Construction

Two pedestrians crossing at a walk sign at the intersection of King Square North and Sydney Street in Uptown Saint John, while a silver car waits in the middle of the intersection, as snow falls.

Construction work causes confusion at Uptown intersection

January 10, 2025 by Iona Coe

Drivers in Uptown Saint John this week faced difficulty navigating an intersection at King Square this week.

With King Square North blocked at the Charlotte Street intersection for the installation of new traffic lights, the usually one-way street temporarily became two way to allow cars to access parking opposite the Service New Brunswick building. However, as traffic does not ordinarily leave the square at the Sydney Street intersection, there were no lights and no temporary stop sign to indicate right of way.

While careful drivers knew to look for pedestrians at the crossing, it still caused some confusion at the intersection on Wednesday. Some motorists spoke with Local 107.3FM about the confusion and even potential dangers at the intersection.

Saint John City stated that “City crews were out this morning installing temporary stop signs at this intersection, to alleviate any confusion for motorists and pedestrians.”

Outside while its dark a large 2 story tall green tree is light up in colourful Christmas lights

Winterfest shows that downtown Nanaimo’s heart still beats despite construction challenges

December 9, 2024 by Lauryn Mackenzie

A Christmas tree has been lit at Diana Krall Plaza, kicking off the holiday season and Winterfest in downtown Nanaimo.

Winterfest is a recent downtown tradition where shops on Commercial Street stay open late on Thursday nights leading up to Christmas.

This comes as the City of Nanaimo’s Design Commercial project is underway to upgrade the subsurface and streetscape of the street. The first phase is expected to be completed by May or June of next year.

The construction has led to parts of Commercial Street being blocked off and temporarily reducing street-side parking along the street while businesses are still accessible via sidewalks.

On the first night of Winterfest, CHLY went around Commerical Street and spoke with several different business to check in and see how it’s going during the construction.

A man where a cream jacket with a black and black beanie is standing by a wooden wall smiling at the camera. He is standing with his hands in his pockets of his black pants. Beside him on the wall is silver metal square that has "Lucid" engraved on it

A bald man wearing a black shirt and black apron is standing behind a counter. On the counter beside him is a espresso machine facing him. He is smiling at the camera and handing a black take-away coffee cup toward the camera.

Left photo: Fred Jeffery, owner of the clothing store Lucid. Middle Photo: Leon Drzewiecki, owner of NY LA Fresh Thread and Brix + Mortar SocialHouse. Right Photo: Steven Johns, owner of Red Shelf Decors. Photo credit: Lauryn Mackenzie / CHLY 101.7fm

A blue-grey building is under construction. Light snow covers the ground with several wooden pallets scattered around. A white crane sits on the site, with an orange extractor in the distance.

Right to Housing Coalition says more money is needed to address low-income families’ needs

December 5, 2024 by Ryan Funk

Winnipeg will become home to a new 95-unit building in south Pembina. The $38.5 million project, which began construction this past summer, will have 38 of the 95 units marked as affordable with rents below 70 per cent of the median market rent.

Although this development does meet some of the housing needs in the area, Kirsten Bernas, chair of the provincial committee of the Right to Housing Coalition, says that it doesn’t address the dire housing situation that low-income families and communities are experiencing.

The Right to Housing Coalition advocates for “rent-geared-to-income” (RGI) models, where rents are capped at 30 per cent of household income. This approach ensures affordability for low-income residents. Bernas explains that of the 2,000 plus units built with federal funds over the past seven years in Winnipeg, only 235 are RGI units.

Construction of new long-term care facility is nearing completion.

Golden Plough Lodge to switch staffing agency ahead of 2025 move into new, larger long-term care home

December 4, 2024 by Dan Jones

The Golden Plough Lodge, a long-term care facility in Cobourg Ontario is facing staffing shortages.

While other long-term care homes in the country are facing similar challenges, the Golden Plough Lodge has turned to a third-party agency to fill staffing vacancies.

