Upcoming Events

Upcoming events

    • Thursday, June 01, 2023
    • Friday, June 30, 2023
    • Online
    Register

    Basic Arena Refrigeration (BAR) (OLSS)


    This online self-study course must be completed in 30 days from enrollment date. Participants will receive an email confirming that they have been enrolled in the online course.

    The ORFA Basic Arena Refrigeration course is considered the minimum industry-recognized standard for ice arena facility personnel and is now available in an on-line self-directed format. The Occupational Health and Safety Act demands that those who conduct work in these environments be “competent” while the Operating Engineers Regulation requires that all who have “privilege to enter a registered refrigeration plant room” be qualified. Such qualification and competency require a strong foundation of all regulatory obligations to be met followed by an introduction to the principles and fundamentals of the theory of refrigeration and concluding with a risk and hazard assessment overview of a typical refrigeration plant room. This is accomplished by completing Part One of the training, the Safe Arena Refrigeration Operator (SARPO).

    Once the legislative requirements and theoretical overview is complete participants will move on to understand that the refrigeration process operates on scientific principles that are applied to practical mechanical processes in Part Two. Students will be introduced to the different types of ice arena refrigeration plant designs and key pieces of equipment required to safely transfer heat plus the role of safety devices during this transfer. In addition, participants will be able to identify the types and the amounts, as well as the storage and disposal of refrigerants and lubricants.

    Emphasis is placed on the need for worker safety which depends on the proper use of personal protective equipment from all noxious gases and/or refrigerants stored on site. Operator and public safety further rely on the operator’s ability to monitor plant conditions, liquid levels, pressures and temperatures and take appropriate action under the circumstance. Hazards of electricity, temperature and pressures are introduced so that plant monitors can recognize the importance of plant piping markings so not to touch these delivery mechanisms, not to place hands or feet near pumps or motors or make unqualified plant adjustments. Monitors must understand the need to conduct regular plant checks and the importance of recording these activities in the official plant log. Course participants will gain an appreciation for the proper use of plant room ventilation and the role of the refrigeration safety devices and alarm systems. Once this knowledge has been obtained, participants will clearly understand the importance of their role during plant room emergencies and the need to embrace and practice evacuation plans for both worker and general public safety.

    Of further benefit would be a guided tour of a refrigeration plant room under the leadership of a competent plant operator for an orientation of a registered refrigeration plant room and review the plant operational and training manuals.

    Topics include:

    • Refrigeration Theoretical and Practical Factors
    • Refrigeration Codes, Regulations and Acts
    • Ice Rink Refrigeration Equipment, Controls and Safety Devices
    • Ice Rink Refrigeration Plant Safe Operations and Maintenance
    • Refrigeration Emerging Technologies and Energy Management

    Workplace-Specific Training: A reminder is given to facility supervisory staff that to complete the educational process successful participants must return to work and be provided with specific workplace-specific training.

    This course is worth 28 professional development credits towards recertification of any ORFA professional designation

    • Thursday, June 01, 2023
    • Friday, June 30, 2023
    • Online
    Register

    Ice Making and Painting Technologies (OLSS)


    This online self-study course must be completed in 30 days from enrollment date. Participants will receive an email confirming that they have been enrolled in the online course.

    Recommended Prerequisites: Participants that have completed the Basic Arena Refrigeration course or the Advanced Refrigeration Facility Operator and the Ice Maintenance and Equipment Operator (IMEO) course and have one-year, hands-on, artificial ice experience will be better positioned to interpret course materials. It is further recommended that prior to attending this course, participants visit ORFA’s Resource Centre and review materials found in the Arena Ice Operations section applicable to the topic of ice making.

    Doug Moore, the world’s first recognized professional “Ice Technician” was the late founder of Jet Ice Ltd. and also the Chief Engineer at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto for 30 years. He was a hands-on practitioner that understood the specific day-to-day needs of facility operators. Doug’s contributions set the foundation that has helped give the industry the look and quality of ice that is enjoyed today by athletes in the sports of hockey, curling and figure skating. Doug was an innovator of the arena industry, specializing in ice making technology, speed-painting procedures and openly shared his passion, vast skills and knowledge in this science willingly with facility owners, managers and operators throughout North America. Following in Doug’s commitment is current Jet Ice Vice President, Dave Loverock. Dave, mentored by Doug, continued in the tradition set by the Jet Ice founder by focusing on the same hands-on, frontline proven principles with an eager openness to explore innovation and change. Today, these revolutionary ice making concepts and theories have been implemented in a wide range of community and professional facilities and are considered best practice throughout the ice industry.

