January 25: The BC economy in 2007 - How Will it Affect the Construction Industry?

The construction industry is facing substantial growth but with considerable cost challenges to achieve results. In this presentation Helmut Pastrick will present a five year outlook on the BC economy with emphasis on the construction industry. He will explain how the construction industry is impacted by domestic factors such as government spending on infrastructure, expansion of electric utilities, and the state of the local housing market. The tight labour market, construction cost pressures and the impact of the 2010 Winter Olympics on the economy and construction will also be examined.

Helmut Pastrick is Chief Economist for Credit Union Central of British Columbia, the umbrella organization for the credit union system in the province and editor of the Economic Analysis of British Columbia newsletter, a well regarded and widely circulated publication by the credit union system in British Columbia. He provides economic analysis and forecast services to the credit union system.

Prior to joining the Credit Union Central of BC in 1997, Helmut was esponsible for analyzing and forecasting the provincial housing market and economy when working for the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation in BC.

February 22 : The Rebirth of the Woodward's Site - New life in the Downtown Eastside

Architect Gregory Henriquez will give an update on the Woodward's development highlighting its unique design features and the challenges faced in designing, obtaining approvals and constructing this milestone project.

The Woodward's project is the latest of several developments designed by Gregory in the Downtown Eastside which gives him a unique and high level perspective of current and future directions in this issued-plagued region of Vancouver and the impact that developments like this will have on the area.

Gregory is Managing Partner at Henriquez Partners Architects and is currently the architect in charge of the Woodward's Redevelopment Project, the largest mixed-use project in the history of Vancouver. Other current projects include the new Lynn Valley Town Centre and Library and he also starting work on the design phase of the Old BC Electric Building Site at Carrall and Hastings.

In 2004, Gregory was awarded a Governor General's Medal in Architecture and was elected to the Royal Academy of Arts.

March 14: Annual General Meeting - Thoughts on Vancouver's Civic Design and Future Growth

Guest Speaker Brent Toderian

Vancouver is often referred to as a "City by Design". It has a proud tradition of attention to the public realm, and a process of shaping the City's architecture to achieve public goals. Such goals can include livability, sustainability, civic beauty, economic development and so on. Some suggest however, that the resulting architecture is becoming too similar, and call for more design creativity and diversity. At the same time, initiatives like EcoDensity and the results of the Metro-Core Economy Study may change the way the city is built. Brent Toderian, the City of Vancouver's newly appointed Director of Planning, will present on EcoDensity, jobs in the downtown peninsula, the state of Vancouver architecture and design, and how this will impact the growth of the City.

Brent came from the City of Calgary where, as Manager of Centre City Planning + Design, he oversaw visioning, policy plans and strategies; area master planning; development design and architectural review; civic realm design; heritage planning; and special projects work in Calgary's Downtown, Midtown and Beltline communities.

April 19: Canada Line Station Design- A presentation by Chris McCarthy of SNC-Lavalin.

The $1.9 billion Canada Line Rapid Transit Project is the largest infrastructure Public Private Partnership (P3) in Canada. It connects downtown Vancouver with Richmond and the Airport. It is being partially financed, designed, constructed and will be maintained by SNC-Lavalin Inc. and its partners. The alignment, which is 19 km long, consists of an elevated and at-grade guideways, a cut and cover tunnel along Cambie Street and a bored tunnel under downtown Vancouver. There are 16 stations, ten traction power substations and an operations and maintenance facility; eight of the stations are underground, six are elevated and two are at-grade.

Our speaker, Chris McCarthy, is the Director of Fixed Facilities for the project and responsible for overseeing the design of the stations, substations and the operations and maintenance centre. Chris will discuss how the project translated the global transit planning objectives for the system through to establishing the station architecture; provide an overview of the current station designs; touch on some the technical challenges and give an update to the current status of station construction

May 24: William R. Bennett Bridge - Making Connections

The Ministry of Transportation awarded a 30 year concession to SNC Lavalin for the design, construction, financing, and operation of the new William R. Bennett Bridge. The existing 50 year old Okanagan Lake Bridge is deteriorating and its three lanes are overwhelmed with traffic. The new crossing will consist of a 330m fixed section at the West end, and a 700m floating section consisting of concrete pontoons which will be one of the few floating concrete bridges in the world. The bridge will feature five lanes and an 18m high marine navigation span, which will replace the existing lift span. Construction is scheduled to be complete in the summer of 2008.

Our speaker, Tom Tasaka, the Project Director, is responsible for overseeing the $139 million Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) component of the Concession. He will discuss how the project has been organized to make best use of local and other BC resources, working with the many stakeholders such as the City of Kelowna and Westbank First Nation, how many of the challenges are being resolved, and the current status of construction.

June 14: Sea-to-Sky Highway Upgrade - A Safe & Scenic Ride

The Sea-to-Sky Highway Improvement DBFO Project is well underway in the 2nd year of a four year design-build period. The BC Ministry of Transportation and Partnerships BC developed the DBFO process to bring safety, mobility, and reliability improvements to the Sea-to-Sky Highway 99 corridor. Substantial completion is scheduled for October 2009 in time for the 2010 Winter Olympics in February.

Our speakers will provide an overview of this 25 year public-private partnership (P3) infrastructure concession; give an overview of the design-build organization; discuss the technical and logistical challenges to keep the project on budget and on schedule; and talk about lessons learned to make a successful P3 highway improvement project.

David Wallace is a Manager with Peter Kiewit Sons Co. Ltd. in Vancouver. He is a civil engineer with over 30 years of North American experience on large transportation, communication and hydro projects. Tony Purdon is a senior associate with Hatch Mott MacDonald Ltd. in Vancouver. He is a civil engineer with 20 years of North American and international experience in the planning, design and construction of transportation and infrastructure projects.

August 23: A City Under Construction - Vancouver Viewed From the Water

Cleanup and construction are moving at a fast pace in Vancouver these days. From the repair of the Stanley Park Seawall to the building of the Southeast False Creek Olympic Village, from condos to the Canada Line, there is a lot of activity on Vancouver's waterfront.

The Board of Directors would like to invite you and a guest to join them on a cruise into False Creek for an up-to-date waterside view of several major projects. The southeast False Creek development is on track to include new parks and the Olympic Athletes Village in time for February 2010. One of the Canada Line tunnels under the creek is complete with a station being built at the foot of the Cambie St. Bridge on the south side. And the cruise will include a chance to see the reconstruction project on the Stanley Park Seawall damaged during the wind storm last November.

Don't miss this opportunity to hear about these outstanding projects from the people in charge while enjoying the ambiance of dining on the water. Register now as capacity is limited. This year's boat has a walk around deck for plenty of viewing.

