Uniting ARCCAW members across Alberta and the Northwest

Uniting ARCCAW members across Alberta and the Northwest Territories Winter 2011 

High-Tech Healing 

BTA Courage Centre 

grand opening 

Cash Control 

8 tips to manage 

your money 

Photos from 

the children’s 

Christmas parties, 

tool reviews, 

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

Expansion Plans 

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to hiring union

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Now that 2010 is in the history 

books, it is worth spending a few 

moments to reflect on what the 

year brought us. In many respects, it was 

a year of soul-searching and reflection. 

Thankfully, employment held steady. 

However, not since the ’80s have we 

been confronted by so many challenges 

and new issues. The highlight of the year 

will inevitably turn out to be the framework 

bargaining process which resulted 

in the majority of the Building Trades 

and Registered Employers organizations 

engaging in an integrated mutual gains 

bargaining process for common industrial 

terms. It took a long time to develop 

the process, but hopefully the outcomes, 

which will be voted on by the membership 

in the spring, will have been worth 

the investment. Before we get to that 

place, however, we will be continuing to 

finalize our trade specific items. 

I am sure I speak for my colleagues 

across the Building Trades when I say 

we were really left with no choice but to 

engage in a full and candid discussion 

around the bargaining table. In effect, 

the agreement to rework the consolidated 

groups and engage in a multi-trade 

process really developed out of our court 

challenge to the collective bargaining 

legislation. Regardless, as our market 

share is continually being threatened and 

as owners consider all their options with 

respect to price, safety, productivity and 

dependability, we had to do what is in the 

best interest of the unionized construction 

industry. It serves no purpose to put 

our fair contractors in an uncompetitive 

position, thereby jeopardizing future 

work opportunities. In comparison to 

previous years, 2011 is going to be slow, 

4 HARDHAT WINTER 2011 

Executive Secretary Treasurer’s REPORT 

A Look Back at 2010 

Martyn A. Piper 

although work in 2012 looks a whole lot 

more promising. Some of the recent joint 

venture announcements have triggered 

some sense of optimism with previously 

held back projects. 

Drug and alcohol testing issues remain 

on the radar screen for a myriad of reasons: 

there are those for and those 

against it, questions relative to human 

rights, court and legislative interest. 

Clearly this issue is a permanent fixture 

for the future. The fact of the matter is 

until drugs and alcohol disappear from 

job sites and camps, this issue will not go 

away. The owners have made it clear they 

are not prepared to tolerate this type of 

behaviour on their sites and are prepared 

to go to great lengths to ensure they complete 

their mission. 

The year 2010 saw compressed work 

schedules contained in the Special 

Project Needs Agreement become the 

norm, particularly for projects in the 

Wood Buffalo region. These schedules 

have essentially eliminated overtime provisions 

as we have traditionally known 

them, and now compensation is paid 

on a certain number of hours inclusive 

of premium and regular time per work 

schedule. The compressed work schedule 

typically includes flights and also a guarantee 

of time off on furloughs. Worked 

out over the year, one can argue that the 

salary still exceeds that of the competition, 

is reasonable and ensures that everyone 

is home at regular intervals. 

In 2010 we were able to negotiate the 

conversion of pension contributions 

into pay for retirees who were unable 

to enhance their pension benefit when 

returning to work. Although we were 

unable to achieve the same for appren- 

tices, this has gone a long way in relieving 

the frustration felt by our pensioners. 

In 2010, Local 2103 concluded litigation 

with the old officers of the Building 

and Benevolent Society, who caved on 

their claim to the Calgary Building, and 

now the properly elected officers of 2103 

are the officers of the Society, the building 

is properly back in the hands of the 

Local and all bank accounts seized and 

in the hands of Local 2103. This long and 

unnecessary legal battle was expensive, 

uncalled for and resulted in membership 

loss for a few individuals. Hopefully 

we can now turn our attention to what is 

really required in Calgary with respect to 

new offices and training facilities. 

These, Brothers and Sisters, are just 

a few of the many issues we have been 

working on over the last year, and it is 

because of a great membership, dynamic 

staff team, executive boards and delegates 

of the Regional Council that we are 

able to deal efficiently, honestly and expeditiously 

with them. The Brotherhood 

in Alberta is on sound financial footing, 

with solid infrastructure and resources to 

support the operation. 

There is no doubt 2011 will offer up 

another set of challenges, but none too 

great that we cannot overcome. The 

world does not stand still. Times change, 

and with it we must adapt.

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 

PUBLIShEdFOR: 

AlbertaRegionalCouncilof 

Carpenters&AlliedWorkers 

15210–123Avenue 

Edmonton,AlbertaT5V0A3 

Tel:(780) 474-8599 /Fax:(780) 474-8910 

www.albertacarpenters.com 

PUBLIShEdBY: 

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Toll-free:1-866-227-4276 

Phone:(780) 990-0839 

Fax:(780) 425-4921 

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PUBLIShER 

Ruth Kelly 

ASSOCIATE PUBLIShER 

Joyce Byrne 

ARCCAWEdITOR 

Martyn A.Piper 

EdITOR 

KimTannas 

ARTdIRECTOR 

CharlesBurke 

ASSISTANTARTdIRECTOR 

ColinSpence 

PROdUCTIONCOORdINATOR 

Betty-LouSmith 

CONTRIBUTINGWRITERS 

CailynnKlingbeil,LindseyNorris,TriciaRadison, 

LisaRicciotti,FraserTodd,JimVeenbaas 

CONTRIBUTINGPhOTOGRAPhERS 

ANdILLUSTRATORS 

3TEN,BuffyGoodman 

VICE-PRESIdENT,SALES 

AnitaMcGillis 

AdVERTISINGREPRESENTATIVE 

LeahMawer 

SALESASSISTANT 

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Contents©2011byARCCAWInc. 

Nopartofthispublicationshouldbereproduced 

withoutwrittenpermission. 

Important Phone Numbers 

Edmonton 780-471-3200 

FortMcMurray 780-743-1442 

Calgary 403-283-0747 

CarpentersTrainingCentre 780-455-6532 

CarpentersHealthandWelfare 780-477-9131 

CarpentersPension 780-477-9131 

IndustrialWorkers 403-283-0747 

MillwrightLocal1460 780-430-1460 

LocalUnion1325and2103Dispatch 1-888-944-0818 

FEATURES 

10 ABrief View of Our Union 

Listings of Regional Council executive 

boards, delegates and committees 

12 Bolstering Courage 

Anew high-tech rehabilitation centre 

opens, thanks to the support of local 

trade unions 

By Cailynn Klingbeil 

18 Managing Your Money 

Financial planning tips for today 

and tomorrow 

By Tricia Radison 

20 Full Steam Ahead 

Interpro relies on the specialized skills 

of unionized millwrights 

By Lisa Ricciotti 

22 The Angola Project 

A1325 member shares his experiences 

working on an overseas project 

By Fraser Todd 

DEPARTMENTS 

4 Note From the Executive 

Secretary Treasurer 

By Martyn Piper 

6 Site Lines 

BTA Convention 2010, Cold remedies 

from the trade-room floor; On the job 

with Bill Alton; Call for tool donations 

9 Geared Up 

Tools to help you work better 

26 KidZone 

Children’s Christmas party photos 

28 Training and Apprenticeship 

Report 

By Len Bryden 

29 Local 1460 Millwrights Report 

By Bob Hugh 

30 Parting Shot 

31 Training & Events; In Memoriam 

20 

22 

ON ThE COVER: Skyler Beynon, NATAC 

Canadian National Apprenticeship 

contest winner - Photographed by 3TEN 

Contents 

Winter 11 

12 

hARdhAT WINTER 2011 5


Site Lines 

Convention Roundup 

What went down at the Building Trades of 

Alberta 2010 Convention 

In early October, members of the Building Trades of Alberta 

gathered in Jasper for an annual executive meeting and 

convention. 

