Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Ontario Road Builders’ Association (ORBA) has outlined the program for its 14th Annual Road Building Academy Feb. 22 to 26 at the BMO Institute for Learning in Scarborough/
“Bringing world-class instructors and courses from across North America to Ontario, the Academy is offering 30 courses of which 14 are new,” ORBA says in a statement. “Courses cover management, leadership, business practice, health and safety and legal topics.”
For the first time at the academy, a certificate in project management is being offered through the University of Waterloo Professional Development. The curriculum is compatible with the project management industry standard set by the Project Management Institute (PMI). The certificate consists of two five-day modules comprising 10 days of training and delivering 70 Professional Development Units (PDU) / Contact Hours of training.
The Asphalt Institute (AI) is partnering with ORBA again this year, offering a two-day Paving Inspector course covering fundamental information that every asphalt plant mix roadway inspector should know. The course first debuted in Canada at the 2020 Academy and is the only course of its kind available in Canada.
“Since 2007 ORBA’s Road Building Academy has provided the industry with a diverse array of learning opportunities,” said ORBA chief executive officer Bryan Hocking. “Each year we strive to expand the program, featuring courses unique to Ontario and offering some of the same courses and instructors that are a part of ConExpo’s educational program.”
“We are very pleased to be partnering with AI again in offering the Paving Inspector Course as well as debuting the University of Waterloo Project Management Certificate course at the 2021 Academy,” he said.
Companies considering registering for the Academy are encouraged to take advantage of the Canada-Ontario Job Grants Program, which gives direct financial support for employee training. Funding is available to small, medium and large businesses planning to deliver short-term training to employees. All ORBA Road Building Academy courses are eligible for funding. Employers are eligible for up to $10,000 in government support per person for training cost.
Part of the Road Building Academy Program includes 10 online courses, powered by BuildForce Canada. Online courses can be taken at any time.
The 2021 ORBA Road Building Academy is set to take place in person. All safety protocols will be in place to ensure safety. Class sizes will have a limited capacity. Therefore, it is important to register early. Contingency plans are in place to move all courses online if needed.
For more information, see https://orba.org/academy.