He says the organization will continue to push for
increased spending by the Alberta government for highway
projects in the province.
“Our association is really hoping to ensure that there is
long-term sustainable funding. We want to ensure that these
announcements don’t stop in 2021 because our road network
is really important to our economy and that certainly doesn’t
have an end date,” Glen said.
Long history
Founded in 1956, ARHCA has a long history of standing up
for the roadbuilding industry. It’s grown to become one of the
largest construction associations in Canada, with more than
860 member companies that are involved in the construction
and rehabilitation of highways, municipal roads, bridges,
sewers and water projects in Alberta.
The association membership consists of contractors
as well as associate members ( financial services,
equipment dealers and others who provide supplies and
services to industry) and consultant members (consulting
engineering firms).
ARHCA is run by a 14-member board of directors and an
executive committee comprised of the following members:
• Joe Kabarchuk, chair of the board
• Andrew Arnill, immediate past chair
• Jonathan Hamilton, first vice chair
• Ian McKinnon, second vice chair
• Ron Glen, CEO
Due to constraints on the size of public gatherings,
ARHCA’s annual convention and annual general meeting
(AGM) held at the Fairmont Banff Springs in Banff, Alta.,
was replaced by a small summit on the future of industry
in November. The AGM will move online in December.
Numerous golf tournaments hosted by the association every
year had to be cancelled this year, as well.
As is the case for many organizations these days, ARHCA
is having to rethink how it connects with members and
provides the networking and relationship-building opportunities
that are a such an important part of belonging to a
trade association.
One important perk for members has been the association’s
partnering sessions with the City of Calgary and the
City of Edmonton that enables them to network with municipal
officials and industry experts.
Glen says ARHCA is looking into how it can offer these
partnering sessions online. The association is also exploring
ways it can host other virtual events, as well as opportunities
for the ARHCA CEO and board directors to meet online
with members.
Safety training
Since the mid-2000s, ARHCA has offered the Roadbuilder
Safety Training System (RSTS) program, which is aimed at
promoting general safety awareness training for workers in
the roadbuilding and heavy construction industry.
Glen says while the program isn’t meant to replace onsite
training, it does outline the safety guidelines and hazard
awareness for the roadbuilding industry from traffic accommodation
and hoisting and rigging, to asphalt, paving and
confined spaces.
“It really touches on all aspects of roadbuilding from
beginning to end. So it’s a nice entry way for new employees,
and it’s a really good refresher for employees that are
more experienced to make sure that they are safe on the
job,” he said.
Glen says the RSTS program, which is currently on the
Alberta Construction Safety Association website, will be
moving to ARHCA’s website in December. He says a revamped
version of the online program is being developed under the
guidance of ARHCA’s Safety Committee and will be ready in
November 2021.
“We’re really excited to update our program just for roadbuilders
so that we have a new state-of-the-art training
program available to all member companies,” said Glen.
ARHCA also has seasonal industry-related safety programs
aimed at raising public awareness. It’s Allow for the
Plow program is designed to educate Alberta’s drivers about
the need for increased safety precautions when snowploughs
are on the road, while the Don’t RIP Through Construction
Zones program reminds drivers about the need to slow down
in construction zones.
ASSOCIATION PROFILE
“Our association is really hoping
to ensure that there is longterm
sustainable funding.
We want to ensure that these
announcements don’t stop in
2021 because our road network
is really important to our
economy and that certainly
doesn’t have an end date.”
– Ron Glen, Alberta Roadbuilders and Heavy
Construction Association
ALBERTA ROADBUILDERS AND HEAVY CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION
ARHCA CEO Ron Glen at the associaton’s 2019 convention
34 Q4 2020 www.pilingcanada.ca
/www.pilingcanada.ca