    Together, the ORFA and Jet Ice Ltd. continue to provide the recognized industry leading standard for professional development in ice-making principles and application techniques for all ice technicians. It is important to note that litigation involving ice condition will almost always use the ORFA Ice Making and Painting Technologies course materials as the proven acceptable industry standard to be met. Knowing and applying these established principles is essential to reducing ice arena risk of liability.

    Creating a durable sheet of ice requires a clear understanding of the ice making venue and its mechanical ability and limitations. This environment will include basic yet essential scientific principles surrounding air, water, ice paint, logo materials and HVAC-R systems. Building on the theory gained in the refrigeration classes, this course will enhance the participants’ knowledge, while increasing their operational effectiveness through a clear understanding of proven ice installation principles and techniques. Risk and hazards associated with ice making are also reviewed so that participants are aware of the hidden dangers associated with this task.

    Topics include:

    Module 1 – A History of Ice
    Module 2 – Facility Preparations
    Module 3 – The Ice Bowl
    Module 4 – Making New Ice
    Module 5 – Painting Ice White
    Module 6 – Ice Sport Markings
    Module 7 – Ice Rink Energy Reduction

    Workplace-Specific Training: A reminder is given to facility supervisory staff that to complete the educational process successful participants must return to work and be provided with workplace-specific training.

    This course is worth 28 professional development credits towards recertification of any ORFA professional designation

    • Thursday, June 01, 2023
    • Friday, June 30, 2023
    • Online
    Register

    Ice Maintenance and Equipment Operations (OLSS)


    This online self-study course must be completed in 30 days from enrollment date. Participants will receive an email confirming that they have been enrolled in the online course.

    Recommended Prerequisites: Participants that have completed a) Basic Arena Refrigeration or the Advanced Refrigeration Facility Operator course; b) and the Ice Making and Painting Technologies course; and c) have two years of practical artificial ice knowledge with some ice resurfacer operational experience will be better prepared in understanding some course content.

    An ice resurfacer is a complicated piece of heavy equipment that requires a concise understanding of how it works, what adjustments must be maintained and what regular maintenance must be performed or monitored by the operator to ensure trouble-free operation.

    This course is not designed to make a “competent” ice resurfacer operator. It has been developed using industry best practices that demonstrate the operation and care of the most critical piece of ice sheet maintenance after the refrigeration plant. Participants will be exposed to proven skills and techniques to create exceptional ice, troubleshoot poor ice conditions, perform ice maintenance, and safely operate and maintain all ice maintenance equipment.

    The ORFA has developed this training session in partnership with ice resurfacer manufacturers to help ensure the accuracy of the provided information however, it must be noted that the manufacturer is always considered the authority on any training, operation, or safety matter specific to their equipment. They should be consulted as required.

    Topics include:

    • History of ice maintenance
    • Operator safety
    • The conditioner
    • The cutting blade
    • Snow & ice collection systems
    • Water systems
    • The vehicle
    • Fuel and power source safety
    • Facility air quality awareness
    • The role of the circle check
    • How to safely operate an ice resurfacer
    • Other industry ice maintenance tools
    • Effective ice maintenance techniques

    Workplace-Specific Training: Please note this course does not provide participants with hands-on training in driving an ice resurfacer. A reminder is given to facility supervisory staff that to complete the educational process successful participants must return to work and be provided with specific workplace-specific training.

    This course is worth 28 professional development credits towards recertification of any ORFA professional designation

    • Thursday, June 01, 2023
    • Friday, June 30, 2023
    • Online
    Register

    Legal Awareness I - Supervising in a Recreation Environment (OLSS)


    This online self-study (OLSS) course must be completed in 30 days from enrollment date. Participants will receive an email confirming that they have been enrolled in the online course.

    Legal Awareness I is a core requirement to all ORFA professional accreditations. We are pleased to make this time-tested training program available in an online self-study format that allows registrants to work through the information at their own pace and schedule over a 30-day period.

    The Occupational Health and Safety Awareness and Training regulation requires health and safety awareness training for every worker and supervisor under Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA). The regulation came into force July 1, 2014. To ensure that persons working within the recreation industry are receiving the most current and up to date health and safety information, the ORFA has partnered with Public Services Health and Safety Association (PSHSA) in the development and delivery of these materials. PSHSA is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Labour and works with Ontario’s Public and Broader Public Sector employers and workers, providing training, consulting and resources to reduce workplace risks and prevent occupational injuries and illnesses.

