Recently, the ORFA Provincial R&D Group met virtually to discuss topics that members are raising as issues and challenges while ORFA staff presented their priorities to the group for awareness and feedback. The Provincial R&D Group cons...

In this podcast, ORFA Director Training, Research and Development speaks with Guelph Turfgrass Institute’s (GTI) Communications and Outreach Coordinator Dr. Sara Stricker about the “grass root” start of the GTI, its growth and future goals. The...

In this podcast, ORFA’s Director of Training, Research and Development looks back at the history of refrigeration training for ice rinks and the evolution that the Association has undertaken to get to where we are today. He answers the question...

In this podcast, ORFA’s Technical Director looks back at the evolution of ORFA course final assessments while sharing the options that are coming on-line that will provide members with more flexibility to complete the final step in the training...

In this weeks podcast, ORFA’s Technical Director discusses recreational user fees. The current Hockey Canada saga includes the use of registration (user) fees for something their members deemed inappropriate. User fees are always a sensitive to...

In this podcast, ORFA’s Technical Director looks back at the training event held each spring at the University of Guelph and explains that this format no longer works as we move forward. The Annual Spri...

In this podcast, the Technical Director explains the history of ice thickness calculations. If you want to know how the “industry best practice” of 1.5 inches was arrived at and why it may not be the safest ice thickness in 2022.

Often when the facilities electrical system stabilizes after a disruption our users are eager to get back in the facility. Determining when the doors can in fact be reopened takes some thought and planning. In this podcast, ORFA’s Technical Dir...

As part of the ORFA 75th anniversary celebration ORFA CAO John Milton and TD Terry Piche recently caught up with current USA Hockey Executive Director Pat Kelleher and Dave Wescott owner of All-Star Arena’s to reflect on the start of the Canadi...

In this Podcast, ORFA’s Technical Director untangles the legal requirements associated with playgrounds and play spaces. These facilities are an important part of every communities outdoor recreational environments. Creating an operational and ...

ORFA’s Technical Director speaks with Amanda Nadeau from Timmins, Tiffany Vis from Thunder Bay and April McNamara from Parry Sound on how the Pandemic and loss of Canadian Red Cross aquatic training programs are impacting their ability to provi...

In this podcast, ORFA’s Technical Director goes down the “what is training” rabbit hole while looking back at ORFA’s evolution in training, professional development and certification over the past 75 years. As a supervisor you need to consider ...

The May 9th, 1992 Westray mining explosion that claimed 26 lives resulted in accountability change across Canada as Bill C-45 was created to help ensure that those directly responsible for the health and safety of others are held criminally acc...

In this podcast ORFA’s Technical Director shares how the ORFA arrives at industry best practices by clarifying ORFA’s role which does not include evaluating any product or service that is available in the marketplace. The conversation includes ...

In this podcast, ORFA’s Technical Director Terry Piche chats about the first aid responsibilities and misconceptions of recreation services as it is a unique work environment that balances both worker and public safety. Understanding the potent...

In this podcast, ORFA’s Technical Director shares what he didn’t know was legally required, some of the historical gaps and the roles and responsibilities of refrigeration plant stakeholders as it relates to plantroom logbook information. Read ...

ORFA’s Technical Director, Terry Piche chats about the gifts that the “light bulb salesperson” used to bring in the olden days to the benefits and challenges of having a purchasing department to navigate in todays workplace. When buying any equ...

In this podcast, ORFA’s Technical Director chats about the OHF/ORFA Return to Play joint statement and what this type of relationship could mean to the future of our industry. He discusses why an employer has the right to release workers that a...

ORFA Technical Director, Terry Piche discusses the history of staying connected at work.  Specifically, the evolution of recreation staff being a constant point of contact by phone or other electronic means during work or non-work hours.&n...

ORFA’s Technical Director speaks with CIMCO staff on a variety of topics that impact ice sheet refrigeration plant operations. Not every podcast will have a return on investment but this one does. Any member who has refrigeration plant operatio...

Terry Piche, CRFP, CIT, ORFA Technical Director talks with all three of Ontario’s ice resurfacer providers about where electric ice resurfacer  technology began, its current growth and what the future holds. He also chats with a municipal ...

In this podcast, ORFA Technical Director Terry Piche looks at the (new) roles, responsibilities and challenges associated with reopening recreation facility changerooms. The podcast evaluates the poor history of maintaining these areas, while t...

Terry Piche, ORFA Technical Director, speaks with Zack Tarantino, Marmak, to share updates to RFAM - Recreation Facility Asset Management software.In 2015, the Ontario Good Roads Association (OGRA), Ontario Recreation Facilities Associa...

After more than 100 days of lockdown recreation infrastructure is beginning to come back to life. This does not mean that COVID-19 is gone – it means that there is currently less of a risk. As facility managers focus on re-entry and reopening t...

As recreation facility managers consider how best to restart their buildings, the environmental air exchange systems will need careful consideration. In this Podcast, ORFA’s Technical Director highlights the different elements associated with m...