This year’s theme was “The Leadership Commitment,” and 

speakers included Navy SEAL and Rhodes scholar Eric Greitens, 

MLA Thomas Lukaszuk, and Mark Breslin, who became the CEO 

of the Engineering and Utility Contractors Association (EUCA) 

when he was 26 and now writes books and speaks across North 

America about labour-management relations. 

Breslin had some blunt advice regarding Canada’s 

construction industry. While the industry has grown about 15 per 

cent per year, Breslin warned that the union share of the work pie 

has not grown proportionately. He says, going forward, unions 

need to be proactive, focus on economics over politics, and avoid 

being derailed by naysayers reluctant to change. 

Cold Comfort 

There are a lot of myths about the common cold. Over 

50 years ago, scientists at the Common Cold Research Unit 

in England debunked the idea that catching a chill would give 

you a case of the sniffles, and discovered you’re as likely to 

catch a cold in the Sahara as you are in Fort McMurray. Not 

content with stopping there, scientists moved on to debunk 

many remedies that were supposed to cure colds – chicken 

soup, orange juice, lots of fluids. Today, cold researchers 

don’t agree on much, but they do agree on this: colds will run 

their course no matter what you do. 

Still, some people swear that their home remedies help 

them feel better, and there’s no arguing with that. In that vein, 

we offer a non-scientific array of cold remedies taken from a 

non-scientific survey of the trade room floor. 

1. RAW GARLIC 

The theory: Garlic contains allicin, which has antifungal and 

antibacterial properties. 

How to use it: Raw, baby. Chop it or crush it to maximize the 

allicin content. 

2. LEMON TEA 

The theory: Warm fluids can loosen congestion and prevent 

dehydration. 

How to use it: Without whisky. The “hot toddy” may be a 

mainstay, but booze won’t help your cold. 

News in Brief 

A roundup of news and events 

from around the region 

3. BUCKLEY’S MIXTURE 

The theory: It contains capsaicin, which acts as an analgesic 

(pain-killer) long term. 

How to use it: Like all over-the-counters, according to package 

directions. 

4. RAT ROOT TEA 

The theory: This herb has been used for centuries in aboriginal 

and Chinese medicine for a variety of ailments, including clearing 

the nasal passages 

How to use it: Warm. Ideally, not in the vicinity of real rats. 

5. VITAMIN C 

The theory: Some studies suggest high doses reduce a cold’s 

duration. Other studies dispute this. Insufficient vitamin C leads to 

scurvy, so make sure you’re getting enough, cold or no cold. 

How to use it: Get your daily dose from citrus fruits, red and 

green peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, and greens. 

6. CHICKEN SOUP 

The theory: Whether it’s the smell, steam or heat, chicken soup 

increases “nasal mucus velocity.” (Get the tissues out.) 

How to use it: Ideally, someone else makes it, and you stay in bed. 

*Note: some remedies, even natural ones, can have side-effects and may 

be dangerous in high doses or if you have underlying health issues. Best to 

talk to your doctor.

Centre Stage 

Top Quality Talent 

Skyler Beynon’s first-place finish at the NATAC 

Canadian National Apprenticeship contest in 

September 2010 was a source of pride for Millwrights 

Local 1460 and the entire Regional Council. 

Congratulations to Skyler for taking his hard-earned 

skills in millwrighting and demonstrating his talent 

at the national level. 

Before he became a carpenter, Bill Alton 

was a folk singer. His bread-and-butter was 

singing and songwriting, and the occasional 

jam in a few rock bands. Today, he’s largely 

left the stage behind, but he still regularly 

performs: as ARCCAW’s union education 

co-ordinator, his audience is potential union 

members. You can find him in the halls of the 

1325 office in Edmonton or 2103 in Calgary, 

and periodically in Fort McMurray, screening 

and training potential members. He knows 

a little something about union advantages: 

after he left the music scene, he took a job at 

a construction site and became a carpenter’s 

apprentice in the union in the ’70s. In 2001, he became an organizer and got 

involved in orientations. We talk with Bill about the job. 

What do you look for in a new member? 

Skill and training are important and, in our opinion, it is a mistake to bring people 

into the organization if they don’t understand what a union is, and secondly what 

our union is. I spend a fair bit of time explaining the philosophy of our union, of 

collective effort and advantage, and their role in that. They have to understand 

that if they want the advantage of being a union member. 

What do you go over in these orientations? 

First and foremost, they need to know how our dispatch system works. If they 

don’t, they’ll never get work. You have to interact with it; if you don’t, no one is 

going to call you. If you don’t ask for a job, you won’t get offered one. 

Any common misconceptions? 

There is a misunderstanding that I try to diffuse immediately: that membership 

means a job. It means access to a pool of work; it doesn’t necessarily mean a job. 

Any funny stories? 

Not funny, but heartwarming. On one occasion when I was out for supper with 

my wife, this guy came up to us and said, “Bill, you changed my life. You signed 

me up.” And he’s talking about something that happened two years ago. He has 

gone on from someone who came in at the entry level, taken my advice and is now 

established in the trade, working his way through his apprenticeship. 

What’s great about your job? 

It’s the best job in the hall. When people approach me, when they approach the 

union, they approach it full of optimism. In a way what I do is a performance: it has 

to attract people to me enough that they’ll listen. 

A Place for Your Tools 

When a loved one passes away, deciding what to do 

with the things they leave behind can be overwhelming for 

family and friends. 

Dave Quigley, a millwright and longtime union member 

who worked in Fort McMurray, had an assortment of 

precision millwright tools that he had collected over many 

years. When he passed away, his daughter, Dawn Quigley, 

generously donated the tools to the union, which are now on 

display in a growing collection of antique tools in the Regional 

Council building. 

“A lot of people don’t know what to do with these tools,” 

says Bob Hugh, who has been involved in the creation of the 

training trust fund meant to find a home for these items in the 

Regional Council’s display. “So if you have some tools lying 

around, or maybe your father’s or grandpa’s tools, you can 

donate them to the fund.” 

Add to the Archives 

You may have noticed a certain 

joiner’s bench in the ARCCAW 

headquarters in Edmonton. It was a 

donation from Bob Hugh, who hopes 

to encourage other members to add 

to the collection of carpentry and 

millwright antique tools on display. 

Talk to Len Bryden at the Provincial 

Training Centre (780-454-6699) or 

Bob Hugh at the Regional Council 

(780-430-1460) about tool donations. 

Guess the Tool 

Can you guess the name of these antique tools? 

(Answer on Page 8) 

HARDHAT WINTER 2011 7

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Pay It Forward 

When longtime 1325 member Alex Ciplak 

lost his wallet on the way to Edmonton from 

his scaffolding job in Fort McMurray, he didn’t 

expect to ever see it again. So when it was 

returned, all $800 intact, he was both shocked 

and moved. So much so that he wanted to 

give the money as a reward to the person 

who had returned it. When that person never 

came forward to claim the prize, he remained 

determined to share the generosity of that 

good deed. 

