Inside this issue you'll find a message from leadership, updates from across the group, some insight into recent innovation winners and much, much more. Please scroll down to see what's in this edition.
If you or your team have exciting news or updates, please share with us!
In This Edition!
- Leadership Message - Happy New Year! Welcome to 2020!
- Our Very Own Vigilance Leaders! - Vigilance Champions
- Serving the Pascua Yaqui Community - Pascua Yaqui Health Services II Project
- Moray East Piles Project - BiFab Fabricates 150 piles
- JV Driver University - What's New and Where Are We Headed?
- Completion of the Evolve and Prime - MetroCan Construction
- Mission Xmas! - The BiFab Team makes Christmas Memories
- Breast Cancer Awareness - JVDIS Team in Houston
- From Foundation Students to Building Quesnel’s Trade Wing Expansion
- Think Different, Build Better - Check Out The TDBB Winners!
Leadership Message
Happy New Year! Welcome to 2020!
Happy New Year! I hope all of you had a safe, happy and relaxing holiday break with your family and friends.
I would like to say a huge thank you to all of you for being a part of our team in 2019. The JV Driver Group exists because of great people and we have so many great people to celebrate. We have all built so many great things together, and we thank you for all of your hard work in the past year and your continued commitment to our team!
As we start a new decade, 2020 has many indicators that it will be a good year. Our strategic business planning and restructuring that have occurred over the last few years have planted the seeds for some new opportunities and areas of growth - many of which are kicking off in 2020. As part of these plans, we significantly changed how we are structured, where we are focused and how we operate the business overall. This growth will bring new operations and people to our team. I’m very excited to see it unfold in the year to come, and to communicate more about this during the upcoming AGM.
Future growth will be based on the firm foundation of our Core Values of Building Great Things, Taking Care of Each Other, Being Innovative and Having Fun.
These values are the core of our group, and the guiding principles with which we operate. Although very durable, core values exist solely in our hearts and minds, kept alive only by our choices and actions to carry them out day-to-day. Like the three decades prior, I have no doubt our extraordinary team will carry these core values forward in the next decade in incredible ways.
Looking at the rich history of our team, great leadership has always differentiated us. Our goal is for everyone to be constantly improving and growing, striving to achieve their greatest personal potential and leading others to do the same by our words and actions. Our team as a whole only gets better when each one of us is growing and learning, and our commitment is to work with you in providing resources and time to grow as leaders in every area of your life. As 2020 opens the next decade for all of us, I invite you to invest in being the best leader that you can be in your life, your health, your relationships and your career.
We will be holding our annual AGM on February 27 in Vancouver. Our goal is to have all of you attend this event virtually, or if you are in the Vancouver area in person. At the event, I look forward to talking further with you on our business plans, our leadership development opportunities and the years ahead.
We are all looking forward to 2020 with optimism and confidence that our team is very capable and well positioned to grow and excel. Thank you all for your hard work and your commitment. I wish all of you and your families a safe, prosperous and happy 2020.
Chuck
Our Very Own Vigilance Leaders!
Act of Vigilance Champions
Ryan Janjuh - Fluor Driver - Fort Hills
While working out on a barge Ryan noticed a valve that had been leaking was forming ice at the bottom of the access ladder. Ryan immediately notified operations, and in the meantime used a tiger torch to melt away the ice. We thank you Ryan for your prompt reporting and taking the time to mitigate the hazard.
Dennis Gomez - JV Driver Projects - SCPP
Dennis noticed a worker was about to climb a scaffold ladder and noticed that he had a tool in his back pocket with no lanyard attached. The tool had potential to fall out if the worker climbed the ladder. Dennis stopped the worker immediately and reminded him to always have tool lanyards attached when working at heights, he also requested to the worker to lift materials in a kuny bag to avoid any potential of dropped objects. Good job!
Great Work!
- The JV Driver Safety Team
Serving the Pascua Yaqui Community
Pascua Yaqui Health Services II Project
BFL Construction broke ground on a 100,000-SF health services building for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe in July of 2019. This $24M project, situated about a half-hour southwest of Tucson, will combine several health-related departments into one location to better serve the Pascua Yaqui community and nearby communities. Under the Tribal Employment Rights Ordinance, BFL and its subcontractors must give tribe members first consideration when hiring labor for the job.
