The Globe Winter 2012

BrIngIng rEnEWaBLE
fuEL tO Bc InduStry
canada’S LargEStEVEr PIPELInE
rEnEWaL PrOgraM
cHIcagO’S grEEn
ExcHangE gOES
LEEd® PLatInuM
tHEGLOBE
VOLuME tEn – ISSuE OnE WINTER 2012
RENEWAL
LEdcOr SEIZES KEy OPPOrtunItIES In rEStOratIOn,
rEcLaMatIOn, and rEnEWaBLE rESOurcES.
InnOVatIVE rESEarcH
fOr tHE OIL SandS
Dear Friends,
Over the past 65 years, Ledcor’s growth has been driven by our entrepreneurial
spirit and the emphasis we put on innovation, balanced by thoughtful and strategic
decision-making. While leading the way in our own industry, we have always
supported the evolving needs of our clients as well.
Today, this means capturing emerging opportunities in renewal: restoration,
retrofitting, reclamation, and renewable resources.
We’re able to do this because we have carried out the right research and made the right
investments to meet the current and future needs of our clients. They trust Ledcor as
a reliable partner to provide progressive yet practical solutions for every project.
Along the way, we have provided retrofit construction services to help our clients’
existing structures meet the needs of tomorrow. We have worked to reclaim mine
sites and oil sands projects, to refresh aging pipelines, and to build renewable energy
projects. And we have established our newest business division – Ledcor Resources
& Transportation – to deliver renewable wood fibre to the bioenergy sector as well
as the pulp and paper sector.
In this issue of The Globe, I’m excited to be able to share with you all of the renewal
that is happening around Ledcor, as we demonstrate to our clients that we will be
who you need us to be, today and tomorrow.
Sincerely,
Dave Lede
Chairman & CEO
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FEATURES
2
Ledcor finds opportunity in renewal.
9 BuILdIng Three harbour Green, River Green,
Costco Warehouse and Gas Station
12 InduStrIaL Kearl Oil Sands Project
13 LtS New Leadership and Expansion in Ontario,
Alberta First Responders
14 MInIng Young-Davidson Mine, Mineral Ridge
OIL SANDS
Ledcor starts on one of Canada’s largest open-pit
mining operations.
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18
AWARDS
COMMUNITY
Recognition for Ledcor’s
workplace culture in U.S.
and Canada.
becoming a more
sustainable company.
18 aWardS bC Construction Projects and
Employees Earn Recognition, U.S. and Canadian
honours for Workplace Culture, Art Gallery
Named 2011 Project of the Year
20 cOMMunIty United Way Fundraising Success,
Inaugural Sustainability Report
21 PErSOnnEL building Careers at Ledcor
16 HIgHWayS State highway 9, Ken baker Road
(Phase 2)
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LEdcOr fEaturE
RENEWABLE
FUEL BY
LAND & SEA
LEdcOr rESOurcES and tranSPOrtatIOn
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WINTER 2012
LEdcOr fEaturE
Ledcor Resources and Transportation facility stockpiles
woodchips and hog fuel along the Fraser River for barge
shipments to howe Sound Pulp & Paper.
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA. With two major
acquisitions in Fall 2011, Ledcor became the only
company in bC to provide integrated supply chain
services for wood fibre products.
As part of our latest diversification initiative, Ledcor
has acquired Renew Resources, a bC-based company
that specializes in processing marginal wood fibre.
The company produces hog fuel for power and for
fuel pellet manufacturers, as well as woodchips for
the pulp and paper industry.
Ledcor also took delivery of 12 new barges to
inaugurate our marine transportation service to
howe Sound Pulp and Paper, a key customer for
wood fibre products.
These two acquisitions represent an investment
of $70 million in the recently established Ledcor
Resources and Transportation division, making
us a leader in integrated wood fibre supply, from
sourcing and harvesting, to processing and delivery
to end users.
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LEdcOr fEaturE
L–R, Paul McElligott, Premier Christy Clark, Dave Lede
BC PREMIER CHRISTY CLARK
WAS ON HAND FOR THE
LAUNCH ANNOUNCEMENT
OF LEDCOR RESOURCES AND
TRANSPORTATION.
Paul McElligott – former president and CEO of both
TimberWest and bC Rail – joined Ledcor in Fall 2011
to head up the new division, which also includes
ownership of a regional airline, marine terminals,
and partial interest in a fractional jet ownership and
charter business.
