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TRANSCRIPT
LA MALBAIE, March 7, 2013- The Canadian Construc-
tion Association (CCA) is pleased to announce that Frank
Rizzardo has been installed as the 2013 chair of its Board
of Directors. Mr. Rizzardo was sworn in at the annual gen-
eral meeting (AGM) on Thursday March 7, 2013, in La
Malbaie, Quebec. He takes over the position from John
Schubert, president of McCaine Electric and vice-president
of business development for the Canem Group.
“I am honoured to be following in the footsteps of so many
great leaders, and I only hope to serve in this position with
the same grace and professionalism as my predecessors,”
said Mr. Rizzardo in his address to the CCA AGM.
Mr. Rizzardo first became involved with CCA in 1998 as a provincial vice-chair. He joined
the CCA board in 2001 and has since served as first and second national vice-chair, honorary
secretary, treasurer. In addition to his time with the executive committee, Mr. Rizzardo has
been actively involved in many of CCA’s councils and committees, and he has served as chair
of the CCA Civil Infrastructure Committee.
Mr. Rizzardo currently serves as president and general manager of Emcon Services, a Merritt,
BC-based maintenance, paving, construction and equipment rental company which has been
serving the Western Canadian market since 1988. Mr. Rizzardo has been very active in a
number of other associations, including the Transportation Association of Canada as well as
the Western Canada Roadbuilders and Heavy Construction Association and the BC Road
Builders & Heavy Construction Association, where he also served as chair. Internationally he
has been a Canadian designate to the technical committees of the World Road Association
(PIARC) for the past 13 years, currently serving on the Winter Service Committee.
Despite a busy schedule, Mr. Rizzardo still finds time to support his local community, includ-
ing the local Rotary International Service Organization, Knights of Columbus, the local
Chamber of Commerce and Centennials hockey team.
“We are in the middle of a transformative time for construction in Canada. Quite simply, there
are many challenges ahead of us. But with those challenges come great new opportunities,”
described Mr. Rizzardo in his address. “The projected investments in construction, the amount
of work that will be required, and the changing expectations of owners are all bringing these
challenges forward. Many of these challenges are not new, nor are they unique to our indus-
try. But as a national association, we can help find industry-based solutions for our future suc-
cess.”
Frank Rizzardo Appointed as 2013 CCA Chair of the Board of Directors
New building at Duke Point
3
Mt. Washington roads
6
Company tidbits 7
Winter Driving Awareness
9
Meet our operators
11 15
Bridge crews kept busy
13
New equipment on the move
17
Inside this issue:
The Link
Spring 2013Spring 2013Spring 2013Spring 2013
Volume 8, Issue 4Volume 8, Issue 4Volume 8, Issue 4Volume 8, Issue 4
Emcon Services Inc.Emcon Services Inc.Emcon Services Inc.Emcon Services Inc.
North Island North Island North Island North Island
bridge crew bridge crew bridge crew bridge crew
work onwork onwork onwork on
CMC project CMC project CMC project CMC project
following following following following
an accident and an accident and an accident and an accident and
damage damage damage damage
to Nimpkish to Nimpkish to Nimpkish to Nimpkish
bridgebridgebridgebridge
Page 2
(L to R) Ron Hart (Road Foreman—Port Hardy)
Paul Laughlin (Bridge lead hand-Area 3)
Nasch Aguiar (Bridge Manager Land Div.)
Mitch Jensen (TJ bridge worker-Area 3)
Work underway on the new building at Duke Point in NanaimoWork underway on the new building at Duke Point in NanaimoWork underway on the new building at Duke Point in NanaimoWork underway on the new building at Duke Point in Nanaimo
Al McGregor with the
foundation permit in hand.
This will be the fifth building
Al has built for us.
Page 3 Spring 2013
Crews busy at work on the foun-
dation of the new building.
The rough in for the plumbing and
electrical has been completed for
the under slab portion.
Some of the steel sections have
been assembled in anticipation of
the building permit arriving next
week.
Jody Henshaw, a native of Grand Forks, has a Bachelor Degree in Natural Resource Science and 8 years of previous experience in Forest Management. Jody is excited about joining Emcon and our industry, and the opportunities it provides. Please join me in welcoming Jody. We all need to assist in making her employment with Emcon a huge success.
