres to the ground. The man was an iron worker on the site of the new Oceans Excellence Centre on Oxford Street, said Nikki Comeau, a spokeswoman with Dalhousie. He fell at around 7:45 a.m.,

and it’s believed from scaffolding. His exact injuries haven’t been determined, but they aren’t believed to be life-threatening. Comeau said PCL Construction, the construction management firm in charge of the site, is still investigating, along with the province’s department of labour. “Dalhousie will be paying very close attention to the report and doing what’s necessary to make sure incidents like this don’t happen again,” she said.

Man injured in industrial accident By Joe Gibbons

A construction worker was taken to the Health Sciences Centre emergency department following an industrial accident in Pleasantville (Newfoundland) this morning (Aug. 15). The man was working at the Bennett House apartment building being constructed on the corner of Churchill Avenue and Andrews Street when the accident occurred.

He sustained injuries when his right hand apparently became caught in a piece of machinery. He was assessed by firefighters from the St. John’s Regional Fire Department’s Kent's Pond fire station and stabilized before Eastern Health paramedics took him to hospital. The injured worker was conscious and able to walk to the ambulance. The RNC and government safety inspectors are investigating the incident.

WorkSafeNB investigating fatality WorkSafeNB is investigating a workplace accident that claimed the life of a New Brunswick worker. On June 21 an employee of Lloyd Dutcher Development Ltd., a Fredericton-based residential construction company, was on the second level of a new building project when he fell

through an opening to the basement 25 feet below. WorkSafeNB’s health and safety officers are investigating to determine how the accident could have been prevented and if there were any violations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

A man who fell from scaffolding while putting new siding on a home in St. John’s (Newfoundland & Labrador) is not believed to have suffered serious injuries. Firefighters and paramedics were called to a home on Crosbie Road about mid-day today (July 18), following a call to 911 from the homeowners. The worker had fallen from scaffolding

ing to one of the home’s owners. While the fall was not estimated to be far, the homeowner said an ambulance was called to have the worker checked out for any injuries. Strapped to a spinal board, the worker was loaded onto a responding ambulance. The vehicle remained at the scene for at least 10 minutes thereafter.

Mechanic killed in Grand Falls WorkSafe New Brunswick investigators and Grand Falls Town Police were at the scene of a fatal workplace accident Aug. 10. 31-year-old David St-Amand, who had worked for Northern Construction Inc. for

a decade, was pronounced dead at the company’s maintenance garage on Portage Road. WorkSafeNB said the mechanic was taking apart a truck cylinder when parts that were under pressure struck him.

NB man electrocuted A man was electrocuted July 10 while working near Millville, New Brunswick for Nackawic Mechanical Ltd. According to CBC News, the man suffered severe leg burns after contacting high voltage

wires while dismantling old train tracks. Millville Fire Department crew transported him to the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital in Fredericton.

Young man killed in workplace accident A 19-year-old Charlo, New Brunswick man was killed June 12 at Design Built Mechanical Inc. A RCMP press release said the young

man was trapped underneath a forklift after it fell on him. The incident is being investigated and assessed by WorkSafe NB.

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Transportation | THE AC&TJ | AUGUST 2012

Runway extension key to developing cargo business

he extension of the main runway at Halifax Stanfield International Airport is potentially the key to developing more cargo business, both import and export, says Jerry Staples of the Halifax International Airport Authority. “We are quite bullish” on this project, the airport authority’s vice-president of marketing and business development declared. The airport authority is in the process of extending the main runway from 8,800 feet to 10,500 feet. Halifax is the only major airport in Canada without a 10,000-foot plus runway. Included in the $28-million project are: taxiway construction, airfield electrical and lighting components, connecting service roads, relocation and replacement of major navigational aids at both ends, and replacement of the Category 2 high intensity approach lighting system at the runway’s north end. The extension will also increase the airport’s airside park’s potential to attract new business. The entire project will be completed by Nov. 15. Staples explains the airport has had major cargo carriers that stopped coming to Halifax because of the short runway that imposed weight restrictions. The larger cargo planes can’t take off fully loaded. “So we are working closely with all (of) them to bring them back and one in particular will very likely do that. I think we will have one coming back within the next six months and there is potential for new carriers that have never been at the airport.”

