As Clive Thurston of the Ontario General Contractors Association (OGCA) reflects on his almost 20 years as president, the thing he is most proud of is the association has been a strong voice not only for GCs but for the industry as a whole.
“What I’m most proud of is the collaboration and communication that we have developed with all of the other associations,” Thurston told the Daily Commercial News.
“Many people think it’s the symposium. I think the symposium is a tremendous legacy to leave behind, along with Leadership Day and other things we’ve set up, but when I came in the lines of communication were broken between us and the consultants, between us and the subtrades. There was a lot of disconnection within the industry. There was no real strong voice. That had to change.”
He added, “we want to be known not just as an advocate for general contractors but as an advocate for the industry and the industry is everybody, including the owners.”
Thurston is stepping down at the end of June, handing over the reins to Giovanni Cautillo, former executive director of the Ontario Sewer and Watermain Construction Association and the Greater Toronto Sewer and Watermain Contractors Association. Thurston will stay on as a consultant for the next three years.
“I’ve been in the industry since I was 16. I think it’s time for a rest,” said Thurston, adding he plans to spend time with his family and travel with his wife once the border is open and restrictions are lifted.
“It’s been a great ride. I think we’ve accomplished a lot. We’ve certainly accomplished the goal of turning the OGCA into a leader and a proactive one.”
Thurston recalls the day Don Cameron, past-president of the association, told him he was retiring and asked him to come in and interview for his job.
Thurston knew Cameron well because he had been a member of the association years prior when he owned his own business. He also knew Thurston’s father who was in the industry. At the time he was working as a chief building official and had just finished a six-month probation.
Thurston recalled interviewing for the position on a hot summer day in 2001, after which he didn’t hear back. He said Mary Wademan, who is still the office manager at the association, was instrumental in getting him into the OGCA.
“She is one of the main reasons I ended up at the OGCA,” Thurston said with a laugh. “She reminded my predecessor to phone me a second time because I didn’t get the first message. He called me and said ‘the job is yours.’”
“He said, ‘it was your passion. They didn’t interview anyone that had a passion for the industry the way you do.’ That’s what got me the job,” he added.
Soon after accepting the role, Thurston was tasked with the challenge of changing the direction of the OGCA.
“That was a challenge unlike anything I experienced before,” he recalled. “Running an association is totally different to running a company. It was a learning experience – fixing things, building bridges, changing it into a proactive organization. My first two chairmen were extremely active in wanting that change and I credit them with pointing the association in the right direction.”
Working together with provincial construction associations over the years has enabled the OGCA to build relationships with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board and develop the Construction Design Alliance of Ontario which brought leaders from different construction groups to one table including GCs, highrise and home builders, trades, sewers and roads.
Collaboration was also instrumental in improving the relationship between the generals and the trades. Representatives from the groups came together provide input for Ontario’s new Construction Act.
“We ended up building relationships and coming up with a new Construction Act that is a model for the rest of the country. Ever since then the lines of communication have been open with the trades,” said Thurston.
“We all saw the bigger picture. We came together and we built something that is lasting and making a difference. I hope that will be my legacy when its all said and done.”
While he admits this is a difficult time to go, Thurston said the association is in good hands with Cautillo. He anticipates the next few years will be a challenge with the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic and issues around contracts, contract language and health and safety which, he pointed out, are issues the association has been dealing with since its inception.
“It’s tough leaving right when there are real battles about to start. I love a good battle,” he said, adding health and safety has always been a priority for the OGCA who has supported initiatives such as Certificate of Recognition certification, the League of Champions and the Safety Pass.
“The association is well situated to represent the contractors. We have the resources, we have really good people and we have fantastic membership and a board of directors that is really engaged in supporting the staff. Support is the key.”
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