Local 793 Members and Families Invited to 2023 Labour Day Parades Held Across the Province

Local 793 members and their families are encouraged to march in a number of Labour Day parades and attend events being held across the province on Monday, September 4, 2023 (Sunday, September 3, 2023, in Oshawa). Participants that attend the parade in their respective districts will receive a Local 793 jacket, t-shirt, and hat. Children’s T-shirts will be available. Please present your Union card and come early, as quantities are limited. Details about the parades and events in various districts: Toronto The parade begins promptly at 9:30 a.m., Monday, September […]

Local 793 members and their families are encouraged to march in a number of Labour Day parades and attend events being held across the province on Monday, September 4, 2023 (Sunday, September 3, 2023, in Oshawa).

Participants that attend the parade in their respective districts will receive a Local 793 jacket, t-shirt, and hat. Children’s T-shirts will be available. Please present your Union card and come early, as quantities are limited.

Details about the parades and events in various districts:

Toronto
The parade begins promptly at 9:30 a.m., Monday, September 4th, 2023. Assemble by 8:30 a.m. on University Avenue between Richmond Street West and Queen Street West. Union apparel will be supplied upon identification of being a Local 793 member. The parade route will head west on Queen Street West to Dufferin Street then south to the Canadian National Exhibition. At the end of the parade, members will be admitted free to the CNE grounds.

Hamilton
Please assemble at 9 a.m. on Monday, September 4th, 2023, at Stuart Street at Caroline Street North. Local 793 Representatives will be on-site at 8:30 am. Members should look for Local 793 flags and banners to find us on Stuart Street. Bay Street North will likely close to traffic around 10 a.m., so if you plan on arriving after that, you will have to come down another access route. The parade starts at 10:30 a.m. and heads south on Bay Street, east on Main Street to James Street, north on James Street to Strachan Street, west on Strachan to Harbour Front Drive and into Bay Front Park. Following the march, a picnic is being hosted by the Hamilton and District Labour Council (HLDC) in Bayfront Park and members are free to attend if they wish. The Local will not have a tent or booth at the park.

Ottawa
Ottawa’s Labour Council Labour Day Parade will depart at 12 p.m., Monday, September 4th, 2023, from Ottawa City Hall, finishing at McNabb Park, located at the corner of Bronson and Gladstone Ave. Once at the Park, the day will be filled with a fun list of activities that will include a moon bounce, live music, pony rides, face painting and a barbecue.

Kingston
The Kingston & District Labour Council is hosting a parade at Doug Fluhrer Park starting at 10 a.m., Monday, September 4th, 2023 and a barbeque at Victoria Park (Brock and Alfred) from 11 p.m. till 1 p.m. There will be great food, music, bouncy castles, and union and community stalls!

Oshawa
Members are invited to the Lindsey & District Labour Council Labour Day picnic at Old Mill Park, 16 Kent St. E., Lindsay. The picnic begins at 12 p.m. on Sunday, September 3rd, 2023. There will be food, live music, refreshments, door prizes and information booths. Please bring your own water bottles.

London
Local 793 is sponsoring a barbeque for members and their families at East Park, 1275 Hamilton Road, in London. The picnic runs from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday, September 4th, 2023. The food being provided is barbequed hot dogs and sausage, as well as pizza and refreshments.

Windsor
The march will begin at 10:00 a.m. from the UNIFOR Local 200/444 Office as in previous years. We ask that those participating in the march be at 1855 Turner Road (Unifor Local 444/200 Office) beginning at 8:30 a.m. and no later than 9:30 a.m. Speeches, food, car show and activities will all take place at Lanspeary Park this year.

Sarnia
Members are to meet behind the Sarnia Public Library, located at 124 Christina Street South at 8:30 a.m., Monday, September 4th, 2023. Members will then line up in front of the library on Christina Street to march in the parade. Following the parade, we will be coming back to the Union Hall, located at 1390A Lougar Ave, for lunch and refreshments.