“It’s Christmastime soon – I’m thinking 

I’d like to help a poor family,” the 71-year-old 

was quoted saying in the Edmonton Sun in 

November. “Yes, my money is back – sure. But 

someone else can share it with their family.” 

His son Ray Turkhan wasn’t surprised by his 

father’s reaction. “He’s such a hard-working 

man… I think this is amazing for him to do.” 

Answer to 

“Guess the Tool” 

These are cooper braces, also known as barrelmaker 

braces, which would have been used to – you 

guessed it – make barrels. 

(From Page 7)

Geared Up 

TURN UP THE HEAT 

Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp. has 

developed a product that’s perfect 

for the Alberta construction 

worker, or anyone else who has 

to brave the brutally cold winter 

temperatures on the prairies. 

The 2330 M12 Cordless 

Heated Jacket brings the power 

of cordless technology to clothing. 

Powered by rechargeable 

red lithium batteries, it can 

be used for cold job site conditions, 

winter sports and other outdoor 

activities. 

The insulated soft shell jacket uses advanced cold weather 

technology to both warm the body and stimulate blood circulation, 

says the tool company. Loose-fitting and lightweight, it 

provides plenty of flexibility of movement and can be worn underneath 

heavier construction gear or reflective vests. 

Designed with three different heating zones, the jacket distributes 

warmth evenly to core body areas. Plus, it can be adjusted to 

three different heat settings with an easy touch control on the left 

upper front of the jacket. Both wind and water resistant, it’s suitable 

for a variety of harsh weather conditions. 

The battery delivers six hours of heat per charge and tucks conveniently 

with the charger into a zippered pocket on the backside 

of the jacket. 

Now available for purchase in Canada, it retails for $149 for the 

jacket alone or $199 for the jacket with a battery and charger. Both 

options are offered since those with Milwaukee M12 tools already 

in their tool kit can use their existing batteries. 

www.milwaukeetool.com 

GET A GRIP 

Bessey has taken its famous German-produced all-steel clamps 

and made them even better, enhancing the design to make them 

stronger and improving the clamping force. 

The Bessey 2400 Series welding clamp has three key features: 

a rail profile that has been optimized to enhance overall force 

by five per cent, a modified height-to-width ratio of the rail to 

By JIM VEENBAAS 

Tools to help you work better 

enhance clamping stability and greater 

rigidity that delivers 20 per cent more 

clamping force per spindle turn. Its patented 

Morpad is a key element in providing 

consistently high clamping pressures. 

With a larger jaw surface and long 

rail, the 2400 Series is ready for the 

toughest assignments day in and day 

out. When used on its side, the clamp applies consistent 

pressure over a wider area, making it possible to use 

fewer clamps on a project. The twist threads have also 

been deliberately oversized to allow more clamp movement 

with fewer turns. This clamp is most suited for welding 

and metalworking. For woodworking, check out Bessey’s 

malleable cast clamp series. Prices range from $139 for an 8inch 

welding clamp up to $300 for a 60-inch clamp. 

www.besseytools.com 

MULTI-TASKING MARVEL 

It might be small, but the Fein MultiMaster 

packs a powerful punch. With a wide 

array of possible attachments, the 

MultiMaster is excellent for sanding, 

universal cutting, segmented cutting, 

grinding, scraping, dust extraction, profile 

sanding and more. 

The first MultiMaster, which was introduced 

in 1986 by the German tool company, became a 

must-have almost overnight because of its unique oscillating 

motor that allows for extremely fine and delicate work. The 

latest version of the tool is powered by a 250-watt motor with 

electronic speed control and is better than ever because of 

improvements to the chuck. 

With older models and most competitors, accessories 

can only be changed with an Allen wrench. The MultiMaster 

has a new changing system – a tab at the back of the tool that 

lifts up, releasing the chuck. Once the new attachment is on, 

simply press the tab back into place and lock in the 

attachment. This makes it easy to use 

and saves a lot of time from having to 

change attachments. 

The MultiMaster is ideal for working 

on interior fittings, tile restoration, window 

restoration, floor coverings and 

furniture, but has 

virtually unlimited 

applications, and 

can easily handle 

repair work on cars 

and boats and even building models. 

Price is approximately $240 for a starter set, which 

includes accessories for sanding, scraping and sawing. 

www.multimaster.info 


A BRief View Of OuR uniOn 

Local Union Membership elects Executive 

Board (accountable to membership) 

• Membership considers and passes 

motions governing the Local Union at 

monthly meetings 

Executive Board responsibilities include, 

but are not limited to: 

• Oversight and management of Local 

Union affairs 

• Maintain and disclose to membership 

detailed and accurate financial records 

• Hold regular monthly meetings 

• Record and maintain minutes 

• President appoints committees 

• Executive Board appoints Trust Fund 

Trustees 

• Execute duly passed motions 

• Fully accountable to the general 

membership 

Local Union elects delegates to the 

Regional Council 

*Number of delegates based on local 

membership 

Delegates elect Regional Council Executive 

Board and Executive Secretary Treasurer 

• Delegates consider and pass motions 

governing the Regional Council at 

quarterly meetings 

DELEGATES (elected 2010) 

Bill Alton 1325 

Blaine Ball 1325 

Richard Bazak 1325 

Len Bryden 1325 

Dan Budd 1325 

Greg Budd 1325 

Richard Burton 1325 

Rob Carlson 1325 

Bob Cook 1325 

Mike Dunlop 1325 

Randy Dwernychuk 1325 

Dave Dwyer 1325 

Chester Fergusson 1325 

Todd Gartner 1325 

Doug Germaine 1325 

Bob Hardy 1325 

Michael Hert 1325 

Doug Hogan 1325 


Regional Council Executive Board responsibilities 

include, but are not limited to: 

• Oversight of Regional Council affairs 

• Authorize staff recruitment and final 

selection 

• Hold quarterly meetings 

• Maintain and disclose to delegates detailed 

and accurate financial records 

• Record and maintain minutes 

• Accountable to the delegate body 

of the Regional Council 

Executive Secretary Treasurer (EST) 

*EST is essentially the Chief Executive Officer 

of the Regional Council, with the accompanying 

responsibilities and the required authority, 

to execute those responsibilities. The EST 

is accountable to the Executive Board of the 

Regional Council and to the delegate body of 

the Regional Council. 

Responsibilities include, but are not 

limited to: 

• The general management of financial 

and business affairs 

• Management and negotiation of all 

contracts 

• Management of contract disputes 

• Grievance procedures 

• Recruit and hire all staff 

- Final approval by Executive 

Gord Hrycun 1325 

Dave Hunter 1325 

Terry James 1325 

Devin Jean-Louis 1325 

Ralph Jewitt 1325 

Martin Kenny 1325 

Renee Lapierre 1325 

Len Lopatynski 1325 

Jason Misener 1325 

Graham Payne 1325 

George Pekarchik 1325 

Martyn Piper 1325 

Wilf Pipke 1325 

Bob Provencher 1325 

Moe Rahime 1325 

Leah Redmond 1325 

Steve Rossignol 1325 

Derrick Schulte 1325 

Grover Sewell 1325 

Martin Smith 1325 

Greg Smith 1325 

Brandi Thorne 1325 

Dave Todd 1325 

Searle Turton 1325 

Perry Walsh 1325 

Greg White 1325 

Richard Winkenweder 1325 

Tom Debeljak 1460 

Hank Ell 1460 

Gord Evers 1460 

Bob Hugh 1460 

Dave Knight 1460 

Mike Lahti 1460 

Ted Remenda 1460 

Stephen Brazil 2103 

Hughie Bruce 2103 

Committee 

* All paid staff employed by Regional 

Council – Local Unions do not employ 

any paid staff 

• Appoints committees 

• Appoint professionals and consultants as 

required (lawyers, accountants, etc.) 

