a. Must be a member of the OBOA

b. Awarded to an individual who has shown remarkable dedication and impact for the benefit of the OBOA and / or its members throughout their career,

c. Can be awarded to  a building official presently working in the industry or a retired building official,

d. Demonstrated leadership.

e. Not necessarily awarded each year

f. Final approval of the award by the sitting OBOA Board

a. Award is presented at the end of the Past President term 

b. Award is approved by the sitting OBOA Board

The Past President Award (formally known as the Andy Kidd Award) is named after the late Andy Kidd who was a City of Kitchener Plan Examiner for 20 years.  Andy was well liked by his peers, a straight shooter and mentored a number of staff.  Andy was the OBOA President from 1982 to 1984 and represented OBOA on the original Materials Evaluation Code Interpretation Committee, also known as MACIC.  Andy made very positive and successful steps towards the building industry, helping and mentoring many building officials and in the capacity on the OBOA Board.  Andy was extremely successful with incredible drive, enjoyed doing what he did best, and used strategy to reach key objectives.  Andy was a mentor to the next generation of building officials and he was well respected by his peers. 

a. Members or Non-Members are eligible

b. An individual who has made significant contributions to the OBOA through codes and standards or education training

c. Not necessarily awarded each year

d. Award approved by the sitting OBOA Board

This award was formally known as the Don Beam Award.  Don started his career as a building official before moving to the private sector in the steel industry representing the Canadian Institute for Steel Construction.  Don was very active in the area of building code training which has benefited the association greatly.

a. Must be a Member of the OBOA

b. Individual must meet the criteria for the purpose of the award

c. Not necessarily awarded each year

d. Award approved by the sitting OBOA Board

This award was formally known as the Bill Henderson Award.  Bill Henderson was a Building Official formally working in the cities of Scarborough and Toronto.  Bill was the President of the OBOA from 1984 to 1987.  Through his time contributing to the OBOA Board, he realized that the OBOA needed to be reflective of all building officials in Ontario regardless of Municipal size and he worked tirelessly to unite various fractured groups.  This was a mark in time which was an important turning point of what OBOA and its membership stands for today.

Another important contribution that still impacts the industry today is Bill was a founding member of MITC (Municipal Inspectors Training and Education Committee) which in partnership with the MMAH commenced the development of the Building Code and Building Code Act courses which are a part of the criteria to be a qualified building official today.  Bill embodied what a Building Official could be; should be; and often envied but most importantly respected for.

a. Awarded at the international, national or provincial level, to an individual, a Corporation or an association whose continued contribution and devotion to the building regulator industry has furthered the professional excellence of the industry as a whole.

b. Members and Non-Members are eligible 

c. Final approval of the award by the sitting OBOA Board

d. Not necessarily awarded each year.

The International Award of Excellence was formally named the Yaman Uzumeri Award of Excellence in honour of Yaman’s significant contributions to the building regulatory industry at the international level.

a. Member of a Provincial Ministry of Government agency or affiliate such as NRC

b. Cannot receive this award multiple times

c. A person who has furthered the aims and objectives of Building Officials and the industry as a whole

d. Not necessarily awarded each year

The Bill Davis, Ontario Merit Award was created in 2011 to demonstrate the respect and appreciation provincial building officials have for Ministry staff (elected or non-elected) where s/he has furthered the aims and objectives of Ontario Building Officials or the construction industry as a whole.

Bill Davis was a member of the Ontario legislature from 1962-1971 including Minister of Education and the Premier of Ontario from 1971-1985. The OBOA is very fortunate and thrilled to have an award named in honour of Bill Davis, a respected person, politician and proven leader.

The first Ontario Building Code was the result of an exhaustive study titled “Report of the Committee on Uniform Building Standards for Ontario” dated November 1969. On February 21, 1968, the Minister of Municipal Affairs, the Honourable W. Darcy McKeough while in the legislature outlined steps the government was prepared to take in considering a standard building code for the Province of Ontario. A few months later in the same year, Minister McKeough announced the establishment of a Committee on Uniform Building Standards for Ontario, the Committee being composed of individuals who were knowledgeable and experienced about buildings and building by-laws to examine all essential facets of uniform building standards.

The Objectives of the Committee included whether a building code for Ontario was feasible, applying to all municipalities to promote and support uniform and effective enforcement and interpretation of the code in all municipalities of the province. Additional objectives included reviewing existing provincial acts, regulations and department policies and how can they be dealt with effectively. Finally the Province of Ontario will have a code that is rational in its requirements, free of provisions that lack a base in fact or proof, capable of enforcement without development of a rigid or insensitive bureaucracy; one that is administered in a manner that allows the public ready methods of appeal as to content and enforcement and that is capable of regular up-dating through efficient revision procedures.

