March 16, 2020
COVID-19 Update
Like you, SICA has been closely monitoring the ongoing global spread of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).
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COVID-19 Update
March 19 Update
Please bookmark this page for SICA's updates and resources on the COVID-19 pandemic.
March 18 Update
Our Kamloops and Kelowna offices are still open. Please make an appointment before visiting the office.
All courses and events have been canceled until further notice.
March 16, 2020
Like you, SICA has been closely monitoring the ongoing global spread of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). We have made the decision to restrict attendance in our upcoming courses and suspend upcoming SICA events.
As COVID-19 is a rapidly evolving situation, please know that SICA will continue to monitor and share information with our membership as new details emerge.
HealthLinkBC has information about COVID-19 symptoms and BC CDC Latest on the Novel Coronavirus.
SICA Offices:
At this point in time, our offices are remaining open. We ask that you please only visit our office if necessary and to please call ahead to make an appointment for stat dec services. Documents and Seals can be purchased on our website and will be mailed to you.
Please stay home if you are feeling ill, have traveled or have been in contact with someone who has traveled recently.
SICA Events:
If you are registered to attend we will be issuing full refunds today. When conditions improve, we will begin to reschedule events. The canceled events are:
- March 24 - Kelowna Women in Construction
- March 25 - Kamloops Women in Construction
- April 7 - Kelowna Construction Month Breakfast
- April 22 - Kamloops Construction Month Breakfast
SICA Courses:
We know how critical it is for students to get the certifications they require to work, and for now, we are continuing to hold limited attendance safety training in our SICA Training Centre.
We are taking increased precautionary measures to ensure the health and safety of our staff, trainers, and students are maintained.
We ask all students to reschedule if you are feeling ill, have traveled or have been in contact with someone who has traveled recently. Students showing any symptoms of being sick will be sent home immediately.
We are happy to reschedule your course to accommodate your needs at no extra cost.
October 04, 2019
2019 Industry Awards of Excellence Winners
SICA would like to congratulate all the finalists and the winners of SICA's inaugural Industry Awards of Excellence! Finalists and winners were honored yesterday, October 3rd, at the Award Presentation Dinner held at the Coast Capri Hotel in Kelowna, BC.
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September 16, 2019
SICA announces 2019 Industry Awards of Excellence Finalists
The Southern Interior Construction Association (SICA) has announced the finalists for their 2019 Industry Awards of Excellence. These awards recognize construction project awards and leadership awards.
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July 05, 2019
Nominations sought for SICA’s Industry Awards of Excellence
New institutional, commercial, industrial building, multi-family, recreational or renovation projects that have been completed between July 31, 2018 and June 30, 2019 are eligible for nomination.
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February 25, 2019
The 19th Annual CCO Workshop
On February 22, 2019 SICA held the 19th CCO Workshop at the Coast Capri Hotel in Kelowna.
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January 02, 2019
2018: Year in Review
Let’s look at some the big moments at SICA in 2018...
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December 18, 2018
The SICA Fund in Action at Peter Greer Elementary
The SICA team is proud to share that we have joined forces with the Construction Foundation of BC to establish a charitable fund in support of local, southern interior, initiatives.
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December 17, 2018
Celebrating the Holiday Season with SICA
Our annual holiday celebrations take place in a variety of cities across our SICA region.
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December 12, 2018
Winter Safety Tips
Working during winter feels more like survival of the fittest than an everyday challenge. The risks are much greater for employees who have to work and drive outdoors.
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September 21, 2018
50th Parallel Estate Winery Named Commercial Building Awards Winner
50th Parallel Estate Winery of Lake Country was named the Judge’s Choice best overall entry in the 10th Annual Thompson Okanagan Kootenay Commercial Building Awards Thursday, Sept. 20 at the Coast Capri Hotel.
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September 13, 2018
8th Annual Chair Dinner & Awards Celebrates Industry Leaders
SICA held our annual Chair Dinner and Award Night where we celebrate member anniversaries, board volunteers, Gold Seal recipients, and scholarship recipients. In addition, this year we had the honor of awarding both a Consultant Award and the Innovation Award.
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September 12, 2018
Emil Anderson Construction Wins 2018 SICA Innovation Award
On Wednesday, September 12, Emil Anderson Construction (EAC) was awarded the Southern Interior Construction Association’s 2018 Innovation Award for their work on the Vedder Bridge Project in Chilliwack, BC.
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September 07, 2018
Record-tying number of Commercial Building Award Finalists
A record-tying 37 finalists have been announced for the 10th Annual Thompson Okanagan Kootenay Commercial Building Awards, set for Thursday, September 20 at the Coast Capri Hotel.
