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In her specialized position as the bilingual estimating supervisor at the head office of engineered epoxy flooring contractor Stonhard Canada in Whitby, Ont., Julie Dunford draws inspiration from her parents.

“I am doing my father’s trade in my mother’s language. My father began as a draftsman and finished his career as a project manager/site foreman for a large construction company,” she describes. ��

But her career journey has been very much shaped by her mother, whose first language is French and who is very proud of her heritage.

When she was kindergarten age Dunford’s parents made the fateful — and perhaps prescient — decision to enrol her in École Sainte-Jeanne D’arc, a French immersion school in Brampton where the family lived. English was not introduced into the curriculum until Grade 4.

“Prior to that we learned how to read and write in French first.”

It wasn’t an easy experience, as her friends outside of the school and members of her Girl Guide troop spoke English. To make it easier for her to participate until she learned English the troop ordered Girl Guide literature in French from Quebec.

“Once in high school I became good at both languages.”

It helped that the family spoke English at home, as her father is unilingual, she says.

“Learning two languages simultaneously makes for quicker eyes on emails, requests and construction documents,” says Dunford, who began her career with Stonhard about 10 years ago.

She was originally hired for a bilingual position in its finance department but decided to switch into the estimating department because of the challenges of using math and computers to quantify building materials for large infrastructure projects.

“There is also a sense of accomplishment and pride to point to a large building and say you had a hand in building it,” she adds.

To prepare herself for the new position, Dunford enrolled in plans-reading courses at night in a local college.

Initially hired as technical math-based “estimatrice” (French for lady estimator) she progressed to a teaching role where she supervises a staff of four, two in house and two working remotely, and provides management input on which projects the company should pursue.

“I help make decisions on which projects suit our goals, and they include educational and health care facilities, First Nations infrastructure projects, civil water projects, along with large industrial and commercial projects all across Canada.”

Some examples of Stonhard’s projects include the 2025 Scotiabank Arena renovations as well as research labs and food and beverage factories. It is now preparing for the upcoming expansion of the Centre for Mental Health Addiction in Toronto, she says.

Due to the laws protecting the French language and regulating its use in contracts, Dunford communicates entirely in that language with Quebec-based clients. She then seamlessly switches to English when dealing with English speaking suppliers or providing estimates for projects in different parts of the country.

“It’s easy and fast for me to toggle between the two languages.”

Asked how the estimating is conducted, she explains she downloads construction documents, such as specifications, shop drawings and addendum notices, and then uploads them into a measuring program. Sometimes that information has to be cross-referenced with different drawings and specifications.

While the sales department uses computer tablets to walk clients through the quoting process in real time, she uses computer programs for her estimating analysis.

“Construction documents can easily be 1,000 pages long, so I use programs to read for what I’m looking for, having begun the old way – searching through giant book-like documents. I use measuring programs…to take quantifying measurements on uploaded drawings. Technology makes everything faster.”

An estimate isn’t based on a project’s size, but rather on number of technical parameters. A dog kennel will have a different chemical cleaning schedule than a public pool. A potable water treatment facility has many structural surfaces that must be protected and laboratories must be sanitized, she says.

“Hotel kitchens are operational 24/7, so flooring underneath fryers that don’t ever cool must be specially engineered.”

There is considerable back and forth communication between general contractors, suppliers and the company’s own sales department to resolve issues or explain details that may need clarification, she says.

When it comes to the industry overall, there were two points Dunford wanted to make for this profile. Despite lingering opposition, there is growing acceptance of women in construction, she says.

“I’ve worked with great men in construction from all avenues gunning for an inclusive industry for their daughters, wives, sisters and friends.”

The second point is the importance of learning and using French in business communication.

“The French language in Ontario has always been important, helping to build a better Canada for future generations.”