O.R.F.A. DESIGNATION PROGRAM
New Designation Recipients
Congratulations is extended to the following individuals who have recently been awarded one of O.R.F.A.’s professional designations:
Douglas Armstrong, CIT
Jim Bate, CIT
Lorrie Chih, CIT
Jason Coleman, CIT
Bob Evans, CIT
Christopher Latham, CIT
Perry LePage, CIT
Kalevi Lomakin, CIT
Darrell O'Neill, CIT
Carl Pedicelli, CIT
John Proctor, CIT
Dan Smith, CIT
Larry Wenckstern, CIT
Rod Willis, CIT
1) CIT, CAT and CPT Applications...PDF
2) Designation Program Brochure...PDF
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ASSOCIATION NEWS
2005 REGIONAL INFORMATION SESSION DATES
Midland - Nov. 30, 2005
NOTICE of AGM and Regional Information Session
Please be reminded that the O.R.F.A.'s Annual General Meeting will be held Wednesday, November 30th in the Town of Midland. The following proposed change to the O.R.F.A. Constitution has been received and communicated to our membership for vote at the upcoming AGM. [more]
2006 O.R.F.A. BOARD OF DIRECTORS ANNOUNCEMENT
The O.R.F.A. is pleased to announce the following 2006 Executive Officers. The Board will be sworn into office at the Annual General Meeting, November 30th, 2006 in Midland, Ontario. [more…]
 ONTARIO TURFGRASS SYMPOSIUM 2006
The O.R.F.A. is once again pleased to act as one of the co-sponsors for the 2006 annual symposium that will take place February 20-21, 2006 at the University of Guelph. [more]
FREE SEATS FROM EXHIBITION STADIUM, TORONTO
Exhibition Place has 9800 Hussey seats removed from Exhibition Stadium. These seats have been in storage since the demolition of Exhibition Stadium and are of no further use to Exhibition Place. They are being offered for free to any organization which wants to take them. If you are interested contact: Mr. Gerd Rose, Materials Manager Purchasing
Exhibition Place, Toronto – Tel: 416-263-3628 or Fax: 416-263-3690
RESOURCE HIGHLIGHT
ICE ALLOCATION FACTSHEET - Every community will be different and not one plan will work for everyone! These guidelines will help your community create a system that will work for all parties. When allocating ice time to your user groups it is important to develop a process that is fair and equitable for everyone involved. In doing so and reviewing policy as needs change, a facility manager will be in a better position to defend current operational practices. [more]
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TRAINING CALENDAR
REGIONAL TRAINING COURSES
OR IN-HOUSE TRAINING PROVIDER
O.R.F.A. is currently in the process of soliciting both "Expressions of Interest" to act as training hosts for our 2006 Calendar of Training Events, as well as providing specific "In-House training quotations" to meet your operational needs. For more information, please contact: Terry Piche, Technical Director at 416.426.7062.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH
 ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN ONTARIO ARENAS STRATEGIC WORKSHOP
The Ontario Recreation Facilities Association (O.R.F.A.), Natural Resources Canada and Hydro One Networks conducted an Energy Efficiency In Ontario Arenas one day strategic workshop for key stakeholders on November 14th , 2005.
Hydro One continues to be interested in strategies to reduce energy usage in arenas and is supporting an effort led by O.R.F.A. to identify related issues, needs, and opportunities. This was an introductory investigation that brought invited guest and representatives of key organizations who have existing incentive programs or who have identified a desire to service the arena market.
 The goal of the workshop was first to review some of the current energy saving activities being utilized by organizations to reduce power consumption in arenas. “This exchange of information was a great exercise”, stated Bill Upper, O.R.F.A.’s President Elect. In addition, O.R.F.A.’s Executive Director, John Milton reviewed current provincial arena inventory details and emphasized the need for facility life-cycle maintenance, assessment training and support, and a re-investment in recreation infrastructure.
