ORBA awards recognize roadbuilding excellence during an unprecedented year

MISSISSAUGA, ONT. — The Ontario Road Builders’ Association (ORBA) recently handed out awards to honour the accomplishments of members at its 2021 Virtual Summit, with CEO Bryan Hocking highlighting the impact they have made on communities and the industry as a whole during the pandemic.

“Normally we would be celebrating the accomplishments and milestones of our members in person at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto.  However, via the virtual summit, with 572 attendees sitting in front of their screens, we were able to still recognize these individuals and companies hard work and dedication to excellence,” said Hocking in a statement. “Their contributions have had a positive impact on not only the roadbuilding industry, but also within the communities in which they serve, especially in this unprecedented year. It is an honour to celebrate these members.”

This year’s 2020 Ontario Road Building Hall of Fame inductee Everett McIntyre, special projects senior adviser, Aecon Group Inc., was also announced during the celebration.

Induction into the Hall of Fame is the association’s highest honour. It recognizes exemplary and distinguished service by an individual to the roadbuilding industry.

McIntyre has dedicated himself to the roadbuilding industry in Ontario for over 60 years and as one of the oldest employees at Aecon brings a wealth of experience and respect for his knowledge in the industry, his peers said during a video.

McIntyre was born and raised on a farm where he worked until he got through school. He started his construction career in 1959 with Peel Construction, which is part of Aecon today. He started out in operating and became a foreman in 1964. In 1966 he became a superintendent and eventually became a project manager. From there he became a senior adviser for Aecon Group, a position he holds to this day.

“I love being a roadbuilder,” said McIntyre during the video. “What I really like about the work is getting the job done. I like the big jobs I like to get them done ahead of schedule.”

He has been involved in a number of projects including a toll road in Israel, an airport in Ecuador and numerous highway projects across the country.

He is known as the “Tom Brady” of Highway 407.

“It was one of the biggest jobs that you could have back in those days,” said McIntyre. “It went well, on budget, so it makes you feel pretty good to be involved.”

Among this year’s other award winners are:

• Category One Routly Safety Award for 2020 — Associated Paving & Materials Ltd. for achieving up to 100,000 average person hours without a lost-time injury.
• Category Two Routly Safety Award for 2020 — Duncor Enterprises Inc. for achieving more than 100,000 average hours without a lost-time injury.
• 2020 ORBA Community Leadership Awards — RW Tomlinson Limited and Powell Contracting Ltd.
• 2020 ORBA Transportation Infrastructure Innovation Award — Kiewit and Bauer Foundations Canada for their work on the Kingston Third Crossing signature bridge that involved of the construction of a new, two-lane bridge spanning 1.2 kilometres over the Cataraqui River, which forms part of the Rideau Canal. This was Canada’s first-ever bridge building project to use the Integrated Project Delivery Model and innovative engineering techniques such as using a lift bridge, instead of a drill rig and a rock causeway, reducing the project’s carbon footprint.
• 2020 ORBA Distinguished Service Award — Richard King, president and owner of Owen King Limited, who joined the ORBA’s Structure Committee in 1979. Having served on the committee for over 40 years, he is the longest standing committee member in ORBA’s history.
• 2020 ORBA Director of the Year Award — James McVeety, 2020 ORBA president and director, design and construction – (APD) Alternative Project Delivery, major projects Miller Infrastructure Developers Inc.
• ORBA Civil Engineering University Scholarship — Ruth Meyer, first-year civil engineering student at University of Waterloo.
• ORBA Civil Engineering Technology Scholarship — Joshua Schmidt, first-year civil engineering Technology student at St. Lawrence College.
• ORBA J.D. Chick Scholarship — Daniel Qi, Civil Engineering, final-year civil engineering student at University of Waterloo.
• ORBA Joe Bunting Scholarship — Dayna Musclow, final-year civil engineering technology student at Algonquin College.
• MTO Paver of the Year of the Year Award Winner — J&P Leveque Bros. Haulage Limited, for their work on 0.1 kilometre North of Island Lake Rd. to Highway 11, Unnamed Creek Culvert 3.1 kilometre South of Highway 575 and Highway 539A at Poor Man Creek Culvert.
• MTO Concrete Contract of the Year Award Winner — Brennan Paving & Construction Ltd., concrete supply: Miller Concrete Aurora Plant for their work from Major Mackenzie Drive northerly to 1.7 kilometres north of Stouffville Road.