Public Works News

AORS x OSSGA Webinar: Aggregate and Municipal Infrastructure

Join AORS and Ontario Stone, Sand & Gravel Association for our webinar on October 23 at 1:30pm! 

Aggregate is the foundation of Ontario’s infrastructure, housing and economic growth. As the first link in the construction materials supply chain, stone, sand and gravel are essential for building and maintaining roads, bridges, transit systems, homes and communities.

This webinar will provide municipal road supervisors and industry partners with a practical overview of Ontario’s aggregate industry, including where aggregate comes from, how they are used and why access to local supply matters for municipal infrastructure projects and long-term asset management.

Participants will learn about the lifecycle of a pit or quarry, from resource identification and planning through licensing, extraction and progressive rehabilitation. Special attention will be given to rehabilitation, highlighting how former aggregate sites can be transformed into valuable community, environmental and recreational assets while continuing to support provincial and local construction needs.

The session will also explore the role aggregate plays in municipal road building and maintenance, including the importance of municipal pits and quarries in supplying cost-effective construction materials. Attendees will gain a better understanding of the regulatory framework governing aggregate operations, the industry’s commitment to responsible land stewardship and the partnerships that support sustainable infrastructure development across Ontario.

Whether you are involved in road operations, procurement, construction, consulting or equipment and material supply, this session will provide valuable insights into one of the most important sectors supporting Ontario’s built environment.

AORS Launches Municipal Public Works Matters Campaign

With municipal campaigns officially underway across Ontario, candidates are knocking on do

ors and talking with residents about the issues that matter most to their communities – including roads, infrastructure, transportation, road safety and the future of municipal services.

This fall, AORS is launching Municipal Public Works Matters, a six-week, non-partisan campaign designed to help candidates better understand the important work being done every day by municipal public works professionals across Ontario.

Our goal is simple: help candidates understand the roads, infrastructure, people and services they may be responsible for as municipal leaders.

Over the next six weeks, AORS will be sharing resources and information across our social media channels, including:

🔹 A Candidate Resource Guide highlighting key public works issues
🔹 “5 Questions Every Municipal Candidate Should Ask About Public Works”
🔹 Information about municipal roads, bridges, infrastructure and asset management
🔹 Resources on roadside worker safety and AORS’ advocacy efforts
🔹 Stories highlighting the people behind municipal public works
🔹 Information about the importance of attracting and training the next generation of public works professionals
🔹 Questions candidates should be asking their municipal public works teams

This campaign is not about supporting any particular candidate or political position. It is about ensuring that candidates have access to practical information and a better understanding of one of the most important responsibilities of municipal government.

Because infrastructure doesn’t maintain itself. People do.

Follow along over the next six weeks and help us spread the message: Municipal Public Works Matters. The roads we rely on. The people who maintain them. The infrastructure that keeps Ontario moving.

Learn more about how AORS is advocating for municipal public works professionals at this page here.

For more information, check out our Candidate Resource Guide.

Design A Road Sign Contest Winners

To celebrate the 2026 National Road Safety Week, AORS partnered with Cedar Signs by engaging with youth across Ontario to harness ideas for new signage that would make roads safer in Ontario!

The top three winners receive a custom road name sign from Cedar Signs, and the winning design will have their road sign brought to life thanks to Cedar Signs.

We had 159 submissions and would like to thank everyone for bringing road safety to the attention of youth across the province. You can view all submissions here.

The winners are:

1st Place – “Watch The Road”

Designed by: Lily, St. James Catholic Elementary School

Chosen by: President Cyrus Rife, CRS-I

2nd Place: “Drive Like Every Life Matters – Because It Does”

Designed by: Alyssa, St. James Catholic Elementary School

Chosen by: Past President Karla Musso-Garcia, CRS-I

Third Place: “Put Your Phone Down”

Designed by: Ava, Nottawa Elementary School

Chosen by: John Rivers, Cedar Signs

2026 National Public Works Week Webinars

AORS is proud to host FREE webinars throughout National Public Works Weeks for our members.  Sign-up below for the webinars you would like to attend – links to each webinar will be sent out to you by Friday May 15, 2026.

BUILDING BETTER COMMUNITIES: MUNICPIAL PARTNERSHIPS DRIVING FRESHWATER CONSERVATION – Hosted by: Watersheds Canada

Tuesday May 19, 2026 at 1:00pm

Celebrate National Public Works Week with an inspiring look at how municipalities and community partners are leading a growing conservation movement across Canada. This Watersheds Canada webinar highlights real-world success stories—from innovative constructed wetlands and shoreline restoration projects to impactful education campaigns tackling road salt pollution and climate change. Discover how collaboration between public works professionals, local governments, and community organizations is delivering practical, scalable solutions that protect freshwater resources while strengthening resilient, sustainable communities.

