The Construction Record Podcast: Episode 54 – Building expenses, the digital city, women and the skilled trades, and Infrastructure Ontario

This week on the Construction Record Podcast, Journal of Commerce staff writer Russell Hixson and digital media editor Warren Frey take a look at a recent survey that ranked Vancouver as the most expensive city in Canada for building expenses, as well as the 14^th most expensive city at a global level.

Daily Commercial News and Journal of Commerce national managing editor Vince Versace also has a segment where he looks into changes at Infrastructure Ontario and reaction from the Ontario construction industry to those changes, particularly the Ontario General Contractors Association. Vince also speaks to an upcoming podcast award on the Construction Junkie site and our plan to nominate this very podcast! Stay tuned for more information on that in weeks to come.

Warren also has an interview with Skills Canada director of programs Michelle Skelley about the Trade and Technology Conference for Women, held concurrently with the Skills Canada competition in Abbotsford, B.C. The conference gives high-school aged women a chance to talk to mentors from a spectrum of skilled trades in an inclusive environment. We also have an interview with Matthew Claudel, the head of civic innovation at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Design X office. Claudel spoke recently at Buildex Vancouver about the potential social pitfalls when applying digital innovation to the urban landscape.

Health and Safety Focus in IO procurement changes a concern: Industry

Architecture expert points to new consideration of the digital city

Women entering trades a Skills Canada conference focus

Vancouver tops Canada in Construction costs