NATURAL RESOURCES CANADA MADE A VERY INFORMATIVE PRESENTATION DESCRIBING 2 PROJECTS IN PARTICULAR THAT BOTH RESULTED IN SIGNIFICANT ENERGY SAVINGS
Victoriaville Arena (Quebec) - A major retrofit was required at the Colisée des Bois-Francs, an arena in Victoriaville, due to its obsolete, underpowered refrigeration system. The result was a commercial refrigeration system that recovers 100% of the heat extracted from the ice surface, using variable condensation pressure, the confinement of refrigerants in the service room, and heat pumps to produce heat from the rejection heat generated by the refrigeration system. The building was instrumented to allow detailed monitoring of the various systems. Although system capacity was increased by 50%, energy consumption was less than in the old system. For project profile [more]
Val-des-Monts Arena (Quebec) - A small municipality wanted to give local residents an arena with the lowest possible operating costs. In keeping with this goal, the arena was designed to ensure that its energy bill would be substantially lower (about 50% lower) than that of a conventional arena. The energy cost is less than $50,000 per year for an eight-month operating period, with 70 to 80 hours of ice time per week. For project profile [more]
 TRAINING PARTNERSHIP WITH CITY OF OTTAWA
"A new 2005 partnership between the Ontario Recreation Facilities Association and the City of Ottawa has been a win/win for both agencies. Terry Piche, Technical Director with O.R.F.A., brought his years of expertise and wealth of knowledge of arena operations to teach two, specially-designed, four-day Ice Technician courses to more than eighty City of Ottawa staff.
 The City, while facing some financial constraints, recognized the need for continuous improvement and the development of a consistent "Best Practice" model within its Arena Operations, which includes 33 sites with 40 ice surfaces. Discussions were initiated with O.R.F.A. to tailor training to meet their staff's needs, many of whom had considerable arena experience.
The two workshops were very successful. The training resulted in a cross-pollination of ideas, a recognition of the expertise amongst City staff, an energized workforce, and an Action Plan that evolved from course discussions and works towards a new Best Practice Model.
O.R.F.A. and the City are continuing to explore collaborations for the future and look forward to continuing this fruitful partnership that is both effective and efficient."
FOCUS ON FACILITIES
 Ontario Soccer Association -the OSA Coaching Department continues to encourage all clubs to be proactive & take on a leadership role with regards to the impact of the Mini game on community facilities. An effective dialogue between community soccer clubs & municipal parks & recreation departments is vital as spring 2006 approaches to standardize field dimensions and goal size.[more]
Facility Alert
O.R.F.A. Issues Facility Alert on “ROLLER SHOES”. [more]
Canada Safety Council letter to Gary Bettman to ban “ROLLER SHOES” at NHL games.[more]
Legislation:
Asbestos Regulation
- changes in effect November 1, 2005. [more]
The new regulation is available on e-Laws [more]
Propane Codes Adopted by TSSA - Effective January 1, 2006, TSSA adopts the 2005 CSA B149 Series of Codes [more]
TSSA Inspections of Amusement Devices - Will now include private clubs to ensure they are meeting the regulation requirements. You can read more from the Amusement Devices Advisory Committee meeting. [more]
Significant Changes in the National Construction Codes - The 2005 National Construction Codes, which have just been launched, contain many technical changes. The National Construction Codes (six in total) are used as models for virtually all building and fire regulations in Canada and are published through the National Research Council [more]
Dollars to Sense Workshops - Continue to run nationwide. Find out more about these sessions available through Natural Resources Canada. [more]
What Financial Assistance is available for Commercial and Institutional Organizations? [more]
Energy Is One Of The Most Easily Controlled Costs In Your Organization - Through energy-efficient measures related to your building, equipment and operational practices, you can often achieve savings of 20 percent or more.[more]
Facility Inspection Plan - Have you developed an inspection plan for your facility? Find out more using Checklist from the WSIB. [more]
Northern Hockey Heritage in Kirkland Lake - An 18,000-square foot facility will tell the story of hockey throughout Northeastern Ontario through exhibits, interactive experiences and audio visual technology. [more]
Raceway Wants Arena Cash - Proposed Windsor Raceway Entertainment Complex envisions arena component. [more]
Beer In The Dressing Room -Keeping beer out of dressing rooms. [more]
Brampton Soccer Facility - Brampton facility will promote sport excellence in the sport of soccer, the new centre will house four indoor soccer pitches and play host to an assortment of community services. [more]
Shop Light Recall - UL warns of a potentially hazardous shop light which bears a counterfeit UL label. [more]
Wayne Gretzky Foundation / Canadian Hockey Foundation - Launch of the “Future Team Canada" Program. [more]
