The Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) and the Ontario Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors Association (ORAC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen the relationship between the two organizations.
Under the agreement, the two groups will join forces to increase their impact and efficiency in specific areas of mutual interest. Together, they will identify and appoint a government relations specialist to work with the Ontario government. They will also work together to appoint a public relations firm to develop and spread information that will benefit the members of both organizations.
A joint Ontario Government Relations Committee will be created with an equal number of members from each organization.
The two organizations will also appoint members to attend each other’s conferences and sit on particular bodies such as the ORAC Associates Committee and the HRAI Contractors Division Board.
Additional initiatives include a webinar series, communications campaigns, and sharing of research resources. “This new relationship will benefit members of both HRAI and ORAC,” said Sandy MacLeod, HRAI president and CEO. “It will optimize the resources of both organizations, advance our mutual goals and create synergies from the combined effort.”
This is a temporary step while a more formal agreement is finalized. The current plan is to enter into a two-year agreement, with an option to extend another two years.
ORAC represents Ontario contractors in the industrial, commercial, institutional, and residential refrigeration and air conditioning trades.