Dawson Creek company hires consultant to assist in COR certification

Smith Connelly Services Ltd. (SCS) is a civil construction contracting company based out of Dawson Creek. Blair Smith and Paul Connelly’s diversified interprovincial registered company provides labour and equipment for a variety of projects throughout the Peace. General manager Blair Smith knew that a Certification of Recognition (COR) for SCS’s health and safety management system was critical to their business success. Smith accessed Northern Development’s Competitiveness Consulting Rebate program to help offset the costs of becoming COR-certified.

“I learned about the consulting rebate program through Kathleen Connolly of the Dawson Creek Chamber of Commerce,” explained Smith. He inquired with the Trust and was pleased with the ease of the application process and the helpful staff. “There’s no other program like this that helps you save money,” Smith said. “Northern Development’s business assistance and financial assistance was invaluable.”

SCS hired Intention Safety Services and Western Safety Consulting to conduct a gap audit and assist their company in gaining COR certification. SCS demonstrated their commitment to raising the standard of worker health and safety and proved their health and safety management systems met the approved industry standards. “We’re really proud of how well our company and our crews did,” said Smith, “we put a lot of work into getting COR certified because we knew it was essential to our success.” SCS is now able to work with more clients, which equates to more revenue and a stronger business