Construction Group Aims to Build Up Community

Guest Editorial – Peterborough and District Construction Association (PDCA)

From commercial buildings to residential homes — and everything in between — the PDCA is literally building our community and preparing our region for a prosperous future. 
The Peterborough District Construction Association was established in 1960 with its main objective: to foster and advance the construction industry in East-Central Ontario by representing its members, promoting suitable legislation and unifying the various branches of the industry.
Sixty years years later, it’s clear that the positive impact of the PDCA extends far beyond their world-class 
projects and has a positive ripple effect on our economy as a whole. The PDCA consists of over 140 members from a range of disciplines and backgrounds in the industrial, commercial, institutional and residential construction industries. All members are passionate about quality, integrity, and raising the profile of this region’s capabilities and workmanship. 
The PDCA is committed to growth and maintenance and believe that supporting the local industry and 
advocating for rules and regulation that benefits our members also supports a healthy local economy.  Given the current COVID-19 climate, harnessing local industries to lift our local economies is more important than ever. The buildings and infrastructure the members are responsible for not only prepare our cities for a successful and prosperous future, they support each worker and that worker’s family every step of the way. 
On average, the PDCA creates over 150 projects each year, which includes hiring over 3000 workers for those projects. When you think about it, that’s a lot of money going back into the local economy and 
supporting other local businesses. And the numbers don’t lie, in 2014, the PDCA’s payroll was over 130 million dollars, with an impact on the local economy hitting 250 million dollars. Keep in mind that these numbers are from over 5 years ago and since then, our region has seen a significant boost in population (mostly from people in the GTA). So, it’s safe to assume that these numbers have gone up significantly, and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. On the other hand, whenever companies from in and around the GTA work on projects within our region, the amount of money that stays within the local 
economy drastically decreases. This is one of the main reasons the PDCA is continuing to raise the profile of its member companies and tradespeople. The PDCA will work to ensure that their proven track record within our own community is a known entity and becomes top of mind with those investing in the local infrastructure. 
In the coming months, the PDCA will be taking steps to ensure more people know which members are 
associated with the PDCA, so decision-makers can easily make more locally conscious choices that employ more local people, keep more money within our region, and directly stimulate the economy. Understandably, it’s hard to choose companies with a local connection, if you’ve never heard of them in the first place. That’s why the PDCA will build awareness with the general public and create a groundswell highlighting the need to secure more contracts that directly impact everyone who lives in and around our region. To make up from all the losses that took place during the COVID-19 lockdowns, the PDCA plans to do whatever it takes to ensure this happens. The PDCA will advocate, petition and lobby for changes in all levels of government and push for the recognition and opportunity our highly skilled workforce so greatly deserves. In this day and age, any steps we can take to help put (and keep) more dollars in the pockets of those who have a direct connection with the region that we eat, sleep and play in, is a step in the right direction and something we should all be championing. 
To learn more about the PDCA and their members, feel free to visit 
peterboroughconstructionassociation.ca