CBC's METRO MORNING Podcast:
"The Costs and Necessity of Gravel"
"Gravel is a gift from the Ice Age - it turns out, though, there's only so much of it. Toronto no longer has a single gravel pit to call its own and, as the city continues to grow, gravel operators move further afield to supply the city's building boom. ..."

<to listen to the entire podcast, please click here>

Amending O. Reg. 413/05
Vehicle Weights and Dimensions - For Safe, Productive and Infrastructure-Friendly Vehicles

Rock Talk Goes Digital!
OSSGA's industry newsletter, Rock Talk, is now available to OSSGA members online under Seminar Presentations (please scroll down to bottom of page).

To retrieve your company password, please contact Eva Da Silva. For comments/questions pertaining to Rock Talk, please contact Marta Blocki.

Detroit Diesel - Safety Recall 10C3
OSSGA has received a notice from Detroit Diesel regarding a defect in certain certified Series EPA07 and EPA10 HDEP engines. To read more, please click here.

MINISTRY OF LABOUR UPDATE:
Safe At Work Ontario Today/New Interactive Web Tools
The November issue of Safe at Work Ontario TODAY is now available online in html and PDF formats. The links are posted below and it is available in both English and French.

English:
www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/hs/sawo/pubs/issue5.php

French:
www.labour.gov.on.ca/french/hs/sawo/pubs/issue5.php

Also, MOL has launched four new Health and Safety Tools to help educate employers and employees on preventing slips, trips and falls at the workplace.

English:
www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/hs/tools/index.php

French:
www.labour.gov.on.ca/french/hs/tools/index.php

OSSGA: OMB TAKES STEP BACKWARD WITH DECISION ON ROCKFORT HEARING
The Ontario Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (OSSGA) is both surprised and disappointed with the recent Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) decision regarding James Dick Construction Limited’s Rockfort Quarry application. <Read more>

ATTENTION: ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT (ESA) AGREEMENT HOLDERS
If your company has entered into one of the 94 agreements signed in June 2010 regarding endangered species on your licenced or permitted sites, please click here (OSSGA members only) to access a letter OSSGA received from the Ministry of Natural Resources regarding ongoing ESA training.

For more information, please contact OSSGA President Moreen Miller.

COCA - Construction Newsletter Now Available for OSSGA Members!
COCA newsletters can now be downloaded by OSSGA members in the Members Only section of the OSSGA website under Industry Issues, or click here. To retain your company password, please contact Eva Da Silva.

Free info sessions on OHSAS 18001 implementation
Want to improve your health and safety management system? Want an edge on your competitors? The Infrastructure Health & Safety Association wants to help you. Join us for a free session to learn how to implement OHSAS 18001 in your company. OHSAS 18001 is the internationally recognized assessment standard for occupational health and safety management systems. It can help you develop a safer workplace and take the next step for injury and illness prevention. For more information on the free info sessions, click here.

Health & Safety News
Hazards leading to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) will be the focus of a two-month enforcement blitz at provincially-regulated construction, industrial, health care and mining workplaces this fall. ...
<OSSGA members read more>
<French version>

Ontario will focus on hazards involving musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) during a two-month workplace safety blitz starting September 15, 2010. ...
<OSSGA members read more>
<French version>

OSSGA Delivers More Industry Updates to Members
In addition to the weekly Queen's Park bulletins (now under Members Only - Industry Issues), OSSGA will also be posting regular health and safety updates for members only - "The IHSA Construction Industry Health & Safety News" and "Safe at Work Ontario" (under Members Only - Safety Initiatives).

To obtain your company-assigned password, please contact Eva Da Silva, or call (905) 507-0711 ext. 0.

OSSGA Annual Directory (Source Book)
The 2010/11 Source Book is now available. Complimentary single copies have been mailed out to all OSSGA members, however, please note that bulk orders (including extra copies for advertisers) will no longer be couriered out.

All members are encouraged to pick up bulk orders of the Source Book from the OSSGA office to minimize hefty shipping costs. If pick-up cannot be arranged, individual companies will be responsible for all applicable shipping/courier charges.

For more information, please contact Eva Da Silva.

