BC Ministry of Transportation & Transit (MOTT) – Contractor of the Year Awards
The MOTT Contractor of the Year Awards recognizes excellence in the delivery of transportation infrastructure projects. Road Builders’ contractors make seismic upgrades to keep our roads safe, build relationships with local communities to minimize traffic flow disruption during construction, respond to emergency situations and work within short construction windows and sometimes adverse conditions to ensure our roads and bridges are safe and reliable.
The Contractor of the Year Awards recognizes the outstanding achievement and commitment to the development and promotion of a culture of excellence in the road building industry. The awards are presented at the Contractor of the Year Awards ceremony in December in conjunction with the Association’s AGM & Holiday Celebrations.
Nominations – Community Service
Nominations – Workplace Health and Safety
2024
Lafarge Canada Inc. received the Workplace Health and Safety award for a remote transfer-switch system that enhances driver safety during trailer hookups.
By pushing a button, drivers wirelessly align their truck hitch using a backup camera, shortening the time required for trailer connections. By connecting transfer trailers to tandem trucks from within their cabs, drivers spend less time outside their trucks, avoiding high-traffic areas and other hazards.
Coquitlam Ridge Constructors Ltd. (CRC), an ECV Group Company, received the Bridges and Structures award for its critical work to restore Highway 1 after 2021’s floods.
The new three-lane bridge at Falls Creek is named CəX̣ʷ Cixʷ (Check-Chow), reflecting a partnership with the Nlaka’pamux Nation and neighbouring communities, and the Province’s commitment to climate-resilient infrastructure that respects Indigenous heritage. This partnership ensured lasting benefits by providing opportunities for local Fraser Canyon businesses and Indigenous workers, through direct project employment and hiring local Indigenous businesses and equipment. Respecting the land’s cultural significance, the project’s environmental stewardship included innovative water collection methods during drought conditions. The team adapted to challenges, such as wildfires and extreme weather, working without safety incidents and finishing the bridge on time and under budget in June 2024.
Conwest Contracting Ltd. received the Grading award for its work on the Phibbs Transit Exchange improvements in North Vancouver.
The company provided exceptional grading work that plays a crucial role in upgrading this key transit hub. The work provides a solid foundation for expanded bus capacity and enhanced safety for transit users. Conwest completed its work at a high-traffic urban worksite, managing tight schedules and collaborating closely with stakeholders to minimize disruptions, such as configuring side streets so transit service continued seamlessly throughout the project.
The company worked with First Nation partners, honouring the cultural significance of the site by incorporating traditional plants and supporting Indigenous art installations.
Emil Anderson Construction (EAC) received the Paving award for its work from the Elkhart brake check to John’s Creek on Highway 97C east of Merritt.
The company exceeded standards for design aspects like asphalt quality and created an exceptionally smooth riding surface. The project’s safety focus included comprehensive training for new staff. EAC maintained strong communication with ministry staff and other stakeholders, ensuring minimal disruption and safe traffic flow during construction while delivering the project on time and under budget.
Cutting Edge Consulting Inc. (CEC) received the Community Service award for its outstanding support for many communities in B.C.
When the 2021 atmospheric river flooded Nicola Valley, CEC helped repair seven critical bridges and rebuild Highway 8. Beyond this ministry work, the company donated equipment and labour to help Merritt residents protect their homes from further flood damage. Despite its full workload, CEC also helped out after bridge fires in Kamloops and Adams Lake, prioritizing community safety and recovery.
The company supports many local initiatives and community events, such as Kamloops Boogie the Bridge, the Salvation Army’s Adopt-A-Family and the Kamloops Food Bank. Its support also reaches young athletes, sponsoring local youth in sports and trades competitions, and fostering the next generation of talent through school trades programs like Heavy Metal Rocks. CEC also works closely with First Nations, offering employment and revenue-sharing opportunities, as well as supporting First Nation events.
Yellowhead Road & Bridge (Fort George) Ltd., also known as YRB – Fort George, received the Road and Bridge Maintenance award for its exceptional commitment to maintaining safe and reliable roads and bridges in the Fort George area (Service Area 19).
YRB takes a proactive approach to maintenance through continual investment in maintenance equipment and process improvements. YRB’s commitment to timely response to emergencies was on display this summer when the company supported Jasper wildfire evacuees, providing essential supplies and directing traffic to safety.
YRB also supports local communities and First Nations by participating in community events and most recently by improving local recreational areas. Its hiring of a First Nation liaison and signing of a memorandum of understanding with the McLeod Lake Indian Band fosters long-term partnerships and demonstrates its commitment to reconciliation with Indigenous communities.
2023
AIM Roads is receiving the Workplace Health and Safety award for using a system to enhance worker safety during road maintenance, with far-reaching significance that could lead to fewer accidents or injuries across the road-construction industry. The Safety Intelligent Protection Technology (SIPT) system protects road-maintenance crews by creating a virtual fence and AI-driven hazard alarms, in addition to traffic-control devices. SIPT’s alerts mean that workers now react more swiftly to potential hazards. AIM has had fewer incidents and worker injuries since it began using SIPT.
Gitga’at Park Derochie Industrial Services Inc. is being recognized with the Bridges and Structures award for their rehabilitation of the Old Skeena Bridge near Terrace – bridging the past, present and future. The company’s work preserved the 1925 bridge’s historical significance, a symbol of the region’s rich heritage and scenic beauty. Facing a significant increase in the project’s scope, the firm added a second shift and finished the work four months before schedule. Gitga’at Park Derochie also protected the surrounding natural habitat to ensure that the bridge remained a vital link in an environmentally sensitive fish-bearing river used by First Nations people for traditional activities.
Thompson Brothers Construction is receiving the Grading award for rising to challenging circumstances in completing the Highway 29 Lynx Creek bridge replacement and highway-realignment project. As a response to flooding from a reservoir, the project included a large highway-embankment fill, a 150-metre bridge and a 280-metre causeway crossing Lynx Creek. The company moved more than two million cubic metres of material. Thompson Brothers extended a stability berm, provided embankment-wave protection and adapted final grading while adjusting schedules to accommodate new work and delays due to wildfire evacuations. While work was underway, the company maintained community access to a boat launch.
Dawson Construction Limited is receiving the Paving award for resurfacing more than 54 kilometres of Highway 97 at Hixon, south of Prince George. The company’s use of 15% recycled-asphalt pavement created a smoother and sustainable road. The company switched gears and helped manage traffic during the fire season. The community appreciated Dawson’s frequent communication with the Township of Hixon. The company completed the project well ahead of schedule and within budget.
Yellowhead Road & Bridge Ltd. (Vanderhoof) is receiving the Community Service award. For five years, the company has partnered with the non-profit Murray Ridge Ski Area, providing crucial road maintenance, snow removal and parking-lot care to ensure safe travel for students on ski days. This partnership saves the ski club thousands of dollars each season and makes skiing more affordable for people in the community. The company also partnered with the Stellat’en First Nation on the Stella Road pedestrian walkway project, donating materials, equipment and more than 550 person hours. This one-kilometre route separates pedestrians from traffic and enjoys widespread community use, including families with children, elders, and people who use wheelchairs.
Capilano Highway Services is receiving the Road and Bridge Maintenance award for redefining industry standards to keep people and goods on the move on the Sunshine Coast, with innovations like safety and quality software programs, smartphone apps and improvements to winter maintenance. The company excels in emergency operations, stepping up for temporary storm repairs to ensure safety for road users. The company supports a range of community activities and is committed to diversity and inclusivity, including hiring First Nations subcontractors.
