OGCA News

It seems that the more things change, the more they stay the same, especially amongst the Public Procurement system. How many times have we in the industry, consultants, trades, and contractors, tried to reach out and collaborate with the buyers on good, sensible, workable and acceptable procurement methods, and achieving successes only to see new staff come in and return to the old ways.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/oga-nwl/articles/index.asp?aid=489421&issueID=56273 to view the full article online.

The GCAC has been extremely active since its inception over the Christmas break. The first inaugural meeting was just a few weeks ago and its already showing the value of this group.

We heard about a need to respond to the Government of New Brunswick on how to address Prompt Payment and had six days to get it done. Championed by a well-known industry leader in New Brunswick Durck deWinter, not only did the GCAC legal team pull together an excellent document for use by the NB contractors, but we launched a Maritime Chapter of Nova Scotia, NB, and PEI. Led by local firms, they are part of the GCAC and working to establish a stronger voice for GCs in those Provinces.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/oga-nwl/articles/index.asp?aid=489520&issueID=56273 to view the full article online.

At a function in Burlington on Monday, February 26, Clive Thurston posed with Caroline Mulroney. 

Alectra Utilities is the new electrical distribution provider in the regions of the former utilities: Horizon (Hamilton/St. Catharines), Enersource (Mississauga), PowerStream (Vaughan/Markham/Barrie) and Brampton Hydro (Brampton).

During the week of April 2, 2018, Alectra will be hosting several free Safety Breakfast Meetings for local area contractors to attend and learn more about utility damage prevention in our various service territories.

We will be having some great speakers from the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association, Electrical Safety Authority, Ministry of Labour and Ontario Regional Common Ground Alliance in attendance. Please click here for more information.

We have another exciting opportunity for League of Champions members this month. Join us at Mohawk College on Thursday, March 15th as we field student questions and promote health & safety culture in the construction industry.

Date: Thursday, March 15, 2018
Time: 9:00 to 11:00 am
Location: Awareness Theatre, Stoney Creek Campus for Skilled Trades, Mohawk College (481 Barton St, Stoney Creek, ON L8E 2L7)
Who: Post-secondary and apprenticeship programs
What: Presentation by Rob Ellis, MySafeWork in conjunction with a panel of industry leaders (including Champions) who will respond to student questions

Additional details will follow. RSVP is required, so please express your interest by email to Andrea George at andrea@theLOC.ca

“Don’t be quiet about H&S. Let’s continue building momentum creating the best H&S culture we can!” – Corey Lofft, NCSO, Pomerleau, Regional Health & Safety Manager – GTA 

Pomerleau jersey displays captain’s C’ symbolizing COR™ certification		From L to R: Rob Ellis (MySafeWork), Corey Lofft (Pomerleau), Dean Dell Elce (Pomerleau), Louis-Philippe Sylvestre (Pomerleau), Éric Desgagné (Pomerleau)

February 21 and 22, 2018, Pomerleau ‘rallied the troops’ for its annual Health & Safety Quality Days in Toronto. With several speakers and an emphasis on raising the bar for safety excellence, employees had some interesting discussions about Pomerleau’s safety culture and taking the program to the next level.

Rob Ellis, MySafeWork, engaged the room and facilitated an enlightening discussion. One notable takeaway was Pomerleau’s commitment to supporting its team outside of the work environment. Group athletic challenges are designed to inspire togetherness, perseverance and camaraderie. Fostering a feeling of community amongst employees is a great way to build trust and encourage communication that spans across all tiers of an organization. When employees feel comfortable around senior management, and do not fear repercussions for speaking up about required health & safety improvements, companies experience long-term gains.

To book Rob Ellis as a speaker for your upcoming event, or for more information on how your company can become a Champion, contact Andrea George at andrea@theLOC.ca

Just 4 more days till our biggest IHSA and OGCA Leadership Day conference and we cannot wait to see you all there.

Those who have not yet purchased their seat, there are still tickets available. Register today!

The program includes presentations and panels which discuss how you can raise the bar in Health and Safety and improve your safety culture. Come and hear from industry experts as they provide you with the right tools and resources when it comes to COR, Accreditation, leadership, technology and so much more.

Speakers who are presenting are: Minister of Labour Kevin Flynn, Safety Champion Rob Ellis and Safety leader Dr. Judy Agnew, just to name a few.

Please join us on Friday, March 2, 2018 at 8:00 a.m. at the Verdi Convention Centre.

General Admission is $21.00, tickets can be purchased by clicking here.

If you have any questions, please contact Lyndsy Miceli at lyndsy@ogca.ca, or by calling 905-671-3969

Our Leadership Day event could not be possible without our generous sponsors.

Thank you for your support.

