BAC Journal > Standing Together Proud and Strong

Standing Together Proud and Strong

2017 Issue 2
Canada

BAC Joins CBTU to Unveil the Building Trades Monument and Welcomes Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as New Honorary Member

JOURNAL: ISSUE 2 - 2017
Canada
BAC President James Boland presenting a customized BAC trowel and a BAC honorary membership to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Leaders and members of BAC joined the honorable Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and members of the Canadian Building Trades Unions (CBTU) at the unveiling of the Canadian Building Trades Monument at Major’s Hill Park in Ottawa on May 16th. A special gift from the CBTU to the people of Canada, this national monument in Canada’s capital becomes a symbol to celebrate the contributions made by building trades craftworkers and commemorate the losses they have endured in carrying out their work. 

At the event, BAC President James Boland presented Prime Minister Trudeau a ceremonial BAC trowel representing a BAC honorary membership in recognition of his continued commitment to restoration of the historic buildings on and around Parliament Hill in Ottawa.

Canada
On February 1st, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, helping to lay the last stone at the West Block of Parliament Hill with BAC Local 7 Canada member Ken Burchill, right, an employer of BAC signatory contractor RJW-Gem Campbell Stonemasons Inc. (Ottawa, ON).

President Boland said, “Members of BAC Local 7 Canada have been an integral part of the restoration of the West Block. We were honored that Prime Minister Trudeau could find time from his busy schedule to lay the last architectural cut stone on the exterior of the West Block. We look forward to continuing the restoration of the Centre Block and the East Block in partnership with Public Works and Government Services Canada.” 

More than 400 leaders from the construction industry, labor organizations, and the purchasers of construction services from across Canada and the United States attended the unveiling of the monument. The monument was fabricated in Ontario with Cambrian black granite, quarried in Quebec. It features a pair of oversized plumb bobs and 17 iconic ‘tools of the trades’ etched into the granite. Each tool was chosen by one of the 17 different trade unions that sponsored the monument.

Canada
BAC leaders at the Canadian Building Trades Monument. From left, BAC Organizing Director Steve Nelms, BAC Secretary-Treasurer Tim Driscoll, BAC Executive Vice President Gerard Scarano, BAC Canadian Regional Director Craig Strudwick, BAC President James Boland, former BAC Canadian Regional Director Fred Vautour, Local 1 Newfoundland President Garry Russell, Local 8 NB Field Representative Denny Vautour, and Local 1 Newfoundland Business Manager John Leonard.