As November brings cooler days and busy service calls, here’s to keeping comfort on all fronts!
Thank you for your hard work, precision, and dedication. Helping homes and businesses stay warm while the season changes.
Stay tuned – and stay informed – with Air Waves. | | | | Help shape Air Waves (and get a coffee!) | |
We want to hear from you! It’s been a year since ORAC’s Strategic Planning process wrapped up and a few months since launching the Air Waves newsletter.
Your feedback is key to making sure our communications continue to inform and support your business.
Please take a few minutes to complete our short survey and let us know what you think.
As a thank-you, you’ll receive a $5 e-gift card to grab a coffee on us! Take the Survey
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ICI / Non-ICI Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)
The MOU pertaining to the 2025 ICI Construction / Non-ICI Construction, Service Maintenance CBA is available on ORAC.ca. The Labour Burden Calculations and Rate Scale Sheet effective May 1, 2025 are also available. The new CBA is currently in the process of being updated and will be distributed once complete.
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Residential Bargaining
Residential ratification voting for the GTA agreement has been completed and new Rate Scale Sheets will be available on the ORAC website soon. Bargaining for the Outside-GTA agreement will begin in December.
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ORAC First Year Apprentice Intake Program - Annual Steering Committee Meeting
The Apprentice Intake Committee recently met to review program data, member feedback, and hiring trends. Interest in the Intake Program has nearly doubled over the past two years, and hiring has remained strong and consistent, with 145 first-year apprentice hires so far this year. In line with contractor feedback, we have also updated our intake score weighting to place greater emphasis on communication skills and real-world construction/industry experience. These enhancements ensure our Ready-to-Hire candidates are not only qualified, but job-ready and aligned with what our contractors need.
View the First-Year Apprentice Ready-to-Hire List
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College Information Sessions Resume for the Apprentice Intake Program
Taborah Campbell, Apprentice Intake Coordinator, will be visiting colleges across the province with HVAC diploma programs, connecting directly with students who are already invested in developing their skills and growing their technical knowledge. By presenting to students in these programs, we aim to meet motivated individuals who are passionate about hands-on careers and ready to take the next step toward becoming highly skilled HVACR professionals in the union pathway.
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ORAC Education Symposium
It was an energizing day of industry-leading insights, engaging speakers, and meaningful connections as members came together to learn, collaborate, and advance our sector. Scroll through the photos and highlight reel below to relive the day! Highlight Reel | Photos
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ORAC's 59th Annual General Meeting in Quebec City
We are excited to share that ORAC’s 59th Annual General Meeting will take place in beautiful Québec City at the iconic Fairmont Le Château Frontenac. Our team is working on finalizing the details and preparing the official invitation booklet, which will be sent out to members in December. In the meantime, please save the date for May 14 - 17, 2026 and plan to join us for this important milestone event. Stay tuned for more details coming soon!
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THIS WEEK!
ORAC's Fall Forum & Dinner
Woodbine Racetrack, Etobicoke
Thursday November 6, 2025
Tickets: $79 each
Register Here
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12:30pm: Registration & Lunch
1:30pm: CO2 Control Strategies (Copeland)
2:20pm: Cybersecurity (Idealogical)
3:10pm: Extreme HVAC Design (Delta-T Designs)
4:00pm: Cocktail Reception, Entertainment, & Awards
6:00pm: Dinner and Horse Racing
All tickets include lunch, access to educational sessions, cocktail reception, dinner buffet, a $10 betting voucher, and a chance to play the Money Machine Game sponsored by Master for a chance to win a $500 Home Depot Gift Card!
| | Check out last year's Fall Forum above! | | |
Holiday Toy Drive & Lunch
Friday December 12, 2025 | ORAC Office, Vaughan
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ORAC is proud to host our 6th Annual Holiday Toy Drive Campaign in support of York Regional Police “Holiday Heroes,” benefitting the Salvation Army and Victim Services of York Region. Every toy and monetary donation directly supports families in our community who need it most this holiday season.
