Ontario Construction News staff writer
For the first time in 94 years, the Ontario Road Builders’ Association’s (ORBA) annual convention will be presented as a virtual summit.
The 2021 ORBA Virtual Summit, Forging the Roadway Ahead, will offer a space for researchers, policy leaders and the best minds in the industry to deliver crucial information for Ontario’s road building industry and stakeholders for the year ahead, the association says in a statement.
The virtual program will span over four days Jan. 27 to 28 and Feb. 3 to 4. Highlights from the summit program include keynote speaker, Jim Harris, futurist and management consultant on disruptive innovation. His presentation on Jan. 27, Time of Tremendous Transformation 2.0, will provide insight into how the COVID-19 pandemic will permanently change the landscape for road builders and how can companies thrive going forward.
Several concurrent municipal sessions, which will feature regional municipal capital works plans, projects and forecasts for 2021 will also be featured on the first day.
On Feb. 3, veteran journalist and anchor of TVO’s flagship current affairs program The Agenda with Steve Paikin will have a conversation with Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation about the critical role Ontario’s transportation infrastructure industry plays in the province’s economy and perspective on the Ontario government’s role in the industry.
“Back in the spring we realized that we would not be able to host an in-person convention,” said ORBA Chief Executive Officer Bryan Hocking. “Therefore, with the help of our summit planning committee we developed an engaging and dynamic virtual program that will provide valuable information our industry and stakeholders will need as we forge ahead during these unprecedented times.”
Registration for the 2021 ORBA Virtual Summit is complimentary for ORBA members and $100 for non members. For full details and to register, visit https://orba.org/summit/.