UBC Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility

Award of Excellence

The United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America recognizes the role of equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility (EDIA) as being essential to our growth, structure, and continued success within the construction industry.

Full List of Recognized Members and Employers

On June 1st, 2024, members and employers from across Canada were recognized for their unwavering efforts towards making our environment equitable and inclusive for all workers. They were each presented with a vibrant flame to symbolize passion, energy, illumination, and the transformative power of diversity initiatives.

2024 Award Recipients

Atlantic Canada Regional Council of Carpenters, Millwrights, and Allied Workers

Melanie Perran - Mentor

Melanie Perran is a Red Seal Journeyperson Welder and Mentor Coordinator with the Sisters in the Brotherhood, Local 1009. Mell has 6 years experience in a variety of different areas in her field.

Melanie’s goal is to be living proof that we can strive to push against the gender barrier that exists and empower others to take that step towards something that challenges you.

Davinder Kaur - Mentee

Davinder Kaur was born and raised in India and moved to Canada two years ago as an International student. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Designing and a Master’s degree in Business, and recently completed a Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Supply Chain Management.

Davinder emphasizes the significance of the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility (EDIA) Award which recognizes individuals, groups, or projects that promote these values across various sectors.

Brilun Construction Ltd. - Employer

We at BRILUN are a Commercial General Contracting Company incorporated in 1995 - started from a home based business by Brian & Shelley Lund with approximately 6 employees servicing commercial renovations for retail stores and office renovations on existing buildings.

Brilun Construction’s main focus is to support, “Cape Breton First”, as much as we possibly can.

Millwright Regional Council

Alaura Jaggernath - Mentor

Alaura Jaggernath is a Journeyperson Millwright for Millwrights Union Local 2736 in British Columbia. Alaura is the first Millwright 2736 Sisters in the Brotherhood Chair and currently holds a trustee position on the Millwright’s 2736 Executive Board as a Trustee.

Sarah Israel - Mentee

Sarah Israel is a Millwright Apprentice with Local 1916, Hamilton, ON, and is working towards receiving her Red Seal Certification. As a 2nd year Apprentice, she is extremely passionate about her career and advocating for others to consider pursuing a career in the skilled trades.

CIMS Limited Partnership - Employer

CIMS LP is 100% Canadian owned and operated mechanical contractor serving locations across Canada.

CIMS is an inclusive employer committed to a workplace that reflects the diversity of the communities we live and work in. Every day, we work towards empowering and advocating for our employees by welcoming, respecting and valuing people for who they are as individuals.

Carpenters’ Regional Council - Ontario

Desiree Thelma R. Smith - Mentor

Desiree Thelma R. Smith (a.k.a The Floor Diva) is a Journeyperson Floorcovering installer with UBC Local 27. Desiree stands as a highly respected and approachable individual. She’s a sought-after tradeswoman everyone wishes to have on their team, but there’s only one “Floor Diva, The Master Mentor.”

Vicky Saygnasith - Mentee

Vicky Saygnasith was born in a now no longer existent refugee camp in Thailand, formerly known as Sikhieu, before beginning her Canadian life in Montreal. With a Vietnamese/ Laotian background, she is fluent in Vietnamese, Laotian, English, and French. Vicky is a mother to her four children, Alexis, Darien, Elly, and Livvy.

Giancola Aluminum Contractors Inc - Employer

For more than 30 years, Giancola Aluminum Contractors Inc. has provided exterior vinyl and aluminum installation services for homes throughout Ontario. We work with many of Canada’s largest home builders and provide our services and products for more than 6,000 new homes every year

Carpenters’ Regional Council - Central

Catherine Cayea - Mentor

Cathy has been a member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters since 2011. She consistently demonstrates her commitment to creating an inclusive union environment in all aspects of her work and volunteer life. Serving on the SIB Committee, Cathy ensures new women apprentices feel comfortable and included.

Summer Bunn - Mentee

Summer Bunn is a young Indigenous woman from Brokenhead, Ojibway Nation, who is a dedicated and passionate 1st year apprentice with the United Brotherhood and Joiners’ Local 343. She is currently working towards her Red Seal Certification in Carpentry with ambitions to also earn a Red Seal in Joinery.

