Maple Ridge company hosts The Future of Work for construction sector

A Maple Ridge company hosted a construction industry event that brought industry leaders, trades, and innovators together for two days of conversation focused on how construction must evolve for a rapidly changing world.

Pitt Meadows Plumbing hosted The Future of Work on April 24 and 25, during BC Construction Month, at their shop in Maple Ridge. They partnered with Houle Electric for the event.

“The Future of Work is such an incredible event… for us to be able to partner with them during Construction and Skilled Trades Month is an absolute honour for us… it is bringing the right messages to the future workforce,” said Chris Atchison, president of the BC Construction Association.

“It’s bringing the right messages to government. It’s shedding the right kind of light on our industry, that we’re an industry to be considered and an industry to be factored in,” Atchison added. “And it’s the message around, let’s not just accept the status quo. Let’s imagine something… that’s bigger and better for our industry.”

Pitt Meadows Plumbing and Mechanical, is known for its work on residential towers and medical buildings across B.C., and company president Steve Robinson founded the Future of Work. The two-day format included a Thursday evening industry mixer, featuring curated food stations and networking among project owners, general contractors, trades, and innovators, followed by a full conference day on Friday packed with panels, keynote presentations, and sponsor activations.

“We didn’t build this event to mirror other conferences,” said Matt Bewsey from Houle. “We built it because construction deserves a conversation that is grounded in experience, elevated by innovation, and led by the people doing the work.”

The construction sector faces unprecedented challenges, asserted Robinson, from skilled labour shortages and shifting delivery models to the pressures of technology and productivity.

Five expert-led panels and two keynote presentations tackled the most critical themes facing the built environment, including technology integration, workforce development, and reshaping public perception of the trades.

The event’s growth saw sponsorship support increased by over 45 per cent compared to last year, and ticket sales grew from about 200 in 2023 to more than 800 across two days in 2025. More than 30 sponsor booths filled the transformed fabrication floor, bringing hands-on activation to life.

In addition to inspiring dialogue, the event included a community-driven initiative – gently used PPE donations were collected on site for Working Gear Clothing Society, helping equip individuals entering the skilled trades.