Sault Ste. Marie
Members can meet at the Roberta Bondar Pavillon at 65 Foster Drive. Sault Ste. Marie, On. P6A 5N1 at 10:00 a.m., Monday, September 4th, 2023, and from there assemble for the parade which starts at 11:30 a.m.

Sudbury
Members are invited to a Labour Day barbeque at the Sudbury office at 430 Westmount Avenue, Sudbury, Ontario, Unit H. The barbeque runs from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Monday, September 4th, 2023.

Timmins
Members are invited to meet at Kerr Crane Services, located at 1321 Riverside Dr, Timmins, ON P4R 1A6, at 10:00 a.m., Monday, September 4th, 2023, and from there the parade will commence.

Thunder Bay
Members can attend a Labour Day picnic at the Current River Park off Hodder Avenue and Cumberland Street from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., Monday, September 4th, 2023. Food will be served until 3 p.m. The event is organized by the Thunder Bay District Labour Council.

Local 793 Members Demolish Bridge in Ottawa

Brothers Steven McDonald, long-time member and President of Demolition Plus, and Eric Bazinet operating an 850D John Deer excavator and V7000 Tramac to demolish a Highway 417 bridge.

Brothers Steven McDonald, long-time member and President of Demolition Plus, and Eric Bazinet operating an 850D John Deer excavator and V7000 Tramac to demolish a Highway 417 bridge.

Members on-site in front of heavy equipment

Local 793 Members Work on a New Iconic Hard Rock Cafe Hotel in London

Local 793 Members Work on a New Iconic Hard Rock Cafe Hotel in London Brothers Justin Sears, Tory Lampman, Cody Cright and Hudson Mercer are demolishing the former Kellogg’s factory at 100 Kellogg Lane to build the new Hard Rock Cafe Hotel in London. The hotel will feature 353 rooms, an indoor-outdoor pool, lounge spaces, restaurants, and shops. The property will also be the future home of the London Children’s Museum, the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame, and the already popular indoor park ‘The Factory.’ The site also houses Powerhouse […]

Local 793 Members Work on a New Iconic Hard Rock Cafe Hotel in London

Brothers Justin Sears, Tory Lampman, Cody Cright and Hudson Mercer are demolishing the former Kellogg’s factory at 100 Kellogg Lane to build the new Hard Rock Cafe Hotel in London.

The hotel will feature 353 rooms, an indoor-outdoor pool, lounge spaces, restaurants, and shops. The property will also be the future home of the London Children’s Museum, the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame, and the already popular indoor park ‘The Factory.’ The site also houses Powerhouse Brewery, Paradigm Spirits, the Canteen, and The Club House.

After delays, the two-phase project is scheduled to complete in 2025.

Brothers Justin Sears, Tory Lampman, Cody Cright and Hudson Mercer on-site Hard Rock Hotel in London

Outside of the site for the new Hard Rock Hotel in London

Local 793 Sponsors Kiwanis Sunshine Point Summer Camp

Local 793 is proud to sponsor Kiwanis Sunshine Point Camp (KSPC), giving children in need a chance to enjoy summer in the great outdoors and, as their motto says, letting kids be kids. Local 793 has been able to support KSPC and its financial assistance program for the last three years thanks to the money raised at our Windsor Golf Tournaments. KSPC, established in 1947 on the shores of Lake Erie in Harrow, is an overnight camp for children ages 7-14 in the Chatham-Kent and Essex region. Open during July […]

Local 793 is proud to sponsor Kiwanis Sunshine Point Camp (KSPC), giving children in need a chance to enjoy summer in the great outdoors and, as their motto says, letting kids be kids. Local 793 has been able to support KSPC and its financial assistance program for the last three years thanks to the money raised at our Windsor Golf Tournaments.

