Well, it’s that time of year again where stampedes, cultural festivals, and events light up the cities across Canada – from Calgary to Toronto. Conversations are buzzing, and everywhere you turn there’s talk of future projects, new partnerships, and potential deals. But don’t let the party atmosphere distract you from what is one of the busiest times of the year for those of us in construction.
Projects are in full swing, and you’re probably taking every opportunity to make the most of the good weather—whether that’s recovering from earlier delays or getting ahead before the long Canadian winter inevitably arrives. By this stage of a project, the honeymoon period with your contractual counterpart is likely over. Expectations have been tested, challenges have emerged, and the contract is no longer just a document sitting in a drawer—it’s the framework guiding your day-to-day decisions.
Now is an ideal time to revisit some of your key contractual obligations and ensure you’re still meeting the requirements that can have the biggest impact on your project’s success.
At Saor, we’ve put together a few helpful prompts to help you do exactly that:
Article
The best forensic analysis is only as good as the records available. The foundation of any successful claim or defence is contemporaneous project records maintained throughout the life of the project—not records reconstructed after the fact.
Take a few minutes to read the article below and consider whether your project records would enable an independent expert to properly assess entitlement and quantify any claim should the need arise.
Podcast
The ability to effectively manage change is what sets construction contracts apart from most standard commercial agreements. Change is inevitable on almost every project. If you haven’t experienced any changes, then you’ve either delivered the best-designed project in the world—or you’re not identifying and managing them properly.
In this three-part series, Michael and Niamh explore change management from two distinct perspectives. Michael examines changes through the lens of the Owner, reviewing and assessing change requests, while Niamh approaches them as a forensic expert, analysing the records and evidence needed to evaluate entitlement and quantum after the fact. Together, they provide practical insights into managing change effectively during a project and understanding how those decisions stand up to forensic scrutiny later.
Presentation
On August 6th Niamh and her previous colleague and friend, Robert Adams will explore a practical framework for understanding, analysing, and presenting construction schedule delay and disruption claims. Drawing on AACE Recommended Practice 29R-03, real-world dispute experience, and forensic schedule analysis techniques, it explains how to identify the causes of delays, determine whether they were avoidable, and develop a path forward. Attendees will also learn how to communicate complex schedule issues clearly and persuasively to executives, legal counsel, and dispute resolution professionals. This event is free to active CMAA members
Events
- The Ontario Bar Association will hold its annual Construction Law Symposium on September 24, 2026 in Toronto for a half day of discussions on key construction law issues.
If you are absolutely sick of construction law and want something to take your attention, then we recommend Sea of Lies a CBC podcast. It has everything you need to distract yourself; stolen identities, multiple scams, a dead body and a Rolex watch.
