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Giving Back

When asked about its community involvement, the managers at Regina,
Sask.-based Morsky Construction Ltd. (MCL) are somewhat reluctant to
comment

When asked about its community involvement, the managers at Regina, Sask.-based Morsky Construction Ltd. (MCL) are somewhat reluctant to comment, quickly pointing out that they are just one organization in the roadbuilding business that gives back when they can. And in the true prairie style of remaining humble and modest, the almost 30-year-old company chooses to stay low on this topic, insisting that what they do on the corporate giving side isn’t out of the ordinary.

Morsky Construction’s ADM asphalt load out silo sports large pink ribbons, symbols of progress and hope for a breast cancer cure.

However, not everyone agrees and in addition to being recognized for its contribution to breast cancer research and donating resources to Habitat for Humanity, the company has won numerous awards from the Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association for community relations, including best in category for asphalt paving, innovation for their new paver for its sloping and compacting capacity, and environmental achievement for the Asphalt Drum Mixers (ADM) asphalt plant Morsky acquired in 2010.

The company decided on the ADM Milemaker plant when they got back into asphalt paving following a five-year hiatus from highway roadbuilding projects to focus on what they call “more innovative work” such as microsurfacing and remixing additives. “We had only known about the smaller ADM 100 tph units,” says Morsky’s general manager, Allan Barilla. “But we took a good look at one of their larger plants and decided that it would be a great choice for our needs.”
Barilla adds that the ADM Milemaker plant offers a high level of production, along with good portability, and is environmentally friendly.

Allan Barilla (left) and Brian Morsky of Morsky Construction Ltd.

The ADM plant is an eye-catcher, too. It sports large pink ribbons, a symbol of progress and hope for a breast cancer cure. Owner Brian Morsky’s wife and the wives, sisters and mothers of several MCL employees have been struck with breast cancer, so they are familiar with the effects of this disease on the entire family. When buying the ADM plant, MCL suggested putting the ribbons on the silos and ADM was all for it.  The plant is very recognizable and it stimulates awareness of the drive for a cure.

 Today, Morsky still focuses on remixing, microsurfacing and granular structures using a heavy equipment list that includes manufacturers Wirtgen, Roadtec, Volvo, Dynapac and Caterpillar.  MCL’s strategy of buying new or late-model equipment has reduced downtime, improved safety, increased efficiency and made operating the machines more enjoyable for the crews.

 “We are like many other contractors who now place greater emphasis on community relations,” concludes Barilla. “Contractors are interacting more and more with the communities where they work; for us, it has been enjoyable and it is gratifying to our crews.”