September 20: BC's Mining Industry - Digging Deep for Opportunity

There is activity in BC's mining industry that will provide opportunity for the construction sector. What are these opportunities and prospects for future development? A surprising amount of infrastructure including roads and ancillary buildings will provide the need for a large range of design and consulting services beyond the actual mines. At this meeting learn about new projects currently undergoing permitting and feasibility assessment for development as well as those that have now begun construction such as the $2.1 billion US Galore Creek Project in northwestern BC.

Our speaker, Michael McPhie is the President and CEO of the Mining Association of BC. He has over 15 years of professional domestic and international experience working at senior levels within industry and government. Over his career, Michael has been responsible for the regulatory, environmental, political/government relations and community related aspects of a number of mining projects across Canada, in Central and South America and southern Asia.

Established through an act of the BC Legislature in 1901 to represent the interests of BC's mining industry, the Mining Association of British Columbia (MABC) is one of the oldest industry associations in the province. The MABC represents the senior companies of BC's $10 billion mining and smelting industry. Mining remains BC's second largest resource industry and continues to be an essential part of the provincial economy.

October 18: Independent Power Producers in BC - What's the Buzz?

BC's Independent Power Production (IPP) industry continues to be vibrant and a consumer of significant construction resources. IPPs play a pivotal role in helping BC Hydro reduce our province's reliance on imported electricity. This presentation will describe the run-of-river, wind, and bio-energy projects that have competed to win contracts with BC Hydro. It will identify the major events, trends and challenges that are shaping the industry. It will describe BC Hydro's three upcoming Calls for Power and forecast which types of projects will likely evolve into tomorrows construction contracts.

Our speaker, Steve Davis is the President of the Independent Power Producers Association of BC and head of Steve Davis & Associates Consulting Ltd, a Vancouver-based consulting firm. Steve has been developing green IPPs in BC since 1990. He ran the project development subsidiaries for BC Gas (now Terasen) and Ledcor and developed biomass, co-generation and small hydro IPP projects in BC for 12 years prior to setting up his IPP consulting business. Steve has a Civil Engineering degree from UBC and an MBA from the University of Western Ontario.

IPPBC was formed in 1992. It is the voice of IPPs in BC. Its mandate is to develop a viable independent power industry in BC that serves the public interest by providing cost-effective electricity through the efficient and environmentally responsible development of the Province's energy resources.

November 22: An Inconvenient Truth About The Talent Shortage Crisis - and How To Cope With It!

Signs are clear that every business is being affected by the apparent talent shortage. If your company is not planning long term solutions for your recruitment problems, get prepared for turbulent times ahead because the trend will get worse.

With the boomers at the doorstep of retirement, our birth rate and immigration rate are unable to compensate and replace all these happy retirees. It will take more than money to attract and retain the best and the brightest. To complicate matters, the new generation entering the work force is bringing with them a very different set of values than those making corporate decisions today.

Our speaker, Normand Rheault, will explore what is causing the phenomena and how modern organizations are coping with it.

Normand Rheault is Corporate Director of Human Resources at GENIVAR Limited Partnership, an engineering firm employing 2,200 employees across Canada. The firm is active in almost all fields of engineering such as: civil, mining, transportation, urban infrastructure, water treatment, environment, energy, building and project management.

Before joining GENIVAR, he was a consultant specializing in Organizational Development and new plant start ups.

January 26: Olympic Speed Skating Oval - Richmond’s Olympic Legacy

The Richmond Oval will be home to long track speed skating during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. The Oval is located on 32 acres of City-owned land along the banks of the Fraser River. For the Olympics, the Oval will house a 400-metre speed skating track and seat approximately 8,000. Post-Games, the Oval will become an international centre of excellence for sports and wellness. The Oval’s flexible design will allow it to be used for a wide variety of different sport and community uses. The Oval project which includes a new waterfront plaza, park and parkade is budgeted for $178 million.

The Oval is now under construction. Site densification and compaction will continue until spring 2006. Building construction will begin in May 2006. The Richmond Oval is scheduled to open in summer 2008.

Greg Scott is Director of the City of Richmond’s Major Projects Division. He is responsible for delivering Richmond’s Speed Skating Oval. He is an effective multi-discipline team leader with expertise in managing complex projects from two perspectives; the owner and the consultant. He has 17 years of expertise in providing solutions to clients with a primary focus on municipal infrastructure; sewage collection, transportation, stormwater collection and management, land development and the delivery of sustainable facilities.

For more information, visit: http://www.richmond.ca/discover/events/oval/oval.htm

February 23: Gateway Program Update - Making Connections

Mike Proudfoot, Executive Director of the BC MoT's Gateway Program, will provide Construction Roundtable members with an update on the status of this major road and bridge improvement program. Comprising the North Fraser Perimeter Road, including a new Pitt River Bridge and Mary Hill Interchange, South Fraser Perimeter Road, and Port Mann Bridge twinning/Highway 1 widening, this $3 billion program is the largest transportation initiative ever undertaken by the BC Ministry of Transportation. This initiative will address regional highway congestion while enabling our transportation industry to accommodate the substantial growth in goods movement currently occurring through the greater Vancouver gateway.

Mike brings over 30 years experience with the Ministry of Transportation to his role as Executive Director of the Gateway Program. Prior to his appointment to the Gateway Program, he served as Director, Design and Construction for the award-winning Lions Gate Bridge rehabilitation project. Previously, Mike held numerous positions with the Ministry including District Manager and Project Manager on construction and rehabilitation projects throughout BC. He has also been involved in joint committees with the BC Road Builders pertaining to road and bridge maintenance and has a proven track record in dealing with stakeholders and interest groups.

March 28: Annual General Meeting
Preparing for the World — Lessons Learned in Torino

Guest Speaker: Mayor Sam Sullivan

When Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan received the Olympic flag on February 26th, the countdown to the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games began. A quadriplegic since the age of 19, Mayor Sullivan was able to wave the Olympic flag using a specially designed addition to his wheelchair that held and supported the flag. Never in the history of the Olympic Games has a quadriplegic mayor represented a host city.

Sam Sullivan was elected Mayor in November 2005 after serving as a Vancouver City Councillor from 1993 to 2005. As an elected official, he has raised issues around accessibility and encouraged building a barrier-free city. In 2004, he was invested as a Member of the Order of Canada for his community work on behalf of people with significant disabilities.

Well designed and accessible venues, transportation systems and public spaces are integral to hosting successful games. Mayor Sullivan will talk about his experiences at the Torino Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games that will be of interest to people working in the construction industry.

