Putting Heart Health at the Core of Construction

David Boudreau at Pomerleau's University of New Brunswick Construction Site.

At Pomerleau Construction, safety isn’t just policy – it’s a core value on their sites, from employees to subcontractors. That belief led to their growing partnership with Heart and Stroke NB and a company-wide push to prioritize emergency preparedness — including ensuring every job site is equipped with an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).

David Boudreau, Director of Business Development, shared that the commitment began after an incident on a Pomerleau site in Ottawa. A subcontractor’s employee experienced cardiac arrest, and while there wasn’t an AED on site, one happened to be in the backseat of a subcontractor’s vehicle — and it saved a life.

From that point on, AEDs became mandatory on all Pomerleau sites. “It wasn’t a question of having to,” said David. “It was the right thing to do.”

David also emphasized the risks specific to construction sites — stress, physical labor, and extreme conditions — as well as the importance of building a safety culture that includes everyone on site.

That’s why they now host training sessions focused on AED use and awareness, helping employees feel more confident, more informed, and more prepared in the event of a cardiac emergency. In the spring, Pomerleau held an on-site AED awareness session to help workers feel more confident using the devices in real emergencies. As David Boudreau explained, seeing the AED’s up close and walking through the steps made a bigger impact than any video could. The session helped break down hesitation and showed  how important it is to act when every second counts.

“People need to see it, touch it, and understand it,” David said.

Pomerleau’s partnership with Heart and Stroke NB reflects who they are: a company that leads with care, invests in people, and takes real action to protect lives.