Construction 101 in Canada

Construction 101 in Canada is an essential two-day course, or 4 half days, for those working in an office, field office or providing support services in both the construction and design sectors who may be new or recently introduced to industrial, commercial, institutional and civil construction (ICI+C) In Canada.
Understanding how the modern ICI+C construction industry works including project team hierarchy and varying project delivery methods, who is responsible for what, when, and why decisions are made in a project development lifecycle is critical to career success in all sectors of the industry.
Designed for attendees to confidently step into any project environment and understand how preconstruction tasks are intertwined with modern project delivery methods, and how the project site is organized to deliver on the project to completion.

Construction 101 in Canada defines and clarifies industry best practices and follows the full project lifecycle arming attendees with practical tools they can use.

Learning outcomes:

• Gain an understanding of project decision making hierarchy, the roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder;
• Understand various project delivery methods used in Canada;
• Develop an understanding of preconstruction activities, construction activities, and overall project maturity from project initiation to project completion;
• Gain a basic understanding of regulations including Building Codes, Health and Safety and Provincial Construction Acts
• Gain knowledge of the construction association support network for practitioners;
• Gain a basic understanding of procurement and tendering processes;
• Understand standard construction contract types;
• Participate in and learn from various scenarios found in everyday construction related issues; 
• Understand project close-out and what constitutes ready for takeover.

Individuals working in or moving into management, coordination, administration, or consulting roles within the ICI and Civil construction industry.

• Project managers or coordinators; contractor, consultant or owner representatives
• Field supervisors and site staff including those tending Superintendents
• Consultants; architects, engineers, estimators, and contract administrators
• Administrative and operations support staff
• Owner/Developer representatives and public-sector staff
• Vendors, suppliers, and service providers including lawyers, commercial realtors, insurance and bonding professionals
• Contractors, consultants and real estate professionals new to Canada

This is not a construction industry trades focused course. It’s designed for those who administer, support and contribute to the process of construction and want to understand the full picture of how all the stakeholders, processes, and decisions come together to get an ICI+C project built.

Derek Smith, President/Lead Facilitator - Constructionlab

Derek Smith spent 15 years of his career in construction boots on-site and behind the drawing board and CADD equipment honing his craft; drafting and designing buildings.  As part of the pioneering generation shifting the production of construction drawings and contract documents from the drawing board to digital format, Derek was engaged to work on some of Canada's most recognizable retail and commercial building projects from Newfoundland to Victoria.   His roles have included prime consultant, job captain/owners' project manager for Chrysler Canada, and design firm principal for over $400 million in built work.  Along the way, Derek honed his teaching and facilitating skills at St. Clair College in Windsor Ontario as an adjunct professor in the Architectural Technology and Interior Design diploma and undergraduate degree programs.  Derek served a 2 year term on the Donald J. Smith School of Building Technology Program Advisory Committee at Fanshawe College in London ON between 2009 and 2011

In 2007, Derek shifted his career path by taking the helm at the mixed trade London & District Construction Association where he assisted unionized signatory contractors, and open shop contractors with day-to day challenges they faced in performance and outcomes of projects.  In 2010, Derek assisted in bargaining OLRB board area 3 unionized employers to a strike free round, bargaining multiple collective agreements that avoided work interruptions in the ICI construction sector.

Derek is the principal of Constructionlab Ltd., and serves as the Executive Director of the Walls and Ceilings Association Ottawa (WACCA).  His duties include assisting employer’s signatory to OLRB board area 15 ICI and residential agreements and navigating legislation, building code changes and more.  WACCA is an accredited ErBA for the region. 

Since 2013, Derek has worked with over 12,500 attendees in his workshops, developed over 15  general and topic specific industry courses and workshops and co-created with the Ontario Construction Secretariat, Canada’s only Fundamentals of Construction Labour Relations course recognized by McMaster University.   Derek maintains a BCIN and limited license in architectural consulting and is a regular speaker/contributor at The Buildings Show held each year in Toronto.