ORFA News and Alerts

ORFA Board of Directors Announced for 2025/26 November 15, 2024  
AGCO Special Occasion Permit (SOP) Recreation Grounds Use Application Gap September 17, 2024  ALERT
Ice Sheet Facility Operations for the 2024/25 Season August 12, 2024  ALERT
Ontario Lacrosse Association (OLA) Spectator Conduct Notice is a Reminder of the Importance of a Well-Crafted Facility ContractAugust 1, 2024  ALERT
MLITSD Inspector Visit Results in Positive Member Experience March 21, 2024  ALERT
Welcome to ORFA Information and Skills Development Coordinator March 1, 2024  
Prepare Employees for the Upcoming Solar Eclipse February 16, 2024  ALERT
Grounds Worker Railway Track Safety and Controls February 16, 2024  
ORFA/Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors Ontario Branch/Conestoga College Student-Led Indoor Air Quality In Arenas February 9, 2024  
ORFA Advises Members to Consider Adding Lithium-ion Battery Emergency Management in Facility Response Plans January 3, 2024 ALERT 
ORFA Raises Concern of Increased Risk of Violence and Abuse to Operators When Curfews Are Used In Hockey Games December 18, 2023 ALERT 
ORFA Award Recipients Announced for 2023 December 6, 2023  
ORFA Members Share Recent TSSA Inspector Activity November 27, 2023 ALERT 
ORFA Response to Hockey Canada Rule Book Update 2022-24August 24, 2023 ALERT 
Ice Plant Operational Limitations Warning August 22, 2023 ALERT
ORFA Registered Industrial Ice Surface Refrigeration Training Pathway May 10, 2023  
A Review of TSSA Registered, Unattended Ice Surface Plant Advisory May 10, 2023 
The Risks of Running in the Rink January 30, 2023 ALERT 

Health and Safety Posting - Ice Resurfacer Operational Risks, Hazards, and Best Practices

January 5, 2023 ALERT 
Professional Development Sessions - Spring/Fall 2023 November 4, 2022  
2023 Professional Development Programs - Courses/Sessions November 4, 2022  

ORFA Professional Development Programs - Spring and Fall Sessions 2023

October 25, 2022  
Research Study that Examines the Level of Crisis Readiness of Professionals in the Ice Industry October 25, 2022  
ORFA Board of Directors Announced For 2023/24October 5, 2022  
ORFA Recommends the Need to Evaluate Ball Park Facilities For Spectator Safety May 31, 2022 ALERT
Lone Star Tick Spotted in Ontario May 6, 2022 ALERT 
ORFA Professional Development Program - Spring & Fall May 5, 2022  
Woodchipper Safety Guideline May 4, 2022 ALERT 
Emergency Relief Community Sport & Recreation Grant April 21, 2022  
Recreation Facility Accessibility: Planning to Get Out Safely Guideline March 10, 2022  
Return to Hockey - ORFA and OHF Provide Additional Guidance January 28, 2022  
Understanding Facility COVID Contact Tracing RequirementsJanuary 28, 2022  
Canadian Red Cross is winding down its Swimming & Water Safety and Lifeguard training to focus on surging humanitarian demands January 19, 2022  
ORFA Adopts Risk-Based Regulatory Framework for Plant Rating and Attendance For Unattended Ice Sheet Plants October 19, 2021 
ORFA Position Statement on Return to Play August 26, 2021   
What Do Masks, Heat Stress and Urine Colour Have in Common?June 16, 2021 
Recreational Electrical Vehicle Battery Emergency Preparedness – Expect the Unexpected May 11, 2021ALERT
How Often is “often” When It Comes To Washroom Cleaning? April 22, 2021 ALERT
Updated COVID-19 Recreational Greenspace Use During the Provincial Shutdown April 20, 2021  
COVID-19 Recreational Greenspace Use During the Provincial Shutdown April 14, 2021  
Building Air Management Health and Safety Best Practices 2021 April  ALERT
ORFA Open Letter to Members and Employers  2021 March   
ORFA Predicts a High Demand for Seasonal Outdoor Aquatic Facilities This Coming Summer 2021 February   
Provincial COVID Shutdown Requires Recreation Facilities to Consider Compliance Requirements 2021 January   
Ice Resurfacer Use Joint Statement  2020 November   
ORFA Board of Directors 2021/2022  2020 November   
Stage 3 - Reopening Sport and Recreation  2020 July   
ORFA Professional Development Courses: 2020 Reboot 2020 July   
Hockey Return to Play Does Mean Buildings Are Open  2020 June   
Reentering and Reopening Guiding Principles and Best Practices 2020 May   