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“This was a strategic decision that Ledcor
made to further diversify into the resource and
transportation sectors in our province,” says
McElligott. “We have positioned ourselves to be the
only company that has the capacity to meet all
of our customers’ needs.”
british Columbia Premier Christy Clark was on hand
at the launch announcement, where she commended
Ledcor for its strategic vision to create employment
while generating a stable fuel supply for bC’s
growing renewable energy sector. The Premier also
acknowledged that the investment is a perfect
example of how the bC Jobs Plan is fostering
economic growth in partnership with companies
like Ledcor.
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LEdcOr fEaturE
“WE HAVE POSITIONED OURSELVES TO BE THE
ONLY COMPANY THAT HAS THE CAPACITY TO MEET
ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS’ NEEDS. IT IS ONE-STOP
SHOPPING FOR THE SOURCING OF FIBRE.”
PAUL McELLIGOTT, PRESIDENT AND COO, LEDCOR RESOURCES & TRANSPORTATION
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LEDCOR feature
MUSKEG REMOVAL
SHELL canada energy
FORT MCMURRAY, ALBERTA. In 2010, Ledcor was engaged
by Shell Canada Energy to provide a three-year contract for
muskeg removal for Shell Albian Sands.
The ongoing project calls for the excavation and stockpiling
of 8.5 million m3 (300 million ft3) of muskeg and topsoil, to
be used in future mine reclamation projects. Ledcor is using
120- and 200-ton excavators along with 100-, 200- and
240-ton haul trucks to move the material from mining areas
to stockpiles.
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To assist their reclamation efforts, Shell is using a
combination of ecological studies, traditional First Nations
environmental knowledge, and before-and-after satellite
imagery. Their approach allows for progressive reclamation
over the life of the mine, rather than waiting until all mining
has been completed.
WINTER 2012
LEDCOR feature
PIPELINE RENEWAL
ENBRIDGE INC.
ALBERTA & SASKATCHEWAN. Ledcor is working with
Enbridge to ensure the safety and reliability of the world’s
longest oil pipeline system.
Started in 2011, the project involves investigating
and remediating areas of pipeline following high tech
inspection programs. Ledcor’s role is to provide access to locations, excavate
sections of pipeline, and remove the protective coating to
expose the pipeline for examination by Enbridge. If deemed
necessary, we then weld a new sleeve over the area. Once
WINTER 2012
any necessary repairs are complete, Ledcor applies a new
protective coating and then refills and reclaims the dig site.
The first 78 digs were completed in the summer of 2011 over
a two-month period, and we now have been awarded over
300 digs.
Considering the stringent safety requirements of both
pipeline owners and the National Energy Board, we
are planning for increased workload throughout 2012
and into 2013.
The Globe
7
LEDCOR feature
NAIT DIGITAL PHOTO LIBRARY
INNOVATION FOR
OIL SANDS
Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
EDMONTON, ALBERTA. Dr. Haneef Mian understands the
complexity of balancing Alberta’s oil sands development
with the need to safeguard the environment.
As the first applied research chair at the Northern Alberta
Institute of Technology (NAIT), he is working with the oil
sands industry to address environmental challenges in the
areas of tailings and water management. Dr. Mian brings
with him considerable experience in the environmental
consulting industry and as a member of Alberta’s energy
regulator, the Energy Resources Conservation Board.
The Ledcor Group Applied Research Chair in Oil Sands
Environmental Sustainability was created by a $1.5 million
endowment made by Ledcor, which was matched by the
Government of Alberta.
Under Dr. Mian’s leadership, the research team at NAIT is
taking a closer look at biological and chemical pathways
in oil sands tailings, as well as at the methodologies and
technologies used for measurement in both the field
and the lab. Building on this work, they will then focus
on developing improved, commercially viable end-to-end
systems for tailings treatment and management.
In addition to the research chair endowment, Ledcor has
also established a $250,000 scholarship fund for NAIT
students whose studies relate to oil sands research.
GREEN EXCHANGE
BAUM DEVELOPMENT
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. In 2011, Chicago’s new Green
Exchange became home to more than a hundred ecominded businesses and organizations – the largest
sustainable business community in the United States.
Originally built in 1914, the historically registered
building operated as a factory until 2005. The four-story,
25,300 m2 (272,000 ft 2) building has now become the
largest LEED® Platinum Adaptive Re-use project in the
country, and the project created over 1,000 new jobs
for the city.
