Local 793 celebrated breaking ground at the site of the new regional office and training centre in Oro-Medonte on Tuesday.
The $25 million, 21,000 sq. ft. complex on 20 acres will include a state-of-the-art training facility operated by the Operating Engineers Training Institute of Ontario (OETIO), a fully equipped banquet hall and office space for union and OETIO staff.
The event was attended by Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development David Piccini, Attorney General of Ontario Doug Downey, Oro-Medonte Town Councillor Dave Clark, as well as local representatives from the Barrie and Simcoe County region and construction industry leaders.
“It’s a great day for the Operating Engineers in Ontario. The construction of the Oro-Medonte regional office and training centre will increase our versatility and ability to train for the future and meet Ontario’s growth needs, Local 793 Business Manager Mike Gallagher said. “It will also ensure that the province doesn’t lag in terms of its infrastructure, including future hospitals, schools, and housing.
“We’re grateful to the province of Ontario for supporting this project and being partners in purchasing equipment to ensure that we have world-class training facilities right here in Ontario that continue to develop the best operators in any jurisdiction.”
Local 793 was awarded $4.9 million in June through the provincial government’s Skills Development Fund Capital Stream program to help develop the training portion of the facility. The rest of the build cost will come from union funds.
The union has plans to add three more regional hubs to serve members in Sarnia, Sudbury and Hamilton.
Local 793 has invested heavily in training since Business Manager Gallagher was first elected to lead the union in 1996, with the Oro-Medonte project bringing the total spend close to $300 million.
The new facility is being built by signatory company Bird Construction and is scheduled to open in 2026.
Read the official press release HERE.