Nurses are in short supply, being hired by hospitals, who offer better wages and working conditions.

But as residents of the Golden Plough Lodge get set to move into a new, larger facility in early 2025, officials are changing staffing agencies and undertaking a hiring blitz, targeting graduates and international professionals.

CFWN News Reporter Dan Jones has more in this report.

A man in a plaid shirt standing in front of a wall of tools.

Innovative scheme launched to provide training in construction and build affordable homes

December 4, 2024 by Iona Coe

A new training program, Hammers 2 Homes, was announced this week. Aimed at training people in the construction industry and providing them with work on the construction of social housing, Hammers 2 Homes also aims to create the homes in which those involved in the training may ultimately live.

The initiative, rolled out in partnership with New Brunswick Community College (NBCC), will also include a micro-credential at completion.

Brent Harris, founder of the Saint John Tool Library – a membership-based lending library of tools along with a woodworking shop – is launching the project under his Vacant 2 Vibrant initiative. Launched earlier this year, Vacant 2 Vibrant works to acquire vacant buildings in the city to repurpose them as affordable housing.

Harris spoke about the origins and aims of the Hammers 2 Homes program, as well as the broader scope of the Vacant 2 Vibrant project itself.

Heather Way with the two lanes to the right side of the median barricaded, with construction taking place in the distance and a clear blue sky above.

City to reopen barricaded lanes due to resident opposition

December 4, 2024 by Iona Coe

An extra meeting of the City Council was convened on Monday evening to discuss the use of Heather Way. Two of the four lanes of the road on the east side of the city were closed in October, due to concerns regarding cost of upkeep and the relatively small amount of traffic using it. However, an open house was held on November 27th where residents voiced their opposition to the closure.

The recommendation presented to the council to reopen the lanes was passed unanimously. This decision coincides with the reopening of all lanes on the Harbour bridge for the winter. This long term construction work should require just one more season of road closure, according to a recent statement by Provincial Transportation and Infrastructure Minister, Chuck Chiasson.

The audio was taken from the video of the council meeting on the city’s YouTube channel.

A crowed of about 20 people sit around tables and stand around the space mingling. The room is dimly lit with outdoor lights hanging off the beams on the roof.

The ‘Tinder of Construction’ brings the circular economy to the building industry

November 8, 2024 by Lauryn Mackenzie

Nicknamed the “Tinder of Construction,” Light House, is a non-profit organization that looks to find methods to reuse building materials to eliminate waste and lower the cost of materials. The organization is doing this by launching its Building Material Exchange (BMEx) program. BMEX connects construction and manufacturing businesses in the south and central areas of Vancouver Island to create a circular environment to share materials.

CHLY met with the managing director of circular innovation for Light House, Gil Yaron while he was setting up for Light House’s BMEx Challenge on November 5.

Much like the popular show Dragon’s Den, the challenge gives people the opportunity to meet others in their sector, pitch ideas and find ways to reimagine how materials can be sourced, reused, and repurposed.

CHLY also spoke with Gared Robinson of First Growth Reclaimed Design who pitched at the event about his work creating custom furniture and artwork from reclaimed Douglas fir.

On top of a wooden barrel is two craved wooden ornaments in the shape of circles. In the circle of the ornament on the right is craved to look like trees and mountain peaks. The one on the right also has mountain peaks carved into it with ocean waves engraved on to the wood. Behind the ornaments are small candles with wooden carved candle holders. — Robinson’s wooden ornaments were given away as door prizes. Photo: Lauryn Mackenzie / CHLY 101.7fm

A moderately busy city road. Several cars are driving down the road and the sun is setting on a cloudy sky.

Speeding cameras coming to Ottawa during August

July 25, 2024 by Vanessa Landriault

Over the month of August, the city of Ottawa will be installing Automatic Speed Enforcement cameras (ASE) throughout the Ottawa region. David Paradis, Senior Engineer, Road Safety Guides, confirmed with ELMNT FM over email that these cameras are expected to begin construction in mid-august and to be completed near the end of the 2024 year.