OSSGA To Launch 1st Industry Magazine This Fall!
The Ontario Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (OSSGA) is pleased to announce a new partnership with MediaEdge Publishing Inc. in the production of a long-overdue industry magazine this September! click here for more info

Canadian Red Cross for Haiti Update
As you know, proceeds from this year's charity drive during OSSGA events have been going to the Red Cross for Haiti and United Way (Toronto). OSSGA would like to thank membership for its generous ongoing support.
<Click here for update>

Press Release
Recent MMAH Ruling Puts Ontario Aggregate Supply in Further Jeopardy
<Read more>

OSSGA Annual General Meeting in Photos
The OSSGA Annual General Meeting came back in full swing this February 17 with a new and improved programme that had something for everyone. The three-day conference kicked things off with a full day of vital ministry updates followed by an exciting line-up of presenters and celebrity guests. The Honourable Minister Linda Jeffrey and Brampton Mayor Susan Fennell were joined by local MPPs to celebrate the OSSGA's most prestigious award for property rehabilitation - The Bronze Plaque Award. TV co-host Wendy Mesley was the celebrity emcee at the association's Gala Cocktail Reception & Awards Premiere in honour of some of the most outstanding examples of state-of-the-art pit and quarry rehabilitation projects across the province. Keynote speakers included Journalist Steve Paikin and Futurist Jim Carroll.

Thanks to our generous sponsors: Aecon (Gold), Austin Powder (Platinum), CBM Aggregates (Silver), Contestoga-Rovers & Associates (Bronze), Cowan Insurance, Dufferin Aggregates (Platinum), Golder Associates Ltd. (Gold), Groeneveld/CPL Systems Canada Inc., J.C Rock (Bronze), Lafarge Canada Inc. (Platinum), Metso Minerals (Silver), MHBC Planning Limited, Nortrax (Platinum), Orica (Gold), Skelton, Brumwell & Associates, Toromont CAT (Silver) and Walker Aggregates (Silver).

OSSGA would also like to welcome its new members at the event: The Airborne Sensing Corp., The Base Mapping Co. Ltd. and Siemens Canada Ltd.

Look for the full story in the Spring issue of Rock Talk.

To see photos from the event, please click here: <1> <2> <3> <4> <5> <6> <7> <8> <9> <10> <11> <12> <13> <14> <15> <16> <17> <18> <19> <20> <21> <22> <23>

For more photos or information, please contact Marta Blocki.

OSSGA Unveils Perks for New Members
A series of membership perks were recently unveiled by The Ontario Stone, Sand & Gravel Association's (OSSGA) Membership Committee to bring added value to prospective members by engaging them in association events.

OSSGA is now offering a 25-percent discount to all new members on registrations to any two OSSGA events - including the much-anticipated OSSGA Annual General Meeting next month - in the first calendar year following membership approval by the Board.

Associate (supplier) members have the added option of choosing a complimentary booth space in lieu of the event registration discount (subject to availability).

This year's AGM will feature two awards presentations for outstanding property rehabilitation, community relations and student design, with host Wendy Mesley, Ontario MPPs and other dignitaries.

For more information on becoming an OSSGA member, please click here.

For general enquiries, please contact OSSGA President Moreen Miller.

Calling All Industry Experts!
Think you know your aggregates? If so, we'd like to hear from you! As part of its ongoing Public Perception initiative, the Ontario Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (OSSGA) is calling on all experts in the industry interested in being featured on the Ask An Expert Page of our new interactive consumer website, www.theholestory.ca. We are looking for a variety of experts in the field - from hydrogeologists, to planners, to environmental consultants, to quarry operators, etc. - to sit on a virtual panel addressing occasional questions from the general public about aggregates. The more diverse the panel, the better! We are planning to install a permanent panel of rotating experts on a quarterly basis. Once officially approved as an expert, you will be asked to submit a current photo and short bio to be featured on the site.

To qualify, please submit your resume to Marta Blocki. For more information, please don't hesitate to contact Marta directly at (905) 507-0711 ext. 4.

Implementation of The Endangered Species Act, 2007
With respect to the The Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA), which came into effect June 30, 2008, the Ontario Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (OSSGA) recommends the following: (Click here for more information - scroll down to 2nd item).

View latest job postings/classifieds ads

Materials Reference Guide - Reprinted and available for purchase!

Group Employee Benefits Program - NEW BENEFIT