Build More, Emit Less: Growing and Greening Canadian Construction

As the Vice President Climate and Sustainability for EllisDon Corporation, Jolene McLaughlin works to build partnerships across the industry to support climate mitigation and adaptation strategies in the build environment. She has spent more than 12 years driving sustainability initiatives across various segments of the built environment from concept into execution. Working with project teams with a collaborative approach, in support of the identification, definition and implementation of practical strategies that result in more efficient, resilient and comfortable buildings.

I am passionate about the construction industry, the environment and the Indigenous relations. During my career, I have worked on major construction projects in Quebec as well as in the United Arab Emirates. I want to reconcile the challenges of a construction project with environmental protection and community well-being. It is a monumental challenge, but one that is achievable that creates great pride to workers and project management teams. In my current role, I oversee the environmental practices on Pomerleau’s projects and work in collaboration with Operations teams as well as the services in order to consistently improve Pomerleau’s environmental performance, from pre-qualifications to project completion. I am also responsible for leading the sustainability and Indigenous relations strategy to maximize the company’s GHG emissions reduction and circular economy initiatives, while engaging better relationships with diverse Indigenous communities, in a spirit of reconciliation and whose impact will help lay the foundations for the creation of wealth for, by and with the Indigenous peoples.