This week, the Association of Maintenance Contractors of Canada (AMCC) presented an update on our groundbreaking Shaping Our Future initiative to delegates at the Canada’s Building Trades Unions (CBTU) annual conference.

The session spotlighted the work of the AMCC Advisory Panel, which over the past six months has brought together leaders from across the sector — including owners, contractors, unions, workers, and industry partners — to explore the most pressing issues facing Canada’s maintenance industry.

AMCC Board Chair Ken Sandmoen opened the panel with an overview of how the process is bridging long-standing divides by fostering collaborative dialogue and shared accountability. He emphasized the importance of viewing industry challenges through both owner and contractor lenses, and introduced the panel’s commitment to long-term labour stability, cost predictability, and workforce readiness.

Panel Co-Chairs Mandy Kaiser, Chief Operating Officer of Connect Group, and Robert Kucheran, Senior Advisor to the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades and Chairman of the CBTU Executive Board, shared how the panel has been working to identify root causes of industry instability and build pathways toward more resilient, responsive, and future-ready solutions.

Panel discussion highlights included:
• Exploring Uncharted Territories: For the first time, an advisory panel has come together to address national issues.
• Consultative Approach: An essential aspect of the conversation will be the collaborative efforts the Advisory Panel undertook in the development of a forthcoming discussion paper. The panel will discuss who they have met with, a group ranging from industry experts to community stakeholders, ensuring a well-rounded approach to problem-solving.
• Identifying Challenges: The session will outline some significant challenges in the maintenance and construction sectors, highlighting the critical areas where focus and innovation are needed.
• Pathways to Solutions: Finally, the discussion will explore potential solutions and the strategic steps AMCC is taking to address the challenges identified, aiming to set a proactive agenda for the future.

The session served as an important opportunity for conference participants to learn more about the upcoming recommendations — expected this fall — and the essential role that all stakeholders will play in bringing these ideas to life. Whether you're an owner, contractor, or union representative, the message was clear: the future of the maintenance sector will be built together.

The work of this panel is a cornerstone initiative for AMCC, underlining our commitment to leadership and collaboration in the building trades. By sharing our journey and the challenges we're tackling, we aim to inspire and inform our peers and pave the way for innovative solutions that will benefit the entire industry.

AMCC extends our sincere thanks to CBTU for providing a platform to advance this critical conversation, and to all those who continue to contribute to this transformative work.