By / Jessica Kirby, Editor, Sheet Metal Journal
2022 has raced by. Contrasted with the never-ending 2020, it seemed fast and furious, punctuated by many tiny victories that sort of breezed over 2021 and brought us closer and closer to normal. Now, we see COVID-related warnings at the grocery story and we scoff. COVID? That’s so last year.
Except it isn’t in the construction industry. Contractors and GCs are still reeling a bit from the expenditures relating to pandemic-related restrictions and regulations, and the backlog of work still looms, but with too few workers to fill the spaces. The government is rushing to implement grants and bursaries for hiring from non-traditional fields, but is it enough? We will see.
This issue of Sheet Metal Journal introduces SMACNA-BC’s new executive director Jeremy Hallman. Of course, Jeremy is already a familiar face for most, but we wanted to look a little closer at his past and ideas for the future—and officially welcome him in these pages. See page 9 for the full story.
Speaking of recruitment challenges, Local 280 represented three SMACNA-BC contractors at the Tradeswomen Build Nations event in Las Vegas this November. TWBN is important because it brings 3,100 tradeswomen, tradesmen, and association and union leadership together to understand the issues and learn about how to move forward collectively. Check out page 12 to find out more about two of our local tradeswomen and hear from SMACNA’s immediate past-president about why this event is important to the future of recruitment in the sheet metal industry.
I’ve always said it is the death of resilience that is changing the world—not cellphones, TikTok, young people, or Millenials holding out for work-life balance. Any of those things (and any number of other things) can occur, and if we are smart, we adapt, but if we crumble in the face of adversity, well, that’s that. So, it was good to see resilience, adaptation, and growth as main themes at the 2022 SMACNA National Conference. Read more about what leadership had to say on page 15.
The next big rift to mend is that separating companies and training centres who beleive in and use technology and those who do not. If the last three years have no other lasting effect it is that we have to be agile, productive, and open-minded to adapt—survive, even. Many JATCs, including our own SMWTCS, are training on all kinds of amazing tech, like augmented reality, virtual reality, and BIM, so it is time to get on the bus. Luckily, the government just earmarked $4 billion over four years for technology implementation, not to mention piles of grants and opportunities through the ITI. Remember, being tech savvy isn’t eliminating the workforce—it is creating space for a bigger one. Check out page 16 to see what’s on the table for AR and VR and for beefing up your cybersecurity
Take a peek at page 18 for a look at Steve Davis, Local 280’s organizer, who is hell bent on raising awareness about the trades and garnering the attention sheet metal deserves in high schools, at trade shows, and in the minds of young people interested in learning about the trades.
And finally, it is my favourite time of year when I get to collect your feedback through the Sheet Metal Journal Industry Outlook Survey. See this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9B37KNR, watch for it in our socials and on our website, and keep an eye on your email from SMACNA-BC for a reminder. The whole thing takes three minutes to complete (six if you elaborate on your answers, which would be amazing), and I will report on the results in the next issue. Thank you for your help and support.
From our small but sturdy gang here at Point One Media, I wish you love, light, and prospserity for the holidays and the coming year. ■
