This six (6) hour Zoom Virtual Learning course has two (2) online sessions:
Saturday, May 17th at 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
AND
Sunday, May 18th at 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
The Zoom meeting link and login information will be distributed before the first session.
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.
Cancelations: In writing only, up to ten (10) business days before the event, after which we regret that we cannot refund your registration fee. Course fees are nontransferable to other courses.
Coffee with Counsel
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
1 PM - 2 PM ET (Virtual Event)
Registration closes May 19, 2025
Abstract:
Join Robert Kennaley of Kennaley Construction Law and Samantha Ambrozy of Toronto Transit Commission for an informative session on the implications of Bill 216, which has made significant amendments to Ontario’s Construction Act. The seminar will focus on four changes which should be of significant concern for public procurement professionals: expanded rights of adjudication, the mandatory annual release of holdback, the annual expiry of lien rights and the elimination of certain rights of an owner to apply backcharges against a contractor. The latter three changes are destined to substantially alter the risks which owners face in relation to construction, impose significant administrative burdens on owners in relation to new mandatory processes and result in increased lien activity on larger projects. In addition, the changes were in many ways made without input from stakeholders.
This session will provide public procurement professionals with a clear understanding of these significant changes, their potential effects on current processes, and practical considerations for preparing for implementation. Whether you're managing capital projects or overseeing procurement frameworks, this is an essential session for staying informed and compliant.
Key Takeaways:
Impacts on of the four key changes on public sector procurement and construction contracts
Practical tips to adapt to the changes through policies, practices and contract verbiage
Whether relief from the increased burdens and risk might be coming
Q&A with legal experts from Kennaley Construction Law
You're welcome to send any questions for the presenters to wendy@opba.ca ahead of the webinar, and we’ll include them in the Q&A session at the end of the presentation.
Please note that the responses provided are not legal advice. Attendees are responsible for independently verifying any information taken from the session.
We will explore how government procurement divisions can play a pivotal role in driving change in buying behaviors. The session will highlight key strategies for transforming traditional procurement processes, with a focus on fostering innovation, sustainability, and efficiency. Attendees walked away with actionable insights on how procurement divisions can create a more dynamic, socially responsible, and forward-thinking government purchasing ecosystem.
Presenter: Sandra Lisi, Vice President Supplier Engagement, Kinetic GPO
Sandra is a seasoned procurement professional with over two decades of distinguished experience in the public and private sectors. Renowned for her strategic acumen, innovative thinking, and collaborative approach she brings a wealth of knowledge to the Kinetic GPO team as Vice President of Supplier Engagement.
As the Director of Purchasing Client Services at the City of Toronto and Interim Chief Procurement Officer, Sandra led a dynamic team of procurement professionals. She created and implemented the City's category management and strategic sourcing practice, which changed the procurement culture from a buying function to a more strategic approach and partnership with City divisions, Agencies and Boards. Her tenure at the City underscored her exceptional leadership skills and her ability to navigate complex procurement landscapes and deliver impactful results in a high-stakes environment.
Before her role at the City of Toronto, Sandra honed her skills at BMO, where she served as the Director of Strategic Sourcing & Supplier Management. During her tenure, she played a pivotal role in shaping the bank's procurement strategies and forging strong partnerships with suppliers to drive operational efficiency and cost savings.
Sandra is also the Founder of a not-for-profit organization that supports women and children who are victims of domestic violence living in Ontario shelters.
Friday, May 30, 2025
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Virtual Event
Registration closes May 29, 2025.
Join us for a unique and inclusive gathering of procurement peers where the spirit of collaboration takes center stage! Our People Leader’s Meetings are a welcoming space for management/leadership level procurement professionals who lead others within their organization, regardless of their title.
Our goal is to cultivate a culture of open dialogue, curiosity, and inclusivity among peers in a safe environment. People Leaders are welcome to share their perspectives and engage in a free-flowing exchange of ideas, problem solving and sharing. This is an opportunity to learn from one another, broaden perspectives, and strengthen the bond within our network of procurement professionals.
This session is built with a structured yet flexible format that ensures everyone's voice is heard and respected.
Have a burning question or discussion topic? Please send it to events@opba.ca at least one week before the meeting.
