The ECAO is pleased to announce the R. Hugh Carroll Safety Awards will now be a featured event at our 2024 Annual General Meeting at Woodbine Racetrack. This exciting change further raises the profile of the R. Hugh Carroll Safety Awards, demonstrating the ECAO’s commitment to promoting and fostering a positive, safety first culture amongst its membership, and the electrical industry.

There are changes to the 2024 R. Hugh Carroll application we wish to communicate, allowing applicants to submit exemplary applications worthy of the prominence of recognition at the ECAO’s Annual General Meeting at Woodbine Racetrack.  

For 2024, the R. Hugh Carroll Safety Award categories have been restructured according to company size and only size (see below), elevating the R. Hugh Carroll Safety Awards by recognizing and promoting the absolute best of the best, those who put safety first! Also, for 2024 we are including guidelines for completing the application and a grading rubric that will be used to evaluate submissions by the panel. 

The Government has announced a new competitive grant that provides funding for the installation of public electric vehicle (EV) chargers in Ontario communities outside of major cities. The government’s goal is to increase the number of public EV charging stations, make charging stations more accessible, and encourage more people to switch to electric vehicles.

Contractors who operate in this market are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the funding available to their clients and potential clients by sharing this information with them.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Grant applicants must either be:

• Current site owners, or
• Have written approval from the owner or Band council to install and operate a charging station for a minimum of 5 years.

To receive funding, the EV charging stations must:

• Be publicly accessible 24/7
• Meet the minimally required port count, type, and connector requirements, and
• Be installed in a community with a population of 170,000 or less, OR in any Indigenous community in Ontario.

AVAILABLE FUNDING

The maximum amount of funding available per project is $1 million. Each site is considered 1 project.

There are two parameters that determine how much funding is available:

• Per-project percentage cap – Businesses can claim up to 50% of the total project cost.

OR

• Per-technology level cap: Between $5,000 to $100,000 is available per port, with funding amounts proportional to the charger’s power output.

NOTE: The funding available for each project will be the lesser of the percentage, technology, or maximum cap.

Want to learn more about program requirements, location eligibility, funding breakdown, or the application process? CLICK HERE.

Recording of the Webinars

November 1, 2023, a recording of the webinar can be found here.

November 30, 2023, webinar recording, presentation slides, a compilation of Q&As, and additional materials from the previous webinar at this link.

PROGRAM DEADLINE

The program is taking applications until January 31, 2024, 5PM EST.

City Electric Supply (CES) is thrilled to announce the acquisition of Coldbrook Electric Supply, a respected independent wholesaler in Nova Scotia. The acquisition was completed on Dec. 1, 2023, marking a significant milestone in CES’s expansion strategy as the company now extends its reach from coast to coast, proudly serving customers in six provinces across Canada. This strategic acquisition includes the incorporation of Coldbrook Electric Supply’s three locations into the CES family, reaffirming CES’s commitment to providing top-quality electrical products, unrivaled service, and innovative solutions to even more customers.

CES is known for its dedication to customer service, product quality, and industry expertise. With this acquisition, it can now serve the unique needs of customers in Nova Scotia with extensive product selection, superior inventory management solutions, and expert technical support.

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All organizations with one or more employees in Ontario are required to comply with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) and business and not-for-profit organizations with 20 or more employees are required to submit an Accessibility Compliance Report by December 31, 2023.

Organizations that fail to file their accessibility compliance report by the due date may be subject to enforcement action including Director’s Orders and Administrative Monetary Penalties.

Our data shows us that organizations within the Construction sector have a reporting rate of below 20%.

Attached you will find an e-flyer with information on how and where to report, that you could share via email, post in your newsletters or add to your website and social media posts. By sending your membership this important information, you can help them be aware of their obligation to file their accessibility compliance report.

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce created a video to help organizations learn more about accessibility and reporting.

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