Calendar of Events - Ontario Public Buyers Association

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is delivered through OPBA’s Public Procurement Learning Lab (PPLL) using the Brightspace learning platform.

If this is your first course with PPLL, you’ll receive an email with login instructions. If you’ve already taken a course through PPLL, you’ll use your existing login credentials to access the platform.

This is a blended learning experience, combining self-directed online learning with a live instructor-led session. You’ll work through readings, quizzes, and assignments at your own pace throughout the month. The deadlines you will need to meet will fall on May 7th, May 14th, May 21st and May 28th.

A mandatory live Zoom session will take place on Friday, May 29 at 12:00pm - 3:30pm. Attendance is required to complete the course and earn your certificate.

Zoom link will be available within the course.

In this course the mysteries of the law and the relationship of the procurement agent to it are unraveled in a concise and easy to understand format. Candidates are given an overview of the issues and responsibilities related to entering into a legal contract as well as determining what comprises a contract. Other topics discussed are the Law of Agency, Contract Law, Laws of Competitive Bidding, comments on various Acts, bonding and alternatives to bonding.

Instructor: Michelle Trudel, NIGP-CPP, CPPB

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 

By the end of this course participants will be able to:
• Explain the Law of Agency and the duties of the three parties involved in an agency relationship
• Describe the six essential elements to create a binding, valid contract
• Give a detailed description of when Contracts A and B are formed and their importance to Procurement Law
• Describe the duty of full disclosure and the duty of fairness and good faith
• Outline the key provisions of several significant cases, major Acts and Trade Agreements affecting public purchasing

COURSE LEARNING MATERIALS

You do not need any course materials in advance, everything required to support your learning with this course will be accessed in the learning platform.

REFUNDS & PAYMENTS

Please refer to our refund + payment policy for information regarding cancellations and/or refunds. Course fees are nontransferable to other courses.

CERTIFICATE PROGRAM

Attendance Credit: 9 contact hours. 

Program Enrollment: If you plan to apply this course toward the Principles of Effective Public Procurement certificate program, you must enroll in the program within nine (9) months of completing this course.

REGISTRATION

Space is limited: Register early to avoid disappointment. There will be a $25 late fee applied to join this course after the registration deadline. Please email members@opba.ca to request a late registration. 

Registration Fees:

Please refer to our refund + payment policy for information regarding cancellations and/or refunds.

Registration closes April 24, 2026.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is delivered through OPBA’s Public Procurement Learning Lab (PPLL) using the Brightspace learning platform.

If this is your first course with PPLL, you’ll receive an email with login instructions. If you’ve already taken a course through PPLL, you’ll use your existing login credentials to access the platform.

This is a blended learning experience, combining self-directed online learning with a live instructor-led session. You’ll work through readings, quizzes, and assignments at your own pace throughout the month. The deadlines you will need to meet will fall on May 7th, May 14th, May 21st and May 28th.

A mandatory live Zoom session will take place on Thursday, May 28 at 6:00pm - 9:00pm ET​. Attendance is required to complete the course and earn your certificate.

Zoom link will be provided within your course.

This course gives a detailed examination of the tendering & request for proposal processes. It includes concepts, issues and the resolution of issues relating to preparing and issuing the procurement documents as well as the ultimate receiving, opening and checking of bids. Participants will be given an overview of the various components comprising tenders and request for proposals documents and the differences of each.

Instructor: Victoria Mirlocca, Q.Arb, CPPB, C.Mgr., C.I.M., NIGP-CPP, CPSD

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 

By the end of this course participants will be able to:
• Define competitive bidding and its basic elements
• Describe the many procurement document formats and their use
• Explain a variety of bidder candidacy restrictions
• Outline the aspects associated with the development of a bid document
• Explain the purpose of pre-bid meetings; along with when to use them effectively and pitfalls to watch for
• Outline the alternatives to competitive bidding

COURSE LEARNING MATERIALS

You do not need any course materials in advance, everything required to support your learning with this course will be accessed in the learning platform.

REFUNDS & PAYMENTS

Please refer to our refund + payment policy for information regarding cancellations and/or refunds. Course registration fees are non-transferable to other courses.