A free, OPBA member-exclusive opportunity! Attendees can earn two (2) contact hours for participating.
Contractor/Supplier/Consultant (Suppliers) Performance Program (the Program) sets out the guidelines for managing the performance of Suppliers. The program is administered in accordance with the agency’s procurement policy. The project manager is responsible for administering the program in accordance with the policy.
The purpose of this training is to provide support with supplier performance trends that will be assessed over both the short and long term to provide suppliers with feedback and to facilitate continuous improvement, where required. Feedback from the project manager to the supplier will be provided through written evaluation as described below.
The objectives of this program are to:
Ensure consistent compliance with the program through the completion of required documentation;
Establish clear expectations and benchmarks that encourage responsibility and accountability that benefit both the supplier and the agency;
Monitor and evaluate a supplier’s performance against the contractual requirements and deliverables;
Address shortfalls in supplier performance; and
Encourage continuous improvement through appropriate corrective action as necessary.
Instructor: Carl Bonitto, CPPO, CPPB
DATE AND TIME
This three (3) hour Zoom virtual learning seminar has one (1) online session:
Saturday, May 31, 2025 at 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
The Zoom meeting link and login information will be distributed before the first session.
ATTENDANCE AND CREDIT
Students are advised that they must attend the session in full to receive course credit. A student that arrives late to a course or has been found to be away or inactive for a duration of the session may not receive their credit. The decision to not grant credit shall be at the discretion of the the facilitator to the session and the Director of Professional Development.
PRE-WORK
Please note, there is no pre-work for this course.
Welcome to OPBA's Principles Certificate exam registration page. If you have not done so already, please complete the Principles exam application by clicking the link below, then make the payment by clicking on "Register for this event". Please ensure you include all the required attachments when you fill out the application form. Once your eligibility is confirmed, you will receive an email notifying you that your account on the virtual exam platform has been created. If you have any questions, contact us at info@opba.ca
June 4 - 5, 2025
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Virtual Learning
Registration closesWednesday, May 28, 2025
DESCRIPTION
This course is the pre-requisite for the Principles of Effective Public Procurement certificate program, giving an introduction to policy and procedures, authority and agency, the public procurement cycle and other aspects of the function of purchasing. Candidates will be given an overview of legal considerations procurement staff need to know when developing and handling bid documents, deciding the best procurement option (tender and RFP processes), as well as discuss centralized versus decentralized procurement systems.
Instructor: Shellyann Henry, CSCMP
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
By the end of this course participants will be able to:
• Describe the roles and responsibilities of public procurement, and the differences from the private sector
• Explain the importance of developing clear purchasing policies and procedures
• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a centralized and decentralized purchasing organization structure
• Outline the seven ’R’s of public purchasing and the steps associated with the public purchasing cycle
• Describe the legalities associated with public purchasing
DATE AND TIME
This six (6) hour Zoom Virtual Learning seminar has two (2) online sessions:
Wednesday, June 4th at 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
AND
Thursday, June 5th at 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Students must attend both sessions to receive course credit.
The Zoom meeting link and login information will be distributed before the first session.
PRE-WORK
Students will receive a short pre-work assignment to complete approximately 10 days before the first session. If you have not received course materials/pre-work, etc. prior to the course you are registered for, you are responsible for emailing members@opba.ca to obtain them before your course start date.
The Introduction to Construction is an elective of the Principles Certificate program. The 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.
Instructors: Marie Kavanagh, CPPO, 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
DATE AND TIME
This six (6) hour Zoom Virtual Learning seminar has two (2) online sessions:
Wednesday, June 11th at 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
AND
Thursday, June 12th at 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Students must attend both sessions to receive course credit.
The Zoom meeting link and login information will be distributed before the first session.
PRE-WORK
Students will receive a short pre-work assignment to complete approximately 10 days before the first session. If you have not received course materials/pre-work, etc. prior to the course you are registered for, you are responsible for emailing members@opba.ca to obtain them before your course start date.
Eligible for 1:00 contact hour
FREE to OPBA members
Top 3 Reasons to Attend the Annual Meeting:
Elect Your Leadership: Vote to elect the Board of Directors.
Shape the Future: Participate in important decisions on resolutions and policies.