Outdoor Recreation Use During COVID-19 Emergency Order To Close All Outdoor Amenities

2020 March   

Playground Use During COVID-19 Things to Consider About Playground Use During Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)

2020 March   
ORFA 65th Annual Professional Development Program and EXPO - Event Cancellation 2020 March   
2020 Ontario Turfgrass Symposium  2020 January   
You Have the Power to Save a Life  2019 October   
Policy Review Recommendation - Ice Arena Net Anchoring Systems  2019 October   
ORFA Board of Directors Visit Town of Petawawa and CFB Petawawa 2019 September   
NEW... ORFA Accessibility and Inclusion Award Announced 2019 July   
ORFA Leadership Post Fernie Tragedy  2019 March   
New! Aquatic Facility Operations Course Announcement 2019 February   
Facility Evictions Can Be A Slippery Legal Slope 2019 February   
Facility AEDs Need to be Accessible  2019 January  
Warning: Recreation Facilities Are Potential High Risk Venues For Spreading Colds and Flu 2019 January   
The Risk of Using Skating Rink Ice Resurfacer Snow 2019 January   

Announcing ORFA Board of Directors
(2019 - 2020 Term of Office)

2018 November   
Responding to Regulation 565: Public Pools Operational Changes 2018 September   
Fernie Arena Tragedy Identifies Three Contributing Factors 2018 August   
Technical Safety BC - Investigation Report Ammonia Release Fernie Memorial Arena  2018 August   
Operational Awareness and Potential Impact of Modified-Ice Games (which includes cross-ice or half-ice) 2018 July   
Kraft Hockeyville – Your Vote Counts! 2018 March   
Rick Hansen Foundation - Leadership Forum Follow Up 2018 March   
27th Annual Ontario Turfgrass Symposium 2017 December   
ORFA’s #150RecFacilities Campaign Winner 2017 December   

NSPF Announces Partnership with ORFA Coalition Will Promote Collaborative Education

2017 December   

Are Ontario’s Ice Rinks Safe? Follow Up - Ice Arena Registered Refrigeration Plant Safety Bulletin

2017 October   

Ice Arena Registered Refrigeration Plant Safety Bulletin An Industry Specific Plan to Collectively Move Forward

2017 October   
Are Ontario's Ice Rinks Safe? 2017 October   
NEW! Professional Designation Recertification Process - Effective January 1, 2018 2017 September   
Open for Public Comment: regarding potential amendments to the Operating Engineers regulation (O. Reg. 219/01) under the Technical Standards and Safety Act, 2000. 2017 August   
Structural Inspections – An Important and Vital Responsibility Toward Public Safety 2017 June   
Throwing Of Items By Fans Must Be Controlled By Policy  2017 June   
New Training Partnership With Recreation Facility Association of Nova Scotia (RFANS)  2017 May   
Supervisory Reminder -  Summer Students 2017 May   
#150RecFacilities - Celebrate Recreation Facilities 2017 May   
Reminder - Refrigeration Plant Operations  2017 May   
Recreation Workers Who Use ATV’s or UTV’s Must Know the Rules 2017 May   
What is Legionnaires' Disease - should we be concerned about it in our operations? 2017 April   
New Cross-Ice and Half-Ice Mandatory Policy From Hockey Canada Requires Communication and Careful Consideration With User Groups
2017 March   
Recreation Facilities Asset Management (RFAM) Software Program Provided At No-Cost As A Benefit of Membership
2016 April  
REMINDER NOTICE – Section 39: Operating Engineers Regulation 2015 November  
ORFA New Logo and Tagline 2015 April  
Facility Manager Survey 2015 January   
Announcing your 2015-16 Board Members  2014 November  
PSHSA and ORFA Sign Memorandum of Understanding 2013 December  
ORFA and CHS Partnership 2013 December  


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