CERTIFICATE PROGRAM

Attendance Credit: 8.5 contact hours 

Program Enrollment: If you plan to apply this course toward the Principles of Effective Public Procurement certificate program, you must enroll in the program within nine (9) months of completing this course.

REGISTRATION

Space is limited: Register early to avoid disappointment. There will be a $25 late fee applied to join this course after the registration deadline. Please email members@opba.ca to request a late registration. 

Registration Fees:

Registration closes April 24, 2026

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is delivered through OPBA’s Public Procurement Learning Lab (PPLL) using the Brightspace learning platform.

If this is your first course with PPLL, you’ll receive an email with login instructions. If you’ve already taken a course through PPLL, you’ll use your existing login credentials to access the platform.

This is a blended learning experience, combining self-directed online learning with a live instructor-led session. You’ll work through readings, quizzes, and assignments at your own pace throughout the month. The deadlines you will need to meet will fall on June 7th, June 14th, June 21st and June 28th.

A mandatory live Zoom session will take place on Wednesday, June 24 at 12:00pm - 3:00pm ET. Attendance is required to complete the course and earn your certificate.

Zoom link will be provided within your course.

This course gives an overview of the cooperative purchasing process in the public sector, describing the types, benefits, structure, legal considerations and challenges cooperative purchasing groups face. Attendees will be shown and discuss examples of constitutions, strategic plans, business plan reports, commodity listings and standard terms and conditions for public tenders issued by cooperative groups.

Instructor: Scott Agnello, CPPO, CPPB

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 

By the end of this course participants will be able to:
• Define cooperative purchasing
• Describe a variety of methods and group purchasing models associated with cooperative purchasing
• Outline the benefits and challenges associated with cooperative purchasing, along with ways to measure savings
• Explain several rules, statutes and treaties related to cooperative purchasing
• Describe the characteristics and traits of a successful cooperative
• Outline the business components of a cooperative group

COURSE LEARNING MATERIALS

You do not need any course materials in advance, everything required to support your learning with this course will be accessed in the learning platform.

REFUNDS & PAYMENTS

Please refer to our refund + payment policy for information regarding cancellations and/or refunds. Course registration fees are non-transferable to other courses.
 

CERTIFICATE PROGRAM

Attendance Credit: 7 contact hours 

Program Enrollment: If you plan to apply this course toward the Principles of Effective Public Procurement certificate program, you must enroll in the program within nine (9) months of completing this course.

REGISTRATION

Space is limited: Register early to avoid disappointment. There will be a $25 late fee applied to join this course after the registration deadline. Please email members@opba.ca to request a late registration. 
 

Registration Fees:

Please refer to our refund + payment policy for information regarding cancellations and/or refunds.

Registration closes May 25, 2026

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is delivered through OPBA’s Public Procurement Learning Lab (PPLL) using the Brightspace learning platform.

If this is your first course with PPLL, you’ll receive an email with login instructions. If you’ve already taken a course through PPLL, you’ll use your existing login credentials to access the platform.

This is a blended learning experience, combining self-directed online learning with a live instructor-led session. You’ll work through readings, quizzes, and assignments at your own pace throughout the month. The deadlines you will need to meet will fall on June 7th, June 14th, June 21st and June 28th.

A mandatory live Zoom session will take place on Monday, June 29 at 12:00pm - 3:00pm. Attendance is required to complete the course and earn your certificate.

Zoom link will be available within the course.

In this course the mysteries of the law and the relationship of the procurement agent to it are unraveled in a concise and easy to understand format. Candidates are given an overview of the issues and responsibilities related to entering into a legal contract as well as determining what comprises a contract. Other topics discussed are the Law of Agency, Contract Law, Laws of Competitive Bidding, comments on various Acts, bonding and alternatives to bonding.

Instructor: Emma Sears, NIGP-CPP, CPPB, CPPO

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 

By the end of this course participants will be able to:
• Explain the Law of Agency and the duties of the three parties involved in an agency relationship
• Describe the six essential elements to create a binding, valid contract
• Give a detailed description of when Contracts A and B are formed and their importance to Procurement Law
• Describe the duty of full disclosure and the duty of fairness and good faith
• Outline the key provisions of several significant cases, major Acts and Trade Agreements affecting public purchasing

COURSE LEARNING MATERIALS

You do not need any course materials in advance, everything required to support your learning with this course will be accessed in the learning platform.