Camrose Aquatic Centre -The Camrose Aquatic Centre fire is currently under investigation as officials say it’s ‘suspicious’. [more]
Ministry of Labour Fines - Reminder to facilities undergoing renovations or upgrades while remaining open to the public as it relates to the provision of a sturdy fence was constructed between the public way and the construction project. [more]
TECH TIPS
Buildings:
Safe Floors: Slippery floors are a factor in most slip-falls. Spills and debris can be hazardous on any walking surface, so good housekeeping practices are essential. Clean spills immediately, and mop or sweep up any debris. For floors with a hard mineral surface, such as tiles or polished untreated concrete, a non-slip treatment can help reduce falls. Floors in workplaces where people continually enter from outdoors will often be wet in the winter and when it rains. For example, in shopping malls, public facilities, grocery stores and fast food outlets employees and customers can slip and fall where the floor surface is wet. In commercial kitchens and some industrial operations, grease or oils may settle on the floor, increasing the chance of a slip-fall. A non-slip floor treatment is needed when wet or greasy floors are inevitable. A non-slip coating or treatment does not eliminate the need for good housekeeping. The floor must still be properly cleaned to maintain its anti-slip surface. Some suppliers offer regular inspections to ensure continued floor safety. (Canada Safety Council) [more]
Correct conditions that can cause slip/fall hazards (WSIB)
- flooring that is slippery or has irregular surfaces, (ridges, steps, thresholds)
- hazards caused by weather conditions
- poor lighting or visibility
- open manholes or openings in floors due to construction or repairs being done in buildings. (WSIB)
Pools:
SAND FILTERS - Pressure and vacuum sand filters (single media) in tanks consist of sharp, fine, special grade SILICA sand which over time, the grains become smooth and rounded reducing water clarity as the rough edges wear off by the constant water flow. After 4 or 5 seasons of constant abrasion, the sand should be replaced with new, sharp, clean, angular, properly graded SILICA FILTER SAND to a depth recommended by the filter tank manufacturer. All filter material must be considered the most hazardous area of the pool water treatment system thus requiring extreme caution when removing and disposing of the old filter sand. A complete job assessment should be made including proper personal protection equipment. Seek advice from the Occupational Health and Safety Branch of the Ministry of Labour as well as the HAZMAT disposal requirements of the Ministry of the Environment for proper disposal of the highly contaminated filter materials. It is best to hire an Environmental Services Company for best results and outcome. (Source: Doug Paton, Aquatics Consultants Inc.)
Energy Savings in the Rink:
Maintaining ideal ice thickness (1" to 1-1/4") through a regular ice maintenance program will ensure a high standard of ice quality and help prevent ice refrigeration energy costs from rising. Because ice acts as an insulator, the thicker the ice is, the colder the brine temperature must be order to achieve the same ice surface temperature. Similarly, if the brine is maintained at a constant temperature, a thicker ice slab will result in a higher surface temperature resulting is softer ice and thereby making it more difficult to freeze the resurfacing water. Verifying ice slab thickness, on a weekly basis, in a recommended procedure that should be adopted in order to control energy costs. (Source: Energy Management for Recreation Facilities. O.R.F.A. 1995)
In "Terms" of Facilities
Energy Audit - A survey that shows how much energy you use in your home. It will help you find ways to use less energy.
Energy Conservation - The application of measures and practices to reduce the amount of energy consumed and increase the efficiency of energy consumption in equipment, buildings etc. in order to reduce the amount of energy consumed.
Energy Efficiency - The reduction of energy use by end-use devices, systems, equipment and appliances. Energy efficiency measures, programs and regulations reduce overall electricity consumption without explicit consideration of the timing of these savings. They are generally achieved by substituting technically more advanced equipment to produce the same level of service with less electricity. Examples include energy-efficient appliances, lighting, heating and cooling, efficient building design and advanced motors.
Geothermal Heat Pump A type of heat pump that uses the ground, ground water, or ponds as a heat source in the winter and heat sink for heat removed from a building in the summer, rather than outside air. Ground or water temperatures are more constant and are warmer in winter and cooler in summer than air temperatures. Geothermal heat pumps operate more efficiently than "conventional" or "air source" heat pumps. The system provides heat by removing it from the earth through a liquid, such as ground water or an antifreeze solution, which is upgraded by the heat pump and transferred to indoor air. The system provides cooling by reversing the process.
(SOURCE: Energy terms as defined in the Ministry of Energy’s Conservation Glossary.)
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