Also on today’s 95.7 ELMNT FM news brief, an Ottawa K-9 Unit has been selected to work on assignment at the Paris Olympics. Police dog Beci and his human partner Constable David Guy will be pre-sweeping venues to check for explosives.

Six people stand in front of a red brick municipal building with two sets of windows. On one of the windows is the opening hours of the building.

Proposed development will make bad situation worse, Liverpool residents say

July 10, 2024 by Rick Conrad

Residents on a busy street in Liverpool are concerned it will only get more hectic if a 24-unit apartment building is built in their neighbourhood.

About a dozen people presented a petition to regional council on Tuesday and spoke against the development planned for 48 Bristol Ave.

Residents are upset that the proposed four-storey building is too big for the area. They’re worried about increased traffic, motorist and pedestrian safety and increased noise.

Bristol Avenue is a busy thoroughfare into and out of Liverpool.

There is no sidewalk on the side of the road where the development is proposed. The 6,720 square-foot building would be set back 10 feet from the street, with 24 parking spots behind and on the side of the building.

Mayor Darlene Norman said Wednesday there’s little that councillors can do unless residents file an appeal.

Port Hope council members and staff are seen posing for a photo at the downtown construction groundbreaking ceremony

Businesses remain open as Port Hope digs Walton Street

May 8, 2024 by Jeff Gard

The Municipality of Port Hope held an official groundbreaking ceremony for Phase 2 of the Walton Street Reconstruction Project this morning. Officials reminded residents that downtown businesses remain open.

The construction is expected to last for six months to replace watermain, sanitary sewers and storm sewers as some of the infrastructure including pipes have been in place for more than 100 years.

The municipality has dedicated social media channels on Facebook and Instagram with the handle @PortHopeDigsWalton plus a dedicated website with maps, parking information, project timelines, construction details and project staff contact information.

An office has been set up with staff available to address questions and concerns at 5 Mill Street South but will move to 90 Walton Street in June.

A tall woman wearing a beige coat stands in an industrial building talking to two men -- one of whom is wearing an orange safety jacket, and the other wearing a black jacket. One of the men is gesturing towards the ceiling.

Federal government invests in the skilled trades to attract workers to construction industry

April 23, 2024 by Taylor McClure

At a press conference at the Robitaille grain mill in Farnham on April 18, Minister of Canadian Heritage and MP for Brome-Missisquoi Pascale St-Onge announced a $90 million dollar investment in the Apprenticeship Service and a $10 million investment in the Skilled Trades Awareness and Readiness Program with the primary goal of attracting more skilled workers to the construction industry.

The federal government has announced new investments in the skilled trades as a part of Budget 2024: Fairness for Every Generation in order to meet the growing need for housing and infrastructures that contribute to Canada’s economic growth.

St-Onge told CIDI that in order to build housing, including rental units, rapidly and at a more affordable price, and for businesses to establish themselves in Canada, the government also needs to address the challenge where more skilled workers are leaving the construction industry than entering it.

A house with a construction cart holding debris in front of it.

Ottawa to receive $176M in housing funds from federal government

February 15, 2024 by Vanessa Landriault

After revealing on January 24^th that the city of Ottawa signed a deal with housing minister Sean Fraser to be part of the Federal Governments four-billion-dollar housing accelerator fund, Ottawa has finally been given a budget: $176 million dollars.

Mayor of Ottawa, Mark Sutcliffe, claims that “the city worked hard to get as much money as it could from the federal government.” The City of Ottawa’s application for this funding was first approved back in July, and the council has given an updated to-do list for Ottawa to complete to receive this funding.

Kanata-Carleton MP, Jenna Sudds, is less excited than other members of council. “Business as usual will not solve the drastic housing challenges that we face today. We need systematic change to how we build housing in this country.”

For this story and other regional and national stories, listen to the ELMNT News Brief.