Canada’s Asbestos Ban: Update

As our national asbestos ban in Canada takes its final shape, there are some details that have changed along the way. Recently, the federal government took the final steps to put the asbestos ban into place. Here’s a current update on the situation. The Asbestos Ban Canada was the biggest exporter of asbestos before the…

Read More

Asbestos in the Storm

In late September, the Ottawa region suffered storm damage, including a verified tornado. But, when old buildings are damaged, there is a risk of asbestos exposure along with any other issues that arise. Storm Damage Many of the buildings in the Ottawa and Gatineau areas were constructed prior to the 1980s, and that means they…

Read More

Asbestos Dangers – The Real Stats

A recent incident reported by police in the Delta area of British Columbia says it all. A routine traffic stop this summer netted a driver a number of tickets. First, there were 12 people stuffed into a van meant to hold six. On top of that, in the cargo box next to two of the…

Read More

Asbestos Dumping

Slowly but surely, environmental regulations as it relates to asbestos is tightening up across the country. That means that both workers and the public will be better protected against asbestos exposure. There is a flip side to the story, unfortunately – asbestos dumping. A Case in Burnaby, BC A recent case in British Columbia, illustrates…

Read More

The Paradise Theatre – Asbestos & Historic Renovations

Historic building renovations run smoothly when all the complications are considered – including asbestos. Toronto’s historic Paradise Theatre is a beautiful example of Art Deco style architecture on Bloor Street. The building at 1006 Bloor West has housed a theatre of one kind or another from the time it was designed in 1937 until 2006. As…

Read More

Asbestos, Explosions & Due Diligence

Everyone in the GTA remembers the Sunrise Propane explosion that rocked North York a decade ago in 2008. In the wake of the blast, a toxic rain of debris – including asbestos dust – fell on the neighbourhood for days. The Sunrise Court Saga In July 2018, the Superior Court recently upheld the original conviction…

Read More

Update That (Asbestos Riddled) Popcorn Ceiling

So you’ve bought an older home in the GTA, or perhaps you already own one, and while you love a lot of things about it, there is the matter of that outdated, bumpy plaster ceiling. It’s hard to believe now, but popcorn ceilings – those textured, by now often discoloured plaster and stucco treatments –…

Read More

Asbestos And Renovation Projects

Just west of the GTA, a public renovation project is a reminder that when you’re dealing with older buildings, you need to take asbestos into account from the beginning. Like many homes throughout Toronto and Southern Ontario, the Dundas Museum & Archives in Hamilton, Ontario is an older structure. The 80 year-old building will be…

Read More