CONFER ENCE OVERVIE W
Making a Connection OHBA Annual Conference and Awards provided a new level of education and inspiration for attendees BY TED M C INTYRE, EDITOR
“So, what do you do? Can you fill out a square out here?” I received this inquiry at least 12 times during the Building Connections BBQ lunch at this year’s OHBA Annual Conference and Awards of Distinction at Collingwood’s Blue Mountain Resort. It was during a bingo cardtype function of this meet-andgreet-style luncheon, where players circulated from patio table to table, seeking out fellow attendees to autograph the appropriate box on their card, from “AoD nominee” to “OHBA board member” to “Smallvolume builder” and a variety of ohba.ca
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portfolios in between. Those who successfully filled out their cards were eligible for prizes donated by OHBA member companies. It was an inventive way to encourage everyone present to discover what others did for a living while making potential business connections along the way. Alas, there was no checkable box for my vocation. “Sorry, I’m just media. You don’t need me. But do you see that lady over there? She’s a nominee. And that guy there? He’s on the board of directors.” The BBQ event was among several dynamic networking opportunities
for visiting OHBA members from across the province—all kicking off with an opening reception atop Blue Mountain at Off-Piste Pavilion, overlooking Georgian Bay. The conference offered other options to explore the resort village, facilities and surrounding landscape, including treatments at Scandinave Spa and a hike and wine excursion along the Bruce Trail. The daytime programming, meanwhile—curated based upon member requests—brought in new content and speakers for the Sept. 17-19 conference, with expert-led seminars covering a wealth of educational and professional development topics. Innovation and sustainability were front and centre, including the Innovation Gauntlet, presented by EnerQuality. In this exciting Dragon’s Den-style competition manufacturers presented unique solutions to optimize the 11 AWARDS OF DISTINCTION 2023 | ONTARIO HOME BUILDER
