Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Afro Canadian Contractors Association’s (ACCA) Bridging the Gap – Celebrating Black Contractors Gala will be held in-person on Sat., June 4 starting at 6 p.m.
The inaugural event is an opportunity to recognize and support black contractors and construction workers who are producing excellence in the sector where they are traditionally underrepresented.
More than 250 members, community partners and supports will gather at Hyatt Place – Toronto/Mississauga Centre to celebrate the excellence of Black Contractors across Canada.
Click here to purchase tickets.
Feature keynote speaker is Karla Avis-Birch, chief planning officer, planning & development for Metrolinx. Throughout her career, Karla has overseen the construction and completion of countless instrumental infrastructural projects and has accelerated the delivery of service.
In her previous role as vice president, GO Stations Capital Delivery, she established the first Metrolinx project controls & design standards office, in partnership with Infrastructure Ontario on the procurement of Public Private Partnerships (P3) projects, and was accountable for the delivery of transformational GO Expansion programs.
She also served as the 2017 and 2018 president of the Women in Transportation Seminars (WTS) Toronto Area Chapter.
The Afro Canadian Contractors Association (ACCA) is a Canadian non-profit organization established in 2020, who actively represent existing professional Black contractors. Members are general contractors, subcontractors, home builders and renovators.
ACCA’s goal is to “increase the presence of Black contractors in the Canadian construction industry” with the principle of TRUST, Talented – Respectable – Unified – Skilled – Trade. In addition, ACCA aims to provide support through education and mentoring programs to young Black trades people who desire to become contractors across the construction sector.