The big beneficiaries of a longer runway will be the seafood producers within the region. Staples says, depending on the time of the year, that about 60 per cent to 80 per cent of the seafood exported from Nova Scotia goes by truck to larger airports like Boston, New York and even Washington to be shipped to international markets. “That is a good amount of cargo going down the road,” he says. The airport authority has been in discussions with seafood processors, shippers and freight forwarders on the potential of shipping out of Halifax once the new runway is operational. “We are members of the Lobster Council of Canada and we also have a ‘focus of freight’ group at the airport where we bring in freight forwarders and shippers on regular basis to talk about opportunities in Halifax. We discuss how we can work smarter together to get more lift at reasonable pricing and to the right destinations,” Staples explains. The other plus is the potential for increased import business. “We want to grow the import business so we are working with other airports and communities, shippers and forwarders to try and increase import activity. What we have today is nominal compared to the exports. The idea is to bring the imports in, put them on the ground in Halifax and load them into trucks” to be transported to their final destination within a day or less. Staples cites pharmaceutical firms, medical supply companies and other high value items particularly coming from Europe.

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By TOM PETERS

Regional seafood producers will be the big beneficiaries when the extension of the main runway at Halifax Stanfield International Airport is completed. (Photo: Courtesy of HSIA)

Lobster Council of Canada Executive Director Geoff Irvine of Halifax says the extended runway would add to the airport’s infrastructure to handle cargo. “Just look at the new Gateway Facilities ULC (opened June 2010) at the airport. That is a state-of-the-art, temperature controlled cargo facility that has really given us an excellent step up so add that to better runways, etc., it is all good news for anything live or perishable.” Irvine says the real challenge will be convincing the larger carriers to come to Halifax. “It’s a business and you have to present them with an attractive reason to come so I can only project if we have longer runways and better infrastructure at the airport it is all going to help.

I can’t put it any simpler than that.” In 2011 the airport handled 5,700 MT (12,566,200 lbs) of lobster with an estimated market value of $100,530,000. Airport spokesman Peter Spurway says during the construction period there is the potential for some flight disruption especially from July 30 to Nov. 15. That is the timeframe when the main runway will be shortened and have limited navigational aids (no instrument landing system). The airport’s secondary runway will be fully operational with possible short-term temporary closures due mainly to poor weather. In 2011 Halifax Stanfield International Airport handled 29,263 metric tonnes of cargo, up 2.8 per cent over 2010.

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AUGUST 2012 | THE AC&TJ | Transportation

VIA Rail to cut Halifax to Montreal service by half in October By ALEX BOUTILIER Metro Halifax

VIA Rail is cutting the number of round trips between Halifax and Montreal by half. The federal Crown Corporation announced Wednesday it will cut the number of trips on its Ocean line from six to three per week. The company cited declining demand as the reason, despite the fact that the line had 7,000 more passengers in 2011 than a year before. “Several efforts have been made to at least maintain ridership on the Ocean,” Denis Pinsonneault, VIA’s chief operating officer, told reporters. “However, the market has evolved … we still believe there’s a strong market for VIA Rail, but the reality is over the last 15 years there has been a decline in our ridership.” Pinsonneault repeatedly said recent federal budget cuts to the corporation did not drive the decision, noting ridership has decreased by

50 per cent since 1997. The head of the Canadian Auto Workers Union Local 4005 disputes the company’s line that the demand isn’t there. “Year after year, our ridership has gone up 7.8 per cent,” Brown said in Halifax. “I work on the trains. Since January, my trains have been sold out. Sold out, no room. You want to travel, travel the next day.” The company expects the service cut will affect 45 employees, but Brown said that number could be much higher once all the details are known. She also said the company has done very little to promote the service in the Maritimes. VIA Rail lost more than $292 million before its federal operating grant in 2011 – more than half of its $574 million budget. That’s actually a slightly smaller operating deficit than 2010, when the corporation ran a $297 million deficit.

Contract for Waterville Airport Study Nova Scotia has awarded the contract to study the possible relocation of the Waterville Municipal Airport in Kings County to CBCL Ltd. The study will cost about $82,000 and will be completed by Oct. 31. The study will include meeting with airport stakeholders, reviewing land uses and zoning in the surrounding area, as well as identification, selection and cost estimates for three alterna-

tives sites. CBCL Ltd. will recommend a preferred site for the municipal airport and provide a business case that includes economic impacts and benefits and relocation costs. The study was proposed to explore potential expansion at the Michelin Tire Plant. Michelin employs about 3,500 people in Nova Scotia, including 1,200 at the Waterville plant.

New aviation service Saint John Airport launched its new aviation service to major centers in Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador on July 31. Saint John Airport will be the first New Brunswick airport with direct

flights to Quebec City and Bonaventure, with same plane connection to Wabush, Newfoundland and Labrador. The direct service is for passengers and cargo.

On Aug. 21 New Brunswick invested $1 million in the construction of the Moncton Transportation Discovery Centre, an extension of the Moncton Museum. The centre will illustrate the fundamental role transportation has played in shaping the history and growth of Moncton and will highlight the city's position as the transportation hub of Atlantic Canada. Construction should be completed in the summer of 2013.