ORC Information Sessions: Chatham Session Rescheduled to Sessions in Windsor and London

Strategic Opportunities Committee - Communiqué 13

September 18, 2009

ORC Information Sessions: Chatham Session Rescheduled to Sessions in Windsor and London

The ORC Information Session originally scheduled in Chatham on October 5th has been cancelled, and instead two sessions will be offered in Windsor and London.

Windsor

Monday, November 16, 2009 1.30 to 4 p.m .
Radisson Hotel
333 Riverside Drive West, Windsor, ON

To register email ORCWindsor@strategies4impact.com

London

Monday, November 30, 2009 1.30 to 4 p.m.

Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites
864 Exeter Road, London, ON

To register email ORCLondon@strategies4impact.com

Register now to guarantee your seat! Registration is FREE!

What Are These Information Sessions About?

The Ontario Realty Corporation (ORC) undertook over 2,000 construction projects valued at more than $400 million last year, making it a major customer of Ontario's design and construction sector.

That's a lot of potential opportunity for large and smaller design and construction businesses in Ontario.

During the past couple of years ORC has been updating its project delivery model in collaboration with the industry, working through the Strategic Opportunities Committee. That committee includes the Ontario General Contractors Association, Consulting Engineers of Ontario, the Ontario Association of Architects, the Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario and ORC itself.

A key strategy for ORC throughout this initiative has been to align with industry standard practices whenever it can in order to best serve its own clients which include numerous government ministries. As well as benefitting ORC and its clients, adoption of industry standard practices provides greater certainty and consistency to designers and contractors who are considering ORC opportunities.

An important component of the ORC's new delivery model is new ORC construction and consulting contracts based on CCDC 2 - 2008 and OAA Document 600 - 2008.

ORC is now coordinating with the industry through the SOC to deliver this series of FREE information sessions across Ontario to help designers and contractors understand the details of the updated delivery model and the opportunities it offers.

Feedback from Participants in First 6 Sessions has been Positive

Over 500 architects, engineers, interior designers and contractors have attended the eight events held so far. Participants have offered positive feedback about the content, saying it helps them understand the opportunities available on ORC projects and how to access them.

ORC Senior Vice President Mike Greidanus also explains the role and responsibilities of the Project Management Service Providers that, in the majority of cases, will be engaging contractors and prime design consultants. Mike also offers tips on getting prequalified to the Vendor of Record lists that ORC maintains for contractors and designers and explains the allocation of risk on ORC projects.

Brian Watkinson of Strategies 4 Impact! has been facilitating the very constructive collaboration between ORC and the industry through the Strategic Opportunities Committee, including the extensive discussions which led to ORC adopting the standard industry contracts for construction and consulting and standard supplementary conditions for both. Brian provides a detailed overview of those supplementary conditions and also talks about the option of term contracts for smaller projects.

And, there's plenty of time for questions and discussion during each session.

What Other Information Sessions are Being Offered?

In addition to the sessions just announced for London and Windsor,

Ottawa

Tuesday, October 6, 2009 3 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.

Sala San Marco, 215 Preston Street

To register email ORCOttawa@strategies4impact.com

Toronto/Markham

Tuesday, September 29, 2009 1.30 to 4 p.m.

Hilton Suites Toronto/Markham Conference Centre & Spa
8500 Warden Avenue at Hwy 7, Markham

To register email ORCMarkham@strategies4impact.com

Toronto Construction Association

Tuesday, October 27, 2009 8.00 to 10.30 a.m.

Toronto Construction Association offices
70 Leek Crescent, Richmond Hill

This event is part of the Toronto Construction Association's series called "Public Sector Construction Project Opportunities" which features a number of public owners like ORC.

To register go to the Toronto Construction Association Website

Webinar

Monday, October 19, 2009 1:30 to 4 p.m.

And, if you can't attend a session in person, a Webinar will be offered on October 19, 2009 from 1:30pm to 4 p.m. To register for it email ORCWebinar@strategies4impact.com. Closer to the event you will receive an email from the webinar facilitator "A Cubed IT" that will say "Hello, A Cubed IT has invited you to join a meeting on the Web, using WebEx." It will include the link you use to participate in the Webinar.

The Ontario Realty Corporation is a crown corporation of the Government of Ontario and, as one of Canada’s largest real estate management companies, is a major customer of Ontario’s design and construction sector, undertaking over 2,000 projects last year worth approximately $400 million.

The Strategic Opportunities Committee (SOC) was originally initiated in 2003 and was re-energized in 2008 at the invitation of ORC President and CEO David Glass to facilitate constructive consultation between ORC and the design and construction industry. Participants in this standing liaison committee include Consulting Engineers of Ontario, the Ontario General Contractors Association, the Ontario Association of Architects and the Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario, as well as ORC itself.

Additional background on the Strategic Opportunities Committee is available by reviewing all previous SOC Communiqués on the ORC website by clicking on "What's New" and "News Archives" and "2009."

END

For further information on this Communiqué contact

Brian Watkinson, Principal
Strategies 4 Impact! Inc.
brian@strategies4impact.com
416.409.7393