People Moves: December, 2024

*December People Moves is brought to you by the 25 Innovators in Construction program. Meet this year’s winners at our awards celebration on Feb. 6. Get 30% tickets to the event by using promo code PEOPLEMOVES at 25innovators.com.

Trevor Tetzlaff has started a new position as Director of Sales, Positioning Construction at Brandt Group of Companies. He has over 20 years of experience in product and business development, sales, and senior leadership within the heavy equipment industry.

Joshua Gaglardi, president of Orion Construction, has been named Business Person of the Year at the 26th Annual Surrey Business Excellence Awards.

Bruce Gordichuk has parted ways with Tahltan Nation Development Corporation after service as its president since January. 

 I am very proud of the sucess achieved while employed with TNDC. I was exposed to an incredible team that proved they can move dirt. I shared time with the most influential leaders and also befriended the most inspiring Tahltan’s who are just fantastic human beings. I see my time with TNDC as a privildge.

Bruce Gordichuk, former president, TNDC

Brett Armstrong is starting a new position as Principal, Managing Director at Avison Young in Vancouver. Armstrong will focus on executing on the firm’s core strategic business plan, with emphasis on business development and increasing market share throughout the city and province.

Seán Feighery has been promoted to Senior Principal at Taylor Ryan Executive Search Partners.

Jeff Larsen has joined Gorman Group as Chief Operating Officer. He has more than 35 years of industry experience.

Andrew Stiffman has been appointed Kalesnikoff’s first ever Vice President, Construction Services. Stiffman will be responsible for leading the lifecycle of all projects from initial discussions, planning and contracts with clients to ensuring the successful delivery and completion of projects.

Andreas Kaufmann has been promoted to Chief Marketing Officer at Phantom Screens. Previously Kaufmann worked as Nice President of Marketing. Andreas will oversee marketing and product management for both Phantom Screens and Rolltec Rolling Systems. 

Ryan Beedie, President of Beedie, has been inducted into the the Canadian Business Hall of Fame. This recognition celebrates Canada’s visionary business leaders for their lifetime achievements and contributions to leadership, community engagement, philanthropy, and global impact.

Angela Clayton is interim President and CEO at Infrastructure Ontario following the departure of Michael Lindsay. Clayton assumes the role with more than 20 years’ experience in the infrastructure sector. Most recently, she has served as IO’s president of project delivery after taking over that role in 2021.

Vanessa Werden, a partner with Jenkins Marzban Logan LLP, is now Chair of the BC Road Builders & Heavy Construction Association. Werden previously served as the board’s Vice Chair. During that time she helped form the group’s Women in Road Building Committee.

Mark Podlasly has been named CEO of the First Nations Major Projects Coalition. As co-founder, Podlasly has been integral to the FNMPC’s development since its inception, shaping and implementing our vision, priorities, and strategies. Notably, he has been instrumental in establishing the flagship event, the FNMPC’s Annual Conference and the group’s policy and thought leadership.

Franklin Playter and Dennis Kuschminder are celebrating 25 years with Chandos construction. In 1999, the company had only 130 employees and had completed 62 projects. They joined the company’s only office in Edmonton. Since then they have been involved in over 150 projects and become leaders within the organization.

Nicole Borque-Bouchier, CEO and co-owner of Bouchier Group, and Dave Tuccaro, founder and CEO of Tuccaro Group, have been awarded the Order of Canada. Bourque-Bouchier is a member of the Mikisew Cree First Nation and a prominent business leader in her community. As the CEO and co-owner of one of western Canada’s top employers, she has advanced the role of women in business and is at the forefront of Indigenous economic development in Alberta. Tuccaro actively elevates Indigenous business and contributes to the economic growth of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. A generous philanthropist, he supports and guides numerous community initiatives.

Michael Parker, vice president of Jancon, has been appointed Chair of the Gold Seal Committee. Parker joined the Committee in 2023 and has been a strong advocate for Gold Seal since obtaining his GSC in 2010. He has also chaired other committees in previous roles, such as the CaGBC Toronto Chapter.

Chris Cooper is taking over the top spot at one of Canada’s biggest projets ever. On April 1, 2025 he will succeed Jason Klein as CEO of Shell-led LNG Canada. Cooper brings over 35 years of experience in the energy sector. Since joining Shell in 1998, Chris has accrued extensive expertise from his leadership roles in Upstream, Downstream and LNG businesses around the world, spanning complex challenges in projects, assets, commercial and stakeholder relationship areas. 

I’m pleased to continue the journey with all those involved in and around the LNG Canada investment. Together, we are setting the benchmark for economically, environmentally and socially responsible large scale LNG production in Canada and creating a positive and lasting legacy with First Nations, the local community and for British Columbia and Canada

Chris Cooper, incoming LNG Canada CEO

Former housing minister Sean Fraser announced he will be leaving cabinet and not seeking re-election to spend more time with his family. Fraser joined the cabinet in 2023. Fraser’s mandate included accelerating homebuilding efforts, with ambitious targets set to construct nearly 3.9 million homes by 2031. 

Murray Goodman is joining Shindico as its Senior Vice President, Industrial & Investment. With over 20 years of commercial real estate experience, Goodman specializes in negotiation, property valuation, investment sales, leasing, and development. 

Elise Meakin has been promoted to Senior Project Manager at MAKE Projects. MAKE stated that Meakin has worked on a variety of impactful projects in recent years, including the Seabus Refurbishment, multiple feasibility studies for Vancouver Coastal Health, Montrose, Smith Campus, and electrical upgrades at BC Children’s and Women’s Hospital.