• Develop relationships with partner 

organizations 

• Develop relationships with government 

representatives and elected officials 

• Representative to the UBC General 

Executive Board 

• Report to the Regional Council Executive 

Board 

• Report to Regional Council Delegate 

Body 

• Ensure the management and execution 

of duly passed motions by the Delegate 

Body 

• The foregoing information 

represents a limited description of the 

governance of Local Unions and the 

Regional Council. Publications contain- 

ing the UBC Constitution and Alberta 

Regional Council Trade Rules and Bylaws 

should be consulted for further 

information. 

Constitution-Trade Rules-Bylaws 

Mike Cooper 2103 

Randy Eirich 2103 

Gary Loroff 2103 

Joe Maloney 2103 

April Parsons 2103 

Bruce Payne 2103 

Tim Virtanen 2103 

Sean Watkinson 2103 

Shane Whitmore 2103 

Paul Zarbatany 2103 

Joe Budac 2010 

Clint Kittle 2010 

Ed Lonsdale 2010 

Troy O’Hearn 2010 

Vince Pariseau 2010 

Bob Sawatzky 2010 

Bill Weireter 2010

Central 

District 

Local Union 1325 

Edmonton 

Construction 

EXECUTIVE BOARDS 

Southern 

District 

ALBERTA REGIONAL COUNCIL 

EXECUTIVE BOARD 

Bob Hugh, President 

Greg Budd, Vice-President 

Martyn Piper, Executive Secretary Treasurer 

Bob Arnestad, Trustee 

Gord Evers, Trustee 

Paul Zarbatany, Trustee 

Troy O’Hearn, Warden 

Shane Whitmore, Conductor 

Gary Loroff , Executive Committee Member 

Bill Alton, Executive Committee Member 

Robert Provencher, Executive Committee 

Member/Finance Chair 

LOCAL UNION 1460 MILLWRIGHTS 

David Knight, President 

Ted Remenda, Vice-President 

Neal Hugh, Recording Secretary 

Bob Hugh, Financial Secretary 

Gord Evers, Treasurer 

Philip (Wei) Yun, Conductor 

Tom Debeljak, Warden 

Hans Kruger, Trustee 

Kyle Middleton, Trustee 

Stephen Joy, Trustee 

UBC Organization Chart 

UBC International 

General Executive Board 

Eastern 

District 

Alberta Regional Council of Carpenters and Allied Workers 


Calgary 

Construction 

LOCAL UNION 2010 EXECUTIVE 

William Weireter, President 

Robert Sawatzky, Vice-President 

Vince Pariseau, Recording Secretary 

Bhajan (Ben) Kang, Financial Secretary 

Troy O’Hearn, Treasurer 

Edwin Lonsdale, Trustee 

Clint Kittle, Trustee 

Joseph Budac, Trustee 

Fabian Cherewko, Conductor 

Chris Robinson, Warden 

Leonia Vieira, Advisor 

Philip Banh, Advisor 

Renato Danzo, Advisor 

Laura Kuhl, Advisor 

Western 

District 

ALBERTA REGIONAL COUNCIL 

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 

Bob Hugh, President 

Greg Budd, Vice-President 

Martyn Piper, Executive Secretary Treasurer 

Gary Loroff , Executive Committee Member 

Bill Alton, Executive Committee Member 

Robert Provencher, Executive Committee 

Member/Finance Chair 


Province-Wide 

Industrial Shops 

Mid-Western 

District 


Greg Budd, President 

Derrick Schulte, Vice-President 

William Alton, Recording Secretary 

Robert Provencher, Treasurer 

Robbie Carlson, Financial Secretary 

Brandi Thorne, Conductor 

Dave Hunter, Warden 

Leonard Lopatynski, Trustee 

Searle Turton, Trustee 

Perry Walsh, Trustee 


Paul Zarbatany, President 

Shane Whitmore, Vice-President 

Joe Maloney, Recording Secretary 

Mike Cooper, Treasurer 

Gary Loroff , Financial Secretary 

Stephen Brazil, Trustee 

Rob Eirich, Trustee 

Mathew McLeod, Trustee 

Tim Virtanen, Warden 

Hughie Bruce, Conductor 

Canadian 

District 


Province-Wide 

Millwrights 

Alberta Regional Council of Carpenters and Allied Workers Delegate Body 

Alberta Regional Council of Carpenters and Allied Workers Executive Board 

Alberta Regional Council of Carpenters and Allied Workers Executive Committee 



GRAND OPENING: Ron Harry, executive director of the 

Building Trades of Alberta, centre, uses a blue light saber 

in the virtual ribbon cutting ceremony that offi cially opened 

the new Building Trades of Alberta Courage Centre on 

November 4, 2010

A new high-tech rehabilitation centre opens, 

thanks to the support of local trade unions 

By CAILYNN KLINGBEIL | Photography by BUFFY GOODMAN 

A futuristic ceremony complete with blue light sabers 

that cut a virtual ribbon officially opened the new Building 

Trades of Alberta Courage Centre at the Glenrose 

Rehabilitation Hospital in Edmonton last November. 

That sense of stepping into a scene from a science fiction film continued 

inside, as occupational therapists demonstrated the equipment 

and technology designed for the state-of-the-art rehabilitation centre. 

The Courage Centre is divided into four zones – robotics, virtual 

reality, simulation and learning – and includes a driving simulator, 

robotic walking device, and Nintendo Wii balance activity centre. The 

Courage Centre harnesses the potential of new technologies, allowing 

patients to overcome the challenges they face faster and return to their 

communities with greater independence. 

Ron Harry, executive director of the Building Trades of Alberta, 

described the opening of the centre as an exciting moment for everyone 

involved. “What this is about is helping Albertans to get back into their 

communities and into their lives, through rehabilitation,” said Harry. 

A true team effort led to the Building Trades of Alberta Charitable 

Foundation making a lead gift of $1 million to the Courage Centre. 

Additionally, five of the BTA’s affiliated unions made donations to 

the centre. The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers (Local 

146), the Alberta Regional Council of Carpenters and Allied Workers, 

the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters (Local Union 

488), and the Construction & General Workers (Local 92) each 

made a commitment of $500,000 to the centre, and the Sheet 

Metal Workers International (Local 8) donated $20,000. 

The Building Trades of Alberta Charitable Foundation 

was recently honoured for its generosity. The foundation 

received a 2010 National Philanthropy Day Award in the 

private foundation category, presented by the 

Edmonton Association ofFundraising 

Professionals in November. 


BIG GIFT: John Chomiak, chairperson of the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital 

Foundation board of trustees, left, recognizes the work and support of Martyn 

Piper and the Alberta Regional Council of Carpenters and Allied Workers. The 

organization donated $500,000, resulting in the creation of the cognitive 

learning zone at the Courage Centre 

MOVING FORWARD: A fl oor-based game system designed to 

increase agility in a patient’s feet was one of the many technologies 

demonstrated at the grand opening of the Courage Centre 


WELCOMING USERS: Mary O’Neill, pictured above, served as the 

master of ceremonies for the grand opening of the Courage Centre. 

