THE FORGE VOL 2
Every landmark project starts with masterful hands, and at Blue Anvil, we’ve built our entire company around forging those hands. Our apprentices aren’t stop-gaps; they’re full-time carpenters sharpening their craft in school and on your site day in, day out. With each placement, you’re not just adding bodies, you’re investing in tradespeople who grow alongside your team, elevating every beam, joint, and finish to the next level. Demand outpaces our bench, so locking in a Blue Anvil carpenter means securing the consistency and quality your builds deserve.
Ready to see who’s joining your crew this month? Let’s dive into The Forge, Vol. 2.
June 2025 Labour Pulse: Snapshot for Construction & Skilled Trades
Construction Market Trends
Employment Surge: Construction jobs are up 9.8% since May 2024 (+23,800 roles).
Labour Supply vs. Demand: Canada’s construction workforce grew 3.5% while employment grew 2.6%, easing vacancy rates from 7% (2022) to 3% today.
Regional Variance: Vancouver Island leads with just 5.4% unemployment, while some Northern communities still lag—plan placements accordingly.
Policy & Project Drivers
Fast-Track Permitting: B.C. will expedite 18 priority infrastructure projects (schools, hospitals, critical-minerals) worth $20 billion, aiming to break ground faster.
Bill C-5 (Canada): Proposed “national interest” designation for major builds promises to cut federal approval times from ~5 years to 2, and recognize trade credentials across provinces.
Major Megaproject: The $3.5 billion Roberts Bank Terminal 2 is entering procurement, promising 18,000 construction job-years from 2027 onward.
Inside This Issue:
Worker Spotlight - Ethan: From Farm Hand to Father
Significant Statisticts - The BC Carpenters Crunch
Preparing for What's Next - Building the Future Skilled Workforce
Ethan - From Farm Hand to Father: An Inspiring Journey of Hardwork, Comradery & Family
Ethan was born and raised in Powell River, BC moving to Victoria 7 years ago for hockey and his Dad’s work, Ethan has brought heart, grit and an unmistakable positive energy to everything he does. Over the past year with Blue Anvil, he’s grown into an integral part of our team — and we couldn’t be prouder to spotlight his journey. While playing with the South Island Royals Academy holding the morals his inspiration and mentor, his Dad, taught him, he built the work ethic and perseverance that continue to define his career in the trades. Before joining us, Ethan spent six years on a cattle farm and later worked with an HVAC company, learning the ropes of hands-on labour and discovering his love for building.
It was on the farm where his passion for construction first took root. “Seeing the finished product of a foundation wall I built with my own hands — that feeling stuck with me,” Ethan shared. While torn between auto and carpentry, his dream of building a home for his family won out — and we’re lucky it did. Ethan has always brought enthusiasm, shown incredible resiliency, and a can-do attitude to every site. Whether it’s framing, concrete finishing, or crafting handrails, making cuts or doing the labour intensive tasks nobody wants to do, Ethan isn’t afraid to take it on - always with a smile, pep in his step and a willingness to help wherever he’s needed.
Ethan is always a pleasure to visit, and a vibrant presence at staff events. His favourite memory with us so far has been a beam signing event that the entirety of the site he was on attended, as well as even some of our office staff were invited too. Being able to come together as a team and get some photos was heartwarming.
His biggest inspiration is his Dad who has continually pushed him to be a better person. He has propelled him to always give 110% in whatever he does - this mindset an integral part of who Ethan has become, and how he is raising his own family.
Outside of work, Ethan is so much more than just a team-player, he’s an incredible partner, and loving father to his newborn son! Ethan credits managing the turbulence of being a new father, working full-time and going to school to the amazing support of his partner. He says “...it’s all about balance, you can’t be a parent without the support system, and I want to be able to provide and be there for my family as much as I can.”
He loved school, and is excited to be going into his second year! He is now a Level 1 Carpenter, is Fall Pro Certified, and has his Confined Space Certification. He’s looking forward to receiving his Zoomboom and other heavy equipment certs in the near future, and is striving to be a well-rounded asset to every site he is on.
