Manitoba Heavy Construction Association

C M Y K 4 SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2021 A SUPPLEMENT TO THE WINNIPEG FREE PRESS F or those looking to break into good-paying jobs with lots of room for advancement, Dave Choken has a suggestion for you: come to heavy construction. The supervisor with Bituminex Paving's underground division is always looking for the next potential hire. "A lot of people can make good money, knowing this industry," Choken, 40, says. "We're in need for more skilled labour." Choken, originally from Lake Manitoba First Nation, says that when speaking to people who work in other industries, he lets them know the opportunities for careers in heavy construction. "We pay much better and typically work all year 'round." Choken says there's a general lack of awareness about what the industry offers for starting labourers and especially for those looking to learn and advance, in increasing levels of responsibility and salary. The industry has to get better at selling itself, particularly to people in under-represented groups – newcomers, women, Indigenous and the likes, says Nicole Chabot, Vice-president of L. Chabot Enterprises and Board Chair of the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association. "You can't be what you can't see," Chabot says. "It's a good career and I don't think we (the industry) champion that enough." Chabot says her company has had success, almost organically – Indigenous and newcomer employees encouraged friends and family to apply. Like many companies, Chabot Enterprises is working to attract more women to join the industry. "I am not the first Indigenous woman to make this industry my home, but I recognize there are too few of "me" and too few from diverse communities working in heavy construction." Choken's example shows it is active, deliberate recruitment that pays off – approaching individuals with a pitch that is attractive and welcoming, showing people there is a place for them in the industry and specific worksites. "We're starting our labourers out at around $20 an hour. We work all year, at job sites around the city." Pay was the draw for Mike Houle, an excavator operator on Choken's crew. But Houle, from Ebb and Flow First Nation, says he likes the camaraderie of the crew and the challenges of operating a piece of heavy equipment around worksites where there are ever-present hazards. "I enjoy going to work. Every day there are new obstacles" to master, he says. Retention is an issue industry-wide, largely because the work is demanding. Colleen Munro, a past Chair of MHCA's Board and owner of the Munro Group, says it pays when recruiting within a community to do pre-employment preparation work and to have community members, such as "A lot of people can make good money, knowing this industry. We're in need for more skilled labour." — Dave Choken "I enjoy going to work. Every day there are new obstacles (to master)." — Mike Houle "I love the independence that Munro gives me. They're asking me what I want to do next, to grow with the company." — Samantha Line "I like concrete finishing. I like the design (element). I love it." — Tewodrose Mengistu "Everybody in this business has had mentors. New hires need a mentor from your crew." — Colleen Munro "My crew is one of the best in the company right now." — Abdul Navid Abdul Baqi An industry open, ready for all Phil Hossack Photo Phil Hossack Photo MHCA Photo MHCA Photo

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