Ninety-five percent of the original structure was
maintained to preserve its value as a historic landmark.
The original layout allowed the developer to take full
advantage of natural light, with more than 600 windows
surrounding the structure.
Many additional design features made the LEED® Platinum
certification possible: a 156,500 litre (41,300 gallon) rain
cistern that recaptures rain for irrigation and water features,
and non-toxic, low-VOC construction materials that
improve indoor air quality for the people who work there.
Tenants must commit to a range of energy efficiency and
sustainability criteria to reside in the Green Exchange.
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WINTER 2012
LEdcOr BuILdIng
THREE
HARBOUR
GREEN
aSPac dEVELOPMEntS
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA. Three harbour Green
will mark the completion of harbour Green Place, a collection
of luxury residential buildings located in Vancouver’s
prestigious Coal harbour neighbourhood.
The tower is in the final stages of construction and we are
on pace to complete it ahead of schedule.
Ledcor also acted as construction manager for the two
neighbouring harbour Green towers, completed in 2005
and 2008.
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LEdcOr BuILdIng
RIVER GREEN
aSPac dEVELOPMEntS
RICHMOND, BRITISH COLUMBIA. Situated on the banks of
the Fraser River, River Green will be a luxury condominium
community made up of six mid-rise concrete towers.
of this scale ever used in Richmond, and was monitored
closely to protect water quality in the river as well as
surrounding infrastructure.
The project’s size and site has posed some big challenges
for Ledcor, and solving them has led to a number of firsts
for the team in Vancouver.
The project also required the largest Preprufe® waterproof
membrane installation in North America, and the largest
concrete pour in the Vancouver construction team’s history,
with 3030 m3 (107,000 ft 3) in the first raft slab pour, and
5350 m3 (188,900 ft 3) in the second raft slab pour. To date,
50,000 m3 (1.8 million ft3) of concrete has been poured.
Since the massive, two-level parking structure is five metres
(16 feet) below the level of the river, a wellpoint dewatering
system was designed to pump out over 7.6 million litres
(2 million gallons) of water a day. It’s the first such system
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River Green is scheduled for completion in 2013.
WINTER 2012
LEdcOr BuILdIng
COSTCO WAREHOUSE
AND GAS STATION
cOStcO WHOLESaLE cOrPOratIOn
POTTSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA. Working with a valued long- Despite facing difficult conditions that included torrential
term client, Ledcor recently completed our first ever project
rain, high winds, and sub-zero temperatures, the project
in Pennsylvania.
team completed the build on schedule.
The Costco warehouse and gas station is located in the
borough of Pottstown. because the site is largely founded
on solid rock, blasting was required for the installation of
footings and utilities. This work was safely performed less
than a mile from Limerick Nuclear Generating Station.
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LEDCOR INDUSTRIAL
KEARL OIL
SANDS PROJECT
Imperial Oil and ExxonMobil Canada
FORT McMURRAY, ALBERTA. Jointly owned by Imperial
Oil and ExxonMobil Canada, the Kearl Oil Sands Project
will be one of Canada’s largest open-pit mining operations,
with regulatory approval for up to 345,000 barrels a day of
bitumen production.
Ledcor Industrial is leading a fully integrated group that
will construct four kilometres (2.5 miles) of above-ground
utilidor to carry utility lines from the main site to the ore
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The Globe
preparation plant. This includes air, fuel, process water and
supply water lines.
Ledcor will take care of piling, earthworks, concrete,
structural steel, pipelines, mechanical equipment, electrical,
and instrumentation. Up to 600 employees are expected to
work on-site, with module assembly taking place at Ledcor’s
facility in Nisku, Alberta.
WINTER 2012
LEDCOR LTS
NEW LEADERSHIP
AND EXPANSION IN
ONTARIO
Ledcor Technical Services
Mississauga, Ontario. In 2011, Ledcor Technical Services
in Ontario welcomed Mike Henderson as their new Vice
President of Central Canada Field Operations.
Thanks to our successes in BC and Alberta, LTS is able to
grow into eastern markets by building on relationships
with every major Canadian telecommunications and cable
provider. Our team of over 1200 people is currently the
largest independent field force in Canada, and we have the
potential to double that number through this expansion
within the next three to five years.
