JEN COL President & CEO selected as Top 20 Business Leader
We’re proud to announce Cory Jodoin, JEN COL President & CEO, is a recipient of this year’s Top 20 Business Leaders award from Business in Edmonton.
Business Leaders stand out in our community through their personal integrity, values, business initiatives, community involvement, innovation and philanthropy.
“I really like building teams and empowering teams with the goals we set out and go forward with. A lot of the work we do is in rural Alberta and most of our projects are larger dollar-value projects and have a huge economic impact in the community. Most companies can build a building but it’s how you go about engaging in the community and working within the community.”
– Cory Jodoin, JEN COL Construction
Thank you to Business in Edmonton and congratulations to all of this year’s Business Leaders award recipients and nominees who contribute to Edmonton and area’s thriving business community.
Award Magazine Feature – Theresa C. Wildcat Early Learning Centre
Excited to have one of our outstanding projects featured in September’s issue of Award Magazine. The Theresa C. Wildcat Early Learning Centre in Maskwacîs, Alberta is nearly complete, and we can’t wait to welcome students from four distinct Nations within the Maskwacîs community (Ermineskin Cree Nation, Louis Bull Tribe, Montana First Nation and Samson Cree Nation) to their new school.
This was truly a “community” project as several members of the local First Nations communities worked on the construction of their school which was designed and built to honor First Nation culture and traditions.
We are so grateful for the opportunity to be part of a project that so clearly demonstrates the transformative power of education. This will be a safe and nurturing space for all the community’s children for generations to come.
Read the full article below or go to Award Magazine.
JEN COL Celebrates 45th Anniversary
This year marks a milestone of 45 years in business for JEN COL. Our journey began with a small project for a friend, and over the years, we have completed a wide range of projects, from building Tim Hortons to water treatment plants.
Throughout our journey, our core values have been a driving force behind our success. By putting our clients first, going above and beyond, and building strong relationships based on trust and collaboration, we’ve built a reputation for delivering the unrivaled project experience. Our commitment to embracing challenges, paying meticulous attention to details, and exceeding expectations has made us leaders in the industry. As we celebrate this milestone, we’re grateful for the opportunity to continue delivering value beyond price for our clients.
We’ve achieved many noteworthy accomplishments along the way, including:
- More than 700 projects completed to date
- Over 70 Indigenous projects
- Construction of over 200 school projects in western Canada
- Completion of more than 30 LEED-certified projects since 2004
- Contribution to Alberta’s first-ever LEED-certified renovation project at Spruce Grove City Hall
As we reflect on our legacy, we’re grateful for the support of our team and the clients who have trusted us with their projects. We look forward to many more years of growth, innovation and excellence in building a better future.
Thank you to Business in Edmonton for featuring our 45th anniversary in their magazine. And a very special thank you to our external partners for your support and acknowledgement.
Dale Fisher Arena Groundbreaking Ceremony
The groundbreaking ceremony for the twinning of the Dale Fisher Arena in Devon was an immensely significant moment for the community, and it was our great honor to participate in it. We extend our sincere appreciation to the City of Devon and Parkland County for inviting us to kick off this momentous milestone.
As we gathered to witness the official start of the construction, we couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of pride in being a part of this historic occasion.
What the Expansion Means for the Devon Community
At JEN COL, we firmly believe that construction is about more than just building structures. It’s about creating spaces that empower and connect communities. As construction progresses, the twin arena will promote healthy living and create lasting memories for the community.
“Today is a great day for the Town of Devon. Arenas are at the heart of our Alberta communities across the province and the Dale Fisher Arena, home to the DMHA Drillers is no exception. Recreational centers are vital to the social fabric of communities, helping to promote healthy living and serving as a meeting place for friends, families and teammates.”
Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance and Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre, on behalf of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities.
Rink Expansion Details
Exciting improvements are on the horizon for the Dale Fisher Arena as construction is underway to expand the facility. The expansion will include a second full sheet of ice, new dressing rooms, and an energy-efficient ice plant. Additionally, parking will be added to the west of the arena.