REFUNDS & PAYMENTS

Please refer to our refund + payment policy for information regarding cancellations and/or refunds. Course fees are nontransferable to other courses.

CERTIFICATE PROGRAM

Attendance Credit: 9 contact hours. 

Program Enrollment: If you plan to apply this course toward the Principles of Effective Public Procurement certificate program, you must enroll in the program within nine (9) months of completing this course.

REGISTRATION

Space is limited: Register early to avoid disappointment. There will be a $25 late fee applied to join this course after the registration deadline. Please email members@opba.ca to request a late registration. 

Registration Fees:

Please refer to our refund + payment policy for information regarding cancellations and/or refunds.

Registration closes May 25, 2026.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is delivered through OPBA’s Public Procurement Learning Lab (PPLL) using the Brightspace learning platform.

If this is your first course with PPLL, you’ll receive an email with login instructions. If you’ve already taken a course through PPLL, you’ll use your existing login credentials to access the platform. 

This is a blended learning experience, combining self-directed online learning with a live instructor-led session. You’ll work through readings, quizzes, and assignments at your own pace throughout the month. The deadlines you will need to meet will fall on June 7th, June 14th, June 21st and June 28th.

A mandatory live Zoom session will take place on Thursday, June 25 | 5:30pm - 9:00pm ET. Attendance is required to complete the course and earn your certificate.

Zoom link will be provided within your course.

This course builds on the foundations of the Competitive Bidding – General course and focuses more on complex competitive bid solicitations, including both RFTs and RFPs. Candidates will discuss evaluated bid submissions, how to develop evaluation criteria, work with evaluators and evaluation groups, explore different costing calculations, as well as the two-envelope approach for the receipt of both proposals and tenders.

Instructor: Carl Bonitto, CPPO, CPPB

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 

By the end of this course participants will be able to:
• Explain the phases associated with the RFP process
• Describe the considerations involved in the evaluation, award and debrief of a bidding competition
• Explain the purpose and benefits of an evaluation team
• Outline the preferred approach to conducting a vendor debrief and practice for increased confidence
• Describe the differences between protests and disputes and some considerations for handling each effectively

COURSE LEARNING MATERIALS

You do not need any course materials in advance, everything required to support your learning with this course will be accessed in the learning platform.

REFUNDS & PAYMENTS

Please refer to our refund + payment policy for information regarding cancellations and/or refunds. Course registration fees are non-transferable to other courses.
 

CERTIFICATE PROGRAM

Attendance Credit: 10 contact hours. 

Program Enrollment: If you plan to apply this course toward the Principles of Effective Public Procurement certificate program, you must enroll in the program within nine (9) months of completing this course.

REGISTRATION

Space is limited: Register early to avoid disappointment. There will be a $25 late fee applied to join this course after the registration deadline. Please email members@opba.ca to request a late registration. 

Registration Fees:

Please refer to our refund + payment policy for information regarding cancellations and/or refunds.

Registration closes May 25, 2026

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is delivered through OPBA’s Public Procurement Learning Lab (PPLL) using the Brightspace learning platform.

If this is your first course with PPLL, you’ll receive an email with login instructions. If you’ve already taken a course through PPLL, you’ll use your existing login credentials to access the platform.

This is a blended learning experience, combining self-directed online learning with a live instructor-led session. You’ll work through readings, quizzes, and assignments at your own pace throughout the month. The deadlines you will need to meet will fall on June 7th, June 14th, June 21st and June 28th.

A mandatory live Zoom session will take place on Wednesday, June 24 at 5:30pm - 9:00pm ET​. Attendance is required to complete the course and earn your certificate.

Zoom link will be provided within the course.

The Introduction to Construction course content has been updated to ensure that learners receive current information related to construction procurement in today’s environment. This course provides a step-by-step description of the process to retain a general contractor for construction using the design/bid/build contract model and stipulated price contract.

Instructor: Michelle Rasiulis, CSCMP, CPPB, NIGP-CPP

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 

By the end of this course participants will be able to:
• Explain how “improvement” projects carried out in the province of Ontario are subject to the Construction Act
• Describe the type of contract method most commonly used for a construction project; including control, risk and cost considerations
• Describe the types of pricing structures that can be used for a construction project
• Outline many of the important factors to consider when engaging a contractor

COURSE LEARNING MATERIALS

You do not need any course materials in advance, everything required to support your learning with this course will be accessed in the learning platform.