LTS is already positioned well in the region, with ongoing
contracts building and maintaining networks for Bell,
Rogers Television, and a number of other clients.
Henderson arrives with a keen understanding of how to
grow this type of business in the region, having joined
Ledcor from QX Technology, a division of the Aecon Group.
WINTER 2012
ALBERTA FIRST
RESPONDERS RADIO
COMMUNICATIONS
SYSTEM
Harris canada systems inc.
ALBERTA. In partnership with Harris, Ledcor was awarded
the turn-key build portion of the network for the Alberta
First Responders Radio Communications Systems project
– one of the largest of its kind in North America, with
423 sites linked across 661,190 km2 (256,000 square
miles). Ledcor will provide site acquisition, engineering,
construction, tower installation and inside plant services.
The network is replacing two aging legacy radio networks,
and will serve as a critical link for the province’s first
responders, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
and the Government of Alberta.
On November 5, 2011, the first tower erection was
completed for the project at Wintering Hills, in Wheatland
County, Alberta.
The 60-metre (200-foot) self-supporting tower was built
and erected by Ledcor crews.
The Globe
13
LEDCOR mining
YOUNG-DAVIDSON MINE
AuRico Gold
MATACHEWAN, ONTARIO. AuRico Gold has contracted
Ledcor to develop and operate the Young-Davidson openpit gold mine in northern Ontario.
Pre-production development commenced with the first open
pit blast on November 17, 2011. Commissioning remains on
schedule, and the first gold pour is expected by the end
of March 2012.
Ledcor will continue to operate the mine for the next
two to three years.
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WINTER 2012
LEDCOR mining
MINERAL RIDGE
Scorpio Gold Corporation
ESMERALDA COUNTY, NEVADA. In 2011, Scorpio Gold
Corporation engaged Ledcor to perform the drilling, blasting,
loading and hauling of material at their newly rehabilitated
Mineral Ridge project.
Located northwest of the town of Silver Peak, the property
consists of 351 mining claims totalling 4,118 hectares
(10,176 acres).
Ledcor will be mining approximately 17 million tons of ore
and waste material over a 38-month schedule.
WINTER 2012
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15
LEdcOr HIgHWayS
STATE HIGHWAY 9
tExaS dEPartMEnt Of tranSPOrtatIOn
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KILLEEN TO COPPERAS COVE, TEXAS. Construction on
Texas State highway 9 – known as the northeast relief
route – is well under way since the project broke ground
on February 21, 2011.
The bridges over Georgetown Road and Turkey Run Creek
are already completed, while work on those over Tank
Destroyer boulevard, the railroad tracks, and the interchange
are scheduled to begin this year.
Ledcor is building the 5.5 km (3.5 mile) loop, including
retaining walls, underground drainage systems and
five bridges.
The project is on track for completion in the summer of 2013.
WINTER 2012
LEDCOR HIGHWAYS
Ken Baker Road
(Phase 2)
Cenovus Energy
Cold Lake, Alberta. Ledcor has completed Phase 2 of the
upgrades to Ken Baker Road, which is a main transportation
artery used by Cenovus Energy. The work included grading,
aggregate crushing, granular base course and asphalt paving.
WINTER 2012
The project was met with a number of challenges, including
significant precipitation that delayed grading. Crews also had
to accommodate heavy commuter and industrial truck traffic.
The Globe
17
LEdcOr aWardS
BC CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
AND EMPLOYEES EARN
RECOGNITION
Vrca aWardS Of ExcELLEncE
Several Ledcor Construction projects and employees
were honoured at the 23rd Annual Vancouver Regional
Construction Association’s Awards of Excellence.
Among the Ledcor winners that night was Marsha Gentile,
who was honoured with the Education Leadership Award
for her teaching work across North America on living
buildings and LEED®.
Tony Pasqualini won the Construction Workplace health
and Safety Innovation Silver Award. Tony took home the
Gold Award in 2008.
Ledcor’s work on the Klahoose New Relationship Centre
won the Silver Award in the General Contractor (up to
$15 million) category. Project Manager Peter Stefanski
was on hand to accept the award for the whole team.
Trades contractors were also recognized for their
work on Ledcor projects, including houle Electric
(Canada Place sail replacement project), bridge Electric
(Wesbrook Residential Tower), and holdfast Metalworks
(Klahoose Centre).
