STAFF WRITER – The Ontario Construction Report
The Ontario Hot Mix Producers Association (OHMPA) recognized its best and brightest at the annual Fall Asphalt Seminar, most recently in December, at the new Universal Eventspace Conference and Event Centre in Vaughan.
The awards presentations included the Trillium Awards, introduced in 2002. “Recipients must meet exceptionally high standards in seven categories: appearance, operations, environmental, safety, permitting and compliance, community relations and industry participation,” an OHMPA news release said.
Four plants were recognized: Miller Northern Limited – Boeing 300 Portable Drum Plant; Miller Northwest Limited – Cedar Rapid 8-28 Portable Drum Plant; C. Villenueve Construction Co. Ltd. – Astec Plant (in Hearst, ON); Dufferin Construction – London Asphalt Plant.
The release says Trillium Award status is granted for a three-year period. Plants must then apply for recertification.
The awards also recognized those plants receiving recertification: Miller Northeast Limited – Terex Drum; Miller Paving Limited – Markham, Richmond Hill and Brechin Asphalt Plants; Miller Group Norway Astec Double Drum Plant; Smith Construction CMI 300; Huron (Chatham) Asphalt Plant; and Miller Northwest Limited – Sandy Beach Drum Plant.
“The Trillium award was created to recognize those plants that go beyond the ‘gold’ standard already required by industry regulations,” OHMPA executive director Vince Aurilio said. “To date, 68 plants have earned the Trillium Award and 47 have been recertified. That speaks highly of our members and Ontario’s asphalt industry.”
Since 2002, 68 member plants have earned the Trillium Award and 47 have been recertified.
The presentations also included the Dr. Norman McLeod Award for Innovation in Road Building. Presented in honour of the late Keith Davidson, director of technology and development for McAsphalt Industries Ltd., the award recognizes the pursuit of innovation in the hot mix asphalt industry. McAsphalt president John Carrick Jr. accepted the award.
“Mr. Davidson was heralded for his dedication to the science of asphalt research and engineering support which has led to the introduction of several asphalt emulsion technologies in Canada.”