Tesc Contracting - Employer

For nearly 50 years, TESC has been bringing expertise and enthusiasm in the face of complexity. A respected leader in integrated construction services, TESC employs 300+ people and partners with clients on Industrial, Infrastructure and Institutional projects, the more challenging the better.

Carpenters’ Regional Council - Western

Brendon Sant - Mentor

Brendon Sant is a 29 year old Scaffold Journeyman and Chair of the Joint Health Safety Committee for Aluma-Safway at the Syncrude site. With over 10 years in the trade, Brendon has filled many roles, but has taken a pledge to support the training, coaching, and mentoring of members in his local either on a work sites or within his community.

Madison Kirby - Mentee

Madison Kirby is a 19-year-old Piledriver and first-year apprentice Welder from Vancouver, BC., and a proud member of UBC Local 2404. Madison starting welding in high school at the age of 16 and spent much of her time in the shop making small projects. She later began working full time at a welding and fabrication shop where she gained valuable experience building various aluminum trucks for 2 years.

Western Grater Contracting Ltd. - Employer

Western Grater was formed in 1982 and has proudly served the Vancouver Island and BC Coast Construction Market for over 40 years. They specialize in delivering innovative solutions to technically challenging excavation and construction projects within their typical work scopes of Drilling, Blasting, Shoring, Anchoring and Shotcrete installations.

National Construction Council

William (Bill)Johnstone - Mentor

William (Bill) Johnstone is a Red Seal Carpenter with almost 25 years in the trade, working in all sectors from residential through to commercial, infrastructure, and industrial sites.

Throughout his career, Bill has witnessed and embraced changing technology and evolving work practices that remove many of the physical barriers to entering the field, especially for members of equity deserving groups.

Adrianne Dewhurst - Mentee

Adrianne Dewhurst began her career in the trades operating heavy equipment in Dawson City’s gold mining sector. She ran a gold plant for five seasons to save for her university education in Kinesiology at UBCO. When the Covid-19 pandemic forced classes online, she decided to continue with her career as an Operator.

Adrianne understands the importance of leading by example in her community. She is committed to learning to be a leader in the trades, and demonstrates every day that she is a leader in life.

Brock Canada Industrial Ltd. - Employer

Brock Canada Industrial Ltd. stands at the forefront of the construction industry, distinguished not only by our expertise but also by our unwavering commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Integrated into our corporate fabric, this ethos ensures that every individual feels valued and empowered.

Conseil régional québecois

Alain Lejeune - Mentor

Alain a commencé dans le coffrage il y a un peu plus de 15 ans. Le 23 mai 2023, une tuile nous est tombée sur la tête : Alain a reçu un diagnostic de cancer de stade 4 et qu’il lui restait quelques mois à vivre. Alain a décidé de se battre.

Après 6 mois de rémission, Alain a non seulement battu le pronostique du temps qui lui restait, il a réussi à stabiliser son état au point où il est de retour avec nous sur les chantiers à temps plein depuis janvier 2024.

Tomy Aupin-Vibert - Mentee

Quand je suis arrivé dans l’équipe à Alain, je sortais tout juste de l’école. Tout de suite il a vu le potentiel en moi et il m’a pris sous son aile. Grâce à l’expertise et aux méthodes de travail qu’il a su m’enseigner, j’ai réussi à me démarquer de mes pairs et je suis non seulement devenu compagnon, mais à 25 ans, je suis maintenant chef d’équipe sur des chantiers d’envergure.

Construction LJP Inc. - Employer

Nous avons acquis notre expérience sur des centaines de projets et en coffrant des millions de pieds carrés. Maintenant solidement impliqués dans le secteur institutionnel et commercial, nous oeuvrons principalement dans la région montréalaise et sa banlieue. Nous sommes fiers de notre réputation de rigueur et de qualité. Le respect des échéanciers et le dépassement des attentes de nos clients sont notre motivation. Depuis plus de 40 ans, nous avons réalisé la plupart des plus importants projets montréalais prouvant ainsi notre expertise dans le domaine.

2023 Awards

Pro Design Construction Ltee - Dimitri Ephestion

Pic Industrial Equipment - Kendall Whitney

Mosaic Transit Group - Jason Wesley and Varni Tayalan

Armour Equipment Sales & Rentals Ltd. - Richard Mclennan

Ali's Fine Carpentry - Ali Fekri and Amber Taylor

Soogadin Industrial - Pieter Smits and Heather Wolf Ear