Spring 2026 - May 14 - Flipbook - Page 4
CHAIR’S MESSAGE
EDUCATION: BUILDING CAPABILITY
FOR TODAY AND TOMORROW
By GREG BROKENSHIRE, OGCA Chair
ONTARIO’S CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY continues
to face rapid change—driven by
evolving regulations, workforce
pressures, technological
advancement, and rising
expectations around leadership
and safety. In this environment, the
success of our industry depends on the
knowledge and skills of our people. For
that reason, OGCA has made a clear and
deliberate decision to elevate education as
a strategic priority.
Education is not new to OGCA, but it
is now central to our long term vision.
Through the latest Strategic Plan, the
Board has reinforced our commitment
to ensuring that individuals within our
member companies—and the construction
industry at large—remain current,
relevant, and positioned for success.
O
The success of our industry
depends on the knowledge
and skills of our people.
A Strategic Commitment to Education
The OGCA Strategic Plan commits to
enhancing and promoting educational
opportunities that foster professional
growth and industry excellence. Central to
this commitment was the creation of an
Education Committee, established in 2025,
with de昀椀ned objectives and Mr. Angelo
Co昀椀ni as Board appointed Chair.
The committee’s mandate is both
practical and forward looking. It is
responsible for identifying relevant
presenters and ensuring that OGCA’s
educational offerings align with member
needs and industry realities. This structure
ensures education is not fragmented, but
purposeful, strategic, and responsive.
Defining Core Learning Pillars
An early and important focus of the
Education Committee was identifying
core learning pillars that re昀氀ect the
diverse roles and challenges within
our membership. These pillars span
4 the generals • SPRING 2026
areas such as health and safety;
workforce development; leadership; risk
management; emerging technologies—
including arti昀椀cial intelligence—and
regulatory awareness.
Within each pillar, the committee
identi昀椀ed speci昀椀c topics of high interest
to members, recognizing that meaningful
education must deliver immediate, real
world value. Education at OGCA is not
theoretical—it is designed to be applied
on job sites, in boardrooms, and across
organizations of all sizes.
Introducing an Industry Educational
Calendar
Soon, the OGCA will launch a
comprehensive Educational Repository
for the industry. This repository will
provide clarity and include links to
educational sources with details on
information sessions; course types;
presenters; dates; duration; and costs. This
centralized location will enable members
to plan participation in advance.
The repository will be reviewed
annually to ensure the content remains
current and relevant. In support
of professional development and
recognized credentials, OGCA is also
building a network of respected industry
professionals to deliver our programming,
with a strong emphasis on Gold Seal–
recognized sessions.
Learning Opportunities in Action
OGCA’s commitment to education is
already evident through long standing
and highly valued initiatives such as
the Safety Summit, Leaders in Safety,
Women in Construction, and the
biannual Construction Symposium.
These programs provide diverse
learning opportunities while fostering
engagement, leadership development, and
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