O’Neill is the former executive director of the Glenrose Rehabilitation 

Hospital Foundation 

PLAY ON: A variety of games, such as the one pictured above, are used 

to encourage and maximize the eff ort of patients, while accompanying 

computers measure and quantify data to track progress and assist in 

the patient’s recovery

BIG STEPS: The Lokomat system, above, is a high-tech device with robotic 

attachments that help guide the movements of patients into a natural 

walking pattern. Below, occupational therapist Quentin Ranson watches 

a user trying the ArmeoSpring, a device designed for patients who are 

beginning to regain active movement of the arm and hand 

BUILDING COURAGE: The ReJoyce system, above, is a spring-loaded arm 

with special handles and attachments that the user twists, squeezes, and moves 

around in order to play custom-made video games. Below, Ron Harry accepts 

thanks on behalf of the Building Trades of Alberta Charitable Foundation from 

John Chomiak 


MANAGING 

YOUR MONEY 


By TRICIA RADISON 

8 tips for making the most out 

of your money, both today and 

as the economy improves 

From boom to bust and back again, Alberta’s economy is 

a rollercoaster for those who work in the construction 

industry. Since the North American economy came to 

a screeching halt in fall 2008, recovery has been slow and many 

people are living paycheque to paycheque; some are having difficulty 

meeting their financial obligations. There has never been a better 

time for Money Management 101. 

“Many of our members, like most of society, are only two or three 

paycheques away from total collapse or bankruptcy, or foreclosure,” 

says Len Bryden, director of training and apprenticeship, Alberta 

Carpenters Training Centre. 

Uncertainty about when the next job will come along can create 

a great deal of stress that spills into other areas of life. Financial 

planning can help, and it’s never too late to get started. Here are 

eight money management tips to help you make the best of good 

times and bad. 

1. Do your homework. Informing yourself about 

your options is the number one tip for managing your financial 

situation through lean years, says Steve Fedorchuk, vice-president of 

Retail Financial Services for the Calgary region with ATB Financial. 

Begin by understanding your existing pension plan and benefits. (See 

sidebar, Understanding Union Benefits.) Learn about basic financial 

planning strategies and tips, see what banking and credit options your 

financial institution offers, and look at what else is available. 

2. Find out where you stand. Depending on 

your unique needs, you may not be able to rely on your pension plan to 

cover your retirement needs. 

“It depends how much you can pack into that union plan, and how 

much you have left in RRSP room,” says Rob Enns, senior financial 

advisor with ATB Investor Services, discussing whether members need 

to make personal contributions to retirement savings. 

Enns advocates talking to a professional. “This is a great opportunity 

to consult with a financial advisor who can review your long-term needs 

and see if you’re actually putting away enough to meet your goals when 

you retire,” he says. 

Even if you’re covered by the ACAW Health and Wellness plan, you may 

also want additional insurance coverage. When money is tight, it can be 

challenging to take care of insurance needs, but you put yourself at risk of 

bigger problems down the road if you don’t have coverage in place. There 

are less expensive term policies that can be used until your financial 

situation improves enough to switch to permanent policies. 

3. Know your priorities. According to Scott 

Belamisca, branch manager and personal financial planner with 

Scotiabank in Edmonton, good financial management includes three 

main priorities: saving money for emergencies; investing for your 

retirement, your children’s education and other goals; and reducing debt. 

“While each customer’s situation is unique, it can still be possible to 

maintain a balance between these priorities [during challenging times],” 

says Belamisca. The key is to cut back on the amount of money going into 

each area but still ensure you’re making progress toward all three goals. 

If you’re uncertain about future employment, you don’t have to 

contribute equally to your priorities. “People may want to direct more of 

their monthly income toward emergency savings and to debt repayment 

and a little less to long-term investment for retirement savings, education 

planning, vacation planning or other big ticket items,” says Belamisca.

4. Know your budget. Nobody likes budgeting, but it is a 

fundamental financial tool that helps you make decisions about your spending. 

To budget, track how much money is coming in and how you’re spending it. Then 

identify your needs and wants so you know where you can lower your expenses. 

“In financially challenging times, it can be important to learn to live off 

of less, perhaps bringing your lunch to work, avoiding impulse spending on 

things like expensive coffees or paring down cable TV costs,” says Belamisca. 

Other ideas include not carrying balances on high interest credit cards, 

buying items on sale and generally living within your means. 

Budgeting tools can be found online (check out www.fcac-acfc.gc.ca, for 

instance). A financial advisor or personal banker can also assist you. 

5. Pay down debt if it makes sense to do 

so. It is critical to continue making your minimum payments on debt 

no matter what, but if you’re currently working and have extra cash flow, 

consider paying down high-interest debt more quickly. 

In most cases, you should only make lump sum payments on debt if you 

have sufficient emergency savings and relatively low uncertainty about 

your future financial situation. 

If money burns a hole in your pocket and you know you’re going to have 

a hard time saving extra cash, using the money to pay down debt can be a 

wise decision, as long as you’re not racking up more debt. 

6. Build your emergency savings. How much 

is enough when it comes to emergency savings? Many experts recommend 

stashing three months of living expenses away in case of job loss, disability or 

illness. Fedorchuk advocates a more personalized approach. 

“Map out a budget of your essential living expenses in a month,” he says. 

“Then determine how many months of basic living expenses you want in 

your savings account.” 

Some people will feel comfortable if they know they can survive three 

months without worrying about money; others will feel better if they know 

they have six or even 12 months of breathing room. 

7. Get help! “To avoid a situation where someone feels 

overwhelmed by debt, we encourage people to meet with their financial 

advisor as soon as possible to discuss their financial situation,” says 

Belamisca. This gives your advisor time to help you develop a solution. 

There are many options, such as restructuring a line of credit so you only have 

to pay the interest, or consolidating debt to lower your interest rate and adjust the 

amortization period so your payments are lower, that your personal banker or 

financial advisor may be able to help you with if you open up about your situation. 

“We have the ATB Great Escape, a plan that lets you skip up to two months of 

payment on conventional mortgages,” says Fedorchuk. The time it takes to pay 

the mortgage in full is extended by two payment periods. 

“It improves customer cash flow in the short term to help people 

get through difficult periods,” Fedorchuk explains. But, he adds, 

customers might not know they have the option unless they’ve 

consulted with a personal banker. 

8. Stick with your financial plan. 

Good money management should be part of your life regardless 

of the strength of the economy. “A lot of people are being forced to 

plan and deal with things today. When things do turn around, and 

they will, don’t forget the learnings and the value you got out of 

these tough times,” says Fedorchuk. 

As construction projects come online and your situation 

stabilizes, make it a point to get your financial house in order, 

paying down debt, establishing your emergency fund and saving 

for investments, retirement and education. It’s the best way to 

prepare for the next time the rollercoaster takes a bit of a dip. 

Understanding Union Benefits 

Members who complete pension application cards can be 

enrolled in the ACAW Pension Plan, which is funded by employer 

contributions. Pension benefits are based on the number of hours 

you work, and you must work a minimum of 225 hours in a plan 

year to earn any pension for that year. 

For ACAW health and wellness benefits, which include 

supplementary health care, dental, weekly disability and life 

insurance, you must complete a health and wellness application 

card. To be eligible, you must accumulate at least 300 hours into 

your hour bank over a period of no more than six consecutive 

months. In order to maintain eligibility, you have to maintain 120 

hours in your hour bank. 

