CANS Updates:

Education: Register for ‘Blueprint Reading & Document Interpretation’, starts Mar. 30

Events: Register now for CANS 2026 Home Depot Pro De-Icer

BFY: Hire a BFY student this summer and develop a future employee

Projects: Members, get your CCDC 9 signed for free through CANS!

Industry News:

Survey: Feedback needed to shape Workers’ Compensation Appeals System

Resource: PCB-containing equipment reporting required for owners

Resource: CCDC progressive design-build contracts and documents seminar, Apr. 21

Event: Nominations open for CSNS 2026 Safety Awards

Event: Safety Awards – Cape Breton nominations now open

CANS PROGRAMS & SERVICES  

Register for ‘Blueprint Reading & Document Interpretation’, starting March 30

Learn to understand and interpret construction drawings across all major design disciplines. This course will provide you with the foundational skills to confidently navigate plans, symbols, and technical details with a clearer understanding of how information is communicated and applied on real construction projects.

Course Details

• Dates: March 30 & 31
• Time: 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Format: In-person (CANS office)
• Member price: $1,000 + HST (WIPSI discount $500 + HST)
• Gold Seal: 4 credits 

Claim your seat today! Register now for Blueprint Reading and Document Interpretation.

CANS 2026 Home Depot Pro De-Icer turns up the heat on April 17 – registration is open!

Atlantic Canada’s most anticipated construction industry event returns Friday, April 17. Registration is now open for the CANS 2026 Home Depot Pro De-Icer! Shake off the snow and reconnect with colleagues from across Nova Scotia as another construction season kicks off.

CANS 2026 Home Depot Pro De-Icer 

• Date: Friday, April 17 
• Time: 5 – 11 p.m. 
• Location: Halifax Convention Centre (Halifax, NS)
• Register now! Click here to register for CANS 2026 De-Icer 

Need place to stay in the city after the big night? CANS has secured room blocks at two downtown Halifax hotels, the Cambridge Suites Hotel from April 16-18 and Prince George Hotel on April 17.

Cambridge Suites Hotel Halifax: Rate guaranteed until March 16, 2026

Prince George Hotel: Rate guaranteed until March 17, 2026

Become a Building Futures for Youth (BFY) Host Employer and make a difference!

Meet the next generation of your workforce this summer as a BFY Host Employer. The BFY program connects industry with skilled, motivated students who are eager to gain experience in construction. Becoming a BFY host employer offers real benefits — from supporting your immediate project needs to helping you build a pipeline of future talent. Don’t miss this opportunity to shape your workforce and introduce young people to careers in our industry.

Become a BFY Host Employer 

If you’re interested in learning more about the program or would like to hire a student, please contact Tanya Reddick or Barbara Minard, BFY Program Leads. 

CANS Commissioners of Oaths are available to sign your Statutory Declarations 

CANS has multiple Commissioners of Oaths on staff to sign your CCDC 9 Statutory Declarations, ensuring someone is always available when you need it. This service is free for CANS Members.

Staff are available for scheduled appointments in both Dartmouth and Sydney. Drop-ins are welcome at our Dartmouth office during regular business hours.

Visit CANS Dartmouth office (8 a.m. – 4 p.m.) or contact the CANS Projects Team to book an appointment.

INDUSTRY NEWS & UPDATES:

Critical feedback needed to shape Workers’ Compensation Appeals System

The Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration is conducting a comprehensive review of the Workers’ Compensation Appeals System (WCAS), and CANS is supporting the collection of employer and industry input.

Feedback will be gathered through a survey or by attending a webinar. Your responses will help inform final recommendations to modernize and improve the Nova Scotia Workers’ Compensation Appeals System for everyone who relies on it.

Complete the survey: Take the Workers’ Compensation Appeals System survey here.

Deadline: April 1.

Workers’ Compensation Appeals System (WCAS) Webinar

Dates & times: March 16, 2 – 3 p.m.; March 17, 6:30 – 8 p.m.

Registration: Attend a WCAS Webinar here.

Reporting requirements announced for owners of PCB-containing equipment

From Environment and Climate Change Canada — Organizations that own, or previously owned, PCB-containing equipment between 2022 and 2025 are reminded of upcoming reporting requirements under the federal PCB Regulations. Reports must be submitted by March 31.

The Regulations, designed to eliminate PCBs that may be released into the environment, were recently amended to extend the end-of-use deadline for certain equipment to December 31. Reporting obligations vary depending on equipment type, PCB concentration and permitted activity.

Reports can be submitted through ECCC’s ePCB reporting system: Report PCB-containing equipment here. 

Updated progressive design-build contracts and documents seminar, April 21

This spring, the Canadian Construction Documents Committee (CCDC) will release new progressive design-build contracts and updates to its traditional design-build forms.

To support the launch, CCDC document authors will host in-person seminars covering new progressive design-build contracts (CCDC 32 and 33) and revised traditional contracts (CCDC 14 and 15). Sessions will outline how each model works, highlight key provisions, and review major changes from previous editions. Each seminar includes a Q&A with the authors.

CCDC Progressive Design-Build Contracts Seminar

• Date: Tuesday, April 21
• Time: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• Other: Accredited by the Nova Scotia Association of Architects 

Register today! For more details on the program, click here.

Nominations open for CSNS 2026 Safety Awards

Nominations are now open for Construction Safety Nova Scotia’s Safety Awards.

Nine awards honour people and organizations that advance occupational health and safety across Nova Scotia’s construction industry. Deadline to nominate is April 2.

• Women in Safety Leadership Award
• Workplace Mental Health Award
• NCSO of the Year & NHSA of the Year
• Safety Champion Award
• Best Safety Culture Award
• Innovator in Health & Safety Award
• Chair’s Award of Safety Excellence in COR® (New COR® Company) 
• Chair’s Award of Safety Excellence in COR® (1–19 Employees) 
• Chair’s Award of Safety Excellence in COR® (20+ Employees) 

Know someone who should be nominated? Click here to learn more.

Nominations open for Safety First Awards in Cape Breton

Nominations are now open for Safety First Awards in Cape Breton.

Five awards celebrate individuals and businesses that demonstrate a strong commitment to advancing workplace health and safety in Unama’ki–Cape Breton.

• Young Advocate
• Small Business Trailblazer
• Engagement Ally/Safety Committee
• Outstanding Health & Safety Committee
• Innovation Expert

Know someone who should be nominated? Click here to learn more.

Deadline to nominate: April 1.