The Ontario General Contractors Association (OGCA) is set to celebrate its 75 years of service to the province’s general contractors and it has remained true to its mandate over that time, says its current president.
TORONTO
The Ontario General Contractors Association (OGCA) is set to celebrate its 75 years of service to the province’s general contractors and it has remained true to its mandate over that time, says its current president.
“The players and the dollar figures may have changed, but the day-to-day issues and the topics of discussion around the board table remain the same albeit a little more complex at times,” says association president Clive Thurston.
“We have gone back through agendas and board meeting minutes through the ages as part of our 75th anniversary celebration research,” explains Thurston.
“It’s incredible how consistent the work of OGCA has been over time.”
From that first meeting at the Royal York Hotel on April 3, 1939, as reported in the Daily Commercial News, OGCA has been advocating for and protecting the interests of general contractors and promoting workplace safety issues and training across the province.
Tomorrow night (May 31), more than 500 people will gather in Toronto at that same Royal York Hotel for a sold-out gala to share stories, celebrate the association’s past, and set the course for its future. Among those present will be 20 association past-chairmen dating back to 1967.
“OGCA has meant a lot to the Timms family over the years,” says Roy Timms, grandson of the founding chairman, Reg Timms and the third generation of Timms to have held the position of OGCA chair.
“All three of us consider it an honour to be recognized by your peers and selected as Chair.”
“I have made a lot of great, life-long friends thanks to OGCA,” recalls Roly Nicholls, OGCA Chair in 1968.
“It was not always just about business. We had a lot of fun and I experienced many things that I may never have done if it were not for OGCA.”
The camaraderie and fellowship is a sentiment you hear repeated time and time again by all generations of OGCA members.
“We worked hard. And we played hard,” Nicholls recalls with a chuckle.
“Our members are entrepreneurs and innovators, leaders and risk-takers. We have a track record of finding solutions to challenges that are put before us,” explains Thurston.
“And with our members’ continued support and participation within OGCA, we will continue lead the industry for the next 75 years.”
OGCA will soon be releasing a book commemorating 75 years of construction leadership in Ontario.
DCN NEWS SERVICES
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