Photographs from the event:

April 27: An Update on Southeast False Creek and the Olympic Village

After nine years of public process, the Southeast False Creek sustainable development in Vancouver is underway. The plan is for 6 million square feet of development providing housing for 12,000 to 16,000 new residents by 2018. The development will include 26 acres of park, a community centre and non-motorized boating facility, an elementary school, three childcare facilities, an interfaith spiritual centre, and a housing mix with 20% affordable housing, up to 33% modest market housing, and the balance in market housing. Sustainability is a key component of this development, with the City setting a minimum LEED Silver benchmark while striving to achieve LEED Gold and Platinum on all its buildings. The community will also provide all its heat energy needs on site through waste sewer heat recovery, and will have a comprehensive rain water management and reuse plan. The first phase of the development will be used as the Olympic Village to provide accommodation and services for athletes and officials during the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. What will this development look like in 2010 and beyond?

Jody Andrews, the Project Manager for the Southeast False Creek and Olympic Village development, will provide an overview of the development and an update on the progress of Vancouver's Olympic Village, including site preparation, design, and construction insights.

For more information, visit: http://vancouver.ca/olympicvillage

May 18: Half Day Seminar: Successfully Managing Projects in a Hot Market

BC's economy is currently operating at levels not seen in decades. In the run-up to 2010 and beyond, the demands on our industry are unprecedented -- extraordinary innovation is required in order to deliver the goods. Owners are wondering whether the cost pressures resulting from the present demand will price their projects out of the market -- are there new models that might mitigate this risk? The market for professional services is fiercely competitive -- how can those delivering projects secure the needed professionals to see their projects to completion? Contractors, subtrades and suppliers too are caught in the escalation squeeze of delivering hard-dollar projects when costs are rising -- what strategies are being deployed to address this challenge?

June 22: How to increase productivity and lower costs using today's software solutions

In today’s world of increasing labour shortages and spiraling costs you need to know how technology can help reduce costs and improve productivity. Come learn how BC companies with software solutions for the construction sector can help you. Today’s presentations will come from three companies with their corporate headquarters and customer support services in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Jeff Booth - Builddirect - Costco on-line for construction materials. Founded in 1999, BuildDirect has quickly become the world’s leading On-line wholesaler of building products. Utilizing proprietary Internet technology for volume global shipments, BuildDirect is a completely new sales channel for construction materials.

Neall Ryan - Condor Software - Rebar detailing for the Globe. Condor Rebar Consultants Inc. is a reinforcing bar detailing and consulting company with offices in North America and Europe and China providing a wide range of reinforcing-bar related estimating, detailing and construction site support services.

Dave Robertson - Infinite Source software - new approaches to knowledge and information management. Infinite Source focuses on companies whose workflow requires utilizing large format documents such as architectural and engineering drawings. The cost and time to produce, distribute and store paper is enormous. Digital information significantly reduces these costs. They provide their clients with tools to manage, distribute and archive information online.

July 05: Olympic Legacies for British Columbia - A View from Grouse Mountain

What will British Columbians inherit when the Olympic flame is extinguished? In addition to world class sports facilities, there is another program that will create lasting legacies for the citizens of British Columbia.

Marion Lay is the President of 2010 Legacies Now, a not-for-profit society that works in partnership with community organizations, non-government organizations (NGOs), the private sector and all levels of government to develop sustainable legacies in sport & recreation, arts, literacy, and volunteerism.

Marion will share how 2010 Legacies Now is working with communities to help them discover and create unique and inclusive social and economic opportunities leading up to and beyond the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Join us on spectacular Grouse Mountain for this unique opportunity to hear Marion, a two-time Olympian and a member of the bronze medal 4 x 100m freestyle relay team at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, talk about this innovative program.

September 21: Golden Ears Bridge Project: Ensuring Delivery of a Signature Bridge and a Model Partnership

The Golden Ears Bridge has been planned to respond to the high population growth rate in the northeast sector of the region. TransLink entered into a single contract with the Golden Crossing General Partnership on March 3, 2006 to design, construct, finance, operate, maintain and rehabilitate the Golden Ears Bridge for a 35.5-year term. Based on the projected toll revenues and a redirection of the current Albion Ferry subsidy, the project is anticipated to achieve full recovery of its costs when the contract terminates 32 years after substantial completion.

Fred Cummings, TransLink's project director will provide a presentation that summarizes the need for the project, how the procurement process was designed, the teaming approach and bid strategy used by the winning team, and how the partnership has unfolded since financial close.

The Golden Ears Bridge is a unique project that relies on all parties to commit to partnering to ensure success.

October 19: Up and Down and All Around the Town - Update on the Canada Line Project

The $1.9 billion Canada Line Rapid Transit Project is the largest Public Private Partnership in BC. It connects downtown Vancouver with Richmond and the Airport and is being partially financed, designed, constructed and maintained by SNC-Lavalin and its partners. The alignment, which is 19 km long, consists of an elevated and at-grade guideway, two bridges crossing the Fraser River, a cut and cover tunnel down Cambie Street and a bored tunnel under downtown Vancouver. There are sixteen stations, eight underground, six elevated and two at-grade.

Our speaker, Roger Woodhead, the Technical Director for the project, is responsible for overseeing all engineering and technical issues. He will discuss how the project has been organized to make the best use of local and international resources, how the many challenges are being resolved, the current status of construction and future opportunities for local industry.

November 23: Olympic Construction - On Budget and On Time

To view the video go to The Vancouver 2010 Official Website
You just have to read and accept the web-linking policy (also available on our site)

The venue plan for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games features two clusters. Ice event competitions will be staged in the Vancouver area. The snow and sliding sports will take place in Whistler. Drawing on new and existing facilities, the goal is to create spectacular theatres for sport that provide top conditions for athletes, a welcome place for spectators and post-Games community legacies.

Dan Doyle, VANOC's executive vice president of construction, is responsible for the $580 million development and construction of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games venues. He will present an overview of progress to date and the steps VANOC is taking to achieve its goal of delivering the venues early to maximize athlete training and venue-testing opportunities.

December 14: December Evening Reception For Members and Guests

Ken Dobell : Vancouver & BC on the World Stage: Initiatives and Achievements

The Directors of the BC Construction Roundtable would like to invite you and guest to join them at the festive year end reception. Our guest speaker will be Ken Dobell who will launch us into 2007 with an update on several major projects garnering attention for Vancouver and British Columbia.

Ken Dobell was appointed Deputy Minister to the Premier and Cabinet Secretary, Office of the Premier in 2001. He served in that role until 2005. Prior to this Mr. Dobell was City Manager for the City of Vancouver for eight years and CEO of the Greater Vancouver Transit Authority for two years. Mr. Dobell is chair of the Vancouver Convention Centre Expansion Project, and is a director of VANOC, 2010 Legacies Now Society and the Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships.