Members are invited to stop by the ORAC office, enjoy a festive catered lunch, sip on holiday beverages, and drop off toys to help bring joy to local children and families. You can also make a monetary donation, and ORAC staff will purchase toys on your company's behalf.
Plus, connect with fellow ORAC members, and celebrate a successful year together in holiday spirit!
| | Check out last year's Toy Drive above! | | |
CMPX Tradeshow
March 25 - 27, 2026 | Metro Toronto Convention Centre
ORAC's 59th AGM
May 14 - 17, 2026 | Quebec City, Chateau Frontenac
| | | | ORAC staff members Aimee and Natalia attended the Brazing Certification Session at JTAC in October to observe the full certification process firsthand. They gained valuable insight into what it takes for technicians to successfully pass the test, from proper technique and safety protocols to the precision and consistency required to meet TSSA standards. | This experience will support ORAC in sharing accurate information with our members, answering questions confidently, and continuing to guide employers and technicians through the brazing certification process. It was an invaluable opportunity to see the level of detail and craftsmanship involved in earning this important industry credential. | | Brazing for this year is sold out. We will be releasing next years schedule soon. | When 2026 dates are released, they will be available HERE. | |  | |
Off-Site Brazing provides the option to have a TSSA inspector come directly to your shop to witness your technician’s braze and approve the certification (provided by ORAC).
To register for an Off-Site Brazing certificate, please click HERE.
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GAS TECHNICIAN 1 (G1)
WEEKENDS or MODIFIED
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MODIFIED (2 sessions p/ course)
2026
Session 1: January 17 - January 25
Session 2: February 21 - March 1
Session 1: March 21 - March 29
Session 2: April 18 - April 26
WEEKENDS
Dates: January 10, 2026 - May 24, 2026
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GAS TECHNICIAN 2 (G2)
EVENINGS or MODIFIED
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MODIFIED (4 sessions)
Session 1: December 6 - December 14, 2025
Session 2: January 3 - January 11, 2026
Session 3: January 31 - February 8, 2026
Session 4: March 7 - March 15, 2026
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GAS TECHNICIAN 3 (G3) - WEEKENDS
| Date: January 10, 2026 - May 24, 2026 | |
ODP CERTIFICATION
Self Directed Online Course
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Date: November 17-19, 2025
(3 Days - Starting on Monday until Wednesday)
Date: December 15-17, 2025
(3 Days - Starting on Monday until Wednesday)
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Heat Pump Advantage Training
November 12 | 9:00am - 11:00am or 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Free Online webinar
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The City of Pickering and the Region of Durham, in partnership with HRAI and with funding support from Enbridge, are offering a free Heat Pump Advantage Training session for local HVAC and related industry professionals. The session will be led by leading industry expert Gord Cooke.
What you will learn:
- Technical knowledge and strategies needed to meet the growing demand for energy-efficient heating and cooling solutions.
- Enhance the ability to identify energy performance opportunities in homes.
- Learn new ways to speak with customers and employees about evolving HVAC technologies, such as heat pumps.
- Help expand sales opportunities to include heat pumps
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Calling All Women in HVAC!
Victaulic warmly invites current, former, and aspiring women in our industry to join us for a fun and engaging event on the ice!
This is a fantastic opportunity to connect, network, and enjoy some time together, no matter your experience level.
Next Skate: November 29th, 2025
Interested? Click Here to fill out the form
Let’s celebrate and support women in HVAC - on and off the ice!
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Distributor Discount Program: HVAC | Ontario | Enbridge Gas | Space and water heating account for more than half of a typical building's energy use. That's why we're offering rebates on the best energy-saving equipment on the market. By upgrading to high-efficiency heating and hot water equipment, you can save on energy costs immediately. | | | |
HVACR and Plumbing Industry Reps Hold a News Conference - October 7, 2025 | |
On October 7th and 8th, HRAI members, joined by industry allies from CIPH, ASHRAE and ORAC, went to Parliament Hill in Ottawa to represent the industry to elected and unelected political leaders in the federal government. Under the banner “We Make Life Better for Canadians,” the team of 35 delegates (including Domenic Scopelliti on behalf of ORAC) met with dozens of Members of Parliament from all parties, as well as The Prime Minister’s Office, the office of the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry and the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, Canada-US Trade, and One Canadian Economy.
