2021 OPWA President's Message

To the Board of Directors, to my fellow members of OPWA, and to our strategic partners, I am truly thankful for this opportunity to serve as President for this provincial chapter of APWA, the Ontario Public Works Association, along with its two Branches:  the Ottawa Valley Branch, and the West Central Branch.  I look forward to working with everyone, in whatever capacity is required, to make the most of 2021.  

My journey with OPWA started back in 2010 when I first joined the APWA Ontario Chapter.  I was assigned to be on a Committee, so I picked the Education Committee.  It was not really an assignment, but actually a great opportunity to quickly meet a few members of the Chapter, and a means to contribute to this Chapter of volunteers.  Let me say:  The key to your success is to be involved with OPWA.

A few quick years later and now I lead the Chapter I joined.  You don’t need to be the President of the Chapter to know there is always much to be done.  The Chapter is not self-sufficient, just ask our Executive Director Brian Barber.  We are a Chapter of volunteers, but from a little hard work there is success to be gained.

To be successful as President, I will require assistance from everyone.  I will look to our past Presidents to provide experience.  I will look to the Board and Executive Team to provide guidance and decision.  I will look to our Committees to organize events that bring us together into the educational and networking circles we are good at.  And to fill in any remaining gaps, its back to our Executive Director Brian Barber.  Lastly, I will look to our members to let me know just how we are doing.  

My objectives for 2021 as President are:

1. To seek more opportunity that will engage our members and new members.
2. To raise the voice of OPWA and advocate for public works.
3. To widen the membership footprint of the Chapter & its Branches in Ontario.

The Chapter has done great things and the Chapter will continue to do more.  It will not be easy.  In June 2020, the OPWA Board approved a budget that reflected a loss of revenue due to the freezing of in-person events.  The operations of the Chapter will be fiscally challenged in 2021.  COVID-19 is the unknown factor, and after a few months, we still continue to learn as we go.  We will need to adapt and to be creative and to be innovative.  The Chapter needs every member to get involved.

Before I conclude, I too would like to acknowledge my employer, the Canadian Concrete Pipe & Precast Association, for giving me the opportunity to be a member of OPWA, and with CCPPA’s continued support, to be President of OPWA.

Thank you,

Enrico P. Stradiotto, P.Eng.

OPWA President

2021 OPWA Board of Directors

Executive Committee of the Board