The Economic Benefits of the Dale Fisher Arena Expansion
The twinning of the Dale Fisher Arena will not only enhance the size of the facility but also to significantly contribute to the overall growth and development of the community, bringing with it a plethora of exciting opportunities.
“This arena expansion means so much to our community as it will double our capacity to host large-scale tournaments and provide economic benefits with more families drawn to Devon to play in the new arena.”
Jeff Craddock, Mayor of Devon.
We are deeply honored to be part of the Dale Fisher Arena groundbreaking ceremony and expansion project. The twin ice surfaces are set to be fully completed and ready for use by mid-2024. We are eagerly anticipating presenting the new addition to the community.
National Day for Truth & Reconciliation
September 30 is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day. The day honours the children who never returned home and Survivors of Residential Schools, as well as their families and communities.
JEN COL is currently working on several projects with our First Nation partners and on each site our Superintendents helped recognize and commemorate the history and ongoing legacy of residential schools and the trauma experienced by so many by delivering messages to their teams, raising flags and tying ribbons around their sites. We believe the business community, including JEN COL, has an important role to play in reconciliation and commit to ongoing education, reflection and promoting economic reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.
We encourage all our partners to learn more about the actions we can take and wear orange to show your support.
MESC and JEN COL kick off construction of Early Learning Centre
The wind didn’t stop the groundbreaking celebration of the new Early Learning Centre. We were honored to be part of this event alongside Ermineskin Cree Nation’s Chief and Council, Elders, community members and representatives of Maskwacîs Education Schools Commission (MESC) and Workun Garrick Partnership, Architecture and Interior Design.
This new 2,900m2 early learning facility on Ermineskin Cree Nation will welcome the community’s children during the most important learning years of their lives to help create a strong foundation for learning today and for success later in life. The school will also honor First Nation culture and traditions and serve the community for many years to come.
JEN COL shows their green spirit in support of the Logan Boulet Effect
April 7, 2022 – Green was definitely the color of the day! JEN COL staff turned up in their green shirts in full force today to support organ donor awareness and registration across Canada in honor of Humboldt Broncos defenseman Logan Boulet.
Logan tragically lost his life along with 15 others in a bus crash on April 6, 2018. His parents, Bernadine and Toby Boulet donated Logan’s organs so that six lives could live on. They did so because Logan told his parents he was registering as an organ donor and that he was inspired by his coach and mentor Ric Suggitt.
This selfless act is known across Canada as the #LoganBouletEffect. Learn more and become a registered donor today – https://greenshirtday.ca/
Celebrating Women in Construction Week & International Women’s Day
In celebration of Women in Construction Week and International Women’s Day, we are highlighting a few of the awesome women here at JEN COL. We asked each of them to share their thoughts on women’s roles in construction.
Project Manager
Vicky recently joined JEN COL as a Project Manager and has been in the construction industry for over 20 years.
What makes you proud of working in the construction industry?
When I can drive around and point at buildings and say “I was part of that build”. To know that you started with a blank slate and created something that people are using daily.
What’s the best part of your job?
When we reach a scheduled milestone and everyone from subtrades, consultants and owners feel the pride of having reached an important accomplishment. Everyone has that feeling of teamwork and it keeps the project moving forward with a positive feeling.
How do you think construction can attract more female candidates?
Construction can be a tough industry to work in as a female, I have been fortunate to have had some great mentors in my career to help me navigate through some difficult situations. I think if more women who are in the industry mentored younger women (like a buddy system) who are interested it would help them in what can sometimes be a bit scary in a male dominated industry.
Who inspires you?
Men, women, children. Anyone who is always trying to better themselves or their community. Those feel good stories always inspire me to try to be a better person personally and professionally.
First Year Apprentice
Chloe is a First Year Apprentice who is doing great things at our Quesnel Junior School project site in Quesnel, BC.
What makes you proud of working in the construction industry?
It’s great to see more women coming into the industry and showing that women are equal to men in construction.
What’s the best part of your job?
The best part of my job is finishing a hard task, Successfully!
How do you think construction can attract more female candidates?
I think women deserve to be in construction just as much as men do and by me being here and other women doing it too is just proving that.
Who inspires you?
My Papa inspires me!
