Spring 2022 Update to Membership

Dear members,

I hope all of you have had a good start to 2022 and a safe and relaxing Easter weekend.

I am pleased to provide this first update from our 2022 Board of Directors:

• Past President, Allesandro Guarna – aguarna@gcaottawa.com
• President, Matthew Swann – mswann@gcaottawa.com
• 1st VP / Tend. Practices, Douglas Drevniok – ddrevniok@gcaottawa.com
• 2nd VP / Treasurer, Jarret Brown – jbrown@gcaottawa.com
• Director / Communications, Chris Markell – cmarkell@gcaottawa.com
• Director / Website & IT, Dan Carley – dcarley@gcaottawa.com
• Director / Sec. & Entertainment, Leigh Fuller – lfuller@gcaottawa.com
  

The Board is currently seeking recommendations for a part-time Executive Director to assist with administrative functions and serve as a primary point of contact for members, other associations, and the public.

2021 Annual General Meeting

The 2021 AGM was held January 26, 2022 and 2021 President Allesandro Guarna presented his report to the membership. Highlights included a summary of the Association’s efforts with owners relaying the impacts of the pandemic on the industry; GCAO’s joining the Eastern Ontario Consortium of Colleges’ advisory panel on the SkillsAdvance Ontario program; recap of a very successful (and much-needed) golf day; and thanks to outgoing Past President Shawn Berube.‍

Tendering Practices

The Board has been active on a number of tendering practice and supplementary general condition concerns including discussions with Franco- Achats and French school boards regarding Franco-Achats’ punitive terms for CEPEO and CECCE contracts; review of an extensive OCA position paper on change order scope and mark-ups; ongoing assessment of City of Ottawa SGCs relating to shop drawings, prompt payment discounts, and post-bid transparency.

A recent success saw Revera modify their SGCs relating to change order mark- ups mid-tender for their large new Cornwall development.

The Board is also monitoring proposed changes to DCC security clearance management.‍

Save the Dates!

We are very pleased to announce that on June 1 our annual cocktail party will return to the Rideau Club:

We will also be holding the GCAO’s annual golf tournament on September 7 this year – details to follow!‍

Get in Touch

As always, please reach out to any of our board members with any news, questions or concerns.

Best wishes for a safe and productive 2022 construction season – see you on June 1st!