The Government of Canada estimates 700,000 skilled trades workers will retire between 2019 and 2028. This void needs to be filled fast if Canada is going to meet its ambitious housing construction targets. But are enough young people entering the trades, and will they develop their skills fast enough to replenish the lifetimes of knowledge being lost? In this episode of Hard Hats & High Tech, we’re talking to people actively working to solve our country’s construction labour pains. What will it take to attract new talent so we can build the housing we need? Are outdated processes getting in the way of progress?

Meet Our Guests in Order of Appearance

• Kevin Brittleton, Field Operations Manager, Ventana Construction
• Amy Vilis, Director of Housing Growth Innovation, DIGITAL
• John Reid, Co-Founder, Faber Connect

This episode is brought to you by Faber Connect–a two-sided marketplace platform where construction workers connect with construction gigs in their area while learning new skills and exploring different career pathways. Through the mobile app, construction workers can see project information, company reviews and how much a gig pays. Construction companies can see worker reviews and whether the worker’s skills match the project’s needs. Faber is often described as “Uber for trades,” but there’s a big difference: workers can set their own rates and pick and choose the gigs they want, whenever they want them. Faber will soon be adding training opportunities to its platform, with support from DIGITAL’s Housing Growth Innovation Program. Learn more about Faber at faberconnect.com

About your Host

Don Shafer, PhD, is an award winning broadcaster, veteran media executive, and recipient of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame’s Lifetime Achievement Award. He holds a PhD in Social Justice, bringing a rare blend of industry expertise and academic insight to the evolving media landscape.

Additional Resources from this Episode

We've gathered the resources from this episode into one helpful list:

• CIMM - Labour Shortages - November 25, 2024 (Government of Canada, 2024)
• Housing shortages in Canada: Updating how much housing we need by 2030 (CMHC, 2023)
• Canada facing construction and skilled trades worker shortage (CTV Your Morning, 2025)
• Blueprint for Growth: Innovation in Housing (DIGITAL, 2025)

Credits

Host: Don Shafer, PhD

Guests: Kevin Brittleton, Amy Vilis, John Reid

Senior Writer / Showrunner: Jessica Grajczyk

Audio Producer: John Masecar

Executive Producer: Jennifer Smith

#podcast #construction #technology