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U.S. AND CANADIAN HONOURS
FOR WORKPLACE CULTURE
WatErStOnE HuMan caPItaL and nOrtH Bay
BuSInESS JOurnaL
Ledcor’s reputation among employees in U.S. and
Canadian markets has recently earned us a pair of
recognitions.
Waterstone human Capital named Ledcor one of
Canada’s 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures of 2011.
This prestigious award program recognizes best-in-class
Canadian organizations for having a culture that enhances
performance and creates a competitive advantage.
Ledcor’s office in Napa has also been recognized by the
North bay business Journal as one of the best places to
work in California’s North bay area.
The selection was made following several months of
employee input and extensive review. In a survey of
employees from each of the 67 selected companies,
Ledcor rated higher than average in credibility, respect,
fairness, pride, and camaraderie.
WINTER 2012
LEdcOr aWardS
ART GALLERY
NAMED 2011 PROJECT
OF THE YEAR
EdMOntOn cOnStructIOn aSSOcIatIOn aWardS
Ledcor’s work on the Art Gallery of Alberta was named
2011 Project of the Year at the Edmonton Construction
Association Awards this past fall.
The facility now boasts 7,800 m2 (84,000 ft2) of
updated gallery spaces, new entry lobby, great hall, and
the multi-purpose Ledcor Theatre.
WINTER 2012
Instead of traditionally drawn plans, Ledcor used building
information modeling (bIM) on this project, allowing for
real-time, dynamic modeling that increased productivity
in both design and construction.
Since the gallery’s re-opening, visitor totals have
increased tenfold.
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LEdcOr cOMMunIty
UNITED WAY
FUNDRAISING
SUCCESS
Ledcor employees have again shown their caring spirit
by raising $1.08 million for United Way and other
local charities.
WE’VE ExcEEdEd Our cOrPOratE-WIdE
targEt Of $1 MILLIOn.
Through direct contributions and fundraising activities
spanning from job sites to head offices, employees were
able to raise $540,000, which was then matched with
a Ledcor corporate contribution.
All of these funds go back into the local communities
where we live and do business.
INAUGURAL
SUSTAINABILITY
REPORT
Ledcor’s innovations in corporate social responsibility
have contributed profoundly to making us a company that
our clients, employees and partners want to grow with.
As a part of our commitment to creating a more
transparent and systematic method of reporting on our
efforts to become a more sustainable company, we have
introduced our first annual sustainability report.
This inaugural report covers four key areas – health and
safety, people, community, and environment – and is
available for download on our corporate website.
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WINTER 2012
PEOPLE. LEDCOR IS PLEASED
TO ANNOUNCE THE FOLLOWING
SENIOR MANAGEMENT
PROMOTIONS AND HIRES
CHICAGO
TORONTO
Chad bouck, Vice President
Construction, Chicago
Construction US
Michael henderson, Vice President
Field Ops, Central Canada
Technical Services
EDMONTON
Gordon Naylor, Vice President
Construction Canada
Sean Alger, Vice President
Finance
Contractors
Kevin Wenger, Senior Vice President
Finance & Ledcor Equip. Group
Ledcor Equipment Group
FORT MCMURRAY
Corey McIvor, Vice President
Field Services
Site Services
VANCOUVER
Marco Del Monte, Vice President
business Applications
Information Services
Richard hoy, Senior Vice President
LTS Sales
Technical Services
Calvin Martin, Senior Vice President
Forestry & highway Operations
Resources & Transportation
Jeannette McAffer, Senior Vice President
human Resources
Paul McElligott, President and COO
Resources & Transportation
Ian McIver, Vice President
Marketing Sales & Logistics
Resources & Transportation
LEDCOR and the LEDCOR Design are trademarks
of Ledcor IP Holdings Ltd., used under license.
CALGARY
CHICAGO
EDMONTON
fort mcmurray
HONOLULU
KELOWNA
LAS VEGAS
NAPA
REGINA
RENO
SAN DIEGO
saskatoon
SEATTLE
TORONTO
VANCOUVER
VICTORIA
Ledcor group of companies
Corporate Head Office
U.S. Head Office
Suite 1200, 1067 West Cordova Street
Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada V6C 1C7
Suite 100, 6405 Mira Mesa Boulevard
San Diego, California
USA 92121
T 604 681 7500
F 604 681 4385
T 858 527 6400
F 858 527 6410
ISSN 1481-5419