EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
Continuing Forward
Despite Challenges
By Shawn Wood, CD, executive director, CARM
Executive Committee
President
Carla Milne
MNP LLP
Vice President
Natasha Farren
Flynn Group of Companies
Treasurer
Brad Dodds
B.G. Dodds Building & Contracting Ltd.
Secretary
Chris Fortier
Excel 7 Design
Past President
Jared Jacobson
J & G Group of Companies
Directors at Large
Bart Curtis
CW2 Construction & Design
Brent Bromley
Premier Commercial Builders
Brett Konkin
D.G. Konkin Construction
Chuck Judd
Jamieson-Judd Electrical
Devin Reinhardt
Crane Steel Structures
Jason Lamb
Horizon Builders Ltd.
Jeff Roziere
Siere
Jeff Williams
Ben Wiebe Construction Ltd.
Jherrad Cumming
Zenith Paving
Justin Bekkering
Brandon Bearing
Michelle Atamanchuk
Assiniboine Community College
Mike Finley
South End Lumber - Timber Mart
Mike Peters
Alair Homes
Neil Winters
Flynn Group of Companies
Rob Mulligan
Mulligan Electric Ltd.
Rob Starkell
West-Can Human Resource Solutions
Ryan Jones
J & M Industries Ltd.
Spencer Griffin
Alternative Landscaping
Zac Penner
T.L. Penner Construction
What a year 2020 was for all
of us and 2021 has started
the same way. As we look
forward to what the next
year will bring there is some light at the end
of the tunnel, such as the increased availability
of vaccines and the government’s
plan to have the first doses of vaccines in
the arms of residents by August. With this
being the plan and the plan changing daily,
we are committed to assisting our members
as they work through these restrictions and
to ensure safe working environments.
Last year caused some concern to the
construction industry beyond the restrictions
that were implemented. This was
very evident in the increased cost to construction
materials. The cost of lumber
has increased significantly since the beginning
of the pandemic. Plywood costs have
doubled and 7/16-inch oriented strand
board is now more expensive than plywood.
To add to this increase, the supply
of these products is six to 12 weeks and the
price contractors are paying is the price
when delivered. Drywall has also seen an
increase, but the delivery is more the issue.
The North American market has reported
that they are sold out and suppliers are on
allocation. The other commodity that has
seen a large increase in cost is steel, the
prices have increased from $600 to $700
The price of construction materials,
most notably lumber, have risen
drastically during the pandemic
DMITRY PETROV-KORSUKOV/123RF
BUILDING RURAL MANITOBA | 3