Human Resources Specialist
Shawna is JEN COL’s Human Resources Specialist who supports all functions of the HR department, including recruitment and onboarding, training and development, employee relations and performance management.
What makes you proud of working in the construction industry?
As a previously under-represented demographic, it’s nice to see the growth of a strong female presence in the industry. It’s also wonderful to work for a company that promotes this growth.
What’s the best part of your job?
The best part of my job is the people. In the roles that I have had, it always comes back to having that touch-point with people in a very personal way.
How do you think construction can attract more female candidates?
There are some good foundations being set through different groups to attract female talent. It’s just a matter of finding means to communicating them out. For example, making the groups visible within high schools.
Who inspires you?
My HR mentor inspires me. We met while working together at a previous job. She has worked her way up the HR ladder and is now a successfully self-employed consultant. She shows me that you never stop growing and achieving in an area that you are passionate about.
First Year Apprentice
Phoenix is a First Year Apprentice making her mark at our Quesnel Junior School project site in Quesnel, BC.
What makes you proud of working in the construction industry?
It feels great making something permanent; just like this school we’re building in Quesnel – knowing that it’s going to be part of the community forever.
What’s the best part of your job?
The best part of my job is learning new things and seeing the progress of my work!
Who inspires you?
My auntie inspires me. She’s a boiler maker!
JEN COL Construction Welcomes New Partners to the Ownership Group
Acheson, AB (January 19, 2022) – It’s an exciting start to the new year for JEN COL as we celebrate six new partners invited to the ownership group. These leaders are pillars in their teams, bring fresh perspectives and are highly regarded by their peers for their expertise, management styles and team spirit. They each model JEN COL’s core values daily and provide support and mentorship within the firm; while their hard work, commitment and contribution is shown by the impact they have made on our clients, colleagues and communities we operate.
It is with great pride that we announce our newest owners:
- Falko Bittner, Superintendent
- Ben Jorgenson, Project Manager
- George Legault, Information Technology
- Ed Mah, Marketing & Communications
- Darryl Podlosky, Project Director
- Matt Udholm, Superintendent
JEN COL’s vision from the outset has been to build an enduring organization for generations to come; leaving a lasting legacy of expertly executed projects built by a team that passionately cares about every facet of the business. The first step towards becoming an employee-owned construction services firm began in 2013 with the transfer of ownership from Ron and Yvonne Jodoin to Cory Jodoin (President & CEO), then again with the addition of five new owners in 2019 and it continues with today’s announcement.
This addition to the ownership group further strengthens JEN COL’s commitment to our internal partners by preserving our employee-centric culture and by moving towards our goal of being an employee-owned, board-run company. Shared ownership promotes a positive organizational culture that will lead to the ongoing success of JEN COL by ensuring we continue to serve our clients in the best way possible while supporting the sustainability of our company.
About JEN COL
At JEN COL Construction, we don’t just build buildings, we’re Building a Better Future – for our customers, our consultants, our trades and our people. Whether constructing an office building, fire station, school, assisted living facility, restaurant or health clinic, this belief defines how we conduct our business, who we partner with and what projects we pursue. Throughout our 43-year history in western Canada, our objective has been to make construction an enjoyable and positive process in our effort to deliver the Unrivaled Project Experience. Promise, Delivered.
Quesnel Junior School featured in NorthWORKS magazine
Our Senior Project Manager, Renee McKenzie, was recently interviewed by NorthWORKS magazine about some of JEN COL’s innovative construction practices at our Quesnel Junior School project. Thank you to the Northern Regional Construction Association (NRCA) for featuring this fantastic project in Quesnel, BC.
The school is a 6,300m2, two-storey facility for students in grades 8 and 9. It features numerous wood products throughout the school to represent the Quesnel area. There are exposed Glulam beams in the gym, wood columns around the building exterior, exposed wooden stairs, wood benches, wood slatted walls, wood ceiling slats and wood signage. The school offers numerous learning studios, wood shop, science labs, economics lab and robotics labs. There are several collaboration spaces which include two sunken stairs and a feature staircase for access as well as seating for the drama area. A daycare and Kindergarten space is available for public use, as well as a smudge room and a state-of-the-art gymnasium that can facilitate numerous sporting events.
