
The construction industry is a consumer of resources and raw materials and a contributor to solid waste, but Fleming Construction Engineering Technician graduate Tyler Fenton is hoping to improve the environmental impact of construction with sustainability.
âSustainability is not the silver bullet, but itâs a powerful tool to drive change for the better,â said Tyler. âThrough pursuing higher levels of sustainability, we can lower the waste produced by construction activities, make the buildings we build healthier for occupants, reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, reduce the energy required to run these buildings and create more affordable living for people moving into urban areas.â
As a Sustainable Buildings Solutions Coordinator, LEED Green Associate at EllisDon Corporation, Tyler is responsible for ensuring that projects achieve different levels of sustainability certification: LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, Toronto Green Standard certification, or both. Tylerâs department services EllisDon projects across Canada, including hospitals, commercial towers, schools, train stations and institutional buildings.
âItâs very exciting to be a part of such a wide variety of projects that serve many different functions in their communities, but that are all striving for excellence in design, construction and operation,â said Tyler.
Fleming education and network leads Tyler to success
Tyler worked on-campus at the Office of Sustainability while attending Fleming College and one of his responsibilities was to book guest speakers to talk to Trades students about sustainability in the construction industry.
One of his speaking events featured the Director and Program Manager from the Sustainable Building Solutions department at EllisDon and, through this experience, Tyler started growing a network at his dream place of employment.
When he graduated, Tyler emailed the CEO of EllisDon seeking a job opportunity (scroll to âProud Fleming College graduateâ for how they met). Unfortunately, it didnât work out as Tyler had hopedâŚ
âBecause I did not have industry experience, they couldnât justify hiring me at the time,â he said. âThey told me to go get some experience and re-apply in the future.â
So, he did.
Tyler worked as a Construction Coordinator at Dufferin Construction for one year to get the experience he needed. And when he re-applied to EllisDon, he got the dream job this time.
Confidence in the KUBE is why Tyler chose Fleming
Tyler didnât always dream of working in construction. With a resume ranging from wildland firefighter to tree planter, bartender to labourer, and even a gig in the jewelry industry, Tyler took his time finding the right career fit.
When he decided on construction and engineering, Tyler chose Fleming because the program introduces students to various trades to give them an understanding of the different disciplines theyâll encounter on job sites.
âI was very impressed with the D-Wing in particular,â he said. âIn no other educational facility Iâd visited had I seen anything like the KUBE. This made me confident that I would be in a good learning environment.â
Adding, âI would absolutely recommend that prospective students go and visit the campus, go to the Open House, because it will give you a perspective on where youâll be learning and if itâs what youâre looking for.â
Proud Fleming College graduate
âIâm very happy with my Fleming experience and Iâm proud to tell people thatâs where I went to college,â he said. âOverall, youâve got a beautiful, newly renovated, top-of-the-line building to learn in, instructors who are passionate and have real world experience, and as many opportunities to learn or get involved as you can handle.â
Now that Tyler has graduated from Fleming, his advice to students is to get involved.
âThe more you get involved, the more opportunity youâre going to have when you graduate,â said the Class of 2018 graduate.
While at Fleming, Tyler volunteered with Enactus Fleming, worked at the Office of Sustainability, and collaborated with his program coordinator to research and test permeable pavement.
The permeable pavement project led Tyler to representing Fleming College, the Office of Sustainability and FastStart at the 2017 OCE Discovery event, where he met EllisDon CEO Geoff Smith (who Tyler emailed for an interview when he graduated).
âIn my experience, the connections I made through my student worker position in the Office of Sustainability opened the door to my dream job,â he said. âAnd the skills and knowledge I gained from the program and from the instructors I got to know allowed me to land the job. It wouldnât have happened that way if I hadnât gotten involved in the things that I did.â