You can, however, maintain eligibility for benefits during 

periods of unemployment or illness, or while on vacation, by 

making self-payments for up to six months. This can provide 

peace of mind between jobs. For more information, visit www. 

acawtrustfunds.ca. 

Additionally, members can access the Employee and Family 

Assistance Program, which provides counselling services. For 

details, visit www.humansolutions.ca or check the brochure or 

wallet card (available at union counters) for more information on 

the extent of services offered. 



B.C.-based Interpro Technical Services focuses 

on innovation and hiring union as it expands 

its operations in Alberta 

By LISA RICCIOTTI 

An innovative company is looking to ARCCAW 

workers to help deliver on its vision of providing 

expert field maintenance of steam and gas turbines. 

Interpro Technical Services, a B.C.-based 

service maintenance leader in industries such as oil refineries, 

power utilities, pulp and paper, and waste-to-energy, is hiring 

skilled unionized millwrights as it expands its operations 

in Alberta. 

Innovation usually begins when someone has a better idea, 

and that’s exactly how Interpro began. In 1987, founder Robert 

Goodrick decided he could do a better job servicing steam and 

gas turbines and generators than his employer by starting his 

own maintenance company. Having worked for a large original 

equipment manufacturer (OEM) as a millwright for many years, 

Goodrick knew much of the massive equipment inside out, and 

believed he could deliver more customer-friendly service by 

providing an option to OEM maintenance. 

“Big companies can be cumbersome to deal with,” explains 

Carey Healey, Interpro’s current president. “Robert knew every 

nuance of the units, and could often provide maintenance faster 

than the original manufacturers at competitive prices.” 

Today Goodrick has more free time to apply his mechanical 

technical genius to his hobby of tuning up hot-rod cars, but the 

founder remains involved in all technical sides of the business. 

And just as importantly, the new management team remains 

committed to continuing Goodrick’s original vision of expert, 

timely service. “That’s the legacy that we’re building on, with new ideas 

to energize our company,” says Healey. 

With its head office in Maple Ridge, Interpro first concentrated on 

maintenance at B.C. pulp and paper mills, as well as its power-producing 

and food-processing plants. It crossed the B.C. border in the early ’90s, 

and has worked on both pulp mill and refinery systems in Alberta, completing 

major maintenance overhauls on steam turbines for companies 

like Syncrude in the Fort McMurray region. Interpro plans to increase its 

presence in Alberta in both utility and oil refinery applications. 

For its Alberta projects, Interpro has continued its B.C. practice of 

hiring union workers, looking to ARCCAW for skilled millwrights. 

“Interpro’s union focus was partly born of necessity,” Healey notes. “In 

the beginning, most of our work was in pulp and paper mills, which were 

all union facilities. Then hiring union became part of our corporate philosophy 

and we kept that culture when we moved into Alberta.” 

Healey explains that working with steam turbines and generators is a 

very specific skill and not every millwright is experienced in that subspecialty. 

“Alberta’s union, however, has done a lot of work training members 

on steam turbines in its provincial training centre, so we know its 

members have good capabilities. That’s a huge benefit to Interpro. In our 

business it’s critical to have trained people who can come in and get the 

job done quickly. When one of these plants has to shut down for scheduled 

maintenance, it loses the opportunity to produce electricity, which 

can mean a significant revenue loss.” 

Interpro stays on top of its game by constantly looking for small efficiencies 

that can pay off big. “Our work is very customized. Doing little

things like changing a strainer in the steam path 

can increase efficiency by a small amount. But 

when that modest improvement yields enough 

electricity for a few hundred homes, what looks 

like a small gain is significant. Our innovative 

tech guys are very good at finding those efficiencies.” 

Healey also says Interpro is developing 

creative project management to minimize downtime 

for its clients. 

“Interpro’s staff is excellent at figuring out all 

the engineering, but we still rely on qualified millwrights 

to install our innovations. And Bob Hugh 

[ARCCAW’s senior business representative – 

Millwrights] is working closely with us to match 

the right union guys to our job needs.” 

Hugh is happy to do just that. “Interpro is a 

very dynamic company that’s looking to grow 

and expand in Alberta, especially in the oil and 

gas sector,” says Hugh. “We’re very excited 

about working with them. They’re first-class 

all the way, very big on safety and training, and 

well-respected for their quality work. They’re 

committed to using union workers, and we need 

to show we’re up to the job by delivering on time 

and on budget for this very deadline-driven 

company.” 

SPECIALIZED SKILLS: Alberta millwrights are lending their 

expertise to Interpro in maintaining and installing steam and 

gas turbines in utility and oil refi nery applications 



A Local 1325 member shares his experience 

working on an overseas LNG plant 

By FRASER TODD 

eplaning in Angola, the first thing that hits you 

is the heat and humidity, especially for a guy from 

northern Alberta. 

Angola, in West Africa, has had a very troubled history, 

only recently ending 27 years of civil war. Now, though, the 

country is doing its best to enter as a world leader in oil and 

gas and in fact has recently become the biggest oil producer 

in Africa. 

In November 2009, I was hired by Bechtel as an assistant 

scaffold superintendent on a 5.2-million-metric-ton-peryear 

liquefied natural gas project on Africa’s west coast. The 

Angola LNG, on the Congo River delta, is located 45 minutes 

by air from Luanda in the city of Soyo. It is a joint venture, 

owned by Angolan state-owned company Sonangol, 

Chevron, BP, ENI and Total. 

The logistics of the project are daunting, and challenges 

are many, including a complete lack of local infrastructure, 

a limited supply of local skilled workers and the need to 

reclaim most of the area the plant is being built on – not to 

mention the dangers associated with the local wildlife, such 

as pythons, cobras and malaria-bearing mosquitoes. 

The purpose of the plant is to capture natural gas and 

propane from offshore drilling activities; previously, these 

gases were reinjected into offshore reservoirs. The 

process entails cooling the vapours, which reduces 

their volume by 600 per cent and makes it possible 

to ship the liquid gases to markets throughout the 

world. 

Initial dredging and land reclamation was started 

in the first quarter of 2008. Project completion is 

scheduled for the first quarter of 2012, and is looking 

good both budget- and schedule-wise. The project is 

huge, with the plant site 1.8 by 1.0 kilometres – about 

equivalent to the original Shell Scotford or Syncrude 

Canada sites in area. 

Currently 7,500-plus workers are employed from 

43 different countries. Many of these are Angolans, 

as the project has made a commitment to employ 

and train as many nationals as possible. Training is done at the Kitona 

Training Centre, located a short distance from the site. Kitona was built 

as part of the project and is a completely self-sufficient facility, with 

camp, classroom and workshop areas. Trade instruction is given in 

several disciplines, covering both classroom and practical training. 

Graduates are integrated in to the site workforce, with some returning 

for further training as they progress in their chosen craft. The balance 

of the craft workers are largely Filipino and Indian, with most of the 

ANGOLA LNG: View of the plant site with 

the tool crib in the foreground

OFFSHORE ACTIVITY: View of the harbour, 

with the liquefi ed natural gas jetty 

SUPER STACK: Fraser Todd (left) with three general foremen 

standing in front of a 140-metre-high stack that will be assembled 

on the ground and then fl own up to where it’s needed 

supervisory staff 

being American and 

British, with some 

Australians, New 

Zealanders and 

Canadians. 

