COCA presents its annual awards

NIAGARA FALLS, ONT. — The Council of Ontario Construction Associations (COCA) recently honoured individuals for their outstanding contributions to the association and the industry at an awards dinner in Niagara Falls, Ont.

This year there were two recipients of the President’s Award — Alison Smith, executive director of the Barrie Construction Association (BCA) and Mike Carter of the London and District Construction Association.

“Alison has grown the membership, increased member engagement, expanded programming and services and elevated the profile of the BCA throughout the Simcoe Region,” said Ian Cunningham, president of COCA, during the awards ceremony.

Carter was appointed executive director of the London association in March 2016 and previously led the Ontario Glazier Apprenticeship and Training Committee and before that, the Ontario Industrial and Finishing Skills Centre.

“Mike was not afraid to challenge his board of directors with many new ideas and a totally different perspective, to take the association in new directions,” said Cunningham.

“Mike proved his worth on the steel and aluminum tariffs file, where he made himself one of our industry’s best informed resources. Mike has also stayed on top of the issues swirling around the Ontario College of Trades and the new skilled trades and apprenticeship system.”

The Chair’s Award recognizes a volunteer or an organization whose contributions to the success of COCA go above and beyond what is normally expected. Roger Hubbard, who operates AMJ Enterprises, received the award.

Hubbard provides leadership to the Reinforcing Steel Institute of Canada as its president and is a vice chair of the COCA executive team.

Harold Lindstrom, general manager of the Construction Association of Thunder Bay, also received the Chair’s Award.

Lindstrom serves as a member of COCA’s executive committee and as chair of the chief operating officers committee.

This year’s Industry Ally Award recipient was Gail Smyth, the recently retired executive director and CEO of Skills Ontario.

The award is presented to an individual outside of the COCA federation who has made a significant contribution to the success of the construction industry or who has contributed to improvements to the industry environment in Ontario.

“Over the last 20 years or more, no one has been more successful in promoting the rewarding careers in the skilled trades to young people in Ontario than Gail Smyth,” said Steve Dietrich, chair of COCA.

The Cliff Bulmer Award was presented to Paul Gunning, executive director for the Acoustical Association of Ontario. The award is presented to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution in furthering the relationship between the construction industry and the Ontario government.

As chair of COCA’s WSIB/OH&S committee Gunning has been responsible for leading the development of numerous submissions to government. He is a long-time member of COCA’s board and this year was elected to serve on COCA’s executive committee.

In addition, the COCA recognized those associations celebrating anniversaries in 2019:

• The Construction Association of Thunder Bay, 70 years
• The Grand Valley Construction Association, 45 years
• The Pipe Line Contractors Association of Canada, 75 years
• The Architectural Glass & Metal Contractors of Ontario, 40 years
• The Ontario Industrial Roofing Contractors Association, 55 years.