With his current involvement in a wide variety of initiatives ranging from the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games to the Convention Centre and from the creation of a Cultural Precinct to the challenge of addressing the homeless situation, Ken Dobell will have many interesting facts to share.

The reception will be held at Fasken Martineau DuMoulin, 2100 - 1075 West Georgia, Vancouver

February 24: Managing Project Cost Escalation – Big Picture Questions

The province’s construction sector is gearing up for Olympic facilities projects, major transportation projects, and the needs of a booming resource sector, against a backdrop of a sustained strong residential market. This scenario, combined with significant escalation in construction costs on the global stage, has many in our industry raising concerns about the potential for significant cost escalation in construction in the region. How real a concern is this? What is causing it and how long is it expected to last? What techniques are available to help construction professionals manage this issue? How are major industry players responding? Come and hear a panel of industry practitioners and experts give you their perspective on these and other issues. The session will close with an opportunity for you to raise in-depth questions with the panel.

March 10: Annual General Meeting

British Columbia is enjoying a revitalized economy, with even brighter prospects ahead. The key to ensuring this continued economic prosperity is an integrated and efficient province-wide transportation system. As transportation investment reaches new heights in this province, the Ministry of Transportation will continue to rely on professional engineers, road builders and trades people to deliver safe and affordable infrastructure. Our speaker, Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon, will outline the role transportation facilities such as ports, airports, highways and railways will play in facilitating future growth in BC. Kevin Falcon was appointed Minister of Transportation in 2004. He was first elected to the provincial legislature in 2001 in the riding of Surrey-Cloverdale.

April 21: The RAV Project - It’s time to climb aboard!!

SNC-Lavalin/Serco has recently been selected as the private sector partner on the $1.72 billion RAV line which will connect Vancouver with the Airport and Richmond. It is the largest Public Private Partnership (P3) in BC to date and includes design, build, operate, maintain and partial financing.
Our speaker, Jim Burke, is well qualified to talk about the Project since, as Senior Vice-President and General Manager of SNC-Lavalin’s Transportation Division, he led the successful effort to obtain RAV. Within SNC-Lavalin, Jim has global responsibility for transportation projects, including railways, mass transit systems, and airports. In addition, he is responsible for all project management, engineering and construction activities for SNC-Lavalin’s infrastructure projects in British Columbia.
Don’t miss this special opportunity to be the first in your block to hear about the schedule, construction methods and SNC’s procurement strategy directly from the horse’s mouth.

May 26: YVR is Taking Off! - Your Airport Improvement Fee at Work

Vancouver International Airport traffic is on the rise again and the airport is expanding to meet airline and passenger needs. As part of the $1.4 billion expansion program, a series of major building projects totaling $500 million will be built over the next 2 years to accommodate this growth.

Bob Cowan has worked with YVR since 1994 and has been responsible for maintenance, building permits and the capital expenditure program for the Airport Authority. In his new capacity of Senior Vice President, Engineering he is overseeing the current capital plan.

In his presentation, Bob will outline the planned major building projects and describe some of the unique challenges of delivering these projects in an operating airport. He will talk to some of the design challenges including accommodation requirements for the new A380 aircraft and how the West Chevron expansion project builds on the YVR experience with continuation of a West Coast feel through the new aquarium.

June 16: The Buzz in BC - What's in it for you?

Over the next ten years, there will be high demand within the construction industry for skilled professionals and trades. With many major projects now underway how will the industry manage the resources necessary to get the jobs done? Find out what the government’s plan is to manage this activity to 2010 and beyond. Project Managers for six key projects will talk about their construction schedules and how they plan to meet budget and time commitments. Join us for this timely session on construction activity in BC.Vancouver International Airport traffic is on the rise again and the airport is expanding to meet airline and passenger needs. As part of the $1.4 billion expansion program, a series of major building projects totaling $500 million will be built over the next 2 years to accommodate this growth.

July 14: From Timber to Trade Shows - A Tour of Vancouver’s Changing Waterfront

Vancouver is blessed with one of the finest natural harbours in the world. Long before there was a Vancouver, lumber schooners from around the world called in at Burrard Inlet's two mills, Moodyville and Hastings Mills. As early as the 1860s, timber destined for the world markets was loaded onto sailing vessels. With the arrival of the railway in the 1880s and the creation of the City of Vancouver, trade boomed and port traffic grew at a tremendous rate. Today, Vancouver's port is one of the busiest in the world and one of the largest container ports in North America. With increasing opportunities presented by Asia, Vancouver's port will continue to expand.

The Board of Directors would like to invite you and a guest to join them on a tour up Burrard Inlet. The tour will feature a waterfront look at the Convention Center construction site as well as highlighting the port and water front developments on the south and north shore.

Author, historian and heritage advocate John Atkin will be our guide for the evening. John has explored Vancouver like few others have and offers an interesting and offbeat insight to the city's architecture, history and neighbourhoods. He has created, and conducts, a number of unique and popular walking tours throughout the City of Vancouver. Recent books include Skytrain Explorer and Vancouver Walks.

September 22: Reaching for the Stars!! - From the universe to the entertainment industry

How far can we see? What do we see? David Halliday and his team have designed and built several of the world’s largest telescopes that have embodied many innovative structural components. The market for high tolerance steel structures was pioneered by Amec Dynamic Structures, a local company. The skills honed on telescope design led to new markets for high tolerance and robotic amusement park rides.

David Halliday has been responsible for the success of these projects and holds the position of Vice-President and Director of Specialty Projects at Amec Dynamic Structures. He is also an adjunct professor at UBC.

In his presentation, David will outline the capabilities of the “BIG” telescopes and describe some of the engineering considerations that are critical in reading light years into space.

David will also discuss some of the other services and projects that Amec Dynamic Structures provide to the specialized Amusement Parks worldwide.

October 27: Are We Ready For The Big One? - Urban Search and Rescue: What every engineer needs to know

The Big One or Katrina, how will Vancouver deal with a natural disaster when it happens? Come and hear the first hand Louisiana experiences of the Vancouver Urban Search & Rescue team. Engage in a panel discussion with City staff on Vancouver’s preparedness and the roll the construction industry would have in prevention and recovery.

The Vancouver Urban Search & Rescue team has been on the frontline at disasters locally and around the world for ten years. This team is a City of Vancouver initiative designed to be self governing and to act autonomously from the contributing agencies on the front lines.

