MEMBER Q&A
KPCL equipment
Your involvement within the membership is what you make of it. By not being involved,
you are missing key opportunities to network and build relationships with clients, fellow
contractors and suppliers that have established connections within the government.
What makes your company renew
its SHCA membership each year?
I can sum this up in one word – ADVOCACY.
If someone in the industry in
Saskatchewan wasn’t participating
in SHCA because they didn’t
think it would benefit them, what
would you say to them?
Your involvement within the membership is what you make of it. By not
being involved, you are missing key opportunities to network and build relationships
with clients, fellow contractors and suppliers that have established
connections within the government.
In addition, you miss the opportunity to be a part of a shared voice
from industry – by joining, you have the opportunity to be heard as a
larger voice. There is power in numbers, which ties into advocacy. For
us, the association is an advocate on our behalf. Do we always get the decisions
we want or the results how we want them? Not necessarily. But
you’re still a part of a larger voice that can help influence or make change
where change is needed.
In your opinion, what is the single
greatest benefit of belonging to SHCA?
It’s difficult to say without being repetitive, but it really comes down to being
part of a larger voice. For issues that undermine the industry as a whole,
it’s the individuals who have the experience, the confidence, and the time
to step up and help make a difference in the industry that help carry us forward.
It’s not just about individual members, but it’s about moving our entire
industry forward.
I also appreciate that to some extent, you join a community. SHCA works
really hard to give back to the broader communities within our province each
year. Raising funds for different charities can, when combined, have a larger
impact than by a company giving smaller donations on their own.
I’ll give you an example of this from earlier in the year when COVID-19
started becoming prevalent across Canada and across Saskatchewan.
There was a lot more reliance on organizations like the Food Banks of
Saskatchewan to help people in our communities where they might
need a little more assistance than they normally would. The SHCA was
part of a joint association initiative to raise funds for the Food Banks of
Saskatchewan – because our members work around the province, this
was a nice fit for helping meet a need around Saskatchewan. Together,
this joint initiative helped raise $300,000 to give back to the Food Banks
of Saskatchewan.
Going back to when my grandparents started the company, from the early
‘50s onwards, giving back to our communities has been a priority. The
SHCA embodies this community focus as individual and collective members;
I think that’s a really important aspect about the association that may
get overlooked. Your ability to succeed is based on your community succeeding,
your industry succeeding – it’s a holistic approach.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF MARY PANTELUK
Members of the KPCL team participating in a White Buffalo Youth
Lodge back to school event for Saskatchewan youth
10 Think BIG | Quarter 4 2020 | saskheavy.ca
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