REFUNDS & PAYMENTS

Please refer to our refund + payment policy for information regarding cancellations and/or refunds. Course registration fees are non-transferable to other courses.

CERTIFICATE PROGRAM

Attendance Credit: 9 contact hours

Program Enrollment: If you plan to apply this course toward the Principles of Effective Public Procurement certificate program, you must enroll in the program within nine (9) months of completing this course.

REGISTRATION

Space is limited: Register early to avoid disappointment. There will be a $25 late fee applied to join this course after the registration deadline. Please email members@opba.ca to request a late registration. 

Registration Fees:

Please refer to our refund + payment policy for information regarding cancellations and/or refunds.

Registration closes May 25, 2026.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is delivered through OPBA’s Public Procurement Learning Lab (PPLL) using the Brightspace learning platform.

If this is your first course with PPLL, you’ll receive an email with login instructions. If you’ve already taken a course through PPLL, you’ll use your existing login credentials to access the platform.

This is a blended learning experience, combining self-directed online learning with a live instructor-led session. You’ll work through readings, quizzes, and assignments at your own pace throughout the month. The deadlines you will need to meet will fall on June 7th, June 14th, June 21st and June 28th.

A mandatory live Zoom session will take place on Thursday, June 25 at 6:00pm - 9:00pm ET​. Attendance is required to complete the course and earn your certificate.

Zoom link will be provided within your course.

This course gives a detailed examination of the tendering & request for proposal processes. It includes concepts, issues and the resolution of issues relating to preparing and issuing the procurement documents as well as the ultimate receiving, opening and checking of bids. Participants will be given an overview of the various components comprising tenders and request for proposals documents and the differences of each.

Instructor: Marie Kavanagh, CPPO, CPPB, NIGP-CPP

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 

By the end of this course participants will be able to:
• Define competitive bidding and its basic elements
• Describe the many procurement document formats and their use
• Explain a variety of bidder candidacy restrictions
• Outline the aspects associated with the development of a bid document
• Explain the purpose of pre-bid meetings; along with when to use them effectively and pitfalls to watch for
• Outline the alternatives to competitive bidding

COURSE LEARNING MATERIALS

You do not need any course materials in advance, everything required to support your learning with this course will be accessed in the learning platform.

REFUNDS & PAYMENTS

Please refer to our refund + payment policy for information regarding cancellations and/or refunds. Course registration fees are non-transferable to other courses.

CERTIFICATE PROGRAM

Attendance Credit: 8.5 contact hours 

Program Enrollment: If you plan to apply this course toward the Principles of Effective Public Procurement certificate program, you must enroll in the program within nine (9) months of completing this course.

REGISTRATION

Space is limited: Register early to avoid disappointment. There will be a $25 late fee applied to join this course after the registration deadline. Please email members@opba.ca to request a late registration. 

Registration Fees:

Registration closes June 25, 2026

Bill 194 is reshaping expectations around cybersecurity, privacy, and AI in Ontario’s public sector—bringing new considerations for procurement professionals.

Join Lise Patry (LXM Law LLP) for a practical discussion on what this means for your day-to-day procurement work. This session will highlight key impacts of the legislation and outline actionable steps to strengthen due diligence, contract terms, and vendor risk management.

Presenter: 
Lise Patry, LXM Law
Partner at LXM Law | Business Law | Public Procurement Lawyer | Transaction Contracts | Governance


Lise Patry is a business lawyer with over 25 years legal experience working in both public and private sectors advising on a wide spectrum of general business legal matters. Lise is a subject matter expert in government/public procurement and private sector tendering law with significant experience negotiating domestic and international commercial arrangements, technology/software/SaaS transactions, construction tenders and related construction contract matters, legal and procurement department management and the establishment of legal compliance programs. Lise's practice is focused on the following sectors and industries: government (all levels) and government-funded organizations, for profit or not-for-profit businesses, IT and hardware technology, data/personal information, construction, credit and financial industries, staffing agencies, professional and contracted services, security industries, online commerce and manufacturing. 

Registration Fees 

Please refer to our refund + payment policy for information regarding cancelations and/or refunds.
 

