Finding a few good tradespeople.

Frank Bruni admits today's fast-paced construction industry isn't for everyone. But for those willing to pay their dues and stick it out, "the sky's the limit."

"There's opportunity all the time and I'm living it at the moment."

Money is a great motivator for tradespeople in Canada's red-hot construction sector, but the industry wants hard working young people with ambition, drive and an eagerness to learn. Having a tough mindset also helps, says Bruni.

"You can't take things personally. You've got to have thick skin and keep forging ahead."

Bruni, the vice-president of operations at Mike Moore & Sons Construction in Sault Ste. Marie, began as a unionized labourer in the early 1990's while attending high school and working summer shifts.

Along the way, the Sault native helped build Algoma Steel's Direct Strip rolling mill, the Sault's charity casino and later went off to college to obtain a diploma in construction engineering technology.

A few jobs he tried and didn't like, "but if in this industry, you're going to change what you're doing about a half dozen times," says Bruni. "Don't get frustrated. It's such a vast industry, it's insane. The opportunities are amazing."

Later as a project manager for builder EllisDon Construction, "I'm working with people who are brillant and ingenious, and working with the latest technology in every aspect you could possible think of.

"It can be a grunt industry, but there's a whole other spectrum to it."

The lure of big money for tradespeople in Alberta and across Canada is there, given the transient nature of the industry.

But things are also looking up in the Sault with new ownership at Algoma Steel, St. Marys Paper and some major institutional capital projects just announced.

In August, Bruni was changing jobs, returning to work for EllisDon as the project manager overseeing the construction of the Sault's new hospital, a 38-month project scheduled to break ground in September,

He suggest to those considering the trades to obtain some kind of qualification through an apprenticeship, trade ticket or college certificate.

"I don't expect to have people come in who know everything. I want someone who wants to learn."

Bruni was asked to deliver that message to prospective tradespeople at a Sault College construction trades information session, July 31.

The Construction Sector Council predicts over the next nine years, the industry will need 50,000 workers to replace those retiring and another 35,000 just to keep pace with market growth.

Among the trades in dire need are bricklayers, construction managers, heavy equipment operators, tilesetters and truck drivers.

Sault Ste. Marie Construction Association manager Rick Thomas says there's an across-on-the board need locally for tradespeople, particularly bricklayers, pipe fitters and electricians for upcoming industrial work.

The new owners of Algoma Steel, India's Essar Global, have pledged $500 million to upgrade and expand operations over the next several years. Many out-of-town contractors are filling local gaps in labour including the re-lining of the steel maker's No. 7 blast furnace.

"Mobility solves a lot of these problems for us but we don't like to rely on it," says Thomas.

"There are probably several hundred travellers working at Algoma Steel for the next month or so. But that's not a good answer to our problem, to have to rely on bringing these people in, because we have to compete with other markets for that skill."

As a way to attract more home-grown tradespeople, Thomas says the construction sector wants "good, committed people" to the profession.

"We want them to know something about the industry and what it has to offer. That it's a good living with good wages and the skills are portable, which is extremely important."

Some wage packages approach $40 an hour for skilled, experienced and licensed tradespeople. Entry level positions at the apprenticeship level can make half of that.

But Thomas doesn't want to create illusions that a skilled trades job is a ticket to easy street.

"I don't want to attract people to this industry because they think they can take a couple of courses and be making $40 an hour. It's not realistic and that's not the way we should be going about it."

Instead, Thomas emphasizes career longevity in the field.

"Most of these positions and trades have strong pension plans for people who make a lifelong commitment."

Colin Kirkwood, Sault College's dean of technology and skilled trades, finds a wide variety of people drawn to the trades ranging from high school graduates to 30 and 40-year-olds with retail experience or university liberal arts degrees seeking a career change.

There are a number of pathways into trades occupations. Most involve some kind of college education.

"There's sometimes an expectation that you go to college, finish a program and enter into a $95,000 a year job," says Kirkwood, but it involves "paying your dues."

Those stepping onto a construction site should have some kind of qualifications in hand.

For those inexperienced in any trades-related field, Kirkwood advises to take a college program exposing them to a number of different trades, "to get a feel of what their aptitudes are and which trades they like."

Sault College has popular pre-trades program allowing students to experience a variety of opportunities in automotive technology, heavy equipment operation, mechanical, electrical, construction, information-technology and aircraft structural.

"We only started running it last year and we had a full class."

This year looking at expanding the class to as many as 37 pre-trades students.

The college also awards an Ontario certificate for participants in an eight-month introductory construction trades program.

"It gives them something under their belt before they go door knocking."

Kirkwood says with news of plenty of construction activity either underway or coming up, "that really put the idea out locally there's employment opportunities in the trades."

Construction prospects in the city remain solid for this year.

In the first six months of 2007, the value of city-issued building permits had more than doubled from last year, from $21.6 million in 2006 to $48.7 million in 2007.

The most dramatic jump was in institutional spending, from $4.9 million in 2006, to $17.4 million this year.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

The Algoma District School Board is expected to begin a building frenzy with $44.8 million in provincial funding to build new schools in Sault Ste. Marie.

The college is excited about renewing ties with Algoma Steel through a revived apprenticeship program after a decade-long absence.

The provincial government is investing $660,0000 in tax credits and educational subsidies into Algoma's program to train 10 industrial electricians, 10 welder-fitters and 8 brick and stone mason apprentices next year.

Last year, Algoma hired 330 people for production, trades, technical and professional roles and expects to hire more over the next three to five years due to retirements and technology changes. The company recently hired 80 tradespeople to replace retiring workers.

www.careersinconstruction.ca

www.saultcollege.ca

www.ssmca.com

(Sault Ste. Marie Construction Association)

By IAN ROSS 

Northern Ontario Business