Share this edition of the Informer with your peers and subscribe!

November 27, 2024

Hello,

Calling all employers — This December, Mechanical Contractors in BC have an opportunity to tap into a program that introduces immigrant women to the construction trades. The Immigrant Women in Trades (IWTA) program by PICS Society is fully funded by the federal government and supports immigrant women working in five Red Seal trades in British Columbia. Read on to learn how you can get involved as an employer.

Have you renewed your MCABC membership for 2025? Continue to unlock membership benefits that set your business up for success. MCABC delivers customized education, networking opportunities, special discounts, Fortify Wellness, and so much more. Renew your 2025 membership today.

The MCABC Christmas Cocktail Lounge is tomorrow – November 28th! Kick off the holidays with this festive evening that includes networking, delicious eats & treats, door prizes and a silent auction. Grab your tickets today, we look forward to celebrating with you tomorrow.

Thanks for reading!

- Your MCABC team

Welcome to our newest member!

Aon

Aon in Canada provides a range of sophisticated advice and solutions in Risk, Retirement and Health. Aon helps clients design and implement secure, equitable and sustainable retirement programs through actuarial, investment and bundled retirement solutions.

Aon also offers risk advisory, risk transfer and structured solutions that help organizations and individuals better identify, quantify and manage their risk exposure.

IWTA Program — A Practicum Opportunity to Support Immigrant Women in Construction 

The IWTA Program is a 10-week program that provides immigrant women with the skills and certifications needed to enter the construction industry. If you're an employer, PICS Society is seeking support for their program participants to undergo a four-week practicum, fully funded by the federal government. The practicum will start on the first or second week of December.

The program consists of six weeks of Skills Training, followed by a four-week practicum. The women that undergo this program complete the following essential certifications: Occupational First Aid Level 1, WHMIS, Confined Spaces, Fall Protection, Hazard Recognition, Electrical Safety, and Personal Protective Equipment.

This is a great opportunity for employers to contribute to inclusion in the workforce and support immigrant women entering the trades. Employers can benefit from having skilled, certified participants without taking on additional costs as this program is government-funded, and PICS assumes all safety concerns through a liability cause. For more information:

REMINDER: Renew your MCABC Membership for 2025 

If you haven't already, be sure to renew your membership for 2025 to continue to unlock exclusive membership benefits and resources that set your business up for success.

MCABC is anticipating the future and leading the change for Mechanical Contractors in BC, specifically as it relates to innovative solutions that can help enable our members’ success. MCABC’s continued focus on advocacy, education, high-value networking events, and continued collaboration with industry and other stakeholders across British Columbia is unwavering.

To renew your membership for 2025, log in to your Member profile:

Attract the Best, Keep the Best — Support your Company with Fortify Wellness

MCABC is leading the progression of our industry and advocating for the changes that are important to you as a business owner and leader. Our health, benefits and retirement plan, Fortify Wellness, continues to support the needs of employers and is a tool leveraged for employee retention and attraction.

Fortify Wellness Offers Attractive Group Health Options for MCABC Members:

1. Traditional Hour Bank plans with four levels of coverage, giving workers the ability to bank hours and access benefits when times are slow while offering predictable, reasonable costs for employers.
2. Custom benefits plans, Group retirement solutions and other options allowing companies to customize to meet the unique needs of your business and your team.

Last Chance to grab your tickets — MCABC's Christmas Cocktail Lounge is TOMORROW! 🎄

The MCABC Christmas Cocktail Lounge is tomorrow! Kick off your holiday season and join us for an evening of networking, delicious food, and drinks to ignite your holiday spirit. MCABC is hosting an annual silent auction to raise funds for the Ending Violence Association of BC (EVA-BC), MCABC members' charity of choice.

Your ticket includes:

• Holiday eats
• Two (2) complimentary drinks 
• Networking — an opportunity to make connections and celebrate the season
• Silent Auction — get a head start on your holiday shopping! All proceeds go towards the Ending Violence Association of BC (EVA-BC), MCABC members' charity of choice.

Grab your tickets today, we can’t wait to see you tomorrow.

Date: Thursday, November 28th, 2024

Time: 5:30 - 8:30 PM

Location: The Loft at Earls Yaletown, 1095 Mainland St Second floor, Vancouver, BC V6B 6G9

🕒 T-Minus 7 Months: Countdown to the 2025 Leadership Conference

The countdown to the MCABC Leadership Conference is officially on — from June 11-13, 2025, the mechanical industry will gather in Nanaimo, BC to learn more about innovation, leadership, and industry transformation.

Prepare to be inspired as top industry experts and business leaders come together to share insights and create actionable solutions for the industry. This is your opportunity to connect with fellow industry peers, learn, and grow. From panel discussions and exclusive educational sessions to networking, you don't want to miss out on MCABC's premier networking and educational event of the year. Registration opens January 2025. Stay tuned for updates!

ZEBx Webinar: Laying the Groundwork - A New Deep Retrofit Service in BC

Join ZEBx for their last Decarb Lunch of 2024! You’ll hear about the gap that the BC Retrofit Accelerator and its numerous partners seek to fill, the benefits they provide to housing societies, and the crucial role they play in the ideation phase of project development before engaging professional consultants.

Representatives from the BC Non-Profit Housing Association (BCNPHA) and Aboriginal Housing Management Association (AHMA) will showcase how they can assist housing societies with early-stage project development and financial planning. They’ll outline an example of a building decarbonization roadmap, as well as the benefits and potential challenges of undertaking a deep retrofit project.

If you’re involved in building retrofits, (such as local government or housing provider) or just someone interested in how we can accelerate and scale building retrofits, this webinar is for you.

Date: Thursday, December 12th, 2024

Time: 12 - 1 PM

(Image Source: Tourism Kelowna)

What to expect:

• Delicious Bites from King Taps Kelowna's holiday-inspired menu
• Two (2) complimentary drinks to get the holiday spirit flowing
• Great Company — a chance to connect, celebrate, and collaborate with industry friends and colleagues

Tickets are going fast — Don’t miss your chance to join this festive gathering.

Date: Wednesday, December 4th, 2024

Time: 5:30 - 8:30 PM

Location: King Taps Kelowna Lakeside, 1352 Water St, Kelowna, BC V1Y 9P4

CBC

The Canadian Press

On-Site Magazine

Canadian Survey on Business Conditions, fourth quarter 2024

Statistics Canada

NDP hits the brakes on fall sitting of the B.C. legislature, bringing criticism

CTV News

To ban or not to ban natural gas in construction of Vancouver detached homes?

Business in Vancouver