    The core requirement of OHSA remains unchanged; only "competent persons" are permitted to take care and control of a workplace or supervise other persons at work. What has changed is the MOL focus on ensuring that competency is in place. The OHSA is clear on how competency is defined. In order for a worker to meet the legal obligation of competency they must:

    • be qualified because of their knowledge, training and experience to organize the work and supervise safe performance;
    • be familiar with the Act, Regulations, Policies and Procedures that apply to the work;
    • have knowledge of any potential or actual danger or hazard to health and safety in the workplace

    Legal Awareness I is an in-depth review of the Occupational Health and Safety Act as outlined in the second competency bullet above. This information forms a strong foundation for all recreation professionals to apply in their day-to-day responsibilities. Once complete, it is strongly recommended that Legal Awareness II be attended as it focuses on the other regulations and policies and procedures that are considered standard within our industry.

    Of further benefit would be a guided tour of a refrigeration plant room under the leadership of a competent plant operator for an orientation of a registered refrigeration plant room and review the plant operational and training manuals.

    Who should take this on-line training?

    • Workers who are required to work alone in their workplaces are considered supervisors under the OHSA
    • Workers whose job description identifies them as a lead hand, supervisor or manager

    Workplace-Specific Training: A reminder is given to facility supervisory staff that to complete the educational process successful participants must return to work and be provided with specific workplace-specific training.

    This course is worth 14 professional development credits towards recertification of any ORFA professional designation

    • Thursday, June 01, 2023
    • Friday, June 30, 2023
    • Online
    Register

    Legal Awareness II - Managing in a Recreation Environment (OLSS)


    This online self-study (OLSS) course must be completed in 30 days from enrollment date. Participants will receive an email confirming that they have been enrolled in the online course.

    This training course is considered essential professional development for any recreation staff member with managerial or supervisory responsibilities in a recreation setting. The increase in health and safety responsibility being adopted by every Canadian workplace is merely a gateway to the many other similar regulatory and legislative responsibilities in our industry. No two recreation departments are designed the same. This course explores the diverse, and at times, overlapping legal obligations associated with recreation programs, services and infrastructure. Each operation must be carefully and individually analyzed to determine regulatory responsibility so that policy and procedures can be designed to both reflect legal obligations and industry best practices. This training session is designed as a check and balance to known regulated responsibilities based on member experiences over decades of operations. It will provide participants with sufficient knowledge to know when additional research is required or if outside professional support to better understand and meet compliance so that the operations risk of accountability is reduced. One of the most important skills of all senior recreation administrative staff is one of information broker to other internal administrative staff so that sound operational decisions can be made. Understanding that not knowing any legal responsibility should operational conduct or lack there of, be called into question legally is not a legal defence.

    Topics include:

    • An in-depth review of the Canadian legal system
      • The anatomy of a lawsuit
      • Understanding personal accountability at work
    • The law as it relates to standard recreation facility operations
      • Standard operational requirements
      • Employment law
    • The Codes, Acts and Regulation Landscape
      • Policy and procedures development and application
      • The role of industry best practice
    • Documentation Management
      • Proving operational competency
      • The art of record keeping
      • The benefits of asset management
      • Meeting emergency management requirements
    • Designing staffs competency pathway through professional development, certification and workplace specific training
      • How to get the people you need with the right skills, at no cost
      • What must be done once you find these people
    • Creating and applying proven risk avoidance strategies
      • Designing operational tools that meet or exceed industry standards

    Participants will leave with a renewed sense of importance of legislative compliance and an industry standard tool box of information that will play a significant role in helping maintain a safe work and play environment.

    This course is worth 14 professional development credits towards recertification of any ORFA professional designation

    • Thursday, June 01, 2023
    • Friday, June 30, 2023
    • Online
    Register

    Recreation Facility Cleaning, Disinfection and Sanitizing Principles (OLSS)


    The online course is self-study, and must be completed in 30 days from enrollment date. Participants will receive a confirmation email that they have been enrolled in the online course. The session was previously delivered as a one day classroom event, and depending on online learning skills, individuals may anticipate a 3-4 hour total session duration.

    The ORFA strives to provide its members access to timely recreation facilities operations/management information, regardless of geography. In addition to classroom-based learning events, and webinars, the ORFA continues to develop new online learning courses for its members’ benefit.

    This training session introduces recreation staff to basic cleaning and disinfection principles for public facilities. This online training is designed to assist current operations in proving that all staff understand the new standards and best practices for both worker and public safety.

