On November 1, 2025, SMART Local 409 (Halifax, Nova Scotia) will celebrate 80 years since being chartered, a major milestone in the local’s history.
Local 409 has a lot to celebrate, maintaining 100% employment in recent years, growing its workforce and increasing membership diversity. But while the local honours its past, it is also focused on the future, with plans to continue expanding and leading in Nova Scotia’s thriving construction industry.
For the past two years, Local 409 has maintained a 100% employment rate. A key driver behind this success is Nova Scotia’s construction boom, as well as the positive reputation and reliability of Local 409 and its contractors. As the province’s population continues to grow, so does the demand for new infrastructure.
Local 409 has been able to meet this demand with its growing and diverse workforce. In just a few years, the local has grown from 265 to 375 members, with a focus on organizing and creating a more inclusive union, including by offering support to Ukrainian refugees and other new Canadians who have settled in Nova Scotia. Local 409 stepped up to welcome and integrate these newcomers into SMART, offering not just job opportunities but a sense of support and camaraderie.
Business Manager George MacDonald emphasized the value of this approach, highlighting immigration as a way to grow the local for the long term: “We have members looking to get their permanent residency and stay as long-time SMART members.”
Another major growth factor for Local 409 was the official designation of architectural cladding as a trade under SMART’s jurisdiction in Nova Scotia. This gave Local 409 the ability to attract carpenters and glaziers who had previously been performing similar work with other trade unions, as well as nonunion cladders, bringing these workers into the SMART family. It also allowed Local 409 to better promote the trade by offering and supporting a certificate of qualification when others were not, helping to raise the profile of architectural cladding as a specialized trade.
“These members have come over from other trade unions, and we’ve given them no reason to think about going back,” MacDonald said. “We treat and represent our people the best we can under SMART.”
As Local 409 celebrates its progress, it also made history recently, becoming the first local to put forward a female competitor at the Canadian Convention roofing apprenticeship competition. The local’s apprentice, Breann, excelled, earning second place. Breann is known for her outstanding torching skills and work ethic as a roofing foreperson with SMART’s signatory contractor, Flynn.
Looking ahead, MacDonald has goals for the future, including a Local 409 training centre that would give members the opportunity to enhance or develop skills. This long-term investment is especially important as Local 409 prepares to staff upcoming megaprojects, including the $5 billion first phase of the QE2 hospital project — which will require more than 130 sheet metal workers — and a proposal to build a major clean energy initiative involving jet fuel production. With these large-scale projects on the horizon, Local 409 is ensuring its members are ready to meet the demand and continue shaping Nova Scotia’s future.
As Local 409 celebrates this milestone anniversary, its history of leadership, advocacy and forward thinking is clear. The local has built a foundation focused on progress, solidarity and inclusion.
As MacDonald put it, “Everything we do here is about creating good stories. We want to make sure that our story is out there — that hey, come to 409, you are treated well, and you are treated fairly, and you can have a great career in our union. We try to help everybody we can here.”