February 3, 2012

Ontario Road Builders’ Association focused on partnerships at convention

KELLY LAPOINTE

staff writer

Partnership is top of mind at this year’s 85th annual Ontario Road Builders’ Association (ORBA) convention.

The theme of this year’s convention, Partners in Progress: Keeping Ontario Moving Together is an important one, said Rob Bradford, ORBA executive director.

The convention will break new ground this year with the involvement of Metrolinx, a government of Ontario agency, created to improve the coordination and integration of all modes of transportation in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. The convention runs Feb. 6 and Feb. 7.

“We’ve discovered that we need to represent contractors in the broader transportation infrastructure sphere. Our guys don’t just build roads and highways anymore, they’re actively involved in all the aspects of public transit,” explained Bradford.

Metrolinx CEO Bruce McCuaig will conduct a presentation at the convention.

“I don’t think you could go to any of the past 84 conventions and find too much talk about public transit. I think this is a bit of a signal about where we want to go and where we need to go,” said Bradford.

There will also be seminars with long-standing ORBA partners like the Ministry of Transportation, a relationship that Bradford says has spanned almost all 85 years of ORBA conventions. A seminar on working with First Nations represents another new partnership.

“Those are new partnerships that we absolutely have to build and to work on,” said Bradford. “We’re going to need good skilled workers in the future and Aboriginals is one of the main groups that we expect to draw from.”

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ORBA has worked hard to establish links with post secondary schools, investing close to $300,000 and creating connections as advisory committees and helping with course development.

Prof. Saiedeh Razavi, whose academic credentials include a PhD in civil engineering, the inaugural chair in heavy construction at Hamilton’s McMaster University, will also speak at the convention. The chair was established to provide leadership in advancing innovation in the heavy construction sector, attracting and developing talent and contributing to the advancement of a modern, durable and sustainable infrastructure in Ontario.

“From our point of view, part of that objective is to attract the brightest young engineering students from all over the world. It’ll be interesting to hear about how that’s developing and to in fact see what actually becomes of some of the investments we’re making,” said Bradford.

Liberal transportation and infrastructure minister Bob Chiarelli, Progressive Conservative leader Tim Hudak and Gilles Bisson, NDP House Leader and transportation critic will each speak at the two-day event.

“I don’t think ORBA’s ever had a convention where all three parties have been represented,” commented Bradford.

Bradford said the convention helps bring insight to business owners and presents networking opportunities.

There will also be a Canadian Construction Association update from chair Dee Miller, an ORBA government relations report, an economic outlook and a keynote speech by General Rick Hillier, Former Chief of the Defence Staff for the Canadian Forces. The ORBA Green Awards winner and honourable mentions will be showcased.

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