    Participants will learn:

    1. Public Facility Regulatory Cleaning Obligations
    2. Their Expected Role and Responsibilities as Facility Cleaner
    3. Basic Cleaning Terms
    4. Cleaning Chemistry 101
    5. Body Fluid Management
    6. The Principles of How to Effectively Clean a Recreation Facility 
    7. Cleaner Risks, Hazards and Ergonomics
    8. Advanced Tools of the Trade

    The course includes interactive quizzes and a final online assessment that with successful completion will lead to an ORFA recognized certificate of successful completion.

    • Thursday, June 01, 2023
    • Friday, June 30, 2023
    • Online
    Register

    Safe Arena Refrigeration Plant Owner/Operator (OLSS)


    The online course is self-study, and must be completed in 30 days from enrollment date. Participants will receive a confirmation email that they have been enrolled in the online course. The session was previously delivered as a one day classroom event, and depending on online learning skills, individuals may anticipate a 7-8 hour total session duration.

    The ORFA strives to provide its members access to timely recreation facilities operations/management information, regardless of geography. In addition to classroom-based learning events, and webinars, the ORFA continues to develop new online learning courses for its members’ benefit. 

    The SARPO course is designed to assist arena owners in confirming that facility staff who have been given the privilege to enter the registered plant room and have limited responsibilities in the actual operation and maintenance of the plants equipment are provided with a strong foundation relating to the risks and hazards associated with these environments.  In addition, plant owners will benefit from understanding the roles, responsibilities and regulatory responsibilities associated with the Operating Engineers Regulation.

    Topics include:

    • Legislation and operational best practices
    • Registered refrigeration plant operator competency
    • Registered refrigeration plant Daily operations best practices
    • Equipment identification
    • Safety device design and limitations
    • Cycle of refrigeration
    • Risks and hazards of primary and secondary refrigerants
    • Recordkeeping
    • Benefits of a quality maintenance program

    The course includes interactive quizzes and a final online assessment that with successful completion will lead to an ORFA recognized certificate of successful completion.

    • Thursday, June 01, 2023
    • Friday, June 30, 2023
    • Online
    Register

    Safe Ice Resurfacer Operator (OLSS)


    The online course is self-study, and must be completed in 30 days from enrollment date. Participants will receive a confirmation email that they have been enrolled in the online course. The session was previously delivered as a one day classroom event, and depending on online learning skills, individuals may anticipate a 8-10 hour total session duration.

    The ORFA strives to provide its members access to timely recreation facilities operations/management information, regardless of geography. In addition to classroom-based learning events, and webinars, the ORFA continues to develop new online learning courses for its members’ benefit. 

    The Safe Ice Resurfacer Operator (SIRO) training course is considered  a basic introduction to the known risks and hazards associated with operating a mechanical piece of heavy equipment. The presented information is key to ensuring every new operator starts their career with a strong foundation of industry and manufacturer best practices. The training platform includes web based presentation that is supported by manufacturer equipment related operational safety materials and medias. Participants must complete a workplace specific passport to help supervisory staff prove that they have provided positive initial training. 

    Topics include:

    • History of ice resurfacers
    • Occupational Health & Safety Overview
    • Operational Safety Best Practices
    • Sample Policies and Operating Procedures Guidelines
    • Fuel Types-Gasoline-Propane-Natural Gas Safety 
    • Escaping Gas Risks
    • Fire and Explosion Risks and Hazards
    • Toxic Indoor Air Risks and Hazards
    • Circle Checking Best Practices
    • Water Systems Risks and Hazards
    • Safety Benefit of Scheduled Equipment Maintenance

    The course includes interactive quizzes and a final online assessment that with successful completion will lead to an ORFA recognized certificate of successful completion.

    • Thursday, June 01, 2023
    • Friday, June 30, 2023
    • Online
    Register

    CIT Recertification Course (OLSS)


    This online self-study course must be completed in 30 days from enrollment date. Participants will receive an email confirming that they have been enrolled in the online course.

    The Ontario Recreation Facilities Association (ORFA) introduced the Certified Ice Technician (CIT) professional designation in 1997. This NHL-recognized credential was designed to acknowledge the academic excellence and specialized expertise of individuals who work in artificial ice operations. Overwhelmingly, the CIT designation has been the most sought-after of all the ORFA professional designations. Today, close to 70% of arenas, ice and refrigeration job postings specifically state the preference to recruiting those individuals who hold the CIT professional designation.

    Since 1997, over 1000 individuals have been awarded the CIT designation. More recently, there has been discussion and reflection, based on industry needs and legal counsel, that to ensure these individuals remain current in industry best practices and knowledge, that a recertification program be designed and implemented. More Information