Manitoba Chapter THE THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION, ALBERTA CHAPTER THE SASKATCHEWAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION, THE MANITOBA PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION, AND THE ALBERTA MUNICIPAL SUPERVISORS ASSOCIATION ROADRUNNER SPRING 2026 Canada Post Mail Publications Agreement Number: 40609661 Chandos Construction Brings Durable Recreation to Bella Coola FIND OUT WHAT’S HAPPENING ONLINEUp Front 8 A Message from the British Columbia Public Works Association 9 A Message from the Canadian Public Works Association, Alberta Chapter 10 A Message from the Saskatchewan Public Works Association 11 A Message from the Canadian Public Works Association, Manitoba Chapter 13 A Message from the Alberta Municipal Supervisors’ Association In Every Issue 14 Safety Report: Get Roadside Ready: Spring Planning for a Safe Summer 16 Safety Report: Safe from the Start: Looking After Young and New Workers 18 Legal Brief: Certified Professionals in British Columbia Municipal Approval Processes: An Outsourcing Primer 20 Upcoming Events 23 Community Highlight: Working on the Rails in Winnipeg 26 Community Highlight: A Step Up in a Greener Direction for Maple Ridge 28 Community Highlight: North Battleford Ensures Reliable Power and Communication 30 Community Highlight: Chandos Construction Brings Durable Recreation to Bella Coola 32 Community Highlight: The Unseen Hazard of Asbestos Cement Water Pipes Tech Talk 34 Spraying Between the Lines: How Winkler’s Kubota Found a New Lane 36 Ergo Eco Solutions Helps Reduce Dust Ups 38 Index to Advertisers Manitoba Chapter THE THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION, ALBERTA CHAPTER THE SASKATCHEWAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION, THE MANITOBA PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION, AND THE ALBERTA MUNICIPAL SUPERVISORS ASSOCIATION ROADRUNNER SPRING 2026 Canada Post Mail Publications Agreement Number: 40609661 Chandos Construction Brings Durable Recreation to Bella Coola FIND OUT WHAT’S HAPPENING ONLINE Published For: The Public Works Association of British Columbia www.pwabc.ca Editorial Advisor: Pat A. Miller executivedirector@pwabc.ca The American Public Works Association, Alberta Chapter https://alberta.apwa.org Editorial Advisor: Peter McDowell Tel: 403-938-8928 The Saskatchewan Public Works Association http://saskatchewan.apwa.org Editorial Advisor: Andrew Stevenson Tel: 306-960-1624 The Manitoba Public Works Association http://manitoba.apwa.org Editorial Advisor: Darren Wanless Tel: 204-399-9477 Alberta Municipal Supervisors Association www.amsapw.ca Editorial Advisor: Carolyn Caldwell Tel: 780-863-7174 Published By: Matrix Group Publishing Inc. 309 Youville Street Winnipeg, MB R2H 2S9 Toll Free: 866-999-1299 Toll Free Fax: 866-244-2544 www.matrixgroupinc.net Canada Post Mail Publications Agreement Number: 40609661 President & CEO: Jack Andress Operations Manager: Shoshana Weinberg sweinberg@matrixgroupinc.net Senior Publisher Jessica Potter Publishers: Christine Scarisbrick, Julie Welsh Editor-in-Chief: Shannon Savory ssavory@matrixgroupinc.net Editorial Team: Jenna Collignon, Paul Adair, Kaitlin Vitt, Richard Cowan Finance/Administration: Lloyd Weinberg, Nathan Redekop accounting@matrixgroupinc.net Director of Circulation & Distribution: Lloyd Weinberg distribution@matrixgroupinc.net Sales Manager: Jeff Cash jcash@matrixgroupinc.net Sales Team Leader: Andrew Lee Matrix Group Inc. Account Executives: Ana Baez, Colleen Bell, Jackie Casburn, Chandler Cousins, Paolo Cruz, Rob Gibson, Wilma Gray-Rose, Jim Hamilton, Craig Hornell, Frank Kenyeres, Brendan Kidney, Sandra Kirby, Andrew Lee, Brian MacIntyre, Chad Morris, Lynn Murphy, Monique Simons Advertising Design: James Robinson Layout & Design: Cody Chomiak ©2026 Matrix Group Publishing Inc. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of the publisher. Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Matrix Group Publishing Inc. On the cover: Chandos Construction recently replaced an aging 60-year-old pool with a modern and resilient recreation asset for one of the most remote communities in British Columbia. Photo courtesy of Chandos Construction. 5 TABLE OF CONTENTSA s we move into spring across British Columbia, it’s a good time to reflect on a winter that tested the resolve of many communities in the province and highlighted the essential, steady work of public works teams across the province. While this season didn’t deliver a single defining weather event, it certainly show- cased the resilience and professionalism of our crews responding to challenges both big enough to matter, and small enough to be overlooked. That is unless you were out there with them doing the work. A season of quiet, critical work Across British Columbia, the winter season brought a series of localized events that kept crews busy, which reminded us just how essential proactive planning, rapid response, and long-term investment are to community safety. In early March, Metro Vancouver and parts of Vancouver Island experienced unexpected sea-level snowfall as a cold, unstable air mass moved across the south coast. The flurries weren’t record-break- ing, but they were disruptive enough to require coordinated plowing, anti-icing, and rapid response along key travel corridors. Environment Canada’s special weather state- ments noted accumulations of up to five centimetres at lower elevations, with sig- nificantly more along mountain routes – including the Coquihalla. Crews worked throughout the night to keep priority com- muter and goods movement routes func- tioning safely. Not to be outdone, the Township of Langley dealt with the impacts of a series of January atmospheric rivers, and crews responded quickly to localized flooding by placing barricades and clearing debris to reopen roads. While the water receded with- in days, this quick action