Special to Ontario Construction Report
The Ontario Hot Mix Producers Association (OHMPA) awarded nine asphalt plants with Trillium Awards for 2013 and recertified four other plants at its 22nd annual Fall Asphalt Seminar held on December 11 at the Le Jardin Conference and Event Centre in Vaughan.
Introduced in 2002, the Trillium Award recognizes the best of the best in the production of asphalt. Recipients must meet exceptionally high standards in seven categories which are appearance, operations, environmental, safety, permitting and compliance, community relations and industry participation.
The nine newly awarded plants are Aecon Construction & Materials (Brampton, Goderich and Orangeville plants), G. Tackaberry & Sons Construction Co. (Tackaberry asphalt plant), and The Miller Group (Lavis Contracting Co. Holmesville asphalt plant, Mill-Am asphalt plant, The Murray Group Murphy and Bowman Pit plants and Smiths Construction, Turcotte Pit). Trillium Award status is granted for a three-year period at which time the plant may reapply for recertification. Asphalt plants named for recertification were The Miller Group’s E.C. King, Sydenham asphalt plant and New Liskeard, Port Colborne, and Whitby asphalt plants.
“The asphalt industry works hard to make itself a good neighbor and a steward of the environment,” said OHMPA executive director Doug Duke. “The award was created to recognize those plants that go beyond the ‘gold’ standard already required by industry regulations. To date, 55 plants have earned the Trillium Award and 35 have been recertified. That speaks very well of Ontario’s asphalt industry.”
Also presented was the Dr. Norman McLeod Award for Innovation in Road Building. The award, named in honour of Dr. McLeod, Canada’s most accomplished asphalt innovator, celebrates the pursuit of innovation in the hot mix asphalt industry. This year it was given to Lyle Moran, asphalt team leader for Imperial Oil’s Sarnia Research Centre. Mr. Moran was heralded for his dedication to the science of asphalt research which has led to significant industry breakthroughs as recognized by 12 patents.
The first ‘Bleeds Black’ Awards were also presented. Dr. Susan Tighe, director of the Centre for Pavement and Transportation Technology at the University of Waterloo, Mark Cosby, foreman of Walker Aggregates Vineland Asphalt Plant, and OHMPA’s technical director Sandy Brown were presented with the award.
“The commitment and passion of the three individuals chosen for this award greatly contribute to the continual improvement of asphalt,” said OHMPA president Colin Burpee. “One may say that they are so dedicated that when cut, they bleed black.”
OHMPA’sFallAsphaltSeminaristhelargestone-dayasphaltseminarofitskindinCanada, thisyearbringingin nearly475 attendees.