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July 27, 2018
REPOST: Pattullo Procurement Strategy Takes BC Construction a Bridge Too Far
The new Pattullo Bridge Community Benefits Agreement patently illustrates what is unfair with our current government’s policy decision to mandate the nature and extent of procurement requirements in major public construction projects.
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July 24, 2018
Response to the Province’s Community Benefits Agreement Announcement
The Southern Interior Construction Association (SICA) joins the British Columbia Construction Association (BCCA) in expressing deep concern about the Community Benefits Agreement announced by B.C. Premier John Horgan July 16.
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June 28, 2018
2018 Kamloops Trap & Skeet
Every year the Kamloops Trap & Skeet is one of the most anticipated events we host! With over 100 attendees, BBQ steaks, and some tough competition it is safe to say that a blast was had by all.
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June 27, 2018
2018 SICA Golf Tournament
On June 21st, 2018 144 golfers converged on Sunset Ranch Golf Course for the annual SICA Golf Tournament. Despite lightening in the valley causing a brief course closure and pouring down rain in the afternoon the event was a huge success!
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May 30, 2018
2nd Annual Family Fishing Derby
The beautiful Roche Lake Resort was again the site for our now 2nd annual Family Fishing Derby. This event, hosted through a joint partnership between the Southern Interior Construction Association and CapriCMW Insurance, is quickly becoming a must attend for all SICA members.
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April 30, 2018
Celebrating our Own - Terry Brown Receives CCA's Person of the Year Award
The CCA Person of the Year Award recognizes individuals who demonstrate the qualities of a leader and who apply the highest standards and principles of the construction industry and business community. To those who have had the opportunity of working alongside Terry Brown, he is the living embodiment of this description.
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April 24, 2018
10th Anniversary of Heavy Metal Rocks in Kamloops
2018 marked the 10th year of the Heavy Metal Rocks event in Kamloops. This project provides opportunities for Grade 11 and 12 students from the School District No. 73 to explore career opportunities in the heavy equipment operator field.
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April 23, 2018
Celebrating Construction Month at Thompson Rivers University
The Kamloops building community was proud to celebrate BC’s Construction & Skilled Trades Month with a breakfast held at Thompson River's University on Monday.
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April 19, 2018
Construction Industry Celebrates BC Construction Month at Okanagan College
The Kelowna building community was proud to celebrate BC’s Construction & Skilled Trades Month with a breakfast held at Okanagan College on Thursday. In the newly built Trades Building contractors, apprentices, foundation program students and industry support organizations gathered to recognize the impact the construction industry has on the BC and specifically the Okanagan economy.
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February 07, 2018
Unsung Benefits
The BCCA Employee Benefits’ plans offer other services beyond dental and extended health care.
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January 24, 2018
Message Delivered, Message Received
Successful buildings have always been the result of collaboration between the client, designers, and contractors. A strong team, clear expectations, and concise information will typically result in a project which all involved parties will consider successful. Through recent decades the delivery of projects has changed with increased complexity, decreased timeframes, and changing delivery methods. Now more than ever it is critical that the collaboration between the team occurs to ensure the desired outcome.
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December 20, 2017
TAX ALERT – Government Simplifies Measures to Rein in Income Sprinkling
On December 13, the federal government released legislation to simplify restrictions on income sprinkling, proposed to go into effect January 1, 2018. These revisions indicate they’ve listened to feedback during the consultation period, by providing more certainty to taxpayers through the introduction of “bright-line” tests to automatically exclude some family members, and allow income sprinkling for those members who make sufficient contributions to the business.
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December 13, 2017
Member Spotlight: Ok Excavating
Adaptability, initiative, and customer service are the keys to longevity for a local commercial and residential excavation business in Kelowna. OK Excavating is celebrating 50 years of business in 2017 and, in those years, has undergone many evolutions.
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November 29, 2017
Construction and Cyber Risk: An Overview
A hazard such as a fire has protocols and procedures that are designed to mitigate risks – inspections, suppression systems, and risk management practices. Cyber protection of a business should also employ a rigorous process to develop both a risk prevention and incident response plan. Most cyber insurance applications serve as a catalyst in moving towards this process.
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November 22, 2017
The Devil is in the Details: A Cautionary Tale about Filing Builders Liens
The Builders Lien Act (the “Act”) requires strict compliance with the prescribed manner, form, and time limits set out in the Act. Failure to comply with any of these requirements will be fatal to the lien claim.
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November 15, 2017
Could Tax Issues Throw Your Business Off Track?
To stay on track, real estate and construction companies should develop a better understanding of where tax issues are likely to complicate or disrupt their business — and develop a plan to mitigate those risks well in advance.