After a lengthy 

paperwork process, 

I arrived in March 

2010 to take on my 

role as assistant 

scaffold superintendent. 

I am working 

with two Americans, 

both of whom have a lot of international experience. 

We do everything the same position would entail at home but 

spend a lot more time in the field, directly supporting the field 

supervision, largely because the language differences lead to occasional 

miscommunications. 

One of the biggest challenges is that everything comes in by 

ship, with a four- to six- month delivery time, so preplanning is 

essential for all supplies and equipment from personal protective 

equipment, rope and buckets to saw blades and extension cords. 

Of course, all our scaffold equipment also comes by ship, in 

seacans. 

Everyone here is great to deal with, and has made me, as a newcomer, 

feel welcomed and at home. I have found the Australians 

and New Zealanders to be especially welcoming, much like us 

Canadians. 

The working language on site is English, and the craft supervision 

must all have a working knowledge of it. The other main 

languages are Tagalong, Hindi and Portuguese, which is Angola’s 

main language. 

Initially, I was worried about how the job would be run safetywise 

despite what I was told before getting on site. But, happily, 

this job is almost interchangeable with any megaproject at home 

from a loss management point of view. Bechtel’s commitment, as 

the prime contractor, to an accident- and injury-free job site is no 

different than any other major player in the industry. 

In fact, there are some practices I’ve never encountered before, 

such as a general lunch meeting every Saturday with all craft general 

foremen. The purpose of this is to review any safety concerns, 

discuss any incidents and share information in general. 

Pre-job training includes a general orientation, fall protection, 

confined space, and so on – in other words, pretty much 

exactly the same training you would receive anywhere in Alberta. 

Performing high-risk activities, such as confined space entries, 

follows a procedure almost identical to what you would do in a 

“greenfield” construction site in Alberta. 

We currently have about 230 scaffolders, of which approximately 

80 are Angolan. The manpower forecast is to increase that 

to 350 at peak. One of the hiring prerequisites for non-Angolan 

workers (or other country nationals, OCN for short) is a minimum 

of five years of overseas experience working in their trade. 

Our scaffolders’ resumés are actually quite impressive; most have 

worked throughout the Middle East as well as in Asia. Their competency 

is, for the most part, high, as is their work ethic. We follow 

OSHA scaffold standards here, which is more or less the American 

equivalent to OH&S. This makes sense, when you consider the 

Bechtel home office is in the U.S. 

The single biggest difference that I have found is that, although 

our scaffold supplier is At-Pac, and we mostly use a ring-style system, 

the tube is all steel, and the clamps are bolt, not wedge. The 

crews have no problem with this, as it’s what they grew up using 

and are accustomed to it. This being the case, they are quite quick 

at erecting and dismantling with them. We also have a system 

similar to Waco, which is simple and fairly fast to use, although not 

quite as versatile as the Allround style. 

Day-to-day life on the site brings more comparisons to back 

home. When a new worker signs on, he is issued a pair of boots and 

three sets of work clothes. These are replaced as needed throughout 

the job. 

For the locals, breakfast is delivered to the site. The rest of the 

workforce eats in camp. Then the day starts the same way as at 


home, with a Tool Box Talk. It does last a bit 

longer here, in order to translate the subjects 

into Tagalong, Hindi and Portuguese, ensuring 

everyone understands the safety messages. 

Pre-job hazard assessments (STARRT 

cards) are done at the beginning of shift, and 

are reviewed right after lunch. This is called 

a ReSTARRT. Lunch is served in several tents 

across the site, with wash cars located beside 

them to promote hygiene. 

The camp is capable of housing 6,500 workers, 

and fully self-sufficient, with its own water 

and sewage treatment and power supply. The 

Medical Centre is staffed by three doctors, who 

are assisted by a complete support staff, including 

eight nurses, a lab technician and a radiologist. 

My room is about 10x14 feet, with a shared 

toilet and shower, fridge, sink, satellite TV and 

a secure locker. Each room has an air conditioner, 

a necessity here. 

Four different kitchens feed the camp residents. 

The one you go to depends on which 

bunkhouse you live in. The food is, I am sorry 

to say, much like camp food anywhere. We do 

have HP, A1 and Tabasco sauces though, which 

I have learned is the best way to deal with that. 

There are four large rec centres, with satellite 

TVs, ping pong, pool and foosball tables. 

Each one has a bar, but only beer is served. Hard 

alcohol is not allowed anywhere. There are also 

four gyms, all identical, which are quite well 

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HIDDEN HAZARD: Workers need to watch for 

pythons when moving palettes 

equipped, and there are soccer fields as well as 

tennis and basketball courts. Cricket is also popular, 

and a real rivalry is springing up between 

several teams. Despite the heat and humidity, 

organized cricket and basketball leagues play 

every night and on Sundays. Other recreation 

activities include cook-offs, and supervised trips 

to town or the beach. One group is helping at a 

local orphanage and mission. 

I am really excited to be a part of this project, 

getting to see an entirely different part of 

the world, as well as meeting new people from 

so many different countries and cultures. 

Of course, I do miss Alberta, but when I read 

about the last snowfall, maybe only a little. 

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000H.CentreR&C_1-2H.indd 1 1/13/11 4:11:52 PM

WORLD-CLASS 

TRAINING 

The Alberta Carpenters Training Centre provides instruction for 

thousands of UBC members at its Edmonton, Calgary and Fort 

McMurray locations. Courses range from apprenticeship programs in 

carpentry and scaffolding to fall protection and basic first aid training. 

Check out the online schedule at www.abcarptc.ab.ca. 


KidZone 

More than 500 people attended the 1325 Children’s 

Christmas Party at the Italian Cultural Centre in Edmonton. 

Children enjoyed balloon-making, creepy-crawly insects, a 

magic show, face-painting and, of course, gifts from Santa. 

Thanks to all of the volunteers for helping make 

the Christmas party a highlight of the holiday season. 


Children’s Christmas Parties

The 3rd Annual Millwrights Children’s Christmas Party was a huge success, 

with 180 parents, grandparents and children in attendance. Santa handed out gifts 

and took the time to talk to each of the children. Once again there was a balloon 

artist, face-painting and an interactive magic show. Special thanks to Jeannelle 

and Dave for setting up and organizing the event. Also, thanks to Stephen Joy 

and family, Dave Robinson and family and Howard Robinson and family for all 

your assistance in making our Children’s Christmas Party a success. 

Santa put a smile on many faces at the 

Local 2103 Children’s Christmas Party, 

held at the Carpenters Union Hall in 

Calgary. Face-painting was one of the 

highlights of the event. Thanks to everyone 

who volunteered for their efforts in 

making the party a huge success. 


ALBERTA AND NORTHWEST 

TERRITORIES 

(DISTRICT OF MACKENZIE) 

REGIONAL COUNCIL OF CARPENTERS 

AND ALLIED WORKERS 

UNION EDUCATION 

INSTRUCTOR 

The Alberta Regional Council of 

Carpenters and Allied Workers 

(ARCCAW) is seeking a qualified 

professional to develop and instruct 

orientation and union education 

programs to both prospective and 

current UBC members in the 

province of Alberta. 

The successful candidate will 

have had experience in the development 

of education programs, proven 

teaching capability and be able 

to work with a computer and 

all the relevant software from 

which to develop new courses 

and adapt existing programs as 

required. Good interpersonal skills, 

charisma, and a proven capability to 

market the union is essential to this 

position. 