Brian Inglis is the team leader. A 28 year veteran with the City, Brian previously worked in the Structures Engineering Branch. Prior to this, he was a paramedic for the State of Washington and has extensive experience in mountain rescue. He has had first hand operational experience at hurricane Andrew, the Turkish earthquake in 1999, the North Vancouver mudslide and, most recently, hurricane Katrina in Louisiana.

As leader, he is responsible for all aspects of the operational management as well as on going strategic planning, logistics management, and training. He also manages all financial aspects, legal requirements and provides the necessary coordination between the contributing agencies.

This presentation will be of interest to engineers, contractors, lawyers, geotechs and others working in the construction industry. Join members of the USAR team and other city representatives to learn more about Vancouver’s readiness and how this will impact on the construction industry.

November 17: A Bridge Across Korean Waters - The Incheon Grand Bridge

Brian Bentz, President, Project Investment Americas, is responsible for AMEC Project Investments market development and the development of all projects in the Americas, which involve the investment of AMEC capital for public-private partnerships and renewable energy projects.

Brian has worked much of his career on the development of major international projects and commercial relationships in 30 countries and understands cultural issues in international business. He has played a major role in many significant transactions, including, the US $1.1 bn Kiani Kertas pulp mill in Indonesia, the US $235 million Ruzomberok pulp mill in the Czech Republic, a CDN $52 million office tower in Vancouver and the US $1.4 bn 2nd Incheon Bridge Toll Bridge in South Korea

The Incheon Bridge project is a 30 year concession to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the 12.3 km bridge linking Incheon City and Seoul to the new Incheon Airport.

AMEC plc is an international project management and services company that designs, delivers and supports infrastructure assets for customers worldwide across the public and private sectors.

December 7: Dave Rudberg - Olympic Legacies for Vancouver

It’s the time of year for traditions. Come and share ours. You and a guest are invited to join the Directors of the BC Construction Roundtable for the year end reception. Dave Rudberg, General Manager, Olympic Operations for the City of Vancouver will be joining us. He will discuss the issues and challenges in managing the City’s involvement with the 2010 games.

Dave Rudberg was the General Manager of Engineering for 13 years with the City of Vancouver. In his new position he is responsible for coordinating and managing Vancouver’s Olympic legacy. This includes the physical structures and economic impacts as well as accessibility and environmental issues. He is also mandated to look at ways of ensuring we are good hosts and that we maximize the legacies for the City by using Olympic opportunities.

January 22: From Hosiery to Housing - The Rebirth of the Woodward’s Building

City of Vancouver Councillor Jim Green and Manager of Real Estate Services, Michael Flanigan will present to members and guests of the BC Construction Roundtable an overview of the City's progress on the redevelopment of the former Woodward's property. This presentation will bring BCCR members and guests up to date on the history of the property including the City's acquisition of the site, the formation of the Project Management Framework that has been adopted by City Council, the highlights of the Community Consultation process, and the challenges and opportunities arising from the City possibly "acting as developer" of the property.

Michael will present an overview of the Expression of Interest process, including a review and summary of the submissions received and evaluated by the City. The presentation will also describe how the project will move forward for the balance of 2004 including the Request for Proposal competition, the key milestone timelines for the award of the development rights, and the outstanding issues pertaining to the successful completion of this important redevelopment project.

February 19: When you build it they will come - Convention Centre Expansion Opens 2008

Russ Anthony, VP Strategic Management for Stantec and President & Project Director of the Vancouver Convention Centre Expansion Project Ltd., is no stranger to large-scale projects. But the much anticipated expansion of the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre is on a tight budget, and an even tighter timeframe, as British Columbia looks for gains in the convention industry and prepares to welcome the world in 2010.

When it opened on July 4, 1987, the existing Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre caused some to wonder how its cavernous ballrooms and exhibition halls would ever be filled. But, in less than 10 years, the VCEC was at capacity and Vancouver ranked among the top convention destinations in the world. In fact, demand outstripped supply as a shortage of space cost almost $100 million in lost revenues in 1993 alone.

Today, with a combined $495 million financial commitment from the province, federal government and Vancouver’s tourism industry, the expansion of the convention centre is slated to create more than 6,000 construction jobs as it moves to completion by the fall of 2008.

Please join us to hear about the current status of the project and the many upcoming opportunities for our industry.

March 11: Annual General Meeting

Guest Speaker: Bing Thom, Architect
There's more to Vancouver than meets the eye

Six years from now, the eyes of the world will be on Vancouver for the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. It will be Canada's, and Vancouver's time to shine! What will Vancouver look like in 2010? Is the trend for development on the downtown peninsula conducive to creating a thriving metropolis? Is Vancouver growing into a livable city that offers the benefits of a resort or is the city in danger of becoming a resort that people live in? What transportation systems must be built to compliment the development? How does this development affect the economic engine of the third largest city in Canada as more people move downtown and more businesses move out? Bing Thom, an internationally acclaimed architect based in Vancouver, will talk about the opportunities of this exciting time in Vancouver's history.

April 29: Roundtable Breakfast Meeting

This session will give members and guests an opportunity to share their thoughts and brainstorm ideas on how to take advantage of the upcoming activity in the local construction market.

The discussion will be initiated and moderated by BCCR Directors Jim McLagan, Marina Pratchett and Ian Rokeby. Subjects that will be discussed include possible shortages of consulting resources and construction labour and a share of opinions on the new forms of contract that are evolving with the popularity of P3 and Joint Venture agreements.

May 20: Tall and Thin is In: Vancouver's Changing Skyline

Vancouver’s skyline has seen some dramatic changes over the last several years and the future will see even more. Taller is the direction things are heading.

James Cheng, James Cheng Architects will present to members and guests of the BC Construction Roundtable an overview of how we got here, what this means for Vancouver and some insights into where we are going. James has designed some of the most significant structures in Vancouver, including the Shaw Tower and 1120 West Georgia (soon to be Vancouver’s tallest building).

Please join us to learn about Vancouver’s changing skyline and what these innovations mean for the construction industry.

June 17: Building a Climate-Friendly City: Vancouver's Response to the Climate Change Challenge

What does it take to build a climate friendly city? Mark Holland, the City of Vancouver’s Acting Manager of their Sustainability Group will present an overview of the work being done with the Cool Vancouver Task Force to develop action plans to reduce climate change emissions including what the City is doing to reduce emissions in its corporate buildings, fleets and operations, to a level 20% below 1990 levels by 2010. Issues affecting buildings, infrastructure and transportation are outlined in the Draft Community Climate Change Action Plan that is undergoing a consultation process for the next 6 months. Information on the plan can be found at www.coolvancouver.ca

Mark Holland is a LEED accredited planner with professional training both in Landscape Architecture and Community and Regional Planning. He is a principal with one of BC's leading sustainable development planning firms, the Holland Barrs Planning Group, and works closely with both developers and municipalities to promote more sustainable and climate-friendly policies and practices.

