OGMA Newsletter – May 2024
Top Glass Exhibits & Conference. Thank you to OGMA Board of Directors members Steve Ringler, Blake Sanders, Steven Peso, Andrew Dolphin, Robert Casinelli, John Rania, Yoga Arulnamby, and Keith Elmer for representing the Ontario Glass & Metal Association at the Top Glass conference on April 30, 2024, along with our administrator, Lori Brooks. The show was well attended and was a wonderful opportunity to connect with our current members, and to speak with potential new members about the benefits of membership and our upcoming events. During the show, Steve Peso, Awards Director, presented the prestigious OGMA Awards for Excellence in Glass and Metal Design and Execution. Diamond Schmitt Architects was recognized for its design work on the Robarts Common project in Toronto, Ontario. The judging committee noted that the “juxtaposition of the new high-performance glass façade with the solidity of the original heritage-listed building is very successfully executed. The design of the triangulated glass façade – a series of faceted planes – pays homage to the triangular geometries which informed the original building design.” They found that the “end result is a new building that provides students and faculty with access to an abundance of collaborative study spaces filled with daylight and strong visual connections back to campus.” Applewood Glass was the recipient of the execution award for the Escarpment House project in the Niagara region. The judges noted that “this modern glass house, in using glass as a logical design response to its picturesque and rural setting… respond[s] to the contemporary reality of high energy costs and heightened environmental awareness. The solution – large, heavy, and fragile triple-glazed IGUs – however opens the doors to other significant challenges, namely logistical and installation. The judges found that “the completed project is a clear demonstration of the uncompromised realization of the design while successfully overcoming the challenges of execution.” Congratulations to both of our award winners.
Golf Tournament. The OGMA Spring Golf Tournament will be held on June 12, 2024, at the Glen Eagle Golf Club in Bolton, ON. We encourage industry members to join us at this premier 27-hole championship golf course just a few minutes northwest of Toronto. A power cart, barbeque lunch, and steak/chicken dinner are included in tournament fees. The annual OGMA Lifetime Achievement Award and the Spring Bursary Award will be presented at the dinner. The tournament also provides several excellent sponsorship opportunities that help companies to promote themselves to the industry. Everyone is welcome to attend. Download the registration form and find sponsorship details for the tournament on the OGMA website under the Events tab. As always, OGMA members receive preferred pricing on all our networking events, including our golf tournaments. Contact the OGMA administrator at ogma_admin@ogma.ca for more information.
Update on the Board of Directors. Welcome to Heather Sakai from Guardian Glass, who has joined the OGMA Board of Directors. 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.
2024 Members-only Meet and Greet. OGMA held its inaugural members-only meet-and-greet at Longshots Shooting & Social in Vaughan, Ontario, on March 27, 2024. This event was open to employees of OGMA member companies in good standing and the first three registrations per company were free. We had thirty-two members attend the event and a fun time was had by all at this networking event. We look forward to next year’s event, where we will celebrate OGMA’s 35th anniversary.
CSC Building Expo. OGMA had a booth at the CSC Toronto Building Expo on Wednesday, February 28, 2024. Members of the Board of Directors and the association administrator were in attendance, representing the association and the glass and metal industry. We introduced the association to several construction industry participants and had the chance to share the benefits of OGMA membership with a new audience.
Passing of Cliff Harding. The OGMA Board of Directors shares the sad news of the passing of long-time OGMA member Cliff Harding of Harding Glass. Cliff passed away after a 2-1/2-year battle with cancer on April 22, 2024. We send our condolences to Cliff’s family and friends.
What’s next? We are planning our next fishing derby, which will be taking place in mid-August, and are planning other events for the summer and fall. As always, if you have any ideas for seminars, educational sessions, or networking opportunities, or would like to arrange a plant tour that could benefit our members, please email info@omga.ca. Watch your inbox or visit ogma.ca to keep up to date on association happenings. Be sure to follow us on LinkedIn.
Originally published in Glass Canada Magazine, May 2024 Issue