Last summer, construction began on a multi-million-dollar infrastructure renewal project at Buffalo Pound in southern Saskatchewan. The three-year project will modernize the main treatment plant that serves the cities of Regina, Moose Jaw and surrounding areas, providing potable water to over 260,000 residents. Saskatchewan Polytechnic alumni are taking key roles on a venture that will keep a large construction crew busy until well into 2025.
The design-build construction contract for the massive undertaking was awarded to Graham-Aecon Joint Venture, a 50/50 consortium that makes them the third largest construction company in Canada and Western Canada’s largest industrial services company. Having worked on the Buffalo Pound project throughout its planning phases for two years before construction, Graham-Aecon is well positioned to continue work on the large task of modernizing the facility as it has both the experience and the people required to see the project through.
A few of these people have strong ties with Sask Polytech, including company executives, project managers and coordinators. Jeremy Klarenbach, who graduated from Civil Engineering Technologies in 2002, is Graham Construction’s current vice president of water. Overseeing water-related projects across Canada and taking an executive sponsorship role on this project, Klarenbach says that he was one of the first to join Graham Construction from the Civil Engineering Technologies program.
“Prior to that, Graham didn’t have a lot of employees from Sask Polytech’s (at the time SIAST’s), Civil Engineering Technologies program. Over the past 20 years that’s changed. We’ve been able to employ a lot of Sask Polytech students and graduates in more recent years. Civil engineering technology graduates have a great skillset to help us deliver on our projects, and they complement our other staff, including engineers.”
Both the project manager and project coordinator at the Buffalo Pound site are Civil Engineering Technology alumni. Leighton Ward, who graduated from Sask Polytech in 2017, started as a project coordinator and has since advanced to project manager. “I began working with Graham as soon as I graduated,” says Ward. “Grads from Sask Polytech aren’t at a disadvantage to engineering undergraduates. The skills taught at Sask Polytech are more than enough to kickstart your career, and you see people advancing with an engineering technologist designation. It’s nice to see people with my background moving up and taking on high-level leadership roles within the company.”
Klarenbach notes that perceptions about construction within the field of engineering technology have also changed. “Back when I was a student, there was a real push from instructors to commence a career in consulting. There was limited information and exposure to the construction industry but that’s certainly changed. There’s more awareness now and there are certainly more options for graduates to start their careers in the construction industry. These opportunities span both the type of construction work and geographically, too. Graham takes on a wide variety of projects across Canada and the U.S.”
Lauren Dreger, who is project coordinator for the Buffalo Pound project and a 2018 Civil Engineering Technologies graduate, similarly hit the ground running after graduation. “Our program was really hands on, which I liked,” she says, “and because we did co-operative education work terms I had experience working for a real company.” Dreger worked for another local construction company for a few years as a civil designer before moving to Graham Construction nearly two years ago. As a project coordinator, she now gets to execute the designs and helps schedule and manage the subtrades.
“This project has quite a few Sask Polytech-trained employees,” says Dreger, “including other civil engineering technologists, carpenters, electricians and grads from the Bachelor of Construction Management program. The scope of Graham’s work at Buffalo Pound includes demolition, earthworks, structural fabrication, electrical and instrumentation work, and the construction of concrete foundations and commercial buildings. There’s a lot going on here, and we need well-trained people to make it all happen.”
Graham has been a strong supporter of Sask Polytech, attending and sponsoring events such as annual career fairs, the Knowledge and Networking Opportunities for the Workplace (KNOW) conference and this year’s THINK: The Future of Work, Technology and Learning conference, which will take place in Saskatoon in May.
“The economy here in Saskatchewan has been bullish for over the past decade,” notes Klarenbach. “We want to attract the talent we need to keep growing as a company. Partnering with Sask Polytech on events and initiatives allows us to connect with students who are well trained and ready to begin their careers. It’s a great opportunity for us and also a way to give back to the community.”
“Ultimately, the Buffalo Pound project will make a huge difference for the area,” says Ward, who explains that changes to treatment processes will alleviate algae growth concerns, giving the treatment plant the ability to control taste and odor throughout the year. “The rejuvenated plant will be able to meet forecasted demands for potable water for decades, and that’s important because city and municipality needs are growing.”
For more information about Sask Polytech’s Civil Engineering Technologies program, visit our website.
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