Spring 2026 - May 14 - Flipbook - Page 8
EDUCATION
ESTABLISHING THE OGCA
EDUCATION COMMITTEE
By ANGELO COFINI, Chair, OGCA Education Committee
T
HE ONTARIO GENERAL CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION has long recognized
that a strong industry depends on strong people, with
education playing a critical role alongside advocacy and
safety. I am pleased to share that OGCA has re established
its Education Committee, with a mandate to ensure members have access to practical, forward looking education
delivered by the right people, on the right topics, at the right time.
Education has been a constant thread throughout my career.
Alongside my role in operations at EllisDon, my experience as an
instructor with the University of Toronto School of Continuing
Studies and as a member of Toronto Metropolitan University’s Civil
Engineering Departmental Advisory Council has reinforced the
importance of bridging learning with real world project delivery.
When education is practical, relevant, and grounded in experience,
it strengthens leadership, improves decision making, and leads to
better project outcomes.
That belief is what inspired me to step into the role of Chair of
the OGCA Education Committee. Re establishing this committee is
not about creating more content for its own sake; it is about ensuring the right knowledge is shared, by the right people, in ways that
genuinely support OGCA members and their teams.
Why an Education Committee—Now?
As the construction industry evolves amid regulatory,
technological, and workforce pressures, expectations on project
teams continue to rise. The re established Education Committee
provides a focused forum for member input and alignment,
ensuring OGCA’s education remains industry driven, member
focused, and grounded in real operational needs through curated
subject matter expertise.
Our Vision
Our vision is straightforward: to strengthen Ontario’s general
contracting community through education that is practical,
timely, and directly applicable, supporting safer sites, better
project outcomes, stronger leaders, and a more resilient industry.
Our Mandate
The Education Committee’s mandate is to guide OGCA’s education
priorities, with a focus on curating subject matter experts to
deliver high value learning through member focused formats.
In short, our role is not only to identify what matters most—but
also to help identify who is best positioned to deliver meaningful
learning on those topics.
by guiding the relevance, direction, and effectiveness of OGCA
supported education initiatives.
In practical terms, the committee serves as a bridge between:
OGCA members and their evolving skills needs
OGCA staff and program partners delivering education
The broader construction ecosystem, including certification
bodies and industry stakeholders
Education Pillars: The Framework for Our Work
To ensure focus, consistency, and long term value, the committee
has established a set of core education pillars that form the
foundation for identifying and prioritizing educational topics:
Environmental Health & Safety
Technical Excellence & Sustainable Construction
Leadership & Professional Development
Project Management & Compliance
Technology & Innovation
Legal, Financial & Industry Trends
Social Responsibility
Career Pathways
These pillars are supported by a living list of topics that will
continue to evolve as industry needs change. The intent is to
remain responsive and focused on delivering the greatest value to
members.
Re establishing this committee is not about
creating more content for its own sake; it is
about ensuring the right knowledge is shared,
by the right people, in ways that genuinely
support OGCA members and their teams.
Our Purpose
The purpose of the Education Committee is to support the
professional development of general contractors and their teams
8 the generals • SPRING 2026
OGCA.CA