Thursday, June 11, 2026 
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM ET (Virtual Event)
Registration closes June 10, 2026 - 12:00 PM ET.

Procurement teams are under increasing pressure to demonstrate value, support strategic decision-making, and provide meaningful data beyond transactional reporting. But what procurement metrics actually matter, and how are public agencies using procurement data to support reporting, planning, and continuous improvement?
Join OPBA for an interactive Spring Workshop exploring procurement KPIs, benchmarking, dashboards, and performance metrics through practical public sector examples and real-world perspectives.
This session will bring together procurement leaders and practitioners to discuss how organizations are approaching procurement reporting, tracking, and data visualization, and how procurement information can support operational and strategic decision-making across public agencies.

The workshop will include insights and perspectives related to:

• Procurement KPIs and benchmarking
• Reporting and tracking tools
• Procurement dashboards and data visualization
• Practical examples and real-world use cases
• Using procurement data to support decision-making

• Nelson Severino, Procurement Services, City of Mississauga
• Tammy Rimes, Executive Director, National Cooperative Procurement Partners (NCPP)
• Ryan Scott, Chief Procurement Officer, City of Kitchener

The workshop will also include an interactive Q&A discussion, providing attendees the opportunity to ask questions and hear practical insights from procurement professionals actively working in this space.

Registration Fees 

Please refer to our refund + payment policy for information regarding cancelations and/or refunds.
 

This session will cover:

• Why and how the program was developed
• The Supplier Selection Tool and how to use it to find the right Indigenous supplier for your needs

Presenter

Luba Medvedeva
Luba Medvedeva is a Business Development leader with 15+ years of experience advancing marketplace growth, stakeholder engagement, and strategic partnerships across both the public and private sectors. In her current role, she actively advances ESG priorities, with a strong focus on social procurement and Indigenous engagement—helping public sector organizations build partnerships with Indigenous businesses and connect with qualified Indigenous suppliers through initiatives like OECM’s Indigenous Marketplace.

Registration Fees:

Please refer to our refund + payment policy for information regarding cancellations and/or refunds.

Tuesday, June 30, 2026 
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM ET (Virtual Event)
Registration closes June 08, 2026 - 12:00 PM ET.

At some point, every public procurement team encounters a supplier relationship that becomes difficult to manage. Performance concerns, communication challenges, contract disputes, and ongoing operational frustrations can create significant risk and strain for public agencies.

But when is it appropriate to move on from a vendor, and what legal, contractual, and procurement considerations should organizations keep in mind before taking action?

Join Jung Ah Kwon, Senior Counsel, Legal Services at the LCBO, for an interactive Coffee with Counsel discussion exploring real-world challenges and considerations related to difficult supplier relationships in the public sector. This session will focus on practical lessons learned, common risk areas, and considerations procurement professionals should be aware of when navigating challenging vendor situations.

Attendees are encouraged to submit questions and scenarios in advance to help shape the discussion. Please send questions in advance to flo@opba.ca. Jung will also share real-world use cases and insights drawn from practice to support a practical and engaging conversation.

This session is intended to provide general legal and procurement considerations and discussion only and should not be considered legal advice. Public agencies should continue to consult their own legal counsel regarding specific situations and decisions.

Presenter:

Jung Ah Kwon, Senior Counsel, Legal Services, LCBO



Jung Ah Kwon is a senior lawyer with 15 years of experience across private practice leadership and senior in-house counsel roles in the public sector.  Currently serving as Senior Counsel with the LCBO, Jung advises senior leadership and business units on a broad range of commercial, legislative and regulatory compliance, and enterprise risk management matters.  In this role, Jung regularly supports the LCBO’s procurement team throughout the public procurement process, providing legal guidance on contract negotiations, dispute resolution, bidder misconduct, and bid protests.  Jung’s background includes serving as Head of the Real Estate Law Department and Co-Managing Lawyer at Haber & Associates, a law firm headquartered in Burlington, Ontario, where she managed a team of legal professionals and led legal operations and strategic planning.  Drawing on both private practice transactional and litigation experience with public-sector corporate advisory work, Jung focuses on delivering practical, risk-informed legal strategies to support complex operational and procurement challenges.
 
Registration Fees 

Please refer to our refund + payment policy for information regarding cancelations and/or refunds.