Event Sponsor | Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (IHSA)

Title Sponsors | BlueDrop Learning Networks (SkillsPass) & Procore Construction Management & 4S Consulting Services

Partner Sponsor | e-compliance

With 4 days left to Leadership Day, if you have yet to purchase your ticket, please register today! 

Speakers Dan Fleming, EllisDon, Charmaine Freake, BlueDrop, Kathryn Locke, SkillsPass, and our very own David Frame will be presenting the Safety Pass on Friday, March 2nd at the Leadership Day conference. 

Since our presentation last November at Construct Canada, the Taskforce, along with our SkillPass partners, have been working hard to finalize the Safety Pass product. OGCA would like to extend a warm thank you to all committee members for their expertise, commitment and dedication give to this project:

• Sean Scott, PCL Construction 
• Robert Love, Alberici Constructors, Ltd.
• David Irwin, Walsh Canada
• Dan Fleming, EllisDon
• Katherine Rossel, EllisDon
• Cameron Freese, Aecon Building Group
• Bob Plewes, Safety Professional Consultant  

OGCA is also very lucky to have partnered with SkillsPass who continue to be a tremendous supporter with the Safety Pass, and we continue to work with our partners in providing a platform which is a one-stop shop for workers and employers to complete the Safety Pass, which will allow everyone to work more safely.

Please join us at Leadership Day on Friday, March 2, 2018 and learn how you can get your Safety Pass. 

“The Power of Safe Choices” is this year’s 2018 safety week theme.

Mark your calendars for May 7-11 #safetyweek

Safety isn’t something we can do alone. And while we each must make safe choices every day – on our way to work, in the office, on the job site or heading back home – the impacts of those choices affect us all.

Host a Safety Week event as a way to re-focus and re-energize your commitment to reducing injuries on jobsites.

Send your event details to OGCA and you can WIN a prize. Whether your event is private or open to the public, let everyone know what you are doing to celebrate Safety Week. Please send your events to Lyndsy Miceli at lyndsy@ogca.ca

Toronto, Ontario – February 20, 2018 – Walsh Canada is pleased to announce it has won two “Best of the Best” awards at the Toronto Construction Association’s (TCA) Annual General Meeting, held on February 15th. Several Walsh Staff were on hand to receive the awards for Project Achievement - Large Projects (over $50 million), and for Outstanding Safety Culture. Click here for more information.

EllisDon extends its invitation to all OGCA members to “shoot and score” for charity. There is fun for the whole family with a 1-hour family skate on the Saturday afternoon after 1:00 p.m.

Event Details: 
When | April 20-21, 2018 | Friday - 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm, Saturday - 10:00 am to 7:00 pm 
Where | Sports Village, 2600 Rutherford Road, Vaughan, ON L4K 5R1 
Entry Fee | $1,200 per team 
Threads of Life Donation | $400 per Contractor / Union 
Team insurance is available | $150 per team

For more details on how you can register your team, please contact Dan Fleming at dfleming@ellisdon.com or call 416-616-0252.

New mini-documentary provides a behind-the-scenes look at creating Toronto’s newest architectural icon: Cadillac Fairview’s landmark CF Toronto Eaton Centre Bridge. 

Includes interviews with: 

• Wayne Barwise, Executive Vice President, Development, Cadillac Fairview
• David Stewart, Director, Project Management, Development, Cadillac Fairview
• Vaidila Banelis, Senior Partner, Zeidler Partnership Architects
• Dominic Bettison, Director, WilkinsonEyre
• Matt Stainton, Senior Construction Manager, PCL Constructors Canada Inc. (Toronto)

Click here to view the video.

After a long and rewarding career, it is with mixed emotions that we announce the retirement of Janet Mascitelli as of March 1st, 2018.

Janet’s 32-year trailblazing career in surety began in her hometown of Saint John, New Brunswick, when she discovered a passion for people and business in the banking industry at CIBC. Click here for more information.

Dan Lawrie Insurance is now entering into their final months of the Select Sweepstakes Campaign for OGCA members.

The contest closes on March 31, 2018. They won’t be doing another contest of this size, for at least a year and want to give members one final opportunity to enter into the draw. Click here for more information.

Learning in construction is a lifelong process. Standards are always changing, new technologies are being introduced, and new trends are constantly emerging. OGCA is always looking for ways to improve our educational offerings to members.

OGCA is also looking for educational articles in the upcoming General Magazine. The deadline for submissions is July 15, 2018.

The magazine addresses problems, concerns, and opportunities facing the Ontario Construction Industry and includes major issues from technology to health & safety to globalization.

If you have a session or an article you would like deliver to our members, please contact Lyndsy Miceli at lyndsy@ogca.ca