KSPC, established in 1947 on the shores of Lake Erie in Harrow, is an overnight camp for children ages 7-14 in the Chatham-Kent and Essex region. Open during July and August, the camp caters to 400 children, with a group of up to 60 campers at a time staying for five nights and six days. 22 college and university student camp counsellors lead activities during the day and are assigned to a cabin keeping campers safe and secure at night.

The six cabins on the grounds are essential in helping children build lifelong friendships. KSPC has dedicated one of those cabins to the Union in recognition of its long-term support.

Local 793 is happy to give more children the opportunity of a fun, safe and enriching experience and wishes all the Kiwanis Sunshine Point campers a summer to remember.

KSPC camp counsellor and campers standing in front of the IUOE Local 793 dedicated cabin.

New Concrete Pump at OETIO Oakville Campus

OETIO has acquired a new Putzmeister BSF 39Z.16 concrete pump with a detachable boom at the Oakville campus. This was a much-needed upgrade after our last pump had just surpassed 15 years of use. Upgrading technology that meets industry standards gives our apprentices an important advantage. Learning to work with technology and equipment closest to what will be on-site in their future careers sets them up for success. The new concrete pump was funded by the Province of Ontario’s Skills Development Fund, administered by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training […]

OETIO has acquired a new Putzmeister BSF 39Z.16 concrete pump with a detachable boom at the Oakville campus. This was a much-needed upgrade after our last pump had just surpassed 15 years of use. Upgrading technology that meets industry standards gives our apprentices an important advantage. Learning to work with technology and equipment closest to what will be on-site in their future careers sets them up for success.

The new concrete pump was funded by the Province of Ontario’s Skills Development Fund, administered by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. OETIO and our apprentices greatly benefit and appreciate Ontario’s move to focus on growing the skilled trades industry and training.

(Left to right) Director of Training and Apprenticeship Jeff Hewitt, Vice President Dave Turple and Executive Director of OETIO Rick Kerr in front of the new concrete pump.

Backend view of the new concrete pump

Offices Closed for Civic Holiday

Please be advised that all Local 793 offices across the province will be closed for the Civic Holiday beginning Friday, August 4, 2023, at 12:00 pm. Regular office hours will resume on Tuesday, August 8, 2023. Dues can be paid online by logging into your member profile at iuoelocal793.org/members, and under your name, select “Pay Dues.” Enjoy the long weekend from Local 793!

Please be advised that all Local 793 offices across the province will be closed for the Civic Holiday beginning Friday, August 4, 2023, at 12:00 pm. Regular office hours will resume on Tuesday, August 8, 2023.

Dues can be paid online by logging into your member profile at iuoelocal793.org/members, and under your name, select “Pay Dues.”

Enjoy the long weekend from Local 793!

Local 793 Members Demo a Overpass in Ottawa

Brothers (from left to right) Beau Buiting, Korey Poitras, and Brad Brock are working on the demolition of the Bronson Avenue overpass on Highway 417 at Catherine Street. The $170 million project is part of the Kiewit Dufferin Midtown Partnership for the Midtown Bridge Replacement in Ottawa. In 2022, Rochester Street and two Booth Street overpasses were replaced. This year, work is keeping members busy with three Percy Street overpasses and the two Bronson Avenue bridge replacements. Contractors: Demolition Plus

Brothers (from left to right) Beau Buiting, Korey Poitras, and Brad Brock are working on the demolition of the Bronson Avenue overpass on Highway 417 at Catherine Street.

The $170 million project is part of the Kiewit Dufferin Midtown Partnership for the Midtown Bridge Replacement in Ottawa. In 2022, Rochester Street and two Booth Street overpasses were replaced. This year, work is keeping members busy with three Percy Street overpasses and the two Bronson Avenue bridge replacements.