July 8: A River Runs Through Us: History on the Fraser

The Fraser River has been a major maritime highway for decades. Join us on the MV Native paddlewheel boat to learn about the history of this mighty river and what is in store for the future.

Our guest speaker, Archie Miller, will provide an entertaining and informative commentary on the history of the region. Arthur is a well-known local historian with a Shaw TV series Secrets of the City – New Westminster and a weekly history column for The Record. Dale Miller will also be on hand to answer questions.

Several BCCR directors will talk about future projects along the route.

We hope you can join directors, members and guests for a social evening on the Fraser River.

September 16: High Speed Rail?: Is North America ready?

People are talking about high speed rail. Up and down the West Coast, from Vancouver to San Diego, along the East Coast stretching from New York to Miami and everywhere in between! Maps have been drawn, business cases presented, environmental studies completed, and ridership studies are underway. Is North America ready for high speed rail? Has the time finally come to move from the endless planning to serious implementation? One such opportunity lies close to home; the Calgary/Edmonton corridor. First considered in the early 1980s, this route is once again the subject of renewed interest due to a recently released study highlighting the positive economic viability and resulting benefits.

This month’s topic seeks to stimulate discussion on a few key issues particular to the North American high speed market: what is high speed rail and how will it work in the North American market? What are the unique challenges for North American technologies? What obstacles does high speed face?Who are the natural business partners for development? Is there a formula for success?

Lecia Stewart , Vice-President, High Speed Rail, North America at Bombardier Transportation, has spent the last two decades building business cases, forging partnerships, and negotiating contracts to deliver major urban transportation infrastructure projects. In addition, she leads the negotiating team for Bombardier Transportation for a $4.3 billion high speed rail project in Florida. She will share her experiences and key insights concerning the transportation arena - the issues, challenges and opportunities for high speed rail.

November 4: Hoop Dreams: Constructing the 2010 Olympic Games

We are very pleased to welcome Steve Matheson, Senior Vice President, Venue Development for the 2010 Winter Games as our next speaker. In this special presentation he will enlighten us about the plans for the Games venues such as when the design and construction contracts will be awarded, how the projects will be procured and the schedule for the works. In addition, he will describe the lessons learned from past Olympic Games including Athens.

Steve has spent many years in the Vancouver construction industry. Most recently he was Senior Vice President with Dominion Construction where he was responsible for such projects as General Motors Place , Richmond City Hall and Burnaby Mountain School.

You won’t want to miss this important event. Book early and avoid disappointment as space is limited.

December 2: Back to the FUture: Building BC's ENergy Infrastructure

Hon. Richard Neufeld, Minister of Energy and Mines

China ’s voracious appetite for resources is creating a new export demand in BC’s mining industry. At the same time a looming shortage and higher prices of energy supplies is creating opportunities in the oil and gas sector. Will this synergy provide unprecedented opportunities for the construction industry?

Our speaker, the Hon. Richard Neufeld, BC’s Minister of Energy and Mines will help us answer this question by telling us about the upcoming projects including offshore oil and gas and how our industry can take advantage of them. He will also discuss the relationship between major projects and economic growth, relevant government policies, funding sources and project timing as well as BC’s future and how the development of our cities and province compares with other parts of the world.

Richard Neufeld was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1991 and was appointed Minister of Energy and Mines on June 5, 2001. He has been involved in the oil and gas industry for most of his life mainly in Fort Nelson and Fort St. John where he currently resides.

December 15: Vancouver Mayor Larry Campbell: Planning for Vancouver's FUture

As Vancouver prepares to welcome the world in 2010, a number of projects are planned to coincide with the construction of the Olympic facilities such as the new Convention Centre, the Woodwards development and South East False Creek. How will this increased activity in the construction industry impact on the residents of Vancouver and affect liveability in the city?

Join us at our year end reception and hear Vancouver Mayor Larry Campbell tell us about these plans that could change the City.

Mayor Campbell swept into office in 2002 as part of the left of centre COPE slate, upsetting almost 70 years of Non-Partisan Association control. Two years into his three year mandate, he can be credited with, among other things, opening Canada’s first safe injection site and holding a citywide referendum on the 2010 Winter Olympics to demonstrate support for the games.

January 27: Richmond/Airport/Vancouver Rapid Transit Project - A Status Report

The Richmond/Vancouver corridor is the principal north/south link in the regional transportation network and one of the busiest in the region. A rapid transit line in the corridor, which has long been part of the region’s plans, is now coming to fruition. Work is currently being completed on the project definition phase of the 20 km route linking Richmond and the Airport with Vancouver (RAVP). The RAVP is being advanced as a Public/Private Partnership (P3) with a completion date of 2009. A Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) was issued late last year, with responses due on January 30 2003. An RFP will be issued to short listed proponents in the first half of this year.

Our speaker, John Eastman, the Technical Director for RAVP, will present a status report on the project and will discuss the many challenges that will be faced by the project team. John is one of the region’s foremost transportation project managers. He is currently completing an assignment as President of RTP2000 Ltd, the project management team for the successful Millennium Line. John is also Chairman of N D Lea Consultants Ltd. Please join us for this important meeting on a major transportation project.

February 27: Peter Busby, Architect - Pilot of the Green Machine?

Vancouver is one of the World’s leading cities in building “green” infrastructure. The 2010 Olympic Athletes Housing in False Creek is being designed as a Model Sustainable Community and owners are increasingly insisting on buildings that conform to the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System.

Our speaker, Peter Busby, is an international authority in sustainable building design. His firm has received four Governor General Awards, six Lieutenant Governor Awards and over 40 other awards. Their York University Computer Science Centre was recently recognized with the World Architecture International Green Building Award. Don’t miss this chance to hear this renowned Architect discuss his vision of our sustainable future.

March 3: Annual General Meeting

Guest Speaker: Larry Beasley
From Canron to Condos: The continuing evolution of the City's waterfront

Larry Beasley, will talk about two significant land use planning exercises in which the City is currently involved. The South East False Creek Lands and the "East Fraser Lands", are being looked at as the next major areas of residential development in City lands that were previously industrial. South East False Creek has been designated by City Council as a model sustainable community. The East Fraser Lands comprising the Fraser River front lands between Boundary Road and Kerr Street, south of Marine Way are also being reviewed to establish a suitable mix of uses.

