Our Facilitators

Partner, Apex Surety & Insurance Ltd.

Patrick Smoke, B. Comm. (Hons.), CAIB, CRIS, has advanced knowledge of not only the contractual requirements contractors will encounter within Canada but also risk mitigation practices contractors should be familiar with to best position themselves for success. 

Patrick has worked alongside both large and small contractors, and specialty sub trades addressing both simple and complex project specific insurance placements. He also regularly provides consultative services for his clients to identify specific risks within a project and what contractors can do to help protect themselves while also keeping in mind their bottom line.

Perry Educational Services

Phil Perry, P.Eng. is an experienced senior project manager with more than 30 years in the construction industry. He has worked in a variety of roles with owners, designers and constructors, most of which included project managing industrial projects for general contractors. Phil has worked with many different delivery systems including stipulated price, cost plus, unit price, construction management and design-build. He has been teaching post-secondary construction management courses for the last eight years and works with various contractors on their professional development programs.

President & CEO, Transcona Roofing Ltd.

President, Unitech Construction Management

Rick Boates, AScT., GSC, LEED AP, Lean Green Belt, started his career in the construction industry nearly five decades ago with experience in design consulting and as a Building Inspector. He is founder and currently President of Unitech, one of BC’s leading Construction Management firms. Rick served on the Board of Independent Contractors and Businesses Association and on the Board of Merit Canada; he is now dedicating his board efforts to the Delta Hospital and Community Health Foundation.

Rick has guided Unitech through the successful completion of nearly $1.5 billion worth of projects of all types throughout B.C. All of these projects have been implemented via Construction Manager as Agent using the old CCA 5 or CCDC 5A contracts on behalf of many repeat public and private clients. He is continuing his passion for collaborative construction with the promotion of IPD and Lean Construction on current and upcoming projects.

Managing Partner, Dale Carnegie Manitoba

Rob has over 21 years of experience as a certified multi-course master trainer and executive coach, include public and keynote speaker. He has also been the owner of Dale Carnegie in Manitoba since 2004. 

Rob has delivered hundreds of motivational and thought-provoking presentations. Companies, professional clubs and charitable groups have all benefited from Rob’s unique ability to deliver a powerful message in a fun and exciting manner. 

Roy’s career in design build construction started about 50 years ago as a student construction labourer and then a superintendent on a small design build renovation project.  Roy is a Professional Engineer who owned a design build company from 1974 to 2019, and a Professional Engineering company for over 30 years.

Roy has served on the Ontario Building Code Commission, is a Past President of the Ontario General Contractors Association, past Chairperson of the Canadian Design Build Institute, the Niagara Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the Niagara Industrial Association, as well as other organizations.

Currently Roy acts as an owner’s agent and a strategic advisor to design build contractors.  Roy has experience in private sector industrial, commercial, and retail projects plus municipal work as an owner’s agent and a design builder.  These projects have ranged from small to $32,000,000.

Roy has received many honours, including a Life Membership from the Ontario General Contractors Association, and a Niagara Engineering Award of Merit.

Lawyer, Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP 

Sacha practices primarily in two areas of law –  Aboriginal law and Public/Administrative law

Sacha is a member of the English River First Nation, a Dene community located in Northern Saskatchewan. He is a partner with Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP and has been a lawyer for over 20 years.

In 2003, Sacha clerked for the Honourable Justice Ian Binnie of the Supreme Court of Canada.

He is a member of the bar in Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Yukon, and Saskatchewan. During his career, Sacha has appeared in many different courts from the Supreme Court of Canada, to various Courts of Appeal (Manitoba, Federal, Saskatchewan, NWT, Yukon), and trial level courts (Manitoba, Federal, Saskatchewan, Yukon, Nunavut, and NWT). In addition, Sacha has appeared before a number of administrative tribunals such as human rights tribunals, workers’ compensation appeal tribunals, environmental regulatory boards etc.

In 2022, Sacha became the President of the Law Society of Manitoba.

Aboriginal Law
Sacha has experience working for resource developers, such as mining companies, forestry companies, and hydro-electric utilities, in engaging with First Nations and Metis Nations, particularly when it comes to future resource developments or the impacts of past developments.

Sacha has also worked for First Nations providing advice on the many different types of legal issues that can arise—governance issues, election issues, labour/employment issues etc. In addition, Sacha has assisted First Nations in resolving specific claims against Canada respecting rights under Treaty.

Public Law/Administrative Law
Sacha has provided advice to or appeared in front of any number of administrative tribunals.

Sacha has acted for human rights commissions in advancing human rights complaints. He has also advised workers’ compensation boards before appeal tribunals as well as before courts on judicial review respecting decisions made on workers’ compensation benefits or on human rights matters. Finally, Sacha has appeared before environmental tribunals addressing Aboriginal law issues that may arise.

Director, Design Technology & Innovation, Republic Architecture Inc.

 Sean is the Director of Design Technology & Innovation at Republic Architecture. With over 10 years of experience in the AEC industry, he has led design technology implementation and applications, including BIM management, visualization, reality capture, and model analysis. Sean is also a founding member of the Winnipeg BIM Community, a BuildingSMART Canada affiliate group, and helps lead its efforts to promote and support digital delivery practices locally.

Associate, Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP 

Sharyne’s practice is focused in the area of civil litigation, with a primary emphasis on construction litigation and dispute resolution. Sharyne has experience assisting clients with a variety of legal issues, including contractual disputes, builders’ liens, negligence, personal injury and collections.

Sharyne articled with Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP in 2016 and joined the firm as an associate in 2017.

Senior Building Plan Examiner, City of Winnipeg

Shawn Krenz C.E.T. is currently the City of Winnipeg’s Senior Building Plan Examiner.  He is a Certified Engineering Technologist and graduated in 1998 with a diploma in Design and Construction Technology from Red River College.  He has 24 years of experience within the industry related to drafting, design, and fire protection.

Shawn has been with the City of Winnipeg’s Plan Examination Branch since 2004 and has been in his current role as Senior Building Plan Examiner since 2018.  He is responsible for supervising the Building Plan Examination staff that undertake the architectural fire and life-safety review of plans related to new construction, additions and alterations of commercial buildings, to ensure compliance with applicable building codes and by-laws.