The day of political meetings on October 7th commenced with a special news conference, where key representatives from HRAI, the Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating (CIPH), and ASHRAE spoke to the six key issues being brought forward for government consideration.
On October 6th the three associations hosted a Parliamentary Reception where many more MPs and staff engaged in lively conversation with member representatives.
On the final day of meetings, delegates met with key senior policy staff representatives from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) on current and upcoming policy measures, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) on the refrigerant transition and related regulations, the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) and the National Research Council (NRC) on building code and standards related to Indoor Environmental Quality.
For more information, contact Martin Luymes at 1-800-267-2231 x235, or email mluymes@hrai.ca
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TSSA Reports Fewer Permanent Injuries and Stable Incident Rates in 2025 | Toronto, ON, September 26, 2025 - The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) has released its 2025 Public Safety Report, highlighting decreased permanent injuries and stable incident rates across TSSA-regulated sectors. These results reflect the ongoing improvements in industry compliance and safety management practices. | | | | Did you know ORAC has a built-in dispute resolution system to protect members? | |
ORAC members benefit from a unique Industry Committee process to resolve labour disputes before they reach the Ontario Labour Board.
Instead of jumping straight into a costly, months-long legal process, disagreements first go through this joint contractor-union review. Each side presents their case to a panel of peers - no lawyers required.
This approach encourages quick, fair resolutions and supports positive labour relationships.
Most issues are settled here, saving members time, money, and stress.
It’s one more way ORAC protects and supports its contractors.
Contact Paul Wrigley for more information.
pwrigley@orac.ca
| | For over 30 years, Refplus has been a leader and a trusted name in the manufacturing of refrigeration equipment. We offer a growing library of short, informative videos on our website. | Visit HERE to explore a playlist of clips covering a wide range products and features. As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. Stay tuned for our upcoming video tutorials in 2026, focused on Nomis! | Nelson Bi | Regional Sales Manager - Central Canada
Ph: (450) 641- 2665 x271
nbi@refplus.com | | Nomis is a powerful, web-based platform for selecting and configuring refrigeration equipment. Accessible from your desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. Nomis simplifies the process of finding the right equipment for your needs. | You will see how easy and efficient refrigeration equipment selection can be with Nomis! | | Copeland CO2 & E3 Controller Training | |
Copeland CO2 Training
Wednesday, November 26th, 2025
830a – 400p
Brantford, ON
https://cvent.me/4XmyBe?RefId=CO2
Copeland E3 Controller Training
Thursday, December 04th, 2025
830a – 400p
Brantford, ON
https://cvent.me/2QOnv1?RefId=E3
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Connecting users to Copeland’s product information for on-the-go access to years of Copeland product specifications and much more. Now featuring Scout – the new AI-powered feature on Copeland Mobile. With Scout, get instant access to:
· Specifications
· Bulletins
· Product availability
· And more
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Mike Squires | Manager, Solution Strategy
& Business Success
Ph: (289) 260-0499 Mike.Squires@Copeland.com
| | ActionCoach: Treat your business like your #1 client, and your business will treat you well in return. Click HERE to visit our website | | Paul Wrigley - Managing Director | | |
Aimee White - Manager, Programs & Communications
(E) awhite@orac.ca
(P) 905.670.0010 x 103
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Taborah Campbell- Apprentice Intake Coordinator
(E) tcampbell@orac.ca
(P) 905.670.0010 x 106
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Natalia Pacholczyk - Events & Marketing Coordinator
(E) npacho@orac.ca
(P) 905.670.0010 x 101
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