Lylle Kephart is joining The Fastener Group as President and CEO starting on Jan. 2. Kephart spent 20 years with Acklands-Grainger, where he rose to the position of Senior Director. He also worked as Vice President of The Master Group where he was responsible for post-acquisition integration and strategic initiatives. 

Tyrone Gan, P.Eng., has been awarded the William G. Ross Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA). Gan, a Senior Vice President with HDR, has more than 40 years’ experience in transportation planning. The William G. Ross award, named after CUTA’s first president, recognizes individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the public-transit industry in Canada for at least 25 years. As this year’s recipient, Gan is also inducted into CUTA’s Hall of Fame.

Anahita Jami has been promoted to ESG Director at CIMA+. Her previous role was senior sustainability advisor to the environment. Jami has worked for IKCo, Renault, s2e Technologies, the Canadian Urban Transit Research & Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC), Sandler Consultancy and CSA Group.

Thomas Rapley has joined global consulting engineering firm Arup as its water business leader for Canada. Rapley has more than 20 years’ experience in municipal infrastructure design and construction spanning Canada, the U.K., Australia and New Zealand, including stints with consulting engineering firms Buro Happold, WSP and, most recently, CIMA+.

Grant MacDonald has been promoted to Director of Projects at Hall Excavation & Shoring. The company noted that MacDonald has been instrumental in its growth, playing a key role in mentoring the next generation of project managers and fostering leadership within the team. They added that his efforts have empowered others to step up and contribute to the continued success of the group.

Dave Donaldson is CarbonCure’s new Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing and Brad Vickers has been promoted to CarbonCure’s Leadership team as the low carbon concrete company’s inaugural Vice President of Customer Success. Donaldson is an accomplished sales and marketing executive with more than 24 years of experience.  Vickers has been with the company for more than a decade, developing, operationalizing and scaling CarbonCure’s technologies in prior roles that included Field Engineer, Director of Engineering and Head of Product. 

Daniel Foch is starting a new position as Chief Real Estate Officer at Valery Real Estate Inc. Brokerage.

Mahid Hossain is starting a new position as Senior Estimator at Bird Construction. Previously Hossain spent nearly six years at Pomerleau.

Catherine Peacock has been promoted to Vice President, Planning and Procurement at Infrastructure BC where she will lead its planning and procurement services. Peacock joined the organization as an assistant vice-president in 2019. Previously, she worked at PwC in its capital projects and infrastructure practice and at Ernst & Young in that company’s infrastructure practice.

AtkinsRéalis president and CEO Ian Edwards has been named International Business Leader of the Year by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. The recognition highlights Edwards’ leadership with regard to engineering services, nuclear energy, innovation and sustainability.

Not only has Ian’s leadership been pivotal to transform and steer the company towards a more strategically focused, growth-oriented and purpose-driven future, but it has also helped fortify Canada’s reputation as a place where business is done with both innovation and care

Candace Laing, Canadian Chamber of Commerce CEO

Lafarge Canada’sWarren Anderson, Civil Manager, and Tyler Callaghan, Operations Manager, have both been picked for Rock to Road’s Top 10 Under 40 list. The list celebrates Canada’s brightest professionals in the aggregates and roadbuilding industries who are driving progress and shaping the future of construction through their significant contributions.

Wayne Ferguson has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer and Executive President, Infrastructure Services, at EllisDon. He has been the company for more than 26 years, starting as a Project Superintendent in 1998.

Georgia LaPrairie-McManus has been promoted to Manager, Communications & Client Services at LaPrairie Group of Companies.

I have been very lucky to have had many wonderful teachers and mentors so far in my career journey. Without their support and wisdom, I would not be at this point today. This includes members of our LAPRAIRIE family, Executive Team, and the many employees who have spared their time to answer my questions and help me learn more about our operations. I’d like to thank each and every one of you!

Georgia LaPrairie-MacManus

Kevin Choi has been promoted to Senior Principal and Practice Leader of Taylor Ryan’s construction business in Vancouver. Kevin was the companys first construction recruiter and was pivotal in launching and shaping the construction team.

Brett Armstrong has been named Managing Director of Avison Young’s Vancouver office, effective Dec. 2. In this role, he will concentrate on driving business growth and increasing market presence. Armstrong previously held the positions of Principal and Senior Vice President of Leasing in Vancouver.

Brad Mason has been named President and Chair of the Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada. His is a Principal and Founding Partner at ServcoCanada where he has worked for 24 years.

To step into this role at such an exciting time for our industry is something that I am very enthusiastic about,” Mason said. “Not only is the mechanical contracting sector shaping up to play an increasingly important role across Canada, but our national association is taking the critical steps to ensure our members have a strong and prominent voice across the country.

Brad Mason, Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada, President

Sarah Zaharia has joined ACCIONA as the Director of Communications for North America. Coming from the owner side, Sarah was the Executive Director of Major Projects Labour Agreements for Transportation Investment Corporation and before that she served in the Ministry of Finance and Government Communications and Public Engagement.

Jeff Larsen is now Chief Operating Officer at The Gorman Group. Previously, Larsen spent more than 34 years at Weyerhaeuser, holding a variety of positions. Most notably, he was Unit General Manager for more than 18 years.

Patrick Gloux, P.Eng., has been promoted to Structural Department Head KGS Group’s Winnipeg office. Gloux has more than 19 years of experience. He studied at the Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology (MITT), Red River College (RRC Polytech, Lakehead University and the University of Manitoba, earning a B.Eng., M.Eng. and PhD in civil engineering.