• Award of Excellence in Green Building – UBCO Geo Exchange Control Building
• Award of Excellence in Recreational Building – Copper Sky Amenties Building
• Award of Excellence in Institutional Building – UBCO Purcell Student Residence
• Award of Merit in Institutional Building – Shannon Lake Elementary School

Sawchuk recently completed large concrete projects in Kamloops and Prince George.  We are well on our way in construction of the new Mission Park Office Complex, which will be the new home of KPMG, and the new Salmon Arm Savings and Credit Union.

The District of Coldstream has contracted us to complete their new 3200 sqare foot Maintenance facility, which will feature 3 full truck bays, a 5 ton overhead crane, mechanics pit and wash bay.

Sawchuk is also busy at the Vernon Cadet Camp where we have three renovation projects underway for the Department of Defence.

Sawchuk is the General Contractor for the ‘Willowbridge’ project at Pandosy St. and Harvey Ave.  This project is being built to the LEED Gold standard.  Kevin Imthorn, our Project Manager for Willowbridge, has successfully completed his LEED “Accredited Professional” certification – Congratulations Kevin.  The successful completion of this high profile project to the LEED standard will provide Sawchuk with valuable knowledge and experience that we can leverage into the future.

What is safety?  It is freedom from danger.  It involves putting thought into action, creating orderliness, using knowledge, and exercising caution.  It is a personal commitment to looking out for your health and well-being as well as that of those around you.  Accidents don’t just happen; they are caused.  If we work on eliminating the causes, we can eliminate the accidents.

Make the “right” choice! Don’t take shortcuts! Follow the safety procedures for that task, at home, at work, and everyday activities.

Building standards are changing to improve the air quality for constructors and end users. For example, you’ve probably heard the term “low VOCs”.  What does that mean? Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects. Concentrations of many VOCs are consistently higher indoors (up to ten times higher) than outdoors.  VOCs are emitted by a wide array of products numbering in the thousands. Examples include: paints and lacquers, paint strippers, cleaning supplies, pesticides, building materials and furnishings and other substances and materials.  New methods of construction, along with different choices of products, are aimed at reducing the harm caused by VOCs. Google LEED or Built Green for more info on the changes that will impact how we will build, finish, and furnish in the future.

The Canadian Apprenticeship Forum’s (CAF) 2004 report, Accessing and Completing Apprenticeship Training in Canada, identified nine perceived barriers to apprenticeship training in Canada, with negative attitudes to apprenticeship and a poor image of the skilled trades topping the list. In 2005, CAF-FCA undertook a national campaign to promote careers in skilled trades. While post-campaign feedback indicated greater likelihood among youth to enter a trade, parents remained unconvinced.

Apprenticeship training touches every aspect of our lives. It’s an established form of post-secondary education that allows apprentices to earn while they learn and leads to a wide range of careers offering respect, opportunity and good pay.

Changing attitudes takes time, however, and parents play a crucial role in dispelling the common myths about careers in the skilled trades:

Myth: Skilled trades are not for students with good grades.

Reality: Skilled trades require a strong academic foundation. Like university, entering an apprenticeship requires a high school diploma and completion takes intelligence, dedication, and hard work.

Myth: Skilled trades’ jobs are a dead-end.

Reality: Apprenticeship training offers a path to careers, with many chances for advancement: from job specialization, to supervisory and management positions, to business ownership. Like any career path, it’s all up to each individual’s capability and desire.

Myth: Skilled trades don’t pay well.

Reality: Tradespeople earn above average incomes, and often complete their studies without debt. Recent CAF research indicated that Canadian apprentices completing their first year of in-school training expected to earn an average annual income of $52,000 to $55,000 on graduation. Compare this to college and university under-graduates who reported an average of $42,250 annually, and graduates who averaged $45,400 annually.

Statistics Canada’s 2007 National Apprenticeship Survey Overview Report also indicates good employment outcomes with almost 75 per cent of those who completed apprenticeships reporting a higher annual income than the Canadian median, and 40 per cent reporting annual earnings of $60,000 or more.