Contractors: Demolition Plus

Three members on-site in front of an overpass on Highway 417

Good news! Local 793 Pension Payouts Increase by 6%

Since being elected Business Manager in 1996, Mike Gallagher has been determined to raise the standard of living for our membership, with improving the pension benefits a top priority. Now, due to strong contributions and the stable ongoing financial health of the IUOE Local 793 Pension Plan, an increase in pension benefits has been approved by the Pension Board of Trustees. Effective September 1, 2023, all benefits earned up to January 1, 2023, will be increased by 6%. “We know how difficult times have been in recent years with runaway […]

Since being elected Business Manager in 1996, Mike Gallagher has been determined to raise the standard of living for our membership, with improving the pension benefits a top priority.

Now, due to strong contributions and the stable ongoing financial health of the IUOE Local 793 Pension Plan, an increase in pension benefits has been approved by the Pension Board of Trustees.

Effective September 1, 2023, all benefits earned up to January 1, 2023, will be increased by 6%.

“We know how difficult times have been in recent years with runaway inflation and rising interest rates, so on behalf of all the pension trustees, we are delighted to be able to improve your pension by 6%,” said Business Manager Gallagher.

“In the last 26 years, the membership has grown, pension and benefit plans have improved, and wages have been raised. This would not be possible without the solidarity and strength of our membership.”

Plan members who are entitled to benefits from the Local 793 Plan as of September 1, 2023 – whether they’re pensioners, active or inactive members – will benefit from the increase. The 6% increase will be applied and processed for pensions in pay starting with the September 1, 2023, monthly payment.

Local 793 President and OEBAC Executive Director, Joe Redshaw, said, “I am delighted with our Plan’s continued good health and the enhanced value it provides to plan members during these uncertain economic times.”

If you have any questions about this change or how it impacts you, please contact the Operating Engineers Benefits Administration Corporation (OEBAC) Pension Department at info@oebac.org or 1-844-793-1919.

Local 793 Members Build A Home for Stories at the New Ottawa Public Library

Brother Umberto Pelloni and apprentice Shawn Heath, operating the tower cranes, along with Brother Jordan Audet, work on the new Ottawa Public Library and Library and Archives Canada Joint Facility. The construction of Ottawa’s new central library at Albert Street and Bronson Avenue is named Ādisōke, an indigenous word for storytelling. The over 200,000 square feet combined facility aims to open in 2026. GC: PCL Contractor: Bellai Alliance

Brother Umberto Pelloni and apprentice Shawn Heath, operating the tower cranes, along with Brother Jordan Audet, work on the new Ottawa Public Library and Library and Archives Canada Joint Facility.

The construction of Ottawa’s new central library at Albert Street and Bronson Avenue is named Ādisōke, an indigenous word for storytelling. The over 200,000 square feet combined facility aims to open in 2026.

GC: PCL
Contractor: Bellai Alliance

Down up shot of Ottawa Public Library construction site with erected tower cranes

Local 793 Member Shares Experience as a Heavy Equipment Operator

Sister Melissa Seymour is a heavy equipment operator, a graduate of OETIO’s Heavy Equipment apprentice program at the Morrisburg campus and a Local 793 member since 2017. “I like everything about being an operator; it’s like working with family, and I’m always keeping busy,” Melissa said. “I’m very proud to be a member of Local 793. Especially being a woman in the industry, I’m grateful to be accepted and a part of it.” Melissa is currently working with GIP Construction Ontario East operating a Cat D3 dozer for the Albert […]

Sister Melissa Seymour is a heavy equipment operator, a graduate of OETIO’s Heavy Equipment apprentice program at the Morrisburg campus and a Local 793 member since 2017.

“I like everything about being an operator; it’s like working with family, and I’m always keeping busy,” Melissa said. “I’m very proud to be a member of Local 793. Especially being a woman in the industry, I’m grateful to be accepted and a part of it.”

Melissa is currently working with GIP Construction Ontario East operating a Cat D3 dozer for the Albert Street Rehabilitation project in Ottawa.

The job includes replacing portions of the existing sewers, roads, and watermains and reconstructing the street right-of-way with Slater Street west of Bronson, realigned to merge with Albert Street.

Member sitting inside cab of a dozer