A final report titled “Report of the Committee on Uniform Building Standards for Ontario” dated November 1969 consisting of 127 pages was received and approved by the Government. Experienced industry people including building officials like Don Tedford continue to remember this report as it was well known as the Carruthers Report, Chaired by C.D. Carruthers, P.Eng., a Consultant and member of the National Building Code. There were eleven Committee members including three Building Officials; G.H. Fleming (Scarborough), J.G. Hooper (Peterborough) and I.R Robertson (Hamilton and Past President of the OBOA).

Under the leadership of Bill Davis, Premier of Ontario, the government accepted the Carruthers Report and created the very first inaugural Ontario Building Code (1975). Ironically the 1975 Ontario Building Code was enacted with an effective date of March 1, 1976. Additional points and history of the 1975 Ontario Building Code reveals the Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations (MCCR) was the first home for the code with Mr. Graham Adam, MCCR Director. The MCCR home for the Ontario Building Code (OBC) was short lived, after one year the OBC moved to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH). MMAH was a better fit for the OBC because MCCR was set up for hearing consumer complaints and more importantly for building officials, there were no training opportunities under this portfolio. The first Director of the Building’s Branch within MMAH was Mr. Dave Hodgson, a former Clerk in the Hamilton area. After a few short years the Ministry of Affairs and Housing split creating two Ministries; Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Ministry of Housing. The OBC was relocated to Ministry of Housing and this explains how some older Ministry documents reference Housing only; the Cadbury secret! The splitting of MMAH into two Ministries was short lived as well, lasting only a couple of years. Both Ministries were rejoined to form the MMAH we know and enjoy today.

Prior to the OBC, construction regulations were enacted to varying standards, spurring inconsistencies throughout the Province and very different from the present enforcement. Pre-Ontario Building Code, many municipalities across Canada passed a By-Law (Building) to prescribe what edition and revision of the National Building Code would apply for minimum code requirements, assuming those adopted the entire National Code. The passing of By-Laws by each municipality created uncertainty in the construction industry and thus defeating the objective of uniformity.

In retrospect, where would Building Officials be today if not for the Carruthers Report and the adoption of Ontarios’ first Building Code? Further how different would the OBOA (est. 1956) function and purpose be today without a Provincial Building Code? Looking back at the goals and objectives of the Carruthers Report, OBOA continues to support these initiatives while working with and advocating Ministry staff.

Awarded to an OBOA Chapter that has fulfilled all of their OBOA Chapter duties in a timely manner as identified in the Chapter Manual including the completion of the year-end report.

• Has demonstrated proactive participation in furthering the aims and objectives of the OBOA through organizing and hosting training courses, education events and/ seminars for the purpose of educating the members and providing opportunity for credits towards CPDP.  

• Has demonstrated outreach to the construction industry through education opportunities, building code education or social events.

• Has demonstrated how the chapter is structured to provide communication and opportunities for members to support one another.

• Has shown ingenuity to work around challenges environmentally, health issues, and attendance issues to continue to provide a knowledge base for the Chapter members.

• Chosen eligible chapter to be determined by the Chapter Chair Liaison and approved by the OBOA Board

• Award is typically presented each year

In memory of Tom Powdrill, Executive Secretary / Treasurer 1983 to 1993, whose contribution and devotion to the OBOA was an inspiration to all.  The OBOA “office” was created and grew into what it is today from Tom Powdrill’s kitchen table. For many years Tom and his wife June conducted business on behalf of the association as team, which in turn was bringing more attention to the association.   All of this work was completed through dedication and volunteerism until it became apparent that the work load was growing to a point of where staff was going to be required to maintain the level of service to the growing number of members of the OBOA.  Tom Powdrill was also known as “Mr. OBOA”.

• Members or Non-Members are eligible

• Not necessarily awarded each year

• To be approved by the OBOA Board

• Members or Non-Members are eligible

• Attendance to 3 or more consecutive AMTS meetings

• Can be awarded to more than one exhibitor as approved by the OBOA Board

Presented to an AMTS Exhibitor that has, in the judgement of the Board, furthered the aims and objectives of Building Officials and the industry as a whole by furthering their knowledge base through their representation at the Annual Meeting and Training Sessions for multiple years.  This providing industry leading manufacturers the opportunity to network and assist in providing this information to the building officials in an effort to keep up with new products, technology, building science and code changes.

• OBOA Members eligible for award

• Detailed description of the outstanding service that has been completed and how it has proved to benefit the association as a whole or the membership

• Award to be approved by the OBOA Board 

Presented to an individual that has, in the judgement of the Board, provided some outstanding service to the OBOA.

• Must be a member of the OBOA

• Detailed descriptions of how the individual has “blazed the trail” through mentorship, and / or leadership roles or by other methods 

• Examples of opening up new paths for others to follow for the benefit of the next generation of building officials

• Award to be approved by the OBOA Board

• Recipient is required to be under 30 years of age 

• Recipient must be a member of the OBOA

• A detailed summary of the achievements of the individual

• Award winner to be approved by the OBOA Board

• Not necessarily awarded each year.