Annual General Meeting

Halifax, Nova Scotia

If you have not already registered please do so as soon as possible. We are now pleased to offer a virtual option - details below. 



Ticket Options


Full Registration - includes reception and dinner - $350 + HST 
Fee includes a tour of Sancton Access, two lunches, snacks, plus a gift bag. Also, Thursday evening reception and dinner. All on top of a day and a half action-packed agenda, featuring seven guest speakers.

Nova Scotia Residents Local Rate - Day time events only - $50 + HST 
A special rate for residents of Nova Scotia. This ticket only includes the day time meetings plus a tour of Sancton Access. If you wish to also attend the reception and dinner, please add an additional dinner ticket during checkout.

Reception and Dinner only - $170 + HST 
Select this ticket to attend our reception and dinner at Il Mercato, Bedford. Includes food and two free drinks.

Virtual option - no charge

Virtual Registration

AGENDA


Thursday May 7, 2026 
8:30 Registration

9:00 Call to order & welcome from the President

9:10 Approval of agenda & Approval of minutes from 2025 AGM

9:15 Robin Keddy, Occupational Health & Safety, Nova Scotia

10:15 Break

10:30 MJ MacDonald, CEO at Construction Safety NS & and Rob Rowe, CEO at the New Brunswick Construction Safety Association

11:25 AAC Awards

12:00 Lunch

1:00 Trent Soholt, Executive Director, Nova Scotia Construction Sector Council

2:00 Treasurer's report & Sponsorship opportunities

2:10 Election for the AAC 2026-2028 Board of Directors

2:25 Melissa Pike, Life and Health Coach

3:25 Break

3:40 Video of SAIA shown by Stephen Hemphill

4:40 Review of 2025/2026 and a look ahead

5:00 Adjournment for the day
6:00 Reception 
7:00 Dinner

Friday May 8, 2026

8:30 Tour of Sancton Access

9:30 Shelley Poirier, Consultant and instructor on Construction Safety 

10:30 Break
10:45 Richard Blais, Vice President of Prevention WorkSafe New Brunswick

11:45 Nadine Wentzell, Nadine Wentzell Consulting

12:30 Closing remarks, adjournment & lunch


HOTEL

Sadly, the competitive rate we had with the Hampton by Hilton at Dartmouth Crossing has now expired.

If you have not yet booked your room under the preferred AAC rate, the deadline to do so has passed. Please call the hotel directly and quote the code CHH914, there will likely be a small surcharge for booking beyond the deadline, and of course, it is subject to availability. The phone number for the Hampton by Hilton is 902 406 7700.

https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/yhzdthx-hampton-suites-halifax-dartmouth/

The hotel has many amenities which you will see on their website, but please note that breakfast is included, and available from 6:30 a.m.

Speakers

Trent Soholt is the Executive Director of the Nova Scotia Construction Sector Council-ICI (NSCSC) - a not-for-profit organization that serves as the industry's "help desk," connecting job seekers with opportunities, conducting research, facilitating training, providing administrative support, and promoting construction trades and management occupations through various programs and initiatives.

Shelley Poirier has been involved in the health and safety field for the past 24 years. She retired from her full-time position of Manager of Training Services at New Brunswick Construction Safety Association in January of 2025, but remains active, teaching and consulting on a part-time basis. Shelley holds a BSc in Psychology from Dalhousie University and holds both a Construction Safety Coordinator and Gold Seal Safety Coordinator designation.

Melissa Pike is a dual-certified ICF coach working largely in the Health & Wellness space. With a background in HR, she brings a unique combination of professional experience and personal insight into her work with senior executives and leadership teams to improve overall health, focus, productivity, communication, and well-being. 

Rob Rowe recently joined the New Brunswick Construction Safety Association as the Chief Executive Officer, bringing over 25 years of experience across mining, infrastructure, residential development, and major capital projects. Recognized for advancing safety performance and modernizing training through innovative technologies such as virtual reality, he draws on extensive experience gained throughout Canada, the United States, Europe, and the Middle East. Rob applies a collaborative, forward‑thinking approach to strengthening safety culture across New Brunswick’s Construction Industry.

