March 2, 2010

Ontario Road Builders’ Association looks to fund post-secondary school programs

PATRICIA WILLIAMS

staff writer

The Ontario Road Builders’ Association (ORBA) will consider requests in the coming months to provide financial support for programs at additional post-secondary institutions after getting its feet wet at Hamilton’s McMaster University and Georgian College in Barrie.

Executive director Rob Bradford said the association has been approached by the University of Waterloo and Ottawa’s Algonquin College. Waterloo is seeking funding to establish a chair in sustainable pavements.

Algonquin is looking for support for its centre for construction excellence, now under construction.

No decisions have been made.

“Given the need to get more young people enrolled in civil engineering and technology programs, we realize this is an area in which we’ve got to be a little more active,” Bradford said.

“We certainly won’t be able to meet the needs of all the schools looking for industry support, but we do recognize our responsibility in making investments in the industry’s future where we can.”

ORBA previously contributed $125,000 each to McMaster and Georgian. The McMaster donation helped fund an endowment for establishment of a new chair in heavy construction.

The chair, currently being recruited, would act as a champion for the heavy construction industry and enhance the profile of civil engineering careers.

The contribution to Georgian assisted with creation of a new Centre for Sustainable Technologies, which opened last fall. A variety of civil engineering technician and technology programs are offered.

Bradford said both investments have paid off “in different ways.”

During the coming year, ORBA plans to establish some scholarships at colleges and universities. That is one of the goals set by new president Paul Quinless for his term of office.

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