Friday, November 6, 2020

Building Alberta—Local 63 Members’ Impressive Work

Alberta would not be what it is today without the time and skills of the Local 63 membership

By Brendan Kooy, Representative

A while ago—before the pandemic—I was having dinner with several stewards after work in Calgary. This particular steward group was busy along with their fellow Local 63 members constructing the $1.1 billion Calgary Cancer Centre project, one of the largest public infrastructure projects in recent memory in the city, if not the province.

The purpose of our meeting was to prepare for the joint labour-management meeting the next day. We talked about labour relations matters—issues and concerns from the site, health and safety matters, how to support members dealing with mental health problems—and subsequently had a good meeting with the company the next morning.

But what struck me about the time we shared together over dinner was hearing these stewards talk about their careers in the construction industry in Calgary over the past few decades. Between the three of them, they listed off building after building, project after project, that they had worked on and helped build. Office towers, condos, roads, bridges, water treatment plants, hospitals, and everything in between.

While for them these projects were just another site to go to like they have done for their entire career, it was impressive to me to hear about everything that they had a hand in constructing. They have literally helped build Calgary.

Some people struggle for meaning in life and specifically at work. For people like Local 63 members, all you need to do is look around to see your handiwork and the meaning that you have helped to create.

Local 63 members have helped to build this province—our homes, schools, hospitals, arenas, skyscrapers, energy infrastructure, and the list goes on. And, during the pandemic, the essential work performed by Local 63 members has for the most part carried on, continuing to provide stability to the construction industry in the province, along with the men and women who earn a living from it. Alberta would not be what it is today without the construction industry, and particularly the time and skills of the CLAC Local 63 membership.

Life can be busy so it’s not always easy to take a moment to reflect. But, if you can squeeze in such a moment, look around you to see the impressive work all around the province that Local 63 members have done—and be proud of it.

Building Alberta—Local 63 Members’ Impressive Work

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