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November 08, 2017
Top Five Reasons for Having an Employee Benefits Plan
One of the biggest investments employers can make is in their employees. And it makes sense to want productive, healthy, and engaged employees. Employees with poor health cannot exert the effort required to be highly productive, and you need engaged employees in order to create innovative solutions.
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October 03, 2017
Kelowna Police Services Building wins Commercial Building Awards
The downtown Kelowna building topped a field of a record 36 , and was also named the Award of Excellence winner in the Community Institutional category. Kasian was the Architect/Designer and Bird Construction was the Developer/General Contractor.
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September 27, 2017
Looking to Grow and Expand | Are you thinking far enough ahead?
In a recent survey of Canadian CEOs, we determined their current focus is on those actions and strategies required to secure the long-term success of their business.
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September 20, 2017
A Businesslike Approach to Safety – A Safety Management System
A Safety Management System (SMS) is a systematic, explicit and comprehensive process for managing your safety program activities and documents.
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September 12, 2017
Record number of Commercial Building Awards Finalists
A record 37 finalists have been announced for the 9th Annual Thompson Okanagan Kootenay Commercial Building Awards, set for Thursday, September 28 at Manteo Resort.
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August 30, 2017
Obligation of Good Faith in Contracting
The Supreme Court of Canada changed the legal landscape for contracts in the decision of Bhasin v. Hrynew, [2014] SCC 71. This decision created a new common law obligation of good faith that applies to all commercial contracts.
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August 23, 2017
Embracing the Purpose Era
Regardless of the size of your business or the sector you operate in, the purpose movement is shaking up the rules of business and ringing in a new era where business is an active participant in making the world a better place.
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August 16, 2017
All in the Family | Generations in business share their secrets
Working with family is a talent all in its own. But when it comes down to it, keeping it professional and planning for the future is what counts—just ask any of the following long-term SICA member firms, who each celebrate multi-generations in business.
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August 09, 2017
Insurance: Wrap Up versus Non Wrap Up. It’s important to know the difference. Do you?
If you are being asked the ‘Wrap Up’ question, your broker is familiar with construction insurance.
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August 02, 2017
5 ways your accountant can support you in strong real estate market
The state of the real estate market has a significant impact on CPA firms in the Okanagan. During down times clients ask for help to wind down and simplify their corporate structure.
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July 05, 2017
Maximizing Efficiency in Dispute Resolution: Help Tell Your Story
Resolving a dispute can seem very much like storytelling. This is because your version of events will be presented as the foundation for the legal argument.
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June 28, 2017
When does an hour bank plan make sense?
An hour bank plan allows employers to provide benefits to employees that would often not otherwise qualify through a group benefits plan.
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June 21, 2017
Member Spotlight: Argus Properties
Innovation, quality, service, and people — these are all terms used to describe Argus Properties.
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June 14, 2017
Building Information Modelling: A powerful tool for design efficiency
Today’s building projects are typically delivered on a compressed timeline and a limited budget. Architects, engineers, and construction companies have to use every tool available to provide themselves with the time and space to design and build high-quality buildings.
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June 07, 2017
Heavy Lifting | A program for students interested in heavy equipment operation
The students of School District No. 73 in Kamloops are part of the Heavy Metal Rocks Project. The program is offered by the school district to provide students with experience and training, exposing them to career options as heavy equipment operators within the construction industry.
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May 31, 2017
Member Spotlight: Secure-Right Mobile Storage Inc.
From portable offices to tool and supply sheds, Secure-Rite Mobile Storage Inc. cares about providing functional workspaces and secure onsite storage.
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May 23, 2017
The future is friendly: making the link between innovation and CSR
Innovation is a hot topic these days but it has generally been discussed in the context of hardcore technology.
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May 17, 2017
Legal Talk: Modernizing your Construction Agreements
Changes in technology, construction practices, and building codes are the primary focus of modernization within the construction industry.
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May 03, 2017
Carbon Tax in Construction – What You Need to Know
While there is no specific exemption from the B.C. Carbon Tax for the construction industry, there are a few important issues and tax exemptions that may be noteworthy
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April 26, 2017
Taking Industry Safety Training on the Road
SICA ran three separate comprehensive training programs for three groups between February 15th and March 24th for a total of 63 students.
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April 05, 2017
Reaching the Millennials | Attracting the right people is in how the story is told
With businesses adjusting to the era of the happy workplace, concepts such as social responsibility, company culture, and employee engagement are common buzz words used around the open-concept, flexible, shared workspace. They are used more so as companies shift their recruiting focus toward the millennials, the largest generation in the workforce today.
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