upcomingUpcoming Events

April 15-17, 2018 
London, ON

April 25, 2018 
Timmins, ON

May 31-June3, 2018
Halifax, NS
upcomingIndustry News

Green Infrastructure Workshop at Ryerson

Ryerson Urban Water is hosting the Implementing Green Infrastructure: Building a Community of Practice" workshop  at Ryerson University in Toronto on June 18-19, 2018. This workshop aims to advance green infrastructure and low impact development by gathering interdisciplinary groups to collaborate and resolve obstacles to implementation. 


OCWA Board Member Named OFNTSC
Executive Director

OCWA board member Melanie Debassige has been appointed the new Executive Director of the  Ontario First Nations Technical Services Corporation (OFNTSC). 

Waterline - Spring 2018

Spring Flooding - Be Prepared

Floods cost Canadians millions of dollars per year in property damage and other losses. But according to a study commissioned by the federal government, 54% of Canadians are not concerned about floods damaging their homes and 60% have done nothing to protect their property.
 
Causes of floods vary and include heavy rainfall, quick snow melt, ice jams, and failure of a dam or other infrastructure. Although flooding can happen at any time of the year, rain and snow melt can make spring an especially active season.
 
At OCWA, our approach is to work with you to maximize the resiliency of your water-wastewater infrastructure and operations BEFORE a crisis situation occurs. If you have any questions related to flood preparedness and your water/wastewater system, please contact your local OCWA Business Development Manager.
Appointment: New OCWA Board Chair

OCWA is pleased to welcome Joe Pennachetti as Chair of the Agency's Board of Directors. Mr. Pennachetti  brings an impressive depth and range of experience to this role.
 
Mr. Pennachetti's storied career in municipal public service spans about four decades. He became Toronto's Chief Financial Officer in 2002 and City Manager in 2008, where he was responsible for the city's budget until his retirement in 2015. 
 
Prior to joining the City of Toronto, Mr. Pennachetti held senior positions in the regional municipalities of Peel, York and Durham and spent 10 years at the City of Edmonton. In November 2015 he joined the University of Toronto as executive adviser to the Global Cities Institute and the World Council on City Data and as a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Municipal Finance and Governance.
 
OCWA and the Board look forward to working with Mr. Pennachetti to help guide the agency into the future.
Introducing: New Business Development Manager, NE Region

OCWA is pleased to welcome Sylvie Lemieux as the new OCWA Business Development Manager for the Northeast Region.
                                                                 
Sylvie, who is bilingual and hails from northern Ontario, brings a wealth of municipal experience to the role. She was most recently an elected councillor for the Municipality of Greenstone, giving her a unique perspective and understanding that will be especially invaluable to northern municipal clients. Before joining OCWA, Sylvie was also part of the management team  for Contact North, a network for residents of Ontario's small, rural and remote communities, where she led the development of corporate strategic initiatives and provincial partnerships. 
 
S ylvie can be reached at SLemieux@ocwa.com or 705-271-6041.
New AMP Requirements: We Can Help You Meet Them

OCWA can help you to develop a management plan for your water, wastewater and stormwater assets and ensure that you meet Ontario's new AMP regulatory requirements. 
 
On January 1, 2018, Ontario Regulation 588/17: Asset Management Planning for Municipal Infrastructure came into effect. The regulation sets out requirements for municipal asset management planning to help municipalities better understand their infrastructure needs and inform infrastructure planning and investment decisions.  We've prepared an information sheet  on O.Reg. 588/17 that provides an overview of the regulatory requirements and deadlines, what this means for your municipality, and OCWA's asset management planning services. Contact your OCWA Business Development Manager to discuss how we can help your municipality. 
Congrats to Lucan Biddulph on Hockeyville win!

hockey-puck.jpg We would like to congratulate the Township of Lucan Biddulph for winning the nationwide Kraft Hockeyville contest on April 2.  Nine million votes were cast in the annual competition, which saw Lucan Biddulph beat out three other finalists for the title and a prize of $250,000.  Way to go!
Conferences: ROMA and OGRA

Thanks to everyone who visited the OCWA booths at the 2018 OGRA and ROMA conferences, as well our breakfast and lunch sessions. A special thanks to those who helped celebrate OCWA's 25th anniversary year by posing in our commemorative picture frame! There are many great anniversary festivities to come and we look forward to celebrating this important milestone with all of you throughout the year.
 
Left to Right: Thames Centre CAO Stewart Findlater, Councillor Alison Warwick and Councillor Kelly Elliott. 
OCWA in the Community
Proud to Support the Little NHL   

OCWA was proud to sponsor the Little NHL (Native Hockey League) Tournament in Mississauga March 11-15, 2018, which was hosted by Moose Cree First Nation.  The mission of the tournament is to lead, develop and promote a fun and positive hockey experience, one that provides Ontario First Nation Youth with an opportunity to be educated about the values of sportsmanship, both on and off the ice.


OneWater ® Education Program in the City of Kawartha Lakes

Thanks to Langton Public School (Fenelon Falls) and Bobcaygeon Public School for welcoming OCWA operations staff into your Grade 8 classrooms to present our OneWater Program recently! And a special thanks to  Amber Hayter, Supervisor of Water and Wastewater Operations at the City of Kawartha Lakes, for joining us at Langton PS.  

   
LEFT photo:  OCWA operator Ellen Stitt delivers the OneWater Education Program at Bobcaygeon Public School.  RIGHT photo:  OCWA Senior Operations Manager Brent Martin visits Langton Public School in Fenelon Falls. 
Celebrating World Water Day

OCWA employees across the province celebrated World Water Day on March 22 by raising a glass to all the dedicated individuals around the world who work in water. We are proud of the work we do providing clean, safe water and protecting our environment.

Clockwise from top left: OCWA Northwest Hub office; OCWA Toronto Corporate Office; Tri-County Water Board WTP; Lakeview-South Peel WTP.

      
    
Visit our website to see more OCWA Raise A Glass photos!

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