The successful candidate will 

require a valid Alberta driver’s 

license and reliable transportation, 

as well as the ability to work away 

from home, after hours and weekends 

for extended periods. This 

is a salaried position and overtime 

is not part of the compensation 

package. 

Please forward resumé by mail 

to: 

Martyn A. Piper 

Executive Secretary Treasurer 

Regional Council of Carpenters 

& Allied Workers 

#200, 15210 – 123rd Avenue 

Edmonton, Alberta 

T5V 0A3 

Closing date: March 25, 2011 


Training and Apprenticeship Report 

Training Ramps Up 

in 2011 

As 2010 ends and 2011 begins, we here at the 

ACTC always take some time to look back 

on what has been achieved up to this point, 

and to set some new goals for the new year. Calgary, 

Edmonton and Fort McMurray all show great attendance 

in our various classes, and utilization of our 

facilities is high. As some of the larger projects come 

to completion, more members always want to access 

training while they are between jobs, and that makes 

good sense. 

Our UBC 40-hour Hoisting and Rigging 

Certification classes are going well, with nearly 100 

members trained in Alberta in our shops in 2010. 

One of my goals is to integrate this training, as well 

as a one-day UBC Foreman Training class (skillfully 

developed with the help of our brother Millwrights 

Len J. Bryden training department), directly into our scaffold 

Director of Training and Apprenticeship training program. This may lengthen our class time, 

Alberta Carpenters Training Centre but the benefits to this membership will be felt for 

years to come. 

I continue to see more new members show interest in starting 

and completing their Carpenter apprenticeship, and our 

Accredited Period One and Period Two classes in Edmonton are 

helping to push this important agenda for more indentured and 

trained Carpenter apprentices. 

I welcome with great enthusiasm a new contractor partner, 

KHS&S Drywall, currently working on the Edmonton 

International Airport expansion. This partnership has given us 

an opportunity to seriously ramp up training programs for the 

ISM/Drywall sector, and as of December 2010 we are planning, 

setting up and developing with the assistance of our International 

Training Centre, a series of training programs targeting this specific 

industry and the types of work that must be done. Our goal 

is to ensure our contractors receive the best trained, best skilled 

workers with the best attitude that we can possibly provide. We 

want to help all of our partner contractors to be successful, safe 

and profitable, meaning more work for our members. 

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season, and wish 

everyone the best of prosperity and safety into 2011.

REPORT Local 1460 Millwrights 

Reality Check 

Members have approached me 

recently with one basic question and 

a very hopeful look in their eyes. 

The question is, “How much can we get in the 

new contract?” 

Based on more than 25 years of negotiating 

for our union in this province, my answer 

tends toward extreme caution about getting 

our hopes up. To be honest, my gut feel is that 

we may even be looking at a wage freeze, possibly 

with some compensating factors. 

To fully understand what we’re headed into 

this year, it’s important to remember what 

construction economic conditions were like 

when we signed our last contract in 2007. 

With many upgrader projects on the way 

or being planned, and an amazing amount of 

expansion and new projects taking place or 

planned in Fort McMurray, the industry was 

simply, unbelievably… crazy with action! 

Contractors were worried about a worker 

shortage. Everyone was talking temporary 

foreign workers. Unions were focused on 

importing members from other provinces and 

the United States. 

With up to $200 billion worth of construction 

work in process or on the books, Alberta’s 

unions had the people that our clients so desperately 

needed. 

Bob Hugh, Senior Business 

Representative - Millwrights 

As a result, we signed perhaps the best contract our union had ever 

seen. The contract gave us 6.5 per cent in 2009 and another 5.0 per cent 

in 2010. All told, the four-year contract gave us a 24.43 per cent boost in 

total package! 

I think that, perhaps, we hurt ourselves (and our clients) with our 

own success last time, because after oil prices crashed and all those 

projects were put on hold or cancelled, owners of the projects that did 

move ahead became far more bottom-line oriented. 

With their recent cost overrun experience, and worried shareholders 

breathing down their necks, owners forced contractors to drop prices if 

they wanted work. 

Continuing growth of Merit, CLAC and non-union forces meant that 

union employers saw ever-increasing, incredibly stiff competition in the 

bidding wars that resulted. 

Over the last year or so, our contractors have been losing far too 

many of those bidding wars. Jim Petterson of Midwest Constructors, 

a company we’re proud to be partners with, tells me that his non-union 

competitors have consistently been winning bids by an eight per cent 

margin. 

No one expects that we’re going to be asked to roll back by eight per 

cent – no one expects a cut at all. 

But with 2011 expected to be as much as 30 per cent slower than 2010, 

and things not expected to pick up for millwrighting until later in 2012, 

we may have to accept a wage freeze to enable our employers to win 

back some of the market share they’ve lost in the last 18 months. 

I also think this round of contract talks could produce some creative 

new options that may result in our employers winning more work for us, 

without us giving up too much. 

I will keep you informed as negotiations progress. 



Parting Shot 

Bridging 

the Divide 

Just over a century ago, construction began on the High Level Bridge, a massive steel truss 

multi-function bridge that spans the North Saskatchewan River, linking Edmonton’s south 

side with 109th Street downtown. Built between 1910 and 1913, the steel superstructure features 

two decks 20 feet apart and was unique for its original combination of four modes of 

transportation – rail, streetcar, automobile and pedestrian. With a total of 28 spans, it is set on 

a combination of concrete piers and steel legs that includes two truss types for the superstructure. 

It is 2,550 feet long and sits 156 feet above the water.

In Memoriam 

ARCCAW notes with sorrow the 

passing of the following members. 

LOCAL 1325 

Pierre Audette 

November 2010, Age 54 

Scott Brown 

October 2010, Age 20 

Brian Chikowski 


Barry Duddy 


Ian Jessome 

November 2010, Age 50 

Kenneth Kuhn 

December 2010, Age 60 

Peter MacDonald 

June 2010, Age 63 

Philip Morrison 


Brent Porter 

September 2010, Age 29 

Dan Menigoz 

December 2010 Age 54 

Jens Nielsen 

June 2010, Age 94 

Billy Joe Noseworthy 

July 2010, Age 29 

LOCAL 1460 

Alexander Birrell 


Gerald Eberle 


John Smythe 


LOCAL 2103 

Ken Hewitt 


UPCOMING 

Training + Events 

Meetings 

First Wednesday of each month: 

Local 1325 meeting 

Third Thursday of each month: 


Fourth Tuesday of each month: 


Training 

Alberta Carpenters Training Centre 

The following is a sampling of training courses that 

are open for registration at the time of publication 

of this edition of Hard Hat. For full listings or more 

information on training courses, visit www.abcarptc. 

ab.ca or phone the Edmonton offi ce: 780-455-6532 or 

toll-free 1-877-455-6532. 

Edmonton 

OSSA Fall Protection: February 15, February 25, 

March 1 

OSSA Confi ned Space: February 19, March 5, 

March 19 

H2S Alive (Enform Certifi ed): February 20, 

March 6 

Period 2 Carpentry: May 30 to July 22 

Standard First Aid & CPR: June 4 to June 5 

Calgary 

Industrial Technical Training: April 4 to 17 

Pre-employment Carpentry Program: May 24 to 

July 15 

Millwrights Training Centre 

Visit www.albertamillwrights.com for a current listing 

of training courses available. 


Alberta Carpenters Training Centre 

L A S E MEMBER R V I S I O N SAVINGS 

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Uniting ARCCAW members across Alberta and the Northwest

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