When you meet Ethan, you know you’re in good company. He believes in making the workplace a positive place for everyone around him, and aspires to be a leader, helping others build confidence in themselves. We like to think Ethan said it best: “At the end of the day, it’s about being a good person.”
And Ethan — you’re one of the best. We’re lucky to have you at Blue Anvil!
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British Columbia faces a critical carpentry shortage: by 2029, an estimated 23,000 framing positions will remain unfilled, as over 636,000 tradespeople retire through 2032 versus just 474,000 new entrants. This gap is driving wage inflation—lumber alone jumped 40% in 2022—and threatening project schedules across the province.
The root causes aren’t just numbers: federal immigration streams under-serve skilled trades, high schools still push trades to “second-class” status, and our industry remains 85%+ male, sidelining vast talent pools. Unpredictable hours and limited mental-health resources further fuel turnover, creating a vicious cycle of understaffed crews and strained margins.
Blue Anvil’s full-time apprenticeship model is built to break that cycle. By employing, mentoring, and certifying our 17 apprentices through partnerships with SkilledTradesBC, ICBA, and the CFBC, we deliver pre-trained, ticket-verified carpenters ready to shoulder your long-term projects. Our rapid back-fill bench and holistic support (including mental-health intake calls) keep your site moving, even when unexpected absences strike.
Read the full analysis to explore our four-point plan—targeted immigration, apprenticeship-first education, diversity initiatives, and modernized work structures—and discover how securing a Blue Anvil apprentice today can safeguard your builds tomorrow.
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Preparing for What's Next
Building the Future Skilled Workforce
With ambitious construction and housing targets ahead, the focus on growing the skilled trades workforce has never been greater. Both provincial and federal initiatives are underway to train and recruit the people who will literally build B.C.’s future:
Ongoing Skilled Trades Shortage or Surplus?
It might feel like we hear “labour shortage” constantly, but the reality is evolving. As noted, construction hiring has cooled slightly in 2025, giving breathing room. However, the long-term outlook still points to huge demand. B.C.’s latest Labour Market Outlook projects about **99,600 job openings in construction over the next decade. Nationwide, the federal government’s housing plan to build 3.87 million homes by 2031 will require “thousands of new skilled tradespeople” in the coming years. Simply put, we’ll need a new generation of trades workers to replace retirees and fill new positions as big projects and housing construction ramp up.
Training & Apprenticeships:
June saw continued investments in trades training. The Government of Canada, through its Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy, is funding equipment and training updates to modernize apprenticeship programs (e.g. $20 million for new training equipment this year). Budget 2024 earmarked $90 million to help small and medium employers hire apprentices and $10 million for awareness programs to attract people into trades. The message is clear: there is support for those pursuing apprenticeships. In B.C., the Province is also funding organizations that help underrepresented groups get into trades. A recent $5 million investment is boosting programs for women, Indigenous Peoples, and others – helping with pre-apprenticeship training, mentorship, and breaking down barriers. (Currently, only about 10% of B.C. apprentices are women and ~8.5% are Indigenous, so there’s plenty of room to grow the talent pool by welcoming new people into our industry.)
Emphasis on Certification and Safety:
As the workforce expands, there’s also a drive to uphold high standards. B.C. reinstated compulsory trade certification for several trades to ensure all workers are properly credentialed – a phased rollout that reinforces training and safety on job sites. Nationally, experts like Jim Stanford are urging that as we “build, baby, build,” we also expand apprenticeship and vocational programs and integrate new skills (think green construction, advanced technologies).
Immigration and Mobility:
Immigration continues to be a strategy to alleviate skilled labour gaps. Canada’s immigration plan is still bringing in newcomers (including many with trades skills), though there are discussions about balancing intake with housing availability. Meanwhile, improved recognition of credentials (like the new Red Seal mobility enhancements under Bill C-5) will help workers go where the work is. This is good news for contractors who travel between provinces or projects – fewer delays getting your crew certified in a new locale.