Mr. Beasley, as head of the Current Planning Division and Co-Director of Planning for the City of Vancouver, has been instrumental in leading the planning processes that have shaped previous successful major projects in the City, including the Concord Pacific project on the old Expo Site and the renewal of Coal Harbour and the Central Waterfront. He will talk about the City's major project planning process and the unique opportunities and challenges presented by these two current initiatives.

March 27: Joe Redmond - University Town

The University of British Columbia has grown dramatically from a few granite buildings at the tip of Point Gray to one of the most prestigious Universities in Canada, and perhaps North America. This growth continues both in academic and research excellence and in the development and construction of new facilities. Currently, there is approximately $450 Million of new institution projects planned or under development.

Recognizing the impact of this growth on the region, the University in conjunction with the GVRD, adopted an Official Community Plan in 1997 to act as a guide for future development on the campus. One of the strategies in this plan is the creation of a University Town – an academic and culturally rich, sustainable community, supported by housing, retail, commercial and recreational facilities. Plans envision the development of over 12,000 housing units, a retail commercial centre, a major transportation exchange, and the development of University Boulevard as the vibrant mixed-use campus core.

Joe Redmond is Vice President of UBC Properties Trust, and is involved directly in the development and construction of both the institutional projects at UBC, as well as the planning processes that will shape the University Town. He will speak on the history of the planning process, current projects, and revisions that have taken place in the administration of the development process.

April 24: Half Day Seminar - Rebuilding the Region

Feeling down about the World situation and your current business opportunities? The BCCR has just the answer, an informative seminar on the prospects for BC in general and specifics on some upcoming projects, all presented by exceptional, knowledgeable speakers.

Seminar Objectives:

To give participants an overview of major future design and construction projects, examine the relationship between major projects and engines of economic growth in BC, identify relevant government policies, funding sources and project timing and provide detailed information on several new opportunities.

Speakers included:
Helmut Pastrick	Chief Economist, BC Credit Union Central
Ardath Paxton Mann	Assistant Deputy Minister, Western Economic Diversification Canada
Larry Blaine	President and CEO, Partnerships BC
Frances Caruth (Bio)	Interim Corporate Director of Facilities Planning, Provincial Health Services Authority   Download Presentation
John Dyble	Assistant Deputy Minister, BC Ministry of Transportation
Russ Anthony	Stantec Consulting, Project Director, Vancouver Convention Centre Expansion Project (VCCEP)   Download Presentation

May 22: Steve Davis - BC's IPP Power Industry: New RUles, New Players, New Projects

Our speaker, Steve Davis is the President, Independent Power Producers Association. In the 10 years that he ran the capital project development subsidiaries of BC Gas and Ledcor, he developed and built over $200 million of power and utility facilitates including small hydro and biomass IPPs. He now provides strategic and commercial/financial advice to IPP developers, project financiers and companies providing technical services to IPPs, through his firm, Steve Davis & Associates Consulting Ltd.

His presentation covered six topics –

• overview of BC’s New Era power industry
• review of BC Hydro’s power procurement processes
• status of power projects with signed Electricity Purchase Agreements
• description of a run-of-river hydro power project
• review the power projects recently shortlisted and invited to respond to BC Hydro’s Call for Tenders
• outlook for shortlisted projects

June 19: The Fraser River Corridor -The Lower Mainland's Largest Road Infrastructure Initiatives

  Download Presentation

The lack of road capacity in the Fraser Valley contributes to major congestion for people commuting and to the movement of goods and services. This breakfast session of the BC Construction Roundtable will offer a look at the plans for improving the road network in this area.

Geoff Freer, Program Director, Fraser Gateway will talk about the four short term projects and six long term projects that make up the Fraser Gateway plan.

Fred Cummings, Project Director, Fraser River Crossing, will present the current status and schedule for these major transportation initiatives. The 200 St. Crossing is one of the four short term projects

Learn about the timelines, budgets and construction opportunities with these transportation initiatives.

July 15: Rail of Two Cities - Elevated Transit in Vancouver and Seattle

The genesis of elevated transit began in 1962 with the Monorail at Seattle World's Fair. Many feel that it was this nearby operating example of elevated transit that made it easier to conceive of this form of transportation when Vancouver decided to build the first SkyTrain Line for the World's Fair in 1986. And the presence of a successful example has come full circle, with a public vote in Seattle to build a 14 mile line of Monorail connecting the Downtown to West Seattle and Ballard. 

Our speaker, Alan Hart, Principal with VIA Architecture, is a past president of the BCCR. Last year at this time he was one of the guides on our successful tour of the Millennium Line for which he was chief Architect. He has since moved to Seattle as he and his team won the contract to design the high profile Seattle Monorail Project, despite the significant competition of several large American companies.

Alan will discuss how Rapid Transit, such as the Monorail Project can shape our cities, compare the Monorail to the Millennium Line and explain what it is like to live and work in the USA. Join us for what promises to be a fascination story of how a small, talented Vancouver company can win a high profile contract in the USA, and what it is like to be a Canadian living there after the war on Iraq.

September 22: Jumping through the Olympic Hoops! - Your Guide to Construction Gold

David Podmore is President and Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Concert Properties Ltd. Mandated to provide economically priced, multi-family rental and for-sale housing in British Columbia, Concert Properties Ltd. was created through a unique partnership including the City of Vancouver, the Province of British Columbia, BC pension funds, unionized labour, private corporations and individuals, and with an initial capitalization of $27.3 million.

With Concert Properties as a Community Contributor to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Bid Committee, David was the Team Leader of Venue Development, guiding preliminary planning for more than $600 million in new infrastructure planned for the 2010 Olympic Bid.

This breakfast seminar offers a wonderful opportunity to hear David's unique perspective on the process leading up to Vancouver's successful bid and to find out about the construction projects that will be required to host the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and Whistler.

October 23: Doubling Delta - The Port Expansion

Huge growth is being planned for the Vancouver Port container business over the next 15-20 years. How will this growth be accommodated? And what will this mean for the construction industry? Mark Griggs will talk about the future of the Vancouver Port development in Burrard Inlet and in Delta at Roberts Bank. He will provide specifics on the plans for the expansion at Roberts Bank including the size and scope of the operation and what opportunities there will be for the construction industry. 

Mark Griggs is Manager of the Container Development Group, a division of the Vancouver Port Authority. The Container Development Group is responsible for the planning and development of Port Vancouver's container terminal facilities including expansions to existing facilities as well as the development of new terminals. Prior to joining the Vancouver Port Authority, Mark worked as a project manager on a variety of industrial, commercial and resort projects throughout Western Canada, Australia and South East Asia.

November 20: Abbotsford Hospital - Will This be a Cure for what Ails P3s?

