Canada's Building Trades Unions Celebrate Labour Day with the Launch of NEW Website

OTTAWA, ONTARIO  -- Canada's Building Trades unions (CBTU) have and will continue to make a significant contribution to the infrastructure that keeps Canadians safely working and living in their communities. Yet, the contribution by CBTU is often forgotten as the conversation steers towards money and worthiness by anti-union forces that seek to take away a valuable livelihood for 500,000 proud Canadians who belong to construction unions and in turn pay taxes and contribute to their local communities in a variety of forms. Today, in celebration of labour, the CBTU is launching www.buildingastrongercanada.com .

 "This year's message is taking a different focus; it is going to speak to the generosity of spirit and the wealth of both experience and treasure that our affiliates and members of those affiliates bestow on the nation, their provinces and their local communities," says Bob Blakely, Chief Operating Officer. "In this vein we are launching a website for Canada's Building Trades Unions which fittingly acknowledges our role in construction and in greater community that website is called "Building a Stronger Canada".

 Building Trade membership is unique. Its membership builds the most incredible buildings and structures in order to make a living and they maintain them. Through its organizations they do an enormous amount to support communities - members serve on boards, commissions, committees; they participate in development of codes and standards for the protection of the public and for general safety. They get involved with matters environmental and matters economic.

 "We look beyond our own self-interest and try to do good works - works for the greater good of all of our fellow citizens," says Blakely. "The Building a Stronger Canada website is intended to actually blow that horn; we build this nation with our labour and we sustain it with our hearts and with our wallets. When you think about it, that is something that is worth celebrating."

 To help demonstrate the contribute the Building Trades make to Canadian communities, visitors will see examples of their charitable initiatives including:

 - Newfoundland and Labrador Building Trades have endowed Eastern Health;

 - Building Trades of Alberta Charitable Foundation has endowed the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital;

 - Insulators (and some other trades) support the cancer programs at St. Margaret's Hospital.

 As well as the Building Trades support the Variety Club, the Boys and Girls Clubs, school lunch programs, medical research into multiple sclerosis and diabetes; provide capital to allow think tanks and community organizations to function and to challenge our minds. They have endowed university chairs and funded studies into health, the organization of work and so many more good works.

 About:

 Canada's Building Trades Unions (CBTU) is the national voice of over half a million Canadian construction workers-members of 14 international unions who work in more than 60 different trades and occupations, and generate 14 percent of this country's GDP.