ONTARIO ONE CALL 101: ROADWAY TO COMPLIANCE – Hosted by Ontario One Call

Wednesday May 20, 2026 at 1:00pm

As road construction activity increases across Ontario each spring, it’s essential for excavators to understand the locate request process and their responsibilities to prevent damage to underground infrastructure and remain compliant.

In this session, participants will learn about:

• Ontario One Call’s role in damage prevention
• How to properly submit and manage locate requests
• Key excavator responsibilities under the Act
• Best practices for maintaining compliance

The session will be delivered by members of Ontario One Call’s Stakeholder Relations and Education Team, who work closely with industry partners across the province to promote education, compliance, and safe digging practices.

LOW VOLUME ROADS: MANAGING LOADS & IMPROVING SAFETY – Hosted by Good Roads

Thursday May 21, 2026 at 11:00am

Join James Smith from Good Roads for an insightful webinar focused on the unique challenges and opportunities of managing low volume roads. This session will explore strategies for handling reduced load restrictions, review new studies reflecting improving road safety for all users, and more. Attendees will gain practical knowledge and real-world insights to help municipalities make informed decisions and optimize performance on low volume road networks.

BEYOND “PART OF THE JOB”: BUILDING A REPORTING CULTURE TO PROTECT MUNICIPAL PUBLIC WORKS STAFF – Hosted by: Lowe Strategy Consulting

Thursday May 21, 2026 at 1:00pm

Across Ontario, municipal public works professionals are facing increasing incidents of abuse, harassment, and public interference—yet many of these situations go unreported. AORS survey findings show that workers often view these incidents as “part of the job,” not serious enough to report, or believe that no action will be taken. In some cases, clear reporting processes simply don’t exist or aren’t well understood.

Join Sandra Lowe, Owner of Lowe Strategy Consulting, as she explores how municipalities can shift this mindset and build a strong reporting culture. This session will focus on practical strategies to ensure employees know how, when, and why to report incidents—empowering leaders to better protect their staff, improve response, and strengthen workplace safety.

HARMONIZING MUNICIPAL ROAD CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS – Hosted by: Ministry of Transportation

Friday May 22, 2026 at 1:00pm

Ontario is advancing a major initiative to harmonize municipal road construction standards through a proposed Minister’s regulation, as was outlined in the Ontario Regulatory Registry (Proposal 26‑MTO003). This presentation provides an overview of the legislative and regulatory steps underway to support consistent municipal road construction standards across the province. Attendees will learn how recent amendments to the Public Transportation and Highway Improvement Act, enable the Minister of Transportation to mandate select Ontario Provincial Standards Specifications for Municipalities (OPSS.MUNI). The session will explain the first round of standards that are proposed to become mandatory—including hot mix asphalt, aggregates, and drainage—along with the phased transition period, exemption framework, and reporting requirements leading to full compliance by July 1, 2027. Grounded strictly in the published regulatory proposal, the presentation offers information to help municipalities and industry understand upcoming requirements, plan for compliance, and prepare for future phases of standards harmonization.

Presenter Bio:

Jason Kittle, CET, is the Manager of the Municipal Standards Harmonization Office at the Ontario Ministry of Transportation. He brings extensive leadership experience in municipal operations, engineering, and policy development. Jason has more than two decades of experience in municipal governance, with a background spanning operations, construction, asset management, and transportation services. He currently contributes to national transportation initiatives through his involvement with the Transportation Association of Canada. Jason’s work focuses on fostering stakeholder alignment, leading complex infrastructure and standards initiatives, and advancing modernized frameworks that support safe, efficient, and sustainable transportation systems across Ontario

AORS Announces New Executive Director

The Association of Ontario Road Supervisors (AORS) is pleased to announce the appointment of Kelly Elliott as its new Executive Director. Kelly brings a strong understanding of the Association and its members, having served as AORS’ Marketing and Communications Specialist for the past three years.

During her time in this role, she has played a key part in strengthening AORS’ brand, enhancing member engagement, and advancing advocacy efforts on behalf of Ontario’s municipal public works professionals.

The Board of Directors is confident that Kelly’s experience and passion for the sector position her well to lead the Association into its next chapter.

“The Board of Directors is thrilled to welcome Kelly into the role of Executive Director,” said Cyrus Rife, CRS-I, President of AORS. “Her work over the past three years has strengthened our advocacy efforts and elevated the AORS brand across Ontario. We are excited for her to work closely with the Board and our Local Associations to continue building momentum and leading AORS into the future.”

“The Board and membership would also like to extend our sincere thanks to John Maheu for his 13 years of dedicated leadership as Executive Director,” said Rife. “John has been instrumental in guiding the Association’s growth and impact across the province, and we are deeply grateful for his contributions.”

“I am incredibly excited to step into this role and continue the momentum of working with our members across the province,” said Kelly Elliott. “Building strong relationships with our members and Local Associations is key to ensuring AORS continues to evolve and respond to the ever-changing needs of the municipal public works industry.”

Kelly’s appointment marks an exciting new chapter for AORS as it continues to support and advocate for municipal public works professionals across Ontario.