The new 300-bed hospital and cancer centre will be the largest development project ever undertaken in Abbotsford. Construction is scheduled to begin next year and be completed by the end of 2007. For the past 2 years, the development team has explored opportunities for increased involvement of the private sector in the design, development, operations and maintenance of the project. This has resulted in the decision to proceed with the project using a P3 approach. 

Our speaker, Michael Marasco is the Chief Project Officer for Partnerships BC, Prior to this; he was a Vice President of Hospital Development with the Fraser Health Authority, which cares for the 1.3 million residents in the southwestern area of British Columbia. A Certified Management Accountant by profession, Michael has extensive experience in real estate, strategic and operational planning, marketing and sales, and information systems.

He will provide specifics on the size, scope and status of the project, and describe the many opportunities for the construction industry.

December 10: Member's Reception - with special guest Architect Bing Thom

Ho! Ho! Ho! You are invited to our annual Festive Season Social and Networking event. This is a chance to meet with other members of the Construction Roundtable and chat informally about the construction business over light fare and a drink. 

Our special guest, Bing Thom, is an internationally renowned architect. To help launch our theme for 2004, Foundations for the Futures, Bing will share his experiences about working in other cities and tell us how Vancouver is shaping up!!

Bing Thom is the principal of Bing Thom Architects Inc., a firm he founded in 1980 in Vancouver. Among his many award winning projects and innovative designs are the Canada Pavilion for Expo '92 in Seville, Spain; the Chan Centre for Performing Arts at UBC, the expansion of the Vancouver Aquarium and Marine Science Centre and the redevelopment of the Hotel Georgia expansion, which is slated to be Vancouver's tallest building.

January 24: Fredericton - Moncton Highway: Relevance to BC?

Robin Johnston will review the highlights of the Fredericton - Moncton Highway project and the application of some of the processes to future BC infrastructure development.

The $600 million project is a recently commissioned toll facility implemented as a Public-Private Partnership in New Brunswick. It is a key link in the Maritime Trans Canada Highway system and was initiated to improve the efficiency of goods movement and the safety of the travelling public.

Robin has been a leading member of the project team since its formation five years ago.

Robin is a principal of Collings Johnston Inc., a technical management consultant. Collings Johnston Inc. provides the interface between project owners, their stakeholders and specialist disciplines. It advises senior management on procedural matters; it appraises project feasibility and develops and co-ordinates the delivery processes on publicly and/or privately financed transportation initiatives.

February 28: Redevelopment of Vancouver General Hospital

Vancouver General Hospital contracted with Mark Betteridge & Associates (MBA) Inc. and with Davidson Yuen Simpson Architects to manage the rezoning of its lands and to create business plans, risk analyses and financing alternatives to create the medical technology park and associated facilities.

Vancouver City Council has approved the rezoning that will permit 645,000 sq. ft. of medical technology space, renovation of the 1906 Heather Heritage Pavilion, creation of more than 7 acres of open space, redevelopment of the former Nurses Residence site for a range of residential uses and the inclusion of retail space throughout the development. While not strictly part of the rezoning, the Hospital intends to see construction of the 365,000 sq. ft. Academic Ambulatory Care Centre occur soon.

Mark Betteridge and Ron Yuen will give a presentation on the next phases of the project and the potential timeline for completion.

March 7: Beyond Partnering - Alliance Contracts

Vancouver-based mining company Teck Cominco operates Red Dog, the world's largest zinc mine, in a remote area of northwest Alaska, north of the Arctic Circle.

In early 2000, Teck Cominco, Vancouver-based engineers AMEC E&C Services and Anchorage-based contractor NANA/VECO signed an Alliance Contract to engineer, procure and construct the $US 105 million Value Improvement Project (VIP) Mill Optimization based on an ambitious, 22-month schedule from conception to start-up.

Working as an integrated organization, the project team was able to take advantage of innovative construction techniques, such as modularization in Anchorage, and bring the project in on budget and meet the extremely tight shipping windows for delivery of equipment and material to site.

VIP Mill Optimization Project Manager Steve Ciccone will present a project overview and insights on the challenges and opportunities afforded by Alliance contracting - an open book, single team approach that seeks to break down the barriers between owner, consultant and contractor to achieve outstanding performance. Teck Cominco General Manager of Projects, Bob Hutchinson, will be on hand to answer questions regarding the Owner's perspective on this unique method of project delivery.

March 18: Annual General Meeting

Guest Speaker: John Furlong
Vancouver Whistler 2010 Bid Corporation
Bidding for the Olympic Winter Games

John Furlong, Chief Operating Officer with the 2010 Bid Corporation, will bring us a behind-the-scenes and up to the minute look at the ongoing and complex undertaking of the Winter Games bid: what is involved, what has transpired to date, what more is to be done, what will the Games mean to the BC Economy in general and the BC Construction industry in particular.

Mr. Furlong is a resident of Richmond, BC. A member of the Canadian Olympic Association, Mr. Furlong has served as co-chair of the BC Summer and Winter Games and Sport BC. He founded the Northern BC Winter Games Society and was a BC Mission Staff member for seven Canada Games.

Mr. Furlong has served as chair of the Richmond General Hospital and the Richmond Health Alliance. He is the former head of Physical Education at Prince George College and was a trustee at Vancouver Community College. He has been recognized with both the Darrel Thompson and Kaizan Awards for service to sport in BC over a lifetime.

April 25: Vancouver Transit Strategy

Transit, transportation and traffic affect everyone living in the city and visiting the city. Moving goods and people is a challenge at the best of times but in a city without freeways and subways it is even more difficult. But Vancouver is taking the approach that all modes of transportation - cars, buses, bicycles, walking - can and should be part of an overall transportation strategy.

City of Vancouver staff have presented a report to Council proposing a long term transit strategy for Vancouver composed of the following elements:

• an updated and expanded local and express bus system
• a downtown streetcar with a possible at grade extension along the Arbutus Corridor to Kerrisdale and Marpole
• extension of the Millennium line as a subway from Vancouver Community College along Central Broadway to Granville
• a regional transit subway linking Vancouver, Richmond and Vancouver Airport

Dave Rudberg, General Manager of Engineering Services for the City of Vancouver, will present this strategy to members and guests of the Construction Roundtable.

Find out about opportunities for the construction industry, whether P3's are part of the scenario and what the timeline is for the various elements.

May 23: Knowledge Management: A Productivity Tool for Construction - Fact or Fiction?

Knowledge and innovation are key drivers of the economy. In the changing construction industry clients will be demanding more than low bids. P3's will require a knowledgeable team able to share and learn.

Knowledge management can be rendered as: "People know stuff and we need