workers employed by RJW Stonema-
sons Ltd., and the restoration project
they completed on Parliament’s West
Block, specifically the rehabilitation of
the exterior masonry and sculptural
elements, which were originally com-
pleted well over a hundred years ago.
At the peak of the restoration project,
Swan says there were over 200 Local
7 masons working on the project and
over 1 million manhours dedicated
to the project. Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau was given the privilege of in-
stalling the final stone on one of the
many towers, becoming an honorary
member of Local 7 in the process. “If
this stone falls off then its my fault,”
joked the Prime Minister.
Much of the fine exterior stonework
was crumbling and in need of repair,
and what was intact was in need of
extensive cleaning. Close to half of the
JULY 2018 | BUSINESS ELITE CANADA 9
