By The Coffee Shops®. 

Updated trade definitions give Alberta contractors, suppliers and tender authorities a clearer way to coordinate jobsite activities. 

The 10th edition of the Alberta Trade Definitions is now available, giving the construction industry an updated reference for coordinating scopes of work during tendering and on the jobsite. 

This document, put together by the Alberta Construction Association (ACA), outlines inclusions and exclusions for trade scopes in Alberta, Canada. Its goal is to help identify which contractor is responsible for specific areas of work and support more consistent expectations among professionals. Ken Gibson of ACA explained in more detail: 

The Alberta Construction Trade Definitions are a significant step forward in attaining industry best practices. Suppliers and subcontractors now have greater assurance of competing on a level playing field. General contractors are assured of completed bids that cover the entire scope of the project. Owners benefit because they can compare ‘apples-to-apples’ compliant bids on clear definitions. In the end, everyone wins. 

The updates for this edition, which were made in 2025, were made based on the consensus result of input from many industry volunteers and with the goal of reflecting current technology and business practices. 

The reception of this edition has been overwhelmingly positive, with construction associations across Alberta endorsing adoption of the Trade Definitions as a best practice. It is important to note that this document is “not a tendering system – rather, they are a guideline. The allocation of work amongst trades on any given project remains the responsibility of the tender authority and general contractor.” 

Learn more about the 2025 Alberta Trade Definitions by downloading the tenth edition! Revisions have been marked throughout for your convenience.