Walker Industries has been producing stone, sand and gravel for over 130 years and creating vineyards and beehives along the way. Through the company’s aggregates division, with quarry operations in Ontario’s Niagara, Simcoe and Essex regions, Walker has fulfilled its commitment to rehabilitation and then some.

The Alberta Sand & Gravel Association (ASGA) kicked off its annual general meeting and trade show held Jan. 9 and 10 with a record registration of approximately 265 attendees flocking to the River Cree Resort & Casino in Enoch, Alta.

At 15 tonnes, Alberta uses more tonnes of aggregate per capita than any other province. Despite the province’s needs for stone, sand and gravel products, industry still has its challenges starting up and operating pits and quarries in many communities, due to concerns from residents related to groundwater quality, increased truck traffic, and potential dust and noise. In areas where residents are especially concerned, community outreach and regular communication between producers and residents are keys to creating positive relationships between municipalities and aggregate companies.

Darren Neil has built and grown Darren Neil and Sons Excavating Inc. from the ground up in the heart of Ontario’s cottage country. Born and raised in Collingwood, Ont., Darren identified several opportunities in his hometown where a person with a strong entrepreneurial spirit could build a business doing niche work within the construction sector. In 2003, he did exactly that.

Workers expect to come home safely from their jobs. What happens when they don’t? How does society move forward from workplace fatalities? Are fines enough? Are any lessons learned when a company is convicted, pays a fine and carries on with its work in silence?