Stay Informed: Get updates on key initiatives and OPBA activities.
All OPBA members in good standing are encouraged to attend.
Join Victoria Mirlocca, Chair of the Board of Directors, and Maaz Khan, Treasurer, to:
Review and accept the financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2024.
Hear updates on OPBA’s work and direction for the coming year.
Special 30-Minute Feature:
5 Myths of AI Assistant Usage at Canadian Municipalities Presented by Andrew Wilgar, Co-Founder of GovAI
Discover the real story behind AI assistant adoption in Canadian municipalities. Backed by data, this engaging session debunks five common myths and reveals five key truths about how AI is used in local government.
About the Speaker:
Andrew Wilgar is the Co-Founder of GovAI and previously a founding partner at Bonfire. With over a decade of experience in public sector technology, Andrew brings grounded insight into the real-world application of AI in government.
Monday, June 23, 2025
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM ET
Virtual Event
Registration closes on June 20, 2025, 12:00 PM ET.
Join us quarterly for an inclusive gathering of procurement peers! These meetings provide a welcoming space for professionals engaged in procurement within their organizations, regardless of title. Each session features a structured yet flexible format, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to contribute, share insights, and discuss current topics of interest. Come ready to ask questions, listen, and connect with peers during this interactive virtual networking experience.
Note: These sessions are specifically designed for professionals actively involved in procurement and are not intended for people leaders who do not directly procure goods and services.
Have a burning question or discussion topic? Send it to events@opba.ca at least one week before the meeting.
A free, OPBA member-exclusive opportunity! Attendees can earn two (2) contact hours for participating.
June 28 - 29, 2025
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Virtual Learning
Registration closesFriday, June 20, 2025
DESCRIPTION
In this course, participants will uncover the secrets behind crafting successful Request for Proposals. The content is presented in an easily digestible format, providing an overview of RFP-related issues and responsibilities. Participants will have an in-depth look at all elements of the RFP process, including policies and procedures, RFP templates, methodology, communications with proponents, compliance, price proposals, contract assembly, and more. By the end of the training, participants will understand all facets of the RFP process, including how to provide relevant information during debriefings.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
Define the term Request for Proposal
Describe the Elements of the RFP process
Describe the RFP template, including the different types of RFP’s
Describe the RFP structure
Understand evaluation criteria and its purpose
Understand the negotiation process and strategy
Understand criteria and its purpose
Understand the purpose and role of the evaluation committee
This six (6) hour Zoom virtual learning seminar has two (2) online sessions:
Saturday, June 28th at 9:00am - 12:00pm
AND
Sunday, June 29th at 9:00am - 12:00pm
Learners must attend both sessions to receive course credit.
The Zoom meeting link and course materials will be distributed before the first session. If you have not received course materials/pre-work, etc. prior to the course you are registered for, you are responsible for emailing members@opba.ca to obtain them before your course start date.
ATTENDANCE AND CREDIT
Learners are advised that they must attend both sessions in full to receive course credit. A learner that arrives late to a course or has been found to be away or inactive for a duration of the session may not receive their credit. The decision to not grant credit shall be at the discretion of the the facilitator to the session and the Director of Professional Development. As this course is not part of the Principles Program, it can count as two (2) of the additional meetings/courses/workshops required if you are enrolled in the Principles Certificate Program and intend to write the exam. To qualify, participants must attend and participate in the full six (6) hours.
PRE-WORK
Learners will receive a short pre-work assignment to complete two weeks before the first session.
This course is designed for learners to be able to engage and participate in the sessions. In order to get the most out of the session and ensure two-way discussion, students are encouraged to fully participate by having camera and microphone on during the virtual session, or to actively participate in chat where access to a A/V equipment is not possible.
Learners are also encouraged to maintain a respectful learning environment by minimizing multi-tasking distractions and background noise. Please ensure mobile phones and computer notifications are off or muted, and place yourself on mute until you want to, or are called upon, to speak.
CERTIFICATE PROGRAM
Attendance Credit: Six (6) contact hours. Learners must attend both sessions to receive course credit.
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.
Cancelations: Course fees are nontransferable to other courses. Please refer to our refund + payment policy for information regarding cancelations and/or refunds.
