Last week, Heritage Canada Foundation (HCF) distributed its 2012 awards to various organizations and individuals who have contributed to the conservation of heritage structures across the country.

The awards program incorporated various awards, including the Prince of Wales Prize, which is awarded to a local government for its restoration efforts.

Last week, Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) celebrated the first Green Apple Day of Service, encouraging the construction of sustainably built educational facilities.

According to CaGBC, approximately 461 Canadian schools are registered for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.

The Canadian residential construction industry is expected to moderate after a multi-unit building boom in the first half of 2012.

The Conference Board of Canada has released its outlook for the remainder of this year and into 2013, suggesting housing starts and industry profits will both decline.

Canadian Roofing Contractors Association (CRCA) technical director, and Construction Canada author, Peter Kalinger has been presented with the William C. Cullen Award by ASTM International Committee D08 on Roofing and Waterproofing.

Kalinger, a CSC member, has been a part of the committee for more than 15 years.

A new program to offer architects trained abroad a route to becoming registered and licensed in Canada has been launched.

The lack of an evaluation method for international qualifications of architects trained outside of Canada identified the need for the Canadian Architectural Licensing Authorities (CALA) to establish the Broadly Experienced Foreign Architects Program (BEFA) program nationally.

Last month, the annual IIDEX/NeoCon Canada show took place at Toronto’s Direct Energy Centre, bringing together interior designers, owners, and architects. The two-day exhibition hosted 350 exhibitors, 180 seminar speakers, nine keynote speakers, and even a chair hockey tournament.

This year’s exhibition had Interior Designers of Canada (IDC) joined by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (Architecture Canada/RAIC) as co-presenters for the first time. As a result of this new partnership, more architects attended.

The seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of housing starts increased overall across the country in August. Up to 224,900 units from 208,000 in July, the trend is determined by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

The SAAR of housing starts is calculated by adjusting monthly results by removing normal seasonal variations, allowing more accurate comparisons between seasons.

Five finalists for Canada’s Best Restroom contest—ranging from a mobile toilet with solar-powered lighting to a renovated warehouse with oil paintings—have been announced.

The third annual competition, put on by Cintas Canada—a uniform, data management, and restroom-cleaning company—aims to recognize businesses creating unique and clean facilities for customers.

Last month, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) determined provisional duties will now be applied to subsidized piling pipe imported from China.

Atlas Tube, a piling pipe producer in Ontario, filed a complaint with the Canadian government earlier this year regarding the influx of low-priced Chinese carbon and alloy steel pipe into the western provinces.

Originally built in the 1920s, the power corridor serving Toronto’s midtown area is undergoing a $115-million refurbishment as part of the Midtown Electricity Infrastructure Renewal program.

Continued growth in the area has added strain to the transmission cable system; the goal of the restoration is to ensure a reliable power source with a minimal chance of future outages.