minimized service disruptions and kept residents moving dur- ing a period of heavy regional rainfall. These events didn’t dominate pro- vincial headlines – but they demanded A Message from the Public Works Association of British Columbia professionalism, vigilance, and a coordi- nated response from public works teams who ensured daily life could continue with minimal interruption. But it wasn’t all challenges. Further inland, winter also saw continued progress on multiyear recovery and mitigation projects tied to the 2021 atmospheric river impacts. Along the Fraser–Thompson corridor, per- manent repairs on Highway 1 continued to move forward, including the Gladwin Culvert project near Lytton, which is now in its construction phase and expected to reach completion in 2026. This work is essential, not only to protect against future washouts but to keep a critical provincial trade and travel route resilient for decades to come. Looking ahead As we shift our focus toward warmer sea- sons, I want to extend my thanks once again for the steady, essential work you all deliver every day across British Columbia. Public works may not always make the headlines when things go right but our communities feel the impact of your service in every safe commute, every reliable utility, and every well-maintained public space. Looking ahead, remember to mark your calendars for October 5-7, 2026, for the upcoming joint conference with the BC Municipal Safety Association in sunny Penticton, where we are excited to bring our networks together for an event that will offer valuable training, shared expertise, and a chance to reconnect in person. Also, as always, keep an eye on our website and social channels for details on new courses, workshops, and professional development opportunities that are roll- ing out through the year. Your engagement strengthens our chapter and our profes- sion, and I look forward to seeing you at an upcoming event. Taryn Scollard President Public Works Association of British Columbia Board of Directors & Staff You can learn more about the Public Works Association of British Columbia on their website: www. pwabc.ca. PRESIDENT Taryn Scollard City of Vancouver PRESIDENT- ELECT AND APWA DELEGATE Alexander Christensen Westbank First Nations PAST PRESIDENT Meryl Ditchburn Heinz SECRETARY & TREASURER Matt Brown City of Courtenay DIRECTORS Ryan Adams City of Surrey Matt Brown City of Surrey Jatin Chhibba Amrize Canada Ryan Coad Township of Langley Jules Looy City of Penticton Kirk McLeod Township of Langley David Myles City of Nanaimo Matt Stoltz Flow Systems Pat Miller Retired MEMBER AT LARGE AND ACTING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Pat Miller executivedirector@ pwabc.ca 8 UP FRONTAlberta Chapter used to host Idea Group Meetings around the province, doing just that – sharing ideas and doing tours of new or modified equipment, new build- ings, shops, and infrastructure. We want to get these Idea Group Meetings up and running around the province again, and I have had a few towns and cities reach out to me recently to ask about how they can host a meeting. It is very exciting. The road ahead Going forward, we are looking for Idea Group Committee members – in addi- tion to others – who would like to be more involved with our activities. We are always seeking volunteers and are still looking for help filling some key positions in the Chapter. We now have registration open for the upcoming 2026 Equipment Roadeo, happening September 3-4, 2026, in Olds Alberta. This is an event that we are very happy to be putting on again. Thanks to Olds College for allowing us to hold the Roadeo at their amazing venue. Check out our website to learn more and watch out for emails. Also, don’t forget National Public Works Week (NPWW) is just around the corner on May 17-23, 2026. It is a time to celebrate the work we do, so don’t forget to proclaim NPWW. If you have something you would like to share, such as a training idea or a job posting, we can help by putting it on our web- site, www.alberta.apwa.org. Peter McDowell President American Public Works Association, Alberta Chapter A s I write this message, it is starting to feel like spring, thanks to a Chinook blowing through the province and the warm winds eating up much of our snow. I am positive that everyone has noticed and is out prepping for their spring maintenance activities. I recently returned from Victoria, British Columbia, for the Region 9 Delegate meeting. The meeting featured great presentations and amazing speak- ers and was very well-attended, which allowed us to accomplish a lot. We also had the opportunity to watch Olympic hockey and, while Team Canada failed to capture gold, it was great hockey played by both the men and women’s teams and there was lots to be proud of. While I was there, I was able to take pictures of different public works projects. I always enjoy seeing what others are work- ing on and how they do things outside of Alberta. I also appreciate networking in per- son and being able to hear about the daily work and challenges other pub- lic works professionals face. American Public Works Association (APWA) A Message from the Canadian Public Works Association, Alberta Chapter Board of Directors & Staff You can learn more about the American Public Works Association, Alberta Chapter on their website: alberta.apwa.org. PRESIDENT Peter McDowell DIRECTORS Doug Halldorson City of Lacombe Steven Kennedy Town of Innisfail Azam Khan City of Cold Lake John Martineau Town of Cochrane Charles Schwab County of Northern Lights Abdou Souraya City of Calgary Did you know that the Alberta Chapter was first founded in 1979 to enhance the services of the APWA to the Alberta public works community and to improve the quality of public works products and services to Canadian citizens. A floating crane working in Victoria’s harbour. Photo courtesy of Peter McDowell. 9 UP FRONTNext >