OCA to hold construction symposium
The Ottawa Construction Association (OCA) will hold its second-annual Construction Symposium and Trade Show at Ottawa’s EY Centre on February 26 and 27.
Building on the success of last year’s program, this year’s event will feature a mix of presentations and education session as well as a 90,000-square foot trade show floor with room for 175 exhibitors.
The first day of programming opens with a special welcome from Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson. A panel discussion follows in which participants will discuss issues relating to the growth of Ottawa, and the challenges associated with making the city one of the most livable in North America.
The day closes with another panel discussion. This one on construction market and industry issues will be hosted by OCA Chair Wayne Jennings. He will be joined by Defence Construction Canada’s Melinda Nycholat, Modern Niagara’s Mark Fazio and Toon Dreessen of Architects DCA.
In between those sessions, visitors will be invited to participate in any of two of eight concurrent sessions. Topics covered in those presentations include: implementing lean construction methods, a profile of The Ottawa Hospital’s planned $2 billion Civic campus, an update on prompt payment and dispute resolution under the new Construction Act, a look at construction-management software solutions, a profile of Ottawa’s new central library project—and more.
The following day begins with a presentation by Barry Cross, of the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University on changing business cycle trends. It is followed by concurrent sessions on technology developments, and an economic outlook by BDC. More concurrent sessions follow, on such topics as closing out construction projects, a profile of the City of Ottawa’s construction program for 2020, a profile of the Parliament Hill Centre Block rehabilitation, a profile of Stage 2 of Ottawa’s light rail program, a look at the use of integrated project delivery in the construction of the Royal Canadian Dragoons facility in Petawawa, and others.
OCA also plans to host a 30,000-square foot youth-engagement zone in which local high-school students will have the opportunity to experience a multitude of hands-on trade or technology activities—with the objective of raising awareness and enhancing attitudes about careers in construction. Plans for that, however, may be affected by the ongoing labour disputes between Ontario’s teachers unions and the provincial government.
Complete programming information for the OCA’s 2020 Construction Symposium and Trade Show is available at www.oca.ca/symposium.