On-Site Magazine

Virtual Events
WorkForce ’25 – Tackle the Skilled Trades Worker Shortage Head-On!
May 15, 2025 at 1:00pm ET

If you’re struggling to find and keep skilled workers, you’re not alone. The labour shortage is hitting harder than ever, and if you’re not actively working to attract and retain talent, your business will suffer.

Ask yourself:

  • Would I want to work here? What’s my company’s culture really like?
  • Am I investing in my workforce? Do my employees see a future with me, or are they just passing through?
  • Do I offer competitive pay and benefits? Or am I losing good people to companies that do?

Your experienced workers will retire. The next generation is making career choices right now—and if your company isn’t appealing to them, they’ll go elsewhere.

WorkForce ’25 will challenge you to take action—before it’s too late. This event will deliver real strategies to help you attract, develop, and retain the skilled workforce you need to keep your business strong.

Schedule

On DEMAND VIDEO
Keynote Speaker – “State of the Union” of Skilled Trades / Labour Shortage

Moderator: Adam Freill

Speaker: Bill Ferreira, executive director of BuildForce

On DEMAND VIDEO
Marketing Construction Careers to a New Generation

The construction industry has a perception problem, and it’s costing you talent. If you want to compete for the next generation of workers, you need to take control of your company’s image.

This session will give you practical strategies for marketing your business and the industry more effectively so that you reach the right people with the right message.

Moderator:  Doug Picklyk

Panelists:
  • Lea Valcourt, Senior Director of Workforce Development
  • Jim Barry - VP of Health, Safety & Environment at PCL Construction
  • Anna Lary - Master Electrician and Project Lead of the ConnectHER Hub at BCIT

On DEMAND VIDEO
Retaining Workers through Training, Growth, and Purpose

A paycheque isn’t enough to keep workers around. Skilled employees want more than just a job: they want stable and inspiring management, opportunities for advancement, and purpose in their careers. If your company doesn’t provide that, they’ll find an employer who does.

This session will challenge you to rethink how you invest in your workforce—from attitude and training to career progression and company purpose.

Moderator: Doug Picklyk

Panelists:
  • Ravi Tangri - Chief Cultural Officer for Simul Corp.
  • Jay Mallan - owner of JJM Mechanical Group in Burnaby
  • Alicia Maxim-Welsh - Organizational Development Manager at Graham
  • Sarah Harkness, Director, People and Culture, at EllisDon

On DEMAND VIDEO
Compensation and Benefits Strategies for Skilled Labour Retention

A great workplace culture only goes so far—if your wages and benefits aren’t competitive, your workers will leave.

In this interactive session, an HR subject-matter expert will delve into package “must-haves”, perks and incentives, and retention through rewards.

Host: Adam Freill

Speaker: Pascale Mapleston - founder and CEO of The Benefit Code





Platinum
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Frequently Asked Questions About WorkForce ’25 – Tackle the Skilled Trades Worker Shortage Head-On!


When & Where?

WorkForce ’25 – Tackle the Skilled Trades Worker Shortage Head-On! will take place virtually via Zoom Webinar on May 15, 2025 at 1:00pm ET.

There will be a 10 minute break between live sessions.

When will the WorkForce ’25 – Tackle the Skilled Trades Worker Shortage Head-On! be announced?

This year’s class of honourees will be announced shortly after 40 Under 40 Symposium 2024, in the September edition of On-Site Magazine. Watch your mailbox for this highly anticipated issue of On-Site.

How do I access?

You will receive an email from Zoom 1 day before and 1 hour before the virtual event on May 15, 2025.

If you don’t see an access link in your email inbox, please check your junk folder. If you are still unable to locate the email, contact Azeemah Abowath.