As the calls for heat checks roll in and systems shift with the season, here’s to a smooth and successful start to heating season.
Stay sharp, stay warm, and thank you for keeping comfort running strong all fall long.
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 (estimated completion in November)
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Residential Bargaining
Residential ratification voting for the GTA agreement is in progress and expected to be completed shortly. Bargaining for the Outside-GTA agreement will begin in December.
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ORAC First Year Apprentice Intake Program
The First-Year Apprentice Ready-to-Hire List is updated as of September 29th and candidates are actively looking to secure an apprentice position. Now is the time to hire new talent and develop your workforce. The Apprentice Intake Steering Committee will be meeting later this month, and additional details on the program will be shared in the November newsletter.
View the First-Year Apprentice Ready-to-Hire List
ORAC Apprentice Intake Program joins UA 787 at Level Up Tradeshow in Barrie!
On October 1st, ORAC Apprentice Intake Coordinator, Taborah Campbell, had the opportunity to join UA 787 at the recent Level Up skilled trades fair in Barrie. Level Up fairs bring together students (grades 7–12), trades organizations, employers, educators, and community partners to explore skilled trades through interactive exhibits and real conversations. It was a great opportunity for ORAC to share insight on the HVAC/R trade, answer questions, share resources, and inspire the next generation of skilled trades professionals.
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ORAC Education Symposium
Thank you to everyone who came to the Education Symposium on October 2, 2025. With an outstanding turnout and incredible energy throughout the day, the event was truly a great success!
Thank you to our mini Tradeshow sponsors:
Master, Carrier Enterprise, Yorkland Controls Limited, Copeland, RefPlus, ProKontrol, Alltemp, ActionCOACH, Kilmer Environmental, Sporlan, KeepRite Refrigeration, and Lennox Commercial. We hope everyone enjoyed exploring the mini tradeshow and connecting with our industry partners.
Photos and videos from the event including speaker sessions are coming soon. Stay tuned!
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ORAC Scholarship Program
On behalf of the ORAC Board and the Scholarship Committee, we are proud to announce this year’s scholarship recipients. Congratulations to all the individuals being recognized! Your dedication, hard work, and academic achievements are commendable, and we are excited to support your post-secondary journey. Recipients will be formally recognized during our upcoming Fall Forum, where we will celebrate their achievements. A complete list of awardees is noted on the Scholarship page of the ORAC.ca website.
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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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Please welcome to our newest ORAC Associate Members
Ashley Irwin from Sunbelt Rentals and Alex Salzmann from Vitalis will be the main contacts at future networking events
| | Sunbelt Rentals Power & HVAC division offers a wide variety of specialized equipment specific for our HVAC contractors' needs. Various heating options for the upcoming winter season, including electric, natural gas, propane, and diesel. I look forward to introducing myself and discussing how we can all work together, and I can also show you all the other equipment we carry. | Ashley Irwin
Sales representative for Power & HVAC
ashley.irwin@sunbeltrentals.com
(437)-734-2792
| |  | Vitalis is a Canadian manufacturer of sustainable CO2-based technologies, including R744 chillers, heat pumps, and refrigeration systems for commercial, industrial, and district energy applications. With a mastery of industrial application engineering, Vitalis offers reliable CO2 solutions that extend compressor life, improve system stability across all load conditions, and enhance operational safety. | Alex Salzmann
Strategic Accounts Manager
alex.salzmann@vitalis.ca
(416)-305-1267 | | |
Fall Forum
November 6, 2025 | Woodbine Racetrack, Etobicoke
Tickets: $79 per person
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12:30pm – 1:30pm: Registration & Lunch
1:30pm – 2:20pm: CO2 Control Strategies with Copeland
2:20pm – 3:10pm: Cybersecurity with Idealogical
3:10pm – 4:00pm: A2L Refrigerant Transition with Master
4:00pm – 6:00pm: Cocktail Reception & Award Presentations
6:00pm – 8:00pm: Dinner and Horse Racing, all attendees will receive a $10 betting voucher
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Upcoming:
Holiday Toy Drive & Lunch
December 12, 2025 | ORAC Office, Vaughan
CMPX Tradeshow
March 25 - 27, 2026 | Metro Toronto Convention Centre
ORAC's 59th AGM
May 14 - 17, 2026 | Quebec City, Chateau Frontenac
| | October 16th 2025 - SOLD OUT | |
November 13th 2025 - SOLD OUT
December 11th 2025 - Opening Soon
| To register for Brazing with JTAC, please click 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)
2025
Session 1: October 18 - October 26
Session 2: November 8 - November 16
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: October 20-22, 2025
(3 Days - Starting on Monday until Wednesday)
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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)
| | Pre-Budget Submission: Your Voice. Your Future. | | |
Last month, HRAI delivered a powerful Federal Pre-Budget Submission
to Ottawa - putting the HVACR industry front and center in national policy discussions.
HRAI has called on the federal government to:
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Protect Cross-Border Trade – Prevent damaging U.S. tariffs and keep essential HVACR products—like natural gas furnaces—affordable for Canadians.
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Supercharge Our Workforce – Invest $100M over the next decade to retrain, upskill, and certify thousands of HVACR professionals to meet Canada’s net-zero goals.
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Champion Healthy Indoor Air – Establish national IAQ standards, certify professionals, and launch a national awareness campaign to improve Canadians’ health and productivity.
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Unlock Retrofit Potential – Consult HVACR experts to design retrofit programs that actually deliver deep energy savings and cut emissions.
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Why does it matter: These recommendations protect your business, grow market opportunities, and ensure our industry’s expertise drives government action before decisions are made without us. | | Canadian employment and labour quarterly | Each quarter, we bring you a curated overview of significant legal developments in employment and labour law across Canada. From court decisions to legislative trends, this newsletter delivers practical insights to help employers navigate a changing legal landscape with confidence. | | | | ORAC Brazing Certifications Provides Long-Term Value. | |
Why Certify Through ORAC’s Brazing Program
Brazing through ORAC’s program comes with lasting value and convenience that non-ORAC certifications simply don’t offer. When a technician certifies through ORAC, their brazing certificate remains valid indefinitely, as long as their brazing logbook is kept up to date (recorded at least every six months).
A log book template is available on the ORAC.ca website for your convenience. An up-to-date logbook confirms continued competency and allows a technician to carry their certification with them throughout their career.
Transferable and Cost-Effective
Unlike non-union or non-ORAC certifications that require annual renewals and fees, ORAC-issued brazing certificates are fully transferable between current ORAC Member contractors in good standing.
That means once a technician is certified, their certificate can move between ORAC companies without having to pay or test again, provided their logbook reflects ongoing brazing activity.
Built for Long-Term Success
This long-term validity saves both technicians and employers time and money while maintaining safety and quality standards. ORAC’s brazing certification process is widely recognized, trusted.
| | For more information about Brazing, click Here to view our Brazing requirements. | | ProKontrol: Contractors who embrace light-commercial BAS market gain a competitive edge - it’s an underserved market where building owners value simplicity, affordability, and speed of execution. Click Here to view website
Keeprite Refrigeration: It is always good practice to confirm receiver size when selecting refrigeration equipment. Long piping runs and/or multiple evaporators may require a larger receiver on the condensing unit than the standard receiver size provided. Click Here to view 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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