Building Trades Leaders Tour Borouge International Joffre Turnaround Project
Leaders from the Building Trades of Alberta (BTA), its affiliated unions, and the General Presidents’ Maintenance Committee for Canada and the National Maintenance Council (GPMC-NMC) recently toured the Borouge International Joffre Site to witness firsthand the impressive work being carried out by Building Trades members during the site’s E1 Shutdown Turnaround.
The tour provided an opportunity for labour leaders to see the scale and complexity of one of Alberta’s major industrial maintenance projects and to recognize the highly skilled workforce responsible for its success.
Representing the Building Trades of Alberta were Executive Director Terry Parker and Chair Rod McKay. They were joined by GPMC-NMC Executive Director Brett McKenzie, GPMC-NMC Labour Representative Trent Valentine, and leaders and representatives from Building Trades unions across Alberta.
The visit highlighted the critical role that unionized skilled tradespeople play in safely and efficiently executing large-scale industrial shutdowns and turnarounds. These projects are essential to maintaining Alberta’s industrial infrastructure, ensuring facilities continue to operate safely, reliably, and competitively.
The group was welcomed to the site by Shutdown Turnaround Leader Marc Wahl and his team. Their leadership, planning, and commitment to collaboration have helped make the E1 turnaround a success and have strengthened the partnership between Borouge International and Alberta’s unionized construction workforce.
“Opportunities like this demonstrate the value of strong relationships between industry and labour,” said Terry Parker, Executive Director of the Building Trades of Alberta. “When owners, contractors, and skilled trades professionals work together, projects are completed safely, efficiently, and to the highest standards.”
The tour also showcased the importance of collaboration across the Building Trades, with multiple affiliated unions contributing their expertise throughout the turnaround. This cooperative approach helps ensure projects are completed on schedule while creating quality employment opportunities for Alberta’s skilled trades workforce.
The Building Trades of Alberta remains committed to working alongside industry partners such as Borouge International to support major projects, strengthen Alberta’s economy, and create long-term career opportunities for tradespeople across the province.
As work continues on the E1 Shutdown Turnaround, the project stands as another example of what can be achieved through partnership, professionalism, and the dedication of Alberta’s highly skilled union workforce.
