Deconstructed - Podcast

Jeff MacIntyre talks with industry leaders to break down the issues affecting our business so we can understand them better and move towards building a stronger construction industry.

Listen Now:

14. Getting in the Ring with Mandy Bujold

Jeff steps inside the ring with Canadian Olympic boxing legend Mandy Bujold. Mandy has recently joined GVCA to help lead the efforts to create more opportunities for women in the trades and construction. In this episode, Mandy and Jeff talk about the parallels between sports and construction and Mandy's fight to make boxing qualifications equal for women boxers.

13. Breaking all the fake rules with Eric Avner

When he's not exploring cities by foot, Eric Avner is helping connect communities together as the President & CEO of the Waterloo Region Community Foundation. On this episode of deConstructed, Eric joins Jeff to talk about community building, how we can build better cities to retain talent workers across every industry, and how we can better collaborate to address pressing community issues.

12. What makes a great community with Alex Kinsella

Our producer, Alex Kinsella, steps out from behind the keyboard to share his thoughts on what makes a great community. Beyond producing the podcast, Alex is the creator of TL;WR, a weekly events, arts, and culture newsletter for Waterloo Region.

11. Helping new Canadians succeed with Ayo Owodunni

Canada welcomed over 400,000 new immigrants in 2022, but are we doing everything we can to help them successfully build new lives and careers in their new home?

On this episode of Deconstructed, Jeff sits down with City of Kitchener Ward 5 councillor Ayo Owodunni to hear his experience immigrating to Canada and what we can do to ensure skills, experience, and education are properly recognized—and put to use.

You can purchase Owodunni's book "nclusive Leadership - The Immigrant View: The guide to helping immigrants thrive in your organization on Amazon.ca or at your local bookseller.

10. Holly Bachman on sustainability and healthier cities

Attracting a new generation of workers to the construction industry means understanding what is driving Gen Z decisions on careers, education, and more. On this episode of DeConstructed, Jeff sits down with Holly Bachman, a recent graduate of the University of British Columbia. Bachman earned her B.A. in Environmental and Sustainability studies and she shares what recent graduates and other young people think about when it comes to city design and construction.

9. Monica Szabo of Szabo Safety & Operations Services

On this episode, Jeff is joined by workplace safety consultant Monica Szabo. Monica and Jeff discuss the importance of safety culture, the history of construction safety, and where we are today.

8. Brenda Gilmore and Rosie Hessian of Jill of All Trades

Since 2014, Jill of All Trades has been bringing hundreds of young women together with industry leaders and advocates to help them explore the potential of a career in a skilled trade. On this episode, Jeff sits down with Brenda Gilmore and Rosie Hessian from Conestoga College to learn more about this innovative program and how it's helping increase the number of women in the skilled trades.

7. Luke Anderson of the StopGap Foundation

The simple act of going into a store to pick up milk can be challenging or even impossible for people who require a wheelchair to get around. Removing these barriers to make sure everyone can access any space at any time is the mission of the StopGap Foundation.

6 - Cam Guthrie - Mayor of the City of Guelph, Ontario

Communities across Canada are struggling with multiple problems, but one in particular stands out — housing. On this episode of the deConstructed podcast, Jeff is joined by Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie. Cam and Jeff talk about the housing crisis in Guelph, how for-profit housing is making the crisis worse, housing for international students, and why Cam is so passionate about finding solutions so everyone can have a place to call home.

5 - Simon Fallows of Freedom for Founders

Founder is a term used in the tech scene, but it applies to anyone who starts and grows a business. On this episode of Deconstructed, we're joined by Simon Fallows from Freedom for Founders. Simon's mission is to help business owners understand their business value from a buyers perspective to maximize value, so when the time is right, owners are ready to sell on terms they have planned for.

4- Rosa Lupo of Gowling WLG

Succession planning is an often overlooked area in the construction industry. On this episode of Deconstructed, we're joined by Rosa Lupo from Gowling WLF. Rosa and Jeff dig into the differences between a business exit and succession, what business owners should think about with their shareholder agreements, and insights on what you should be thinking about 5, 10, and 15 years into your business.

3 - Charlene Hofbauer of the Workforce Planning Board of Waterloo Wellington Dufferin

The construction industry is facing a labour shortage across Canada—but what is driving that and what can we do to solve it? Charlene Hofbauer, Executive Director of the Workforce Planning Board of Waterloo Wellington Dufferin, has some ideas. On this episode of Deconstructed, Charlene and Jeff look at the reasons we have a shortage, what's impact the labour participation rate, how government policies are impacting the labour funnel, and most importantly—what can parents do to encourage their children to pursue a trade.

2 - Jason Ball of Ball Construction Inc.

Ball Construction is celebrating 100 years of business this year. Jason Ball, a third-generation owner of the family business sits down with Deconstructed host Jeff MacIntyre to talk about the company's history, how they've evolved over the years, their client-based philosophy, and what they're doing to set themsevles up for the next 100 years as new challenges in the construction industry emerge.

1 - Matt Bolen of Edge Architects

In this episode of Deconstructed, host Jeff MacIntyre sits down with Matt Bolen from Edge Architects to discuss sustainability and how the construction industry can make projects more environmentally friendly. Matt provides some practical tips and advice on incorporating sustainable practices into construction projects and the benefits of doing so.

The conversation then shifts to the role of government in speeding up construction projects. Matt shares his thoughts on how the government can help the industry by implementing policies that streamline the permitting process and incentivize sustainable building practices.

Lastly, the discussion turns to the impact of AI on the construction industry. Matt provides his insights on how AI is changing the game and the ways in which architects and builders can adapt to keep up with the times.

Join Jeff and Matt as they explore the intersection of technology, government policy, and sustainability in the construction industry. This episode is a must-listen for anyone in the industry or anyone interested in the future of construction.

Subscribe to this Page