This project has a large amount of earthwork, as we must rework the entire 28-acre lot and move approx. 68,000 CY of dirt to establish the building pad, parking lots, and retention basins. The building itself is one story with wood/steel structure and EIFS on metal stud framing for the exterior, with an open air two-story lobby area. Industry-leading amenities, including climate control systems, interior finishes, children’s playground equipment, and an interior meditation courtyard, have been incorporated into the design. An onsite pharmacy and a health-conscious snack facility are included for convenience of the customers.
Site features include drought-tolerant landscaping using local native species and a completely covered employee parking lot with a future solar panel system. We have divided the construction process into five phases to better manage the flow of work. With BFL’s top-notch onsite management team of Dennis George, Shelly Brokaw, Greg Crossett, and TJ Smith, this project will be a huge success for BFL Construction and The Pascua Yaqui Tribe. The project is slated for completion in December of 2020.
- The BFL Team
Moray East Piles Project
BiFab Fabricates 150 piles
The fabrication of 150 piles at BiFab, comprised of over 2,000 tons of steel, began in April of 2019 and will be completed in January. These piles are destined for the Moray East Offshore Windfarm – a Green Energy Project off the coast of Scotland. Each pile is approximately 36m in length, 2.4m in diameter and made using 50-65mm thick plate. Many of the plates were rolled in BiFab’s 5,000t rollers located at the Arnish Facility on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland. Arnish is an island in the north of Scotland, to put it in perspective, if in Canada, it would be 400km north of Fort MacMurray.
Fabrication of the piles was shared between two of BiFab’s Facilities – Methil and Arnish combined to complete approximately 250,000 hours of work. The project was delivered with a high degree of quality (less than 1% weld repair rate) and within project delivery goals, despite supply chain challenges that delayed deliveries by up to 4 months. Even with these challenges, BiFab held its schedule to the client, through various changes in the execution plan, flexibility and innovation. Through the project, a continuous improvement model was applied focused on bottleneck management and process improvement that witnessed output increase by 3X over the last half of the schedule. While a 150 pile contract was considered a stretch goal at the start of 2019 it would be with ease to take on a 400 pile contract for 2020
The largest win, though, for BiFab was in the area of Safety Culture and the AoV Program. The AoV Program was introduced to the Arnish Facility in April and to the Methil facility when it was mobilized in July. Since the inception, both sites have achieved the target of 1:10 every month which I believe is a first for JV Driver. The results on safety culture and safety statistics has been tremendous given the over 25,000 AoV’s submitted. Not only has it been felt inside the organization, it has also had positive impact with the client, our unions, stakeholders and future clients, helping forge a reputation for BiFab as one of the safest fabricators in Europe. BiFab is now looking forward to the close-out of this project and taking on the next one.
- Sean McCarthy, Vice President of Operations, Eastern Canada
JV Driver University
What's New and Where Are We Headed?
What is JVDU?
JV Driver University (JVDU) is our world-class, virtual learning management system that offers on-demand skill development and core competency training.
What is the purpose of JVDU?
The purpose of JVDU is to deliver, manage and measure employee learning and development across the JV Driver Group, while simultaneously driving engagement, boosting productivity and promoting continuous learning, skill building and career development.
What do we want to achieve through JVDU?
- Build the best people for key positions by increasing their knowledge, skills and competencies.
- Continue to grow our business by improving our capabilities through learning and development.
- Create an effective blended approach to learning that combines JVDU with external secondary education, and on the job training.
What’s new at JVDU?
JVDU Launches:
The Learning & Development Team has been hard at work launching the new platform to many companies across the JVD Group in 2019. Fluor Driver, IDL, DFBarnes, DFB Driver and Metro-Can Construction have successfully launched and we are seeing engagement and plenty of excitement around the new learning platform.
If your launch has not happened yet, stay tuned as it is right around the corner.
Tagline:
A new learning platform warrants a tagline which speaks to our vision and mission and JVDU is about “Building Great People”.
JVDU App:
A new JVDU App has launched! This app, called Absorb Learn will allow learners to access JVDU courses through their iOS and Android mobile devices, including phones, iPads, and tablets. If your company has launched JVDU, you will be able to download the app from the app store and login.
What’s happening in 2020?
Each quarter, the Learning & Development Team will be launching a Showcase Learning Topic that highlights a relevant theme, suggests JVDU courses in relation to the theme, and offers articles, tools and other resources to help supplement your learning.
2019 was an exciting and productive year, 2020 is shaping up to be even better. JV Driver is committed to “Building Great People” through your continued growth, learning and development.
