A North Bay contractor has been recognized for its dedication to fair practices, worker rights, and industry excellence.
Venasse Building Group Inc. is the recipient of a 2023 Community Builder Award from the United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC), one of North America's largest building trade unions, with more than 500,000 members.
Venasse Building provides industrial, commercial, institutional, multi-residential, and civil construction services.
Some of its notable construction work includes the post-production film studio at Canadore College and the Northern Honda car dealership.
This marks the inaugural year for the UBC awards program, which was created to recognize employers that actively work to address issues like tax fraud, labour trafficking, and the underground economy within the construction sector.
It’s part of a larger awareness campaign by UBC to draw awareness to what it calls a “growing issue.”
According to Statistics Canada, the gross domestic product (GDP) at market prices for underground economic activity in Canada was estimated at $68.5 billion, or 2.7 per cent, of the total GDP in 2021.
Jason Rowe, of the Carpenters’ Regional Council, called Venasse Building “one of the most well-deserving contractors we work with.”
“They’re a company that operates ethically and is well trusted in our industry,” he said.
Steven Venasse, company president, said he was honoured to receive the recognition.
“We always strive to operate at the highest ethical standard, and to be an employer and contractor of choice in our market area, so it’s humbling to be recognized by our peers in this way,” said Venasse in a release.
“This particular award is meaningful as it aligns with many of the values that are important to our organization.”
UBC recognizes partners from five of their councils across Canada, including the Atlantic Canada Regional Council of Carpenters, Millwrights and Allied Workers, Conseil Régional Québécois, the National Construction Council, Millwright Regional Council, and Carpenters’ Regional Council.
— BayToday