MJ MacDonald is the CEO of Construction Safety Nova Scotia, with over 30 years experience in the private and public sectors in progressively senior leadership roles. MJ holds a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from Technical University of Nova Scotia (now Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Engineering) and an executive MBA from St. Mary’s University. A life-long learner, she also holds her designation in corporate governance from the Institute of Corporate Governance at the Rotman School of Business.  



Richard Blais. As vice-president of Prevention, Richard leads the Prevention Division, which delivers services and programs such as health and safety consultation, inspections and investigations, occupational hygiene and ergonomics, and (Occupational Health and Safety) legislative changes, all with the goal of making New Brunswick the safest place to work.

Before his appointment as vice-president of Prevention in 2022, Richard served as director of Compliance and Regulatory Review and Chief Compliance Officer, a role he took on when he joined WorkSafeNB in 1996. 







 Robin Keddy - Robbin Keddy has over 25 years of experience with the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Division, bringing extensive expertise in enforcement, leadership and regulatory development. Robin served as an OHS Officer for 17 years, followed by five years as a Regional Director, gaining a deep operational and strategic insight into occupational health and safety programs.

Currently, Robin serves as a Program Lead for the very busy Central Region of Nova Scotia, providing leadership in program development, oversight and continuous improvement. Throughout his career, Robin has actively participated in multiple regulatory reviews, contributing practical frontline knowledge and leadership experience to the evolution of OHS legislation and policy. Robin is an active Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP), demonstrating an ongoing commitment to professional excellence and workplace safety. 

Nadine Wentzell. Nadine is committed to building practical, effective, and industry-specific workplace drug & alcohol policies and programs customized to your workplace realities. She has worked with unionized and non-unionized businesses and organizations in the private, public, and academic sectors across Canada, the US and internationally. With 25+ years of practical experience in this field, Nadine is Canada’s subject-matter expert on addressing the impacts of substance use in the workplace.

Credentials: Bachelor of Science (Pharmacy) from Dalhousie University, Master of Adult Education from St. Francis Xavier University, licensed pharmacist.

AAC AWARDS



Celebrate Excellence in the Scaffold & Access Industry!

The AAC Awards spotlight the very best in safety, innovation, and professionalism across our industry.

The deadline has passed for submission and our Board of Directors are now diligently reviewing all entries.

🏆 2026 Award Categories:

·       Outstanding Project of the Year

·       Outstanding Contribution by an Individual

Winners will be revealed at the AAC Annual General Meeting (AGM) in May 2026.



DARTMOUTH CROSSING

Dartmouth Crossing, where we will be staying, is a vibrant open-air shopping and entertainment district designed like a pedestrian-friendly village, with wide walkways connecting standalone stores, big-box retailers, boutiques, restaurants, and entertainment venues.

Home to more than 100 shops and services—ranging from well-known global brands to unique local boutiques—Dartmouth Crossing offers something for every type of shopper. The district also features a lively entertainment scene, including a variety of restaurants, a modern cinema, and the family recreation destination Playdium.

For a detailed layout of the area, please refer to the map below:

https://dartmouthcrossing.com/stores

If you plan to extend your stay, Halifax is just a short cab ride across the bridge. As the provincial capital, Halifax is one of Canada’s most historic and dynamic coastal cities, renowned for its scenic waterfront boardwalk, rich maritime heritage, and vibrant food and music culture.

Thank you to our lunch sponsors for this event: Etobicoke Iron Works and Bee Access.

Thank you to our gift bag sponsor for this event: Scaffold Insite.

Thank you to our annual sponsors: 

Platinum: UBC Build. Gold: Layher and Fraco. Silver: Bee Access, IHSA, Oxford, Hinton and Etobicoke Iron Works. Bronze: At-Pak, FACE, Barclay and Raxtar.