Stay tuned for further JVDU communications and should you have any questions, please contact learning@jvdriver.com or speak directly with your Human Resource or Learning and Development representative.
- The JVDU Team
Completion of the EVOLVE and PRIME
MetroCan Construction
EVOLVE
SURREY, BC
The excavation for Evolve began February 2016. Located in Surrey's City Centre area, this 35 storey high rise will feature 407 units in 14 different designs. This beautifully designed property with 360 degree views is being developed by Weststone Group and offers amenities that include a gourmet kitchen, fully equipped gym, theatre, sky patio & lounge with kitchen and much more. Interconnecting garden paths will connect to Central Surrey amenities and transit. A fully secured underground parkade will include secure bicycle storage. Evolve is a block from Surrey Central Skytrain station and a short walk to SFU Campus, Central City Mall and many other shopping conveniences.
Prime
SURREY, BC
Excavation for Prime on the Plaza began January 2016. This condo and townhouse development by Reliance Properties and McDonald Development Corporation will be a 37 storey tower in the heart of downtown Surrey. It will feature 398 units with efficient floor plans, premium fixtures & finishes, panoramic views and multiple outdoor terraces including a rooftop garden with kitchen. Floor plans include micro-lofts to 3 bedrooms ranging in size from 306 to 1410 sq. ft. The 4 plus levels of parking will have room for over 300 vehicles. Amenities include Fitness Center, Yoga & Pilates Studio, Sauna & Steam Room and much more. Prime on the Plaza is situated on University Drive and 103 Avenue and is next door to the North Surrey Recreation Center and 1 block away from the Skytrain station and Central City Shopping Center.
Mission Xmas!
The BiFab Team makes Christmas Memories
The team in Scotland, at BiFab, have demonstrated a fantastic example of our Core Values by taking part in a charity appeal on the run-in to Christmas. The focus of the appeal, put on through local radio, was to provide Christmas gifts for under privileged children in the local area by launching an appeal for the workforce to buy and donate gifts for children of all ages, up to 18. The response from the team was absolutely amazing, with the value of all donations received totaling in excess of £2000. The generosity of the workforce in responding to this appeal was overwhelming and an amazing demonstration of the desire to help make Christmas a memorable experience for all those children. Our thanks go out to everybody in the workforce who so willingly and selflessly took part in the initiative. The organisers of the charity appeal were amazed at the response and have also expressed their gratitude to BiFab and have asked that we participate once again this Christmas and contribute to such a worthy cause.
- Iain Campbell, BiFab
Breast Cancer Awareness
JVDIS Team in Houston
In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and to honor all mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts and friends who are survivors, currently fighting, or who have passed due to this ugly disease, JVD USA wore pink and enjoyed a Friday afternoon pink ice cream break. Breast cancer awareness month is a yearly campaign intended to educate people about the importance of early screening, tests, new treatments and more.
- The JVDIS Team
From Foundation Students to Building Quesnel’s Trade Wing Expansion
Featuring Tom Fuller, long-time face of IDL
A pair of former CNC Carpentry Foundation-Level students are now valuable members of the team currently building the expansion to CNC’s trades wing in Quesnel.
Shortly after completing the program at CNC’s Quesnel campus in 2018, Tyler Iampen and Dawson Weselowski found work with the project’s general contractor IDL Construction.
Prior to enrolling at CNC, Tyler spent 10 years working construction. His experience in CNC’s Carpentry Foundation-Level program increased his math skills and provided a solid background about construction procedures. It also taught him how to navigate and interpret the BC Building Code.
Dawson entered the program as a dual credit student from Correlieu Secondary School. He completed the Carpentry Foundation-Level program in conjunction with his final Grade 12 requirements. He did all this while also holding down a job.
Managed by Tom Fuller of IDL, Tyler and Dawson built the footings and foundation, installed a large trenching system in the power engineering shop, demolished a wall, and are now building the steel wall structure and supports.
Tyler credits CNC Quesnel’s Carpentry Foundation-Level instructor Howard Berlin for his success in the program.
“Howard is a good teacher,” Tyler said. “And he is always available to answer questions.”
Dawson also appreciated all the help he received from his instructor throughout the program.
“If you needed him to, he took the time to break down concepts so you can understand them,” Dawson said.
There are 8,000 job openings projected for carpenters in B.C. between now and 2022. The foundation course at CNC prepares students for an apprenticeship and can lead to a large variety of careers, from construction and management to log home building to home inspection.
