OGMA Newsletter – August 2024

Golf Tournament. The OGMA Spring Golf Tournament was held on June 12, 2024, at the Glen Eagle Golf Club in Bolton, Ontario. The weather could not have been better, and we had an excellent turnout for the tournament. We want to express our appreciation for all our tournament sponsors who helped us to make the event a success, with a special shout-out to the folks from Yarlmetal Fabrication for providing golf shirts, golf balls, and tote bags to attendees and for their help with set-up. The Fall Golf Tournament will be held on September 12, 2024, at Woodington Lake Golf Club in Tottenham, Ontario. Mark your calendars and watch your inbox for registration details and sponsorship opportunities coming soon.

2024 Lifetime Achievement Award. The OGMA Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Bruce Cooke from Commdoor Aluminum at the spring golf tournament. Bruce has been in the glass industry for almost 50 years, starting with Glaverbel Glass Ltd. in 1975. Bruce then transitioned to the contract glazing segment, working initially as a metal mechanic/glazing apprentice, before transitioning into estimating and project management. After moving back into the glass fabrication segment, Bruce was instrumental in starting up Armourguard Glass Products (which became what is now Oldcastle Toronto) before moving to AFG London, later returning to Oldcastle. In 2005, Bruce joined Guardian Industries, leaving in 2017 to join Saand. He then joined Glassopolis and most recently was asked by Toro to join Commdoor as Regional Sales Manager. Congratulations, Bruce, on this well-deserved award and thank you for your outstanding contributions to the glass and metal industry.

Spring Bursary Award Winner. The Ontario Glass & Metal Association and the Architectural Glass & Metal Contractors Association (AGMCA) are pleased to announce that they have awarded their spring bursary award to Joel Scott from CS Specialty Glazing Solutions. Joel receives a $1,000 bursary from the two associations. In the spring and fall of each year, a monetary award is provided to a student enrolled in the apprenticeship program of the Finishing Trades Institute in Vaughan, Ontario. Recipients are selected by the instructing staff at the institute based upon criteria that includes displaying exemplary skills, aptitude, and attitude along with a willingness to help and share ideas with others. Congratulations, Joel and well done! The next bursary award will be presented at the fall golf tournament in September.

Annual Fishing Derby. We invite you to join us for our annual OGMA fishing derby on August 23, 2024. This exciting walleye fishing experience happens on Lake Erie with the renowned “Hall’emin” fishing charter. Whether you are a seasoned angler or new to the sport, our fishing derby offers an opportunity to test your skills and compete against fellow fishers in a friendly and competitive environment. After the weigh-off and prizes are awarded, the day’s catch will be fried up for lunch at The Whisky and Walleye in Port Colbourne, Ontario. Space is limited for this event. Visit ogma.ca for more information and to download the registration form.

Update on the Board of Directors. We’d like to extend a warm welcome to Yoga Arulnamby from Yarlmetal Fabrication Inc. and Robert Maggiacomo from Universal Aluminum, who have joined the OGMA Board of Directors. We would also like to thank Eric Diotte and Robert Casinelli, who recently stepped down from the Board, for all their efforts on behalf of our membership. We wish them both well in the future. As always, we encourage energetic industry participants to join the Board and have a positive impact on the glass and metal industry. Please contact any current board member for further information or email info@ogma.ca.

What’s next? OGMA is busy planning for events this fall, including a plant tour and an educational seminar, and we’re making ongoing updates to our website. Watch your inbox or visit ogma.ca to keep up to date on association happenings. And don’t forget to follow us on LinkedIn. If you have any ideas for educational sessions, networking opportunities, features you’d like to see on our website, or would like to arrange a plant tour that could be of benefit to our members, please reach out to info@omga.ca. As always, we would love to hear from you!

Originally published in Glass Canada Magazine, Augst 2024 Issue

Categories: OGMA News