What’s Under the Hard Hat Matters: How Acres Enterprises Builds Workplace Culture

Contributor: Francesca Loehr, Culture & Engagement Manager

Building More Than Projects: What Workplace Culture Looks Like at Acres

In construction, it’s easy to focus on what’s visible, such as the plans, timelines, and the finished product. But at Acres, we’ve always believed that what’s under the hard hat matters just as much. Behind every role is a person, and taking the time to see the individual changes everything.

Being recognized as a 2026 Builders Code Workplace Culture Champion is incredibly meaningful to us. This recognition reflects the effort, intention, and care our team puts into creating a workplace where people feel respected, supported, and able to be themselves. Ultimately, this is about people.

It Starts with Seeing People

Construction is an industry built on skill, precision, and performance. Behind every project is a team of people, each with their own story, challenges, goals, and lives outside of work. One of the biggest mindset shifts for us has been prioritizing supporting people over merely employing workers.

That shows up in the small, everyday moments. We make sure someone can leave early for a doctor’s appointment without it being a big deal. We check in when someone seems off and celebrate milestones both big and small. We create an environment where people feel comfortable asking questions, speaking up, and being themselves. We often say we want Acres to feel like a “home away from home,” a place where people feel safe, supported, and respected. When people feel that, communication improves, teams are stronger, safety gets better, people are more engaged, and they actively want to stay.

Culture Is Built on Purpose

Good culture takes intention, heart, and a team. At Acres, we’ve made a conscious decision to treat culture as a core part of how we operate rather than a separate initiative. That commitment is supported by leadership and dedicated groups like our People & Culture Committee and Inclusivity Committee, who help keep these conversations active and evolving across our teams.

It also starts with our values: Ambitious, Competent, Respectful, Engaged, and Supportive. These values show up in how we hire, how we lead, and how we recognize people. When someone comes in for an interview, we pay as much attention to who they are and how they show up as we do to their skills. We can train someone on equipment or processes, but respect, integrity, and how someone treats others matters equally.

We also actively try to remove barriers. Not everyone follows a traditional path into construction, and we’ve seen firsthand how opening doors to different backgrounds strengthens our team. Whether through apprenticeships, partnerships with Indigenous communities, or supported employment programs like SMART Options, we are constantly looking for ways to widen access. The best teams are built from different perspectives.

Psychological Safety Is Essential

One of the most important things we’ve learned is that respect and safety go hand in hand. If someone doesn’t feel comfortable speaking up about a safety concern or something that doesn’t feel right, it creates a risk for everyone. That is why psychological safety is something we actively work on. We encourage open conversations, make leaders accessible, take concerns seriously, and address them early. We are always willing to listen and improve. When people feel heard, they speak up sooner, allowing issues to get resolved faster. As a result, everyone is safer.

Growth Matters Because People Stay Where They Can Grow

Over time, we have seen that people stay where they can see a future for themselves. A big part of our focus has been on development because it genuinely matters to the people here. Whether we are supporting someone through their Gold Seal or Red Seal, giving apprentices the flexibility they need to succeed, or investing in leadership development and internal training, the goal is always helping people grow with confidence. We’ve had team members hit incredible milestones along the way, like completing thousands of apprenticeship hours and earning their Red Seal at a young age. Those moments build pride, inspire confidence, and show what’s possible.

Connection Is Everything

Construction can be demanding, involving long days, tight timelines, and physically challenging work. That is exactly why connection matters. We create space for connection through company events, team activities, volunteering, jobsite breakfasts, check-ins, and simply taking the time to talk. We volunteer together at places like the Kamloops Food Bank and show up at community events. We actively support causes that matter to our people. Culture is fundamentally about how people feel being part of an organization.

Supporting Mental Health in a Real Way

Mental health in construction is an important conversation that hasn’t always been easy to have. We’ve worked to change that. By bringing tools and conversations to jobsites, offering access to Employee & Family Assistance Programs, and encouraging people to check in on one another, our goal is to make it okay to talk about mental health. People don’t leave their challenges at the door when they come to work, and no one should feel like they need to carry that burden alone.

Our Commitment to Builders Code

We are proud supporters of the Builders Code and its commitment to respectful, inclusive, and professional workplaces. We actively align with this initiative. We’ve made that commitment visible on our website because we believe it matters to stand behind the kind of industry we want to be part of. The Builders Code resources and training help reinforce what good culture looks like and give companies practical tools to keep improving. The more companies that lean into this work, the stronger our industry becomes.

A Commitment to Improvement

We don’t have it all figured out, and we are okay with that. Like any company, we are still learning as we go. We are finding new ways to grow and continuing to build on what is working. What matters most is that we keep showing up, listening, and putting in the effort to keep improving.

A Challenge to Other Companies

If we could share one piece of advice with others in the industry, it would be to start with people. Look beyond the role and take the time to see the person. Ask your team how they’re doing, and genuinely listen to the answer. Create space for growth, conversation, and connection. Ultimately, we are building workplaces alongside our projects. Those workplaces shape people’s lives in a very real way.

At Acres, we believe what’s under the hard hat matters. That belief shows up in how we work, lead, and support each other, and it is something we remain committed to building every single day.