CNC Quesnel offers all levels of the Carpentry Apprentice program. In 2019, Foundation Carpenter begins February 4 with Carpenter Level 3 beginning October 28, 2019.
Our Core Purpose
Think Different, Build Better
Check Out The TDBB Winners!
Congratulations to Tyler Lee-Jarvis, Duane Temple and Rick Leduc of IDL Projects and the Mental Health Committee members at Scott Construction for their award-winning innovative “Think Different, Build Better” ideas!
Tyler tells us about the team’s water cannon innovation.
Driveline: Tell me a little about how this innovation got started.
Tyler Lee-Jarvis: Part of our work scope on the project was the blasting and removal of bedrock to an average depth of 12 meters. The client expected a clean shear wall, free of loose debris which would be very labor intensive and involve workers working at heights possibly in the line of fire of falling rock. Superintendent Duane Temple and myself conceptualized possible solutions and quickly came up with the idea of utilizing a water stream to remove loose debris from ledges and accelerate natural erosion due to rain water. The concept evolved from a truck-bed mounted water monitor to a nozzle welded to the side of an excavator bucket. We chose to mount the nozzle to the side of a Hitachi 470 bucket to bring the nozzle close to the shear wall face to reduce energy loss in the water stream. The added articulation of the nozzle on the bucket also helped to dislodge stubborn rock. We also designed the cannon to utilize equipment on-site with roughly $100 of additional pipe and couplers.
Driveline: What was the biggest impact this innovation has made for the team?
Tyler Lee-Jarvis: I believe that this innovation was effective at performing the intended function while significantly reducing manual labour hours. The innovation also eliminated the hazard of working at heights and in the line of fire of falling debris. As for an impact on the team I believe that it was a fun project for all involved and inspired the crew to think creatively.
Driveline: Are there any other individuals who helped make this innovation possible?
Tyler Lee-Jarvis: I cannot stress enough that the concept of the water cannon was a team effort between myself and Duane. In addition to Duane I would like to recognize Rick Leduc for his design input and role as Foreman during assembly, Richard Morneau (SC) for the welding, and the crew that helped Rick with the beautiful installation and routing of the hose and manifolds on the 470 excavator.
Driveline: What do you think of the TDBB initiative?
Tyler Lee-Jarvis: As an Engineer (In Training) it is obviously my favourite initiative! Additionally, it is a privilege to have the support of the company when coming up with a creative approach to performing our work.
Donna Grant tells us about the innovative Mental Health Committee at Scott Construction
Driveline: Hi Donna, tell us about this innovation.
Donna Grant: A member of our JOHS Committee had a loved one on short-term disability due to depression. As part of a JOHS committee meeting roundtable he mentioned that there were likely other people in the company with the same circumstances and that perhaps a Mental Health Committee would be a valuable JOHS initiative. The Scott HR Manager at the time, Christine Lorimer, investigated various resources and chose the Not Myself Today program through the Canadian Mental Health Association as a guideline to start the Mental Health Committee.
Driveline: What would you say is the biggest impact your innovation made on the team?
Donna Grant: By keeping Mental Wellness a top-of-mind topic throughout the company, we are eroding the stigma of mental illness that leads to individuals needlessly suffering in silence. The most valuable impact has been the belief that it’s safe to reach out for help without the fear of being stigmatized or ultimately fired.
Driveline: Are there other individuals who helped make this innovation possible?
Donna Grant: The members of the committee include the following:
- 1. Darin Hughes
- 2. Dawn Burgon
- 3. Mike Haley
- 4. Trent Berger
- 5. John Loop
- 6. Aaron Jackson
- 7. Louise Doctor
- 8. Donna Grant
Other organizations who have been helpful in spreading information on this initiative throughout our industry include: VRCA, BCCSA, WorkSafeBC, and Builders Code.
Driveline: Any additional thoughts about the Think Different, Build Better Program?
Donna Grant: TDBB encourages us all to seek better ways in everything we do at Scott, whether it be an innovative use of a gantry crane or monthly presentations on Mental Wellness. Beyond being incentivized, we are reminded to consistently look at things with a questioning and creative eye, developing a habit of tremendous value in all areas of life.
Who's Thinking Different?
Some of the favorites from the last quarter!
Top trends: 5 ways construction will evolve in 2020 – Keep you eyes on these trends in 2020!
Top 8 soft skills to master in 2020 – Sometime we ignore the soft skills! However these skill can help drive team performance and idea generation while making your life easier!
Where good ideas come from – This is an awesome talk, well worth the 17 minutes!