Crews busy antiCrews busy antiCrews busy antiCrews busy anti----icing in theicing in theicing in theicing in the
Trail / Castlegar / Fruitvale areaTrail / Castlegar / Fruitvale areaTrail / Castlegar / Fruitvale areaTrail / Castlegar / Fruitvale area
New
QA Trainee
has been hired for Service
Area 9
Jody Henshaw
Page 4
New
Road Foreman 1
in Area 2
Dean Archibald
Dean Archibald was awarded the position as RF1 last September following the retirement of Chris McColl. Dean has many years experience beginning his career in Road Maintenance in 1979. We welcome Dean to this position and appreciate his enthusiasm and hard work.
New
Mechanical
Superintendent
in Merritt
Norm Porterfield
Norm, a native of Clearwater, BC, was responsible for the overseeing and purchasing of the commercial transport fleet and heavy equipment in the operation of the Cache Creek Landfill. Norm also brings 30 years of experience as a certified Millwright / Planerman. We look forward to working with Norm and welcome him to the team.
Winter Awareness Draw Winners Winter Awareness Draw Winners Winter Awareness Draw Winners Winter Awareness Draw Winners
Island food banks receive donations from EmconIsland food banks receive donations from EmconIsland food banks receive donations from EmconIsland food banks receive donations from Emcon
Rob Heaslip, far left, presented Sacha Petersen,
Gabriola Food Bank coordinator, with a cheque
from Emcon.
Page 5 Spring 2013
Cam Jones from the Cumberland road crew
Dan Bakker Road Foreman in Gold River
Damian Girard, right, presents the Port Hardy
Harvest Food Bank with a cheque for $250.00.
GABRIOLA
Elaine Daffurn, Dave Edward & Dave Shaw were also draw winners.
PORT HARDY
Thank you for the food donation and continued monetary support… Boundary Community Food Bank
DO YOUR PART TO HELP THE MARGINALIZED
IN THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE!
What’s the goal this year?
Crews up for the challenge on Mt. Washington roads.Crews up for the challenge on Mt. Washington roads.Crews up for the challenge on Mt. Washington roads.Crews up for the challenge on Mt. Washington roads.
In a year of record snowfalls, crews have
done an excellent job of keeping this road
well pushed back and sanded.
Page 6
The addition of the new snow blower and
very few breakdowns greatly contributed to
the crew’s success.
Leif Hallstrom—retires after 37 years of service
A new apprentice mechanic has joined
the Emcon team in Cumberland
Jordan LutzJordan LutzJordan LutzJordan Lutz
Geoff Battimelli pictured with the
Cumberland staff following his final
lunch. Best of luck to Geoff in his new
position.
Leif Hallstrom, (L) pictured with Danny Price (R)
Leif worked on the Midway road crew.
He retired in February 2013 after 37
years in the industry, 23 years of
which were spent with Emcon. We
wish Leif the best in his retirement.
Arianna Roya Rizzardo Arianna Roya Rizzardo Arianna Roya Rizzardo Arianna Roya Rizzardo
was born February 9, 2013
Weighing in at 7 lbs 12 oz
Born to Aaron and Shirin
Proud grandparents are
Frank & Almerina Rizzardo
David Boughton David Boughton David Boughton David Boughton and Martin Venables Martin Venables Martin Venables Martin Venables
for riding their bikes to work!
Garry Campbell Garry Campbell Garry Campbell Garry Campbell and Pierre Corbeil Pierre Corbeil Pierre Corbeil Pierre Corbeil for their
“ early morning ” workouts in the gym.
CUDOS TO:CUDOS TO:CUDOS TO:CUDOS TO:
Page 7 Spring 2013
Bridge crew and subBridge crew and subBridge crew and subBridge crew and sub----contractor contractor contractor contractor
repair damage to 17th Street lift repair damage to 17th Street lift repair damage to 17th Street lift repair damage to 17th Street lift
bridge in Courtenay.bridge in Courtenay.bridge in Courtenay.bridge in Courtenay.
December 24, 2012 edition
Damage to the bridge was caused by
flooding debris striking support piers.
Page 8
Page 9 Spring 2013
Future Emcon employees spend ‘ show & tell” with EmconFuture Emcon employees spend ‘ show & tell” with EmconFuture Emcon employees spend ‘ show & tell” with EmconFuture Emcon employees spend ‘ show & tell” with Emcon
Local Courtenay school kids had
a show and tell day watching the
pile driving operations and
visiting the lift bridge including
inspecting the large mechanical
working room under the bridge.
A place we call the pigeon palace.
MOTI and Emcon were
involved.
Page 10
Work on new trucks moving along in Cumberland.Work on new trucks moving along in Cumberland.Work on new trucks moving along in Cumberland.Work on new trucks moving along in Cumberland.
Underbody installed Spring loaded shock release
Page 11 Spring 2013
***
Along with the road conditions keeping people off
the roads, some trees came down, including a
rather large one on Canso. The tree fell completely
across the road, taking down power and communi-
cation lines on both sides of the road and prevent-
ing any vehicle traffic in or out of the Canso area.
BC Hydro crews had the line cleared out of the way
by Wednesday afternoon after which EMCON was
able to go in to clear out the tree.
***
Meet some of the
equipment
operators in Area 9
Our employees live in the
areas we maintain .
They are your neighbors!
December 24, 2012 edition
Corporate office sees red for Heart and StrokeCorporate office sees red for Heart and StrokeCorporate office sees red for Heart and StrokeCorporate office sees red for Heart and Stroke
Page 12
Corporate office was the winner of DRESS RED DAY , in
support of Heart & Stroke.
The office was decorated inside and out with the theme
of healthy living and healthy eating.
They all wore red pajamas and had a potluck lunch with a
heart healthy and ‘ red ’ theme.
What is your challenge this year?What is your challenge this year?What is your challenge this year?What is your challenge this year?
We raised $300 for
Heart & Stroke!!
High water damage keeps bridge crew busy High water damage keeps bridge crew busy High water damage keeps bridge crew busy High water damage keeps bridge crew busy
Bridge lead hands
from Parksville and
Courtenay
Page 13 Spring 2013
This project is the repair work required
to the Dolphin, and the navigable channel
fender of the 17th Street bridge in the
Courtenay area. The damage happened
during a high water event causing a lot
of large wood debris to come down the
Courtenay River and damaging 3 piles
and the timber guides for the navigable
marine channel.
Tow plows in Area 9
are ready for
Mother Nature
and her challenges.
Page 14
Paula Wolkosky &
George Longden say
‘ t hank you ’ to Emcon .
Thank you
Check out Emcon
tow plows at work
on YouTube!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iv-ejXmdaqM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6vyHTBrDWw
What an honor! 2 of 5 Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee Medals given to BC Roadbuilders at the 2012 AGM for exemplary and long service within our industry went to Emcon’s - Frank Rizzardo and HMC’s – Joe Wrobel.
Page 15 Spring 2013
Meet some of the
equipment
operators in Area 9
Page 16
First snowstorm hits the Valley
bringing traffic troubles Reporter: Lise Broadley December 12, 2012 issue
Flight cancellations, traffic accidents and school clo-sures were all part of the Comox Valley's Sunday night snowstorm but by Monday morning things were al-ready returning to normal.
Between 15 and 20 centimetres of wet snow fell on the Comox Valley from Sunday evening to very early Monday morning, creating traffic chaos in parts of town and giving Courtenay firefighters a busy night.
Courtenay Fire Department attended five separate car accidents, including a three-car pileup on the Inland Island High-way in which one person had to be extricated from their vehicle. Two people were taken to St. Joseph's General Hospital with minor injuries in that collision.
"The roads were just brutal," said Courtenay Fire Chief Don Bardonnex. "We wish people [would get] their snow tires and slow down."
He said that the first big snow of the year often leads to accidents because people continue driving for dry conditions and don't take into account the slippery roads and the poor visibility.
"Slow down. Wait until you get your legs under you again," said Bardonnex. While Courtenay Fire Department was busy, both Comox and Cumberland were quiet, with no car accidents and only a handful of calls about power lines and chimney fires. Both fire chiefs, however, echoed Bardonnex's sentiment.
"Drivers need to drive to road conditions, "said Cumberland Fire Chief Mike Williamson. "Slow down and also watch for emergency vehicles."
On the Comox Valley Parkway and in Courtenay Sunday night a number of cars could be seen pulled over to the side of the road, some with their hazard lights flashing, while others were parked and left until morning. Those trying to catch a ride in a taxicab were out of luck as the taxi company was inundated with re-quests and advising patrons that the wait for a cab could be hours long.
At Comox Airport, one Westjet flight was diverted from landing in Comox Sunday evening and instead touched down in Victoria before passengers were bussed up to the Valley. Two Central Mountain Air flights were cancelled Sunday and a Pacific Coastal flight scheduled to depart Comox was grounded until Monday morning, when it made its way back to Vancouver.
"This is typical in winter in Canada," said Comox Airport CEO Fred Bigelow, who explained that with snowfall, visi-bility can be reduced to very low levels. "It's great for folks to check [flight status and weather conditions] before they leave home."
On Monday morning, Bigelow said flights were back on schedule and aside from a bit of snow the airport was un-scathed.
Despite the heavy snowfall Sunday, all district schools but those on Denman and Hornby islands were open Monday and school buses were running. Power outages and poor road conditions led to the decision to close the two community schools, said superintendent Sherry Elwood on the district website.
On Mount Washington, all that snow meant another 22 centimetres overnight, which increased the snow base to a depth of 261 centimetres, giving it one of the deepest snow packs in North America.
Environment Canada is predicting rain in the Comox Valley for the rest of the week.
New graders are on the move to Area 3.
Page 17 Spring 2013
Roy Kelly loaded up to take
new equipment to the Island.
New equipment!New equipment!New equipment!New equipment!
Keeping our Keeping our Keeping our Keeping our
fleet up to datefleet up to datefleet up to datefleet up to date
New grader on its way to Area 9.
New Case backhoes on
route to Area 2/3.
Page 18
Victor Wang, IT, takes a seat in L197E.
Checking out new graders that arrived here in MerrittChecking out new graders that arrived here in MerrittChecking out new graders that arrived here in MerrittChecking out new graders that arrived here in Merritt
A Near Miss is an unplanned event that did not
result in injury, illness, or damage – but had the
potential to do so. Only a fortunate break in the
chain of events prevented an injury, fatality or
damage; in other words, a miss that was none-
theless very near. Although the label of 'human
error' is commonly applied to an initiating event,
a faulty process or system invariably permits or
compounds the harm, and should be the focus of
improvement. Other familiar terms for these
events is a "close call", or in the case of moving
objects, "near collision" or a near hit.
Is safety the first thing on your mind everyday?Is safety the first thing on your mind everyday?Is safety the first thing on your mind everyday?Is safety the first thing on your mind everyday?
(L to R)
Barb Treadway, Jacquie Hall and Margie Campbell
(Corporate office)
Equipment on the moveEquipment on the moveEquipment on the moveEquipment on the move
Page 19 Spring 2013
New hoppers
on route to
Cumberland.
New 140M ’ s loaded up
and ready for delivery.
The old Pete and the new..
SAC Western Star.
Day of Mourning • April 28, 2013 Across Canada, April 28 has been designated the Day of Mourning, a time when
workers, families, employers, and others come together to remember those who
have lost their lives to work-related incidents or occupational diseases.
Every year, WorkSafeBC, the B.C. Federation of Labour, and the Business
Council of British Columbia co-host a public ceremony to honour the
occasion.
This year the Vancouver ceremony will be held on Friday, April 26 at the
Vancouver Convention Centre, Jack Poole Plaza area at 10:30 a.m.
Be Aware—Dial Before You Dig!
1-800-474-6886
Page 20 Spring 2013
Emcon Services Inc. Unit 105, 1121 McFarlane Way
Merritt, BC
V1K 1B9
Phone: 250-378-4176
Fax: 250-378-4106
Catch us on the WeCatch us on the WeCatch us on the WeCatch us on the Web!b!b!b!
www.emconservices.cawww.emconservices.cawww.emconservices.cawww.emconservices.ca
LOOK FOR EMPLOYEE PAGE!
THERE IS DANGER BELOW!
Every time you dig in the ground, wherever it may be, you run the risk of loss of life or damage to property
if you hit any of the many buried cables, conduits, gas or oil pipelines and/or other underground facilities
that serve our cities, towns, and rural areas.
Knowing what underground facilities are buried in or near your dig jobsite is essential if deadly, dangerous,
or destructive accidents are to be avoided. One phone call to BC One Call is the best way to find out what is
buried on your dig site and which areas you must avoid when digging. BC One Call is a central agency
where you can call to find out what is buried on your site and where not to dig.
It is the objective of BC One Call to eliminate the risk of accidents where digging or excavation work
strikes buried facilities such as pipelines, telecommunication cables, water and sewage lines, and electrical
wires. BC One Call is here to make your excavation activity safe and trouble-free. It takes only one tele-
phone call to BC One Call and within three days our members will tell you if, and where, their underground
facilities are buried on your excavation site. To help you identify where the underground facilities are, the
members of BC One Call will send you a site plan showing the exact location of their buried facilities or a
technician will visit your site and provide physical markings.
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