Alberta’s construction sector built this province from the ground up, raising some of its most iconic buildings and structures. Behind that work stands an organization that, for 40 consecutive years, has supported every nail, beam and building. That organization is OpenCircle Contractors Association.
OpenCircle Contractors Association provides its members with tuition reimbursement for apprentices, post-secondary scholarships, group retirement plans, industry advocacy, exclusive partnership deals and the industry’s leading benefit plan. Member needs stay top of mind, and the association monitors those needs closely to make sure the most pressing priorities are met.
The story began when 15 Alberta contractors came together with a shared mission. They wanted a construction industry where competition was fair, workers were treated with dignity and projects were awarded on merit. With that goal in mind, Merit Contractors Association of Alberta opened its doors in 1986 under president and founder, Stephen Kushner.
As the industry and the association evolved, the name evolved along with it.
“As we look to celebrate our 40 years of impact on the construction industry, we are honouring our legacy while reinforcing our core identity,” says Ross J. Undershute, president of OpenCircle Contractors Association. “As our organization expanded nationally in 2021 to better support our members’ evolving needs and those of our industry, Merit Contractors Association transformed to OpenCircle – a name reflecting an ‘open shop’ with collaboration and a broader reach within our circle community and networks.”
Today, the association counts more than 1,500 member companies and their 50,000 employees, a scale that reflects both its longevity and its reach across the sector.
Leadership has changed over the years, maintaining a steady mix of experience and new ideas. Undershute joined as president on April 30, 2025. His executive team includes Ashley Yaremchuk, vice-president of benefit services, and Matt Schellenberger, vice-president of membership services.
Through it all OpenCircle has remained fiercely dedicated to the specific needs of the construction sector, retained status as a not-for-profit association and grew its service offerings with products such as the Hour Bank Plan, which is a specifically tailored benefit plan for construction workers. In addition, OpenCircle Contractors Association is committed to robust public policy advocacy for labour and infrastructure investment.
One of OpenCircle Contractors Association’s central concerns is Alberta’s skilled labour shortage.
“This is the industry’s greatest challenge,” says Undershute. “In the next 10 years, the province needs to recruit, train and educate tens of thousands of skilled trades workers. Additionally, we must create the conditions for them to want to stay in Alberta, to raise families and grow their businesses in Alberta.”
With a sector that never stops changing, and 40 years of experience behind it, OpenCircle Contractors Association is well positioned to work with member companies to help attract and retain skilled construction workers. The association brings several tools to the effort, including dedicated support for apprentices.
“One of the most rewarding programs we offer is support for the next generation of skilled trades through our membership services that includes a tuition refund program for apprentices. OpenCircle Contractors Association has provided more than $37 million in refunds since 2002,” Matt Schellenberger, vice-president of membership benefits, explains. “We also offer programs for employees of member companies and scholarships for the dependants of those employees (issuing more than $1.5 million since 2002). Our team works with our members to ensure we have the right training for their employees so they can take that next step in their careers within the construction industry, or perhaps even to start their own business and have that business become a member with us too.”
That focus on skills carries through to OpenCircle Contractors Association’s training offerings, which give members access to nearly 100 educational courses at a discounted rate.
Benefits play just as large a role in keeping people in the trades.
“Our benefit model is designed around the realities of the skilled trades workforce, where employment can fluctuate due to seasonal demands, project cycles, apprenticeship training and temporary layoffs,” says Ashley Yaremchuk, vice-president, benefit services.
One of the key differentiators is the Hour Bank Plan, which allows employees to bank hours during periods of employment and use those accumulated hours to maintain benefit coverage during slowdown periods, including layoffs or while attending school to complete apprenticeship training. This helps provide continuity of coverage when workers need it most. Another significant advantage is portability. Employees who move between employers within the OpenCircle membership can take their accumulated hour bank with them, providing seamless benefit coverage as they transition between jobs, eliminating their waiting period with a new employer.
“Our plan also supports workers in the Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP), ensuring that employers can maintain benefits while investing in their employee’s professional development and advancing their careers and the skilled trades workforce,” Yaremchuk adds. “Our offerings are critical for the retention and well-being of those who work in the skilled trades. Flexible health benefits support both the physical and mental health of employees, while provisions like life insurance and long-term disability offer crucial peace of mind for workers and their families.”
While supporting workers in a “boots on the ground” manner, OpenCircle Contractors Association also works closely with government on reskilling and training programs. It has taken a leadership role on the board of the Alberta Trades Discovery Centre, an industry-led initiative that introduces more young people to trades education and careers. That advocacy is already showing results. OpenCircle welcomed the Alberta government’s $384-million investment in the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology’s (NAIT) new Advanced Skills Centre, announced in Budget 2026 as a significant boost for the province’s skilled trades. Additionally, OpenCircle Contractors Association is proud to have a seat at the boardroom table as an industry representative with the Alberta Board of Skilled Trades. As a board member, Undershute works collaboratively with industry partners for the betterment of Alberta’s designated trades certification system.
Undershute notes that Alberta’s dynamic landscape gives OpenCircle Contractors Association the foundation to equip members with the tools they need to lead with confidence at home and thrive across the country.
“Alberta’s construction industry is a community and one that works well together. We are proud partners with our members, and it is their future we advocate for, always working to improve our product offerings and provide for members’ employees and their families.”
Looking ahead, Undershute is excited for the future while celebrating the past.
“For four decades we’ve fought for a fair, open marketplace where every qualified contractor can compete,” he says. “That commitment to our members, their employees and their families is what drives us forward.”
That commitment still comes down to the people who make Alberta’s construction industry strong, and as long as Alberta keeps building